Chapter 6: Speaking of Kindness

“Princess!”

“Your Highness!”

Several people sprang to their feet immediately, but Wen Zhiyan remained calmly seated, quietly wiping the blood splattered on her clothes and face.

Li Youwei coughed up mouthfuls of fresh blood facing her. The scene involuntarily reminded her of the day her mother took her own life, the warm blood splattering on her face, blurring her vision.

“It was you!” Li Youwei pointed at Wen Zhiyan, then suddenly turned to the table laden with pastries and tea, her voice sharp. “These foods are poisoned!”

“What?” Chang Wei immediately threw away the pastry in his hand. A porcelain cup fell from a height, hitting the ground with a crisp sound.

Li Honghui’s expression grew dark and uncertain. He took a deep breath and asked Wen Zhiyan, “Zhiyan, did you poison the Eldest Princess?”

Wen Zhiyan met his gaze and shook her head openly. “Zhiyan did not poison the Princess.”

“Then what’s happening to me!” Li Youwei refused to believe it. “There must be something wrong with the food you gave me.”

Wen Zhiyan nodded. “Zhiyan poisoned everyone.”

“What!”

Their faces changed instantly. Suddenly, a drop of dark red blood fell onto the table. Li Honghui felt a moistness at his nose and wiped it with the back of his hand, causing blood to trickle down.

Song Baiqing looked puzzled. “What do you mean, Zhiyan? Plotting against the royal family is a capital offense!”

“You flatter me, Lord Song,” Wen Zhiyan gently corrected him. “Zhiyan died long ago on the road to exile. Now, without identity or name, I cannot be punished.”

Just as Song Baiqing was about to speak, Wen Zhiyan added, “What a pity.”

“A pity for what?” Li Honghui stared intently at Wen Zhiyan.

“Of course, a pity for Lord Song’s moon-white silk garment. It looks terrible stained with blood.”

Wen Zhiyan calculated the timing, and at her words, a drop of blood indeed fell on Song Baiqing’s chest.

Song Baiqing wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, but more kept flowing. He looked at Wen Zhiyan bewilderedly, as if clueless about why he suddenly suffered this unjust fate.

---

Nearby, Chang Wei knelt on the ground, fingers digging into his throat, trying to vomit what he had eaten.

“You vile woman! What did you feed us?” Chang Wei cursed furiously.

Had he spoken those words just fifteen minutes earlier, his head surely would have been severed by Li Honghui’s hand. But now, Li Honghui seemed more concerned about whether his own head would remain intact.

“Yan’er, stop this. Give us the antidote quickly,” Li Honghui’s tone was as casual as before, as if he didn’t care at all, as if Wen Zhiyan had only taken something insignificant.

“Wen Zhiyan, hand over the antidote now, and I will spare your life,” Li Youwei glared fiercely, bringing up what Wen Zhiyan cared about most. “I can help you relocate your mother’s and sisters’ remains, so they may rest in peace.”

“The Princess knows me well,” Wen Zhiyan smiled again. “You’ve miscalculated. Zhiyan already moved my mother’s and sisters’ remains to a properI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.