Shou'an Hall
On the bed, Cao Wan'er looked frighteningly pale as Imperial Doctor Fu and several senior physicians worked hard to treat her injuries.
After a while, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Imperial Doctor Fu, how is Her Majesty?" Luna asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, Miss Luna. Her Majesty is seriously injured, but none of the wounds hit vital points. We'll prescribe some tonics to restore her energy and blood." With that, he hurriedly instructed the other doctors to prepare the medicines according to his prescription.
Just as Imperial Doctor Fu Ping was packing up to leave, Cao Wan'er suddenly called out from the bed.
Hearing this, Fu Ping quickly knelt outside the bed curtains and kowtowed, "Peace and blessings to Her Majesty the Empress."
Cao Wan'er coughed twice. Luna hurried in to support her.
"How is Sherry now?"
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. Miss Sherry's injuries are more than twice as severe as yours, but perhaps thanks to heaven's protection, none of them were fatal and we managed to save her." When the doctors had just entered the Crown Prince's quarters, Cao Wan'er struggled to open her eyes and told them to do everything they could to save Miss Sherry.
That's why I used every trick I knew to save that girl. I hope Your Majesty feels a bit more relieved now!
"She's alive?" Cao Wan'er narrowed her eyes, a trace of venom gathering in her gaze.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Miss Sherry is no longer in danger." Fu Ping couldn't see Cao Wan'er's face through the curtains and assumed she was pleased, not realizing her expression was as cold as thousand-year ice.
"Enough, you may leave." She waved her hand dismissively.
"Yes, this humble servant takes his leave." With that, Fu Ping kowtowed and departed.
"Your Majesty, please lie down and rest." Luna hurried to help her settle back.
But Cao Wan'er had no intention of lying down. Instead, she had Luna place a cushion behind her so she could rest sitting up.
Seeing this, Luna asked worriedly, "Your Majesty, how did you end up so badly hurt?"
"I underestimated that maid." Cao Wan'er's voice was cold as frost, full of hatred.
Luna was shocked. "What? Could it be that maid who injured Your Majesty?" In her memory, Cao Wan'er's martial arts were top-tier—even Silver Consort couldn't beat her. But after marrying the Emperor, Her Majesty had kept her skills hidden. She still practiced, so how could she possibly lose to a palace maid?!
"She's no ordinary maid." Cao Wan'er said coldly, as if she could see right through Luna's thoughts.
"Your Majesty, if even your martial arts couldn't protect you, that maid must be the woman who broke into the Demon-Sealing Cell. But what's her real goal?" Luna was confused. If she wanted to save that crazy woman, why use deadly poison? But if not, did she go in just to kill her?
No, that crazy woman had been locked up for years. She couldn't have any grudges with outsiders!
Seeing Luna's changing expression, Cao Wan'er sneered. "You figured something out too, didn't you?"
Luna hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, I don't think that maid is the demon's accomplice, but her goal is simple—she wants to rule the harem!" Suddenly, Luna's eyes widened. "Wait, this maid has been acting in front of us to trick the Crown Prince, just to turn him against you and become the harem's master. But if that's it, she could've just flattered you—no need to fight. So maybe she wants more than the harem... Maybe she wants to rule the entire Soaring Phoenix Realm?" The idea startled Luna and made Cao Wan'er's frown deepen.
Exactly. This woman planned everything from the start.
Bride selection, failing the exam, becoming a maid, the lotus pond...
The latest news was that this maid paid a lot of money to the matchmakers to buy her way into this job.
So it's obvious—she planned it all. Her goal was to get close to the Crown Prince and fool him...
"Your Majesty, she must've used Noble Lady Lana and Noble Lady Sherran as pawns. She's way too scheming." Luna blurted out, connecting the dots. In truth, Cao Wan'er had already thought of all this too.
"This woman is way too scheming." Cao Wan'er had to admit it—she'd seriously underestimated her.
Luna was confused. "Your Majesty, why claim she saved you? Why not just use this chance to get rid of her?"
"Do you really think Jude would believe it?"
"Uh..."
"That woman set me up, then viciously used her own internal energy to injure herself, making it look like I abused her." Cao Wan'er sneered. "But no matter how many tricks she plays, I'll never lose to her! Competing in schemes? She's so dumb it's almost cute."
"Your Majesty..."
"With this move, Jude will let down all his guard. So if I want to act like I'm grateful to my 'savior,' it'll be totally justified!" She let out a calculating laugh.
"Your Majesty is truly brilliant! Now the Crown Prince will think you've accepted that demon girl and won't resent you. And if you show 'concern' for her, he'll be thrilled. Even if something happens later, he won't suspect you at all." Luna had picked up a few tricks herself after growing up with Cao Wan'er.
Cao Wan'er smiled smugly. "That's exactly what I want." She glanced outside. "Jude still isn't here?" For a moment, she worried—would he choose his mother, or that demon girl?
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. His Highness the Crown Prince is so filial—he'll definitely come to see you. He's probably on his way right now," Luna reassured her.
"Mm, I raised Jude myself. I know him better than anyone." Cao Wan'er smirked. "When he arrives, he'll definitely leave Silver Consort behind."
"Huh? Silver Consort will stay in the Crown Prince's residence?" Luna was puzzled—didn't Her Majesty just say Silver Consort shouldn't leave Jude's side?
"Idiot, did you forget about the 'black-clad intruder' I mentioned?"
"Ah, so you mean His Highness the Crown Prince will leave Silver Consort to protect the demon girl from the black-clad intruder?" Luna quickly understood.
"Exactly. Now, sneak over to the Crown Prince's palace, and if you see Silver Consort, have her kill that woman. Blame everything on the 'black-clad intruder.' As for you, wait in the Imperial Infirmary for the medicine—no one will suspect a thing." Cao Wan'er sneered. With injuries that severe, that demon girl would finally meet her maker tonight.
"Your Majesty is so clever," Luna said, thoroughly impressed.
"First, we need to ensure security. Here, take this—have thirty thousand soldiers mobilized. Fifteen thousand will guard the Crown Prince's palace, and fifteen thousand here. I want to see what tricks she can pull next!"
"Understood, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, Official Gao requests an audience." Suddenly, a guard entered and bowed to Cao Wan'er.
Cao Wan'er was momentarily stunned. Official Gao?
Oh right—just a few days ago, he was telling her about Saint Liam. But with all the drama around that demon girl lately, she'd almost forgotten.
"Send him in."
The guard hurried out, and within seconds, the chubby Official Gao waddled in.
"Your humble servant greets Her Majesty the Empress."
"You may rise."
"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" Official Gao asked with concern from outside the curtains. He'd just entered the palace and already heard the Empress had been attacked—what a big deal.
"It's nothing. But it's so late—what brings you here?"
Official Gao quickly replied, "Forgive me, Your Majesty, for bringing Saint Liam here without permission."
"Huh?" Cao Wan'er sounded skeptical.
Hearing Cao Wan'er's displeased tone, Official Gao hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, I was going to bring him tomorrow, but he kept insisting there's a demon in the harem threatening your life. I—I shouldn't have listened to his nonsense." He bowed his head, bracing for a scolding.
"Oh? Is that so?" Cao Wan'er was surprised.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Three days ago, he said the harem was shrouded in black qi, claimed a demon had descended, possessed someone, and that this demon's magic was terrifying. He even said the person came from hell!" Official Gao wiped sweat from his brow—why had he listened to such nonsense? Now Her Majesty would surely call him ignorant!
But to his surprise, Cao Wan'er urgently said, "Quick, bring him in!"
Cao Wan'er was a devout Buddhist and always believed in ghosts. If Liam Qingyan could predict her danger from outside, it proved he had spiritual power. And that woman once claimed to be from hell—could she really be possessed by a demon?!