“Replying to Your Highness, the porridge has red dates and longan in it. It’s sweet and quite tasty.”
“Really! I love drinking that too, especially the dates—they’re super delicious.”
Concubine Zheng cleared her throat twice and put on a stern face. “Your Highness, tell me honestly. The day you fainted—was someone poisoning your food?”
“I do not know. Xiao Cui brought the meal that day.”
Concubine Zheng dismissed the two palace maids behind her, then leaned closer and lowered her voice.
“Your Highness, let me tell you the truth. I was not the one who poisoned you.”
“I may not like you, but I would not resort to such methods.”
“But that poison… it was indeed meant for you.”
She paused, then added:
“I suspect it was someone close to Consort Sister.”
“But do not repeat this. I will not admit to it.”
Su Wenjun looked at her, her thoughts becoming even more complicated.
This woman, who appeared arrogant and overbearing on the surface, did not seem so simple after all.
“Consort…” she murmured.
“Thank you, Your Highness, for informing me.”
Seeing her calm reaction, Concubine Zheng grew a little anxious instead.
“What do you understand? I did not say anything—what do you understand?”
“I understand that Your Highness is a good person.”
Concubine Zheng froze, her face turning red with embarrassment and irritation.
“Who are you calling a good person! I came here to warn you, not to receive praise!”
“Yes, yes, I spoke out of turn.”
Holding back her frustration, Concubine Zheng stood up, paced around the room a couple of times, then sat down again.
Su Wenjun watched her circle the room.
“Your Highness,” she spoke softly.
Concubine Zheng stopped and looked at her warily. “What is it?”
“Did Consort Sister send you here today?”
Concubine Zheng’s gaze flickered.
“She… she does not know. She told me to come.”
“Then what did Consort Sister ask you to do?”
“Just to see whether you were dead, and also…”
Concubine Zheng faltered.
“And also what was it again?”
Consort Sister had said a long string of things, telling her to probe her attitude, to test her stance, and preferably extract some useful information.
…
She did not remember clearly anymore.
She only remembered the last sentence:
“Go. I will wait for your good news.”
Concubine Zheng lifted her head and forced out a sentence. “That is none of your concern.”
“Then since Your Highness has seen that I am fine, please return and report back.”
“Hmph.”
Concubine Zheng nodded, turned to leave, then suddenly stopped and looked back at Su Wenjun.
“Does Your Highness have anything else?”
Su Wenjun looked puzzled.
Concubine Zheng bit her lip, hesitated for a few seconds, then suddenly walked back quickly.
“A few days ago, Consort Sister had someone go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine to retrieve something. I do not know what it was, but… that person is her confidant.”
“They usually only handle message delivery. Be careful.”
After saying that, she pretended nothing had happened.
“I am leaving. Take care of yourself.”
Su Wenjun watched her figure disappear through the doorway, a faint smile forming on her lips.
This girl really had come to deliver information.
She needed to let Tiantian be more careful.
Su Wenjun sat back down on the soft couch.
Although Miss Zheng was arrogant and overbearing, and her attempt to show goodwill carried a probing intent, she was also sincere.
A person like that, if used well, could be helpful; if not, could cause trouble—
Because she simply did not have that much scheming in her.
But the problem now was, how to pass this information to Tiantian?
“Xiao Cui.”
“Madam, what is it?”
“Can you help me pass a message to Xiao Tao?”
“Please tell me.”
Su Wenjun lowered her voice. “Tell Xiao Tao to inform the Imperial Consort to be careful of what Consort Sister recently took from the Imperial Academy of Medicine.”
Xiao Cui blinked. “Madam… are you saying… someone wants to harm the Imperial Consort?”
“Just in case.”
Su Wenjun patted her hand. “Go quietly. Do not let anyone else know.”
Xiao Cui nodded, her expression turning serious. “I understand.”
“Also, Madam, Sister Xiao Tao recently accompanied the Imperial Consort to the outskirts. To deliver the message, we may have to wait until they return.”
“I see…”
Su Wenjun frowned.
After all, in this game, she was only a criminal woman, with no real authority.
This game was too realistic—so realistic it made one feel powerless.
Su Wenjun suddenly recalled when she had just started working.
Back then, it was the same—she thought of nothing else but following her supervisor, learning well, and treating patients properly.
How simple those days were.
“Alright, go back early and get some rest.”
“Yes.”
Xiao Cui stood up, carrying the tray toward the door. When she reached it, she turned back.
“Madam, it is cold at night. Cover yourself properly and do not catch a chill.”
Su Wenjun smiled and chose to log out.
It was exactly midnight.
At this hour, she would probably still be playing games or watching livestreams.
She planned to drink some water and then go to sleep.
She had just changed into her slippers when her vision suddenly went dark. She lost consciousness and collapsed onto the bed.
“Oh no, that one was on me, on me, on me.”
She casually pressed her head.
A pair of pink bunny-ear headphones rested on her head.