Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Give Her a Taste of Her Own Medicine It was only when Danyun voiced her curiosity that Ling Jiayue remembered that, during the fight with the assassins just now, she had accidentally injured Ling Yuwan. When Ling Yuwan fell, some powder had spilled from her arms. Ling Jiayue gestured for Lingxue and Danyun to help Ling Yuwan onto the bed, while she went to examine the powder scattered across the floor. She pinched up a bit of it, rubbed it between her fingers, and then smelled it. Ling Jiayue discovered that the powder’s scent was astonishingly similar to that of the powder in the sachet Ling Yuwan had given her last time. Ling Jiayue instructed, “Lingxue, go look for the sachet Yuwan gave me.” “Yes, Miss.” Before long, Lingxue found it among the clothes Ling Jiayue had changed out of. Lingxue respectfully presented the sachet to Ling Jiayue. Ling Jiayue smelled the scent on the sachet, then smelled the powder on the floor. The more she compared them, the more similar they seemed. Suddenly, she tore the sachet open, spilling all the powder inside. “Just as I thought—they’re exactly the same,” Ling Jiayue said. “Miss, is there something wrong with this powder?” Lingxue asked curiously when she saw Ling Jiayue tear open the sachet. “I tore it open precisely because I don’t know what’s wrong with it. I wanted to see what the problem is. Why did she happen to be carrying the same powder when she followed me here to change clothes?” Ling Jiayue pondered, wondering what Ling Yuwan’s purpose could be. Ling Jiayue thought it over again and again, but could not figure it out. She could only wait until Ling Yuwan woke up and ask her. “Miss Ling, why not let me take a look?” Feng Yan said thoughtfully as he examined the powder. Ling Jiayue handed him the opened sachet. Feng Yan lowered his head and smelled it, then rubbed some of the powder between his fingers before saying with certainty, “Indeed, there’s no mistake.” “What? You recognize this powder? Is there something improper about it?” Since her rebirth, Ling Jiayue had endured one setback after another, so it was only natural that she had become more guarded. Even toward Ling Yuwan, who looked as harmless as a white rabbit, she was not entirely trusting. “Reporting to Miss Ling, there is nothing improper about the powder itself. It is medicinal powder made by grinding excellent herbs that nourish the body and replenish the qi. It’s just…” Feng Yan hesitated as he spoke. “If you have something to say, say it plainly.” Ling Jiayue’s voice remained calm. Even if she knew Ling Yuwan intended to harm her, she was not afraid in the slightest. “It’s just that this powder has one harmful effect. When wearing it, one must never go near horses. Horses cannot smell this powder. Once they do, they are liable to go berserk. If someone wears a sachet filled with this powder while riding a horse, the horse can easily throw them off.” Feng Yan paused, then continued, “A horse that has gone berserk is difficult to control in the first place. If it throws someone off, the person may suffer broken bones at best—or lose their life at worst.” After hearing Feng Yan’s explanation, Ling Jiayue remained quite calm. Lingxue, however, said indignantly, “Miss, the women at the peach-blossom banquet compete in horseback riding and calligraphy. If you wore this sachet while riding, how could things possibly end well? Miss Yuwan’s intentions are truly vicious!” “Miss Lingxue, there is no need to worry so much. This poison powder stimulates horses, but ordinary people would not know that. Moreover, it is indeed greatly beneficial to the human body. Perhaps Miss Yuwan simply failed to notice,” Feng Yan consoled her. The moment Feng Yan saw Lingxue become anxious, he could not help feeling distressed, which was why he spoke up to comfort her. Hearing Feng Yan say this, Ling Jiayue smiled. “That’s right. If I had really worn this sachet and something had happened, she could have claimed that she did not know. And since the poison powder is so beneficial to the body, no matter how one explained it, at most it would merely be a case of her good intentions causing harm. What a truly clever plan.” Ling Jiayue looked toward Ling Yuwan on the bed, her gaze growing increasingly dark. “It seems that, aside from the Ziqi sisters, the person in this residence who hates me most is Ling Yuwan.” “Miss, should we…” Danyun made a gesture across her throat. Lingxue’s heart jolted at the sight. She was a household-born servant of the Ling Residence and had never seen human blood, much less anyone as decisive and ruthless as Danyun. Ling Jiayue instead gave Danyun an approving glance. The road of revenge had never been easy. Having a maid who was this decisive could only be a good thing. However, she gently shook her head and called out to Feng Yan, “You, come here.” Feng Yan approached as instructed, and Ling Jiayue quietly told him, “Go find these medicinal ingredients and grind them into powder. I have a use for them.” “Yes, Miss.” Feng Yan accepted the order and left. “Lingxue, go find a clean riding outfit worn by Ling Yuwan.” “Yes, Miss.” Lingxue left as well. As Lingxue was leaving, she accidentally caught her foot on the threshold. She was about to fall, while Danyun and Ling Jiayue were standing too far away to reach her in time. Just as Lingxue was about to hit the floor, a pair of large hands reached out and firmly caught her around the waist. “Miss Lingxue, watch your step.” Feng Yan steadied her as he spoke. Lingxue had never been so intimately close to a man before, and her face flushed red. “Thank you, Feng Yan.” Feng Yan had also never seen Lingxue looking so delicate and charming. He stared at her in a daze until Danyun gave a light cough, at which point the two of them abruptly came to their senses. Feng Yan hurriedly released Lingxue, who ran out with a crimson face. Feng Yan coughed lightly and followed her out. Only Ling Jiayue and Danyun remained in the room. The two exchanged a smile, and Ling Jiayue teased, “Oh, dear. It really is true that daughters grow up and can’t be kept at home.” Danyun said nothing, merely smiling. Before long, Feng Yan and Lingxue returned. Feng Yan carried the poison powder Ling Jiayue had requested, while Lingxue held a set of clothes and trousers. Lingxue asked curiously, “Miss, what are you planning to do?” “Your Miss intends to give her a taste of her own medicine. Lingxue, change Ling Yuwan into these clothes. Then mend this sachet. I’m going to wear it.” Ling Jiayue smiled as she spoke. “Miss, please don’t wear this harmful sachet.” Lingxue pouted in protest. “Miss Ling, Miss Ling must have her reasons for doing this,” Feng Yan consoled her. “That’s right, I have my reasons. Just do as I say. Change her clothes first,” Ling Jiayue said. “Feng Yan, you may return first,” Ling Jiayue instructed. “Yes, Miss Ling.” Feng Yan acknowledged her and left. Before long, Lingxue had changed Ling Yuwan into the new clothes. Just as she was preparing to mend the sachet, Ling Jiayue stopped her. “Wait.” “Miss, what is it?” “Scatter all the powder from this sachet over Ling Yuwan’s clothes. Then fill the sachet with the poison powder I had Feng Yan find and sew it back up,” Ling Jiayue instructed. “Miss, you’re…” “I’m going to make her suffer from her own scheme. Just go,” Ling Jiayue ordered. Before long, Lingxue had done as Ling Jiayue instructed. However, the scent did not linger for long after the powder was scattered over Ling Yuwan’s clothes, so Ling Jiayue had Lingxue dissolve the poison powder in water and lightly sprinkle it over Ling Yuwan’s body.