Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

The next day, sure enough, was a beautiful day.

The autumn air was crisp and clear, and sunlight streamed in through the dilapidated windows of the cold palace, bringing a touch of warmth.

But the entire Cold Palace was filled with a somber atmosphere.

Before dawn, Wang Fu and his men swept the yard again, even cleaning up the cobwebs in the corners. The few half-dead chrysanthemums were moved to the most conspicuous spot, and some water was even sprinkled on them to help the wilted petals perk up.

"Listen up, all of you!" Wang Fu, hands on his hips, shrieked, "The Imperial Concubine is passing by at three-quarters past Chen hour (7:45 AM). No one is allowed to leave their room, make a sound, or obstruct her! Do you hear me?"

The eunuchs responded in unison, "We heard you!"

Jinshu, inside the house, peeked through the crack in the door, her teeth itching with anger: "That scoundrel who relies on his master's power..."

Shen Qingci sat leaning against the headboard, her face still covered in stove ash, her lips deliberately painted white with herbal juice. Her eyes were closed, as if she were resting, but her senses had already been silently released.

Everything was clear within a ten-zhang radius.

Wang Fu paced back and forth in the courtyard, occasionally adjusting his collar—he had changed into a half-new eunuch's robe today and had even combed his hair.

Although the eunuchs were standing, their eyes darted around, clearly indicating that they were all thinking different things.

Further away, the faint sounds of drums and footsteps could be heard, slowly approaching from the east.

Getting closer.

At 3:45 AM sharp.

The sound of orderly footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, followed by a eunuch's loud announcement: "The Imperial Concubine has arrived!"

The door opened.

It wasn't the dilapidated door of the Cold Palace, but the main gate of the courtyard.

First came eight palace maids, standing on either side. Then came four eunuchs, carrying incense burners, whisks, and other items. Finally, Liu Ruyan was surrounded in the center.

Today she wore a light purple palace dress, embroidered with large hibiscus flowers, the hem of which trailed on the ground. Her hair was styled in an exquisite updo, adorned with gold hairpins and pearl flowers, and jade earrings dangled from her earlobes. Her makeup was flawless, her eyes sparkling with spring, and she resembled a blooming peony, delicate and alluring.

Wang Fu knelt down with a thud: "This servant kowtows to Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine!"

All the eunuchs in the courtyard knelt down.

Liu Ruyan didn't stop walking and went straight to the center of the courtyard.

Her gaze slowly swept over the dilapidated cold palace, finally landing on the door of Shen Qingci's room.

A smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"I heard that Sister Shen is not feeling well, so I came to visit her today since I was passing by." Her voice was soft, and it sounded like she was genuinely concerned.

Inside the room, Shen Qingci still kept her eyes closed.

Jinshu knelt by the bed, head bowed, her hands trembling.

Liu Ruyan didn't care that no one responded and continued walking forward on her own.

I walked to the door and stopped.

The door was ajar, and through the crack, one could see the simple furnishings inside and the thin figure on the bed.

"Sister Shen," Liu Ruyan's voice softened further, "I brought some tonics with me, you..."

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly raised her hand and gently brushed her forehead with her sleeve—a gesture that revealed the jade bracelet on her wrist.

The bracelet is made of top-quality old mine jadeite, entirely emerald green, with excellent translucency. Under the sunlight, it gleams with a warm, lustrous sheen.

The key point is that there is a small "烨" character engraved on the inside of the bracelet.

That was Nangong Ye's private seal.

"Oh dear," Liu Ruyan seemed to only then notice, and smiled apologetically, "His Majesty bestowed this upon me a few days ago. He said it was made of material from the Western Regions, and the craftsmen worked overnight to make it. It's a bit too big for me, but His Majesty said... he just likes to see me wearing things he gives me."

As she spoke, she deliberately rotated her wrist to make the bracelet even more dazzling in the sunlight.

Inside the room, Jinshu was so angry that her nails dug into her palms.

Shen Qingci remained motionless.

But inside her lower abdomen, the fetus suddenly kicked hard!

The force was so great that Shen Qingci almost groaned out.

Is this little guy... angry?

Liu Ruyan didn't hear any movement and wasn't annoyed. Instead, she took two steps closer, lowered her voice, and said with a touch of tender reminiscence, "Speaking of which, His Majesty has never been interested in jewelry. This is the first time he's ever specially gifted me some. The last time he put this much effort into it was three years ago..."

She paused, as if recalling some fond memories.

"Three years ago at the Jiangnan Imperial Palace, an assassin fired a stray arrow, aiming straight for His Majesty's heart. I didn't think of anything at the time and just rushed forward." Her voice softened, still trembling with lingering fear. "The arrow struck his shoulder blade, just three inches from his heart. The imperial physician said that if it had been any more off, he would have been dead."

"His Majesty held me, who was covered in blood, and stayed by my side in the palace all night. When the imperial physician changed my dressing, his eyes were red, and he said... 'Ruyan, if anything happens to you, I will never forgive myself for the rest of my life.'"

She spoke with great emotion.

The courtyard was completely silent, save for the gentle echo of her voice.

Wang Fu knelt on the ground, burying his head even lower.

Inside the room, Shen Qingci finally opened her eyes.

Through the crack in the door, she saw the smugness that Liu Ruyan couldn't hide beneath her exquisite makeup.

I also noticed the fleeting glint of calculation in her eyes as she spoke.

Use it as a shield.

three years ago.

The Imperial Palace in Jiangnan.

opportunity.

What a coincidence!

Shen Qingci quickly analyzed in her mind: Nangong Ye was on a southern tour, and the palace was heavily guarded. How could an assassin have managed to shoot a cold arrow? And not only that, Liu Ruyan "just happened" to block it?

Moreover, the arrow wound was in the shoulder blade, three inches from the heart—a distance that made the injury appear serious but was not actually fatal.

It was so perfect, it was like...a rehearsal.

Of course, these are just speculations.

No evidence.

But Shen Qingci trusted her intuition.

This woman is definitely not simple.

Just as I was thinking this, the fetus kicked me hard again!

This time the force was greater, and Shen Qingci even felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen.

She quickly placed her hand over it and gently comforted him.

At the same time, he used his senses to "see" Liu Ruyan.

Upon that "look," her gaze sharpened slightly.

There's something on Liu Ruyan's body.

Hidden inside her garment, close to her skin, was a tiny sachet. Inside the sachet was not perfume, but a black pill, about the size of a fingernail.

The pill emitted a very faint, cold aura.

It is similar to "The Death of a Beautiful Woman", but there are some differences.

Is it another kind of poison?

Or... the antidote?

Shen Qingci calmly withdrew his senses.

Liu Ruyan had finished recounting her "wonderful memories" and was looking into the room, waiting for Shen Qingci's reaction.

But Shen Qingci simply closed her eyes again.

It was as if they hadn't heard at all.

Liu Ruyan's smile froze.

But she quickly regained her gentle demeanor: "Sister Shen is probably quite ill and can't hear me clearly. So be it..."

She turned around, about to leave, but suddenly stopped.

He turned around and his gaze lingered on Shen Qingci's face for a few seconds.

His brow furrowed very slightly.

Your complexion... seems a little better than last time?

Although still pale, the lifeless bluish-gray hue had faded somewhat, and although the lips appeared white due to the coating, there was a faint hint of blood beneath the lip color.

Is it just my imagination?

still is……

Liu Ruyan's eyes darkened.

But she didn't say anything, only instructing Wang Fu: "Take good care of Sister Shen. If there's anything you need... just come to Chunxi Palace to report."

That's a very considerate way of putting it.

But Wang Fu understood the subtext: Keep a close eye on things, and report any unusual activity immediately.

"This servant understands!" Wang Fu kowtowed.

Liu Ruyan took one last look at the broken door, turned around, and left surrounded by palace maids.

The footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

The sound of drums and music had faded into the distance.

The courtyard fell silent again.

Wang Fu got up from the ground, brushed the dirt off his knees, and spat, "Bad luck!"

Then he left with his people.

The door closed.

Jinshu finally dared to raise her head, her eyes red-rimmed: "Your Majesty, she... she's bullying me too much..."

Shen Qingci sat up and wiped the soot off her face.

"Jinshu," she said calmly, "go get some hot water, I need to wash my face."

"Oh? But Your Majesty, your complexion..."

"I just want her to look better." Shen Qingci's lips curled into a cold smile. "Hasn't she become suspicious? Then let her be even more suspicious."

"Why?" Jinshu asked, puzzled.

"Suspicion breeds ghosts." Shen Qingci looked out the window in the direction Liu Ruyan had left. "The more suspicious she is, the more she will take action. And her actions... will reveal her weaknesses."

She wanted to force Liu Ruyan to take action.

It made her impatient.

Force her to make a mistake.

Jinshu seemed to understand, but she still went to prepare hot water.

Shen Qingci leaned against the headboard, gently stroking her lower abdomen.

Those two kicks were really hard.

"Little one," she whispered, "you think that woman is disgusting too, don't you?"

The fetus moved slightly, as if in response.

Then, that warm current began to flow slowly again, as if comforting her, or as if saying:

Mother, don't be afraid.

I will protect you.

Shen Qingci smiled.

Although the smile was faint.

But this was the first time she had truly laughed since she transmigrated.

"Okay," she said softly, "Let's do it together."

"Wait for that woman's weakness."

"Wait until she... digs her own grave."

Outside the window, the sun is shining brightly.

Liu Ruyan, who had already gone far away, sat in the sedan chair, playing with the jade bracelet on her wrist.

His brows remained furrowed.

Shen Qingci's expression just now...

Did she see it wrong?

Or...did that bitch find a way to cure the poison?

impossible.

There is no solution to the question "The beauty of youth has faded".

unless……

She suddenly remembered something, and her eyes sharpened.

"Haru Xing."

"This servant is here."

"Go and check if anyone has been sending medicine to the Cold Palace recently. Imperial physicians, eunuchs, palace maids... don't miss a single one."

"Yes."

Liu Ruyan lowered the sedan curtain, her face darkening.

If Shen Qingci really finds a way to cure the poison...

Then she has to speed things up.

Before the baby in her belly was discovered.

Before she... turned over.

Nip it in the bud.