Ms. Rachel Zhang dashed inside, her urgency written all over her face.
The Princess Consort of Changyang hadn’t retired yet. She stepped forward to meet her, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Princess Consort!" Ms. Zhang blurted out, voice trembling. "I'm Rachel Zhang from the Spirit Alliance. Tonight, I invited Prince Charles Chang to my banquet—he knocked me out cold! And then he kidnapped the Spiritual Alchemist I brought with me!"
"You invited him yourself?" The Princess Consort raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing with a hint of challenge.
"Of course!"
With a sudden burst of fury, the Princess Consort shouted, "Guards! Arrest her!"
Ms. Zhang's expression changed drastically. "Princess Consort, what’s the meaning of this?"
"Let me ask you," the Princess Consort said, voice sharp. "You went through Prince Hui to invite my son—so, what sneaky scheme were you cooking up?"
"Scheme?" Ms. Zhang blinked, genuinely baffled. "I'm the Department Head of the Eastern Alliance Herb Division. I just wanted to ask the prince for a little help, maybe a favor. What else could I possibly be up to?"
"Ruby Spring!" the Princess Consort called urgently. "Speak up—tell everyone what you saw!"
The maid who’d been serving Prince Charles Chang stepped forward. "The prince was fine at first, but after Ms. Rachel Zhang gave him tea, he suddenly started asking for wine. I thought something was off, so I brought the leftover tea back."
She shot a look at Ms. Zhang. "There was definitely alcohol in it. I checked the teapot before—no wine. She must've snuck it in herself."
"So, what do you have to say for yourself now?" the Princess Consort demanded, her tone playful but sharp.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Ms. Zhang shot back, trying to sound tough. "Hand over Chloe Zhu, or the Spirit Alliance won't let this go!"
"Ms. Zhang." Suddenly, someone stepped out from the inner room. "I'm fine, don't worry about me."
Ms. Zhang's eyes went wide with shock.
It was Chloe Zhu!
"You... you're really okay?" A shadow flickered in Ms. Zhang's eyes.
"Yep," Chloe replied with a smile.
"Master Chloe, how's the prince?" The Princess Consort looked at her, eyes full of hope.
"He's cured!" Chloe Zhu announced. "He'll never suffer another relapse, Princess Consort. You can rest easy now."
"Thank you so much!" The Princess Consort cried, grabbing Chloe's hands. "You're a lifesaver for our royal family!"
"Please don't say that, Princess Consort," Chloe replied. "Prince Charles was hit with the Corpsewine Hex—someone did this to him. You and the prince should be extra careful."
"Of course!" The Princess Consort nodded. "Chloe, is it alright if I call you that?"
Chloe nodded, smiling.
"Ever since my son got sick, he nearly gave up hope so many times. It was unbearable!" The Princess Consort's eyes were red. "Now that you've cured him, whatever you want—just ask! If I can do it, it's yours!"
Chloe shook her head. "Princess Consort, I get how you feel, but as a Spiritual Alchemist, it's my job to help people. You really don't need to go this far."
"No way, I have to thank you! How about this: if you don't mind, would you let me make you my goddaughter?"
Goddaughter...
The Changyang Royal Mansion is the Empress Dowager's family home, one of the most powerful clans in the Eastern Luo Empire. If Chloe became the Princess Consort's goddaughter, she'd gain a powerful ally against Bianca Whiteshire.
"Well then... I'd be honored!"
"Oh, my sweet girl!" The Princess Consort took off her Celestial Spirit Jade bracelet and handed it to Chloe as a token of their bond.