Chapter 200: Your Servant Comes to Poison

Wan Tang acted as if she hadn't heard, her eyes settled on those little trinkets.

She sincerely praised, "This little wooden horse is truly adorable, and the little chair is also exquisite."

She saw a finished wooden horse, polished smooth and lacquered, and brought Minghui close, "Minghui, look, do you like it?"

The little Princess babbled and stretched out her tiny hand, clutching the wooden horse's ear tightly.

In her other hand she still held that plump peach‑wood sword, clearly loving it very much.

Wan Tang lifted her eyes to Hui Guifei, her smile bright, "Sister, look, Minghui doesn't want to let go of what he likes!"

Hui Guifei let out a light hum, her chin slightly raised, showing full haughty cuteness.

She casually picked up the wooden horse from beside her and handed it over without even looking.

In a condescending tone she said, "Hmph, just in time there's a ruined defective piece, I'll give it to her."

Rewarding someone with a defective piece is undoubtedly a great humiliation.

The Guanren behind Wan Tang instantly showed embarrassment, daring not to breathe.

The scene froze in awkwardness for a moment, Shei also dared not speak.

Wan Tang is someone even the Empress must fear; could she swallow this insult?

Only Ning Daying couldn't help muttering softly, "Where is it defective?"

"Clearly it's something sister and I have been working on for days."

"Sister worked so diligently, every burr polished clean…"

The more she spoke, the softer her voice became, yet it was clear enough: "The appearance of this little horse is still based on sister's several days of consulting the Luban Book and drawing it herself."

"Not just within the palace, the entire Capital can't find a second one."

"You're so talkative!" Hui Guifei, angry and embarrassed, grabbed a fruit and precisely shoved it into Ning Daying's mouth.

She said in a harsh tone, "Looks like you've eaten too much!"

Ning Daying spat out the fruit, stuck out their tongue, and finally behaved.

Wan Tang looked at that unique, meticulously polished wooden horse.

Then she looked at the slightly reddened ears of the feigning‑cold Hui Guifei, whose eyes were filled with genuine smile and gratitude.

Wan Tang smiled at Ning Daying, "Sister Ning, I brought some ingredients, let's heat them here at noon and dine together."

"Really?" Ning Daying's eyes lit up, she exclaimed joyfully, "I've long heard that Virtuous Consort sister's cooking is unparalleled, even the Emperor can't stop praising it."

"I didn't expect I'd also have a feast! Sister, come quickly, the little kitchen is this way!"

She affectionately pulled Wan Tang to leave.

Wan Tang followed for two steps, then suddenly stopped, as if just remembering something.

She turned and smiled at the still‑stern‑faced Hui Guifei, "Minghui is still young, the kitchen smoke is heavy; bringing him over might not be good."

"Then I trouble Sister Hui to watch him for a moment."

Having said that, she directly shoved the babbling Minghui in her arms into Hui Guifei's embrace!

Caught off guard, Hui Guifei caught the soft bundle, and her whole body froze.

Flustered, she supported the child, her voice changed: "Hey! You! How could this palace ever look after a child?! Take it away quickly!"

She tried to shove the child back, but Wan Tang had already stepped back a few paces.

Hui Guifei, both angry and frantic, shouted at Wan Tang's retreating figure, "Wan Tang! I warn you!"

"If you dare not take responsibility and toss this little trouble spirit to me, I truly won't care about its life or death!"

Unfortunately, no matter how she shouted, Wan Tang and Ning Daying merely smiled and quickened their steps, disappearing around the corridor corner in an instant.

What made Hui Guifei even more stunned was that all the Guanren and eunuchs Wan Tang brought, including the wet nurse, also discreetly and silently withdrew, leaving not a single one behind!

In the empty courtyard, only the dashing Hui Guifei remained.

She stiffly held a delicately carved, jade‑like little child, curiously clutching her sleeve and drooling, her face full of helplessness and disbelief.

Hui Guifei, holding Minghui, cautiously looked left and right several times.

She confirmed that those obtrusive Guanren had indeed retreated completely, leaving not even a shadow.

Only then did her tense shoulders relax slightly.

She lowered her head, looking at the little dumpling in her arms, whose big black eyes were wide open, curiously examining her.

The soft, plump little body nestled against her, its milky warmth seeping through the fabric.

Hui Guifei's usually sharp brows and eyes softened at a visibly perceptible speed.

She carefully adjusted her posture to let Minghui lie more comfortably, and her fingertips lightly poked Minghui's chubby cheek.

"Tsk," she muttered disdainfully, but genuine amusement shone in her eyes, "Why so plump, like a leavened bun."

Minghui, tickled by the poke, giggled "giggling", his little hand flailed wildly and grabbed a strand of her falling hair.

"Hey! Little thing still has some vigor!"

Hui Guifei winced, yet didn't forcefully pull away; instead she lowered her head and gently nudged Minghui's forehead with her nose tip.

Her voice, a tenderness she herself hadn't noticed, said, "Soft and fragrant, softer than that egg."

She seemed to have discovered a novel toy, cradling Minghui and strolling slowly around the courtyard.

At times mimicking a cat's meow, at times making a grimace, completely shedding her usual decisive ruthlessness.

Instead she resembled a big child with a newly cherished toy, playing with boundless joy.

"Little dumpling, why are you so obedient!"

"Hmm? Give me a smile for this palace to see?"

"Much cuter than your mother."

She whispered teasingly, wholly immersed in interacting with the little dumpling, forgetting time and everything around.

That soft, homely demeanor, impossible for outsiders to ever witness, would surely drop jaws if anyone else saw it.

Ahhh, my Hui Guifei, I love you to death.

Oh my god, look at how she treats Minghui—she's a textbook child slave!

What a loving scene.

Wan Tang is cooking, listening to the Barrage sounds, a smile tugging at her lips.

She is not wrong; this step, she took it correctly.

From the moment she saw Hui Guifei's attitude toward Minghui, Wan Tang knew that, in Hui Guifei's eyes, Minghui was different.

There is no one who doesn't like a quiet, soft little baby; if anyone still doesn't, just give her a smile.

They were having fun when faint footsteps and laughter drifted in from outside the courtyard.

Hui Guifei's complexion suddenly changed, and the previously gentle smile vanished completely.

She, almost flustered, gently placed Minghui onto the nearby chair padded with a soft cushion.

She then swiftly returned to the main seat, lifted her teacup, and assumed an ice‑cold demeanor that rejected anyone from afar, chin slightly raised, gaze distant.

Minghui, after being set down abruptly, whined discontentedly, reaching a small hand toward her, wanting another hug.

Hui Guifei, however, stiffened her neck, not even glancing that way, as if it were just an inconsequential ornament.

Ning Daying entered and saw the scene, her heart aching.

She hurried forward, scooped Minghui into her arms, and gently coaxed.

She couldn't help reproaching, "Sister! How could you treat Minghui like that?"

"She is still a little baby!"

Hui Guifei snorted coldly, her tone haughty and indifferent: "I have long said, the consequences are yours to bear."

"She threw herself to me; who can be blamed?"

Wan Tang seemed to hear none of their conversation, her face still bearing a gentle, appropriate smile.

She, concentrating, arranged the dishes from the food box one by one, and softly called, "The dishes are ready, come and eat."

The three of them took their seats.

Ning Daying ate without even raising her head, repeatedly exclaiming, "Delicious! Truly exquisite!"

"Virtuous Consort sister, your cooking is even better than the Imperial Kitchen chefs!"

Wan Tang smiled, her tone even: "How could it compare to the Imperial Kitchen chefs."

"They're just simple home dishes."

"It's just that the dishes from the Imperial Kitchen undergo multiple inspections and deliveries; by the time they're served, most are already cold, losing their optimal flavor."

"Many dishes are at their best right when they leave the pot."

Ning Daying suddenly understood: "So that's why!"

"No wonder the food in the Imperial Palace always seemed lacking; sister, you must come often from now on!"

She then looked at the upright, expressionless Hui Guifei beside her, pinched a piece of vegetable and placed it into her bowl.

She said cautiously, "Sister, you try some too; it's truly delicious."

Hui Guifei glanced at the vegetable, then quickly scanned the Wan Tang who was gently feeding Minghui.

Glancing at the dish in her bowl, she said in a sharp voice, "I won't eat this. Who knows what shouldn't have been added inside?"

Ning Daying laughed awkwardly, "Sister, what are you saying? I've eaten so much, and I'm still fine."

Hui Guifei raised a finger and gave her a brain‑bang: "You have a big heart and a hard fate."

Ning Daying awkwardly stuck out her tongue.

Having been in the palace for so many years, it has always been Hui Guifei who protected her well.

If it were her herself, she truly wouldn't know how many times she had died.

Hui Guifei turned her gaze, eyes sharp as she looked at the ever‑smiling Wan Tang.

Her tone, scrutinizing, "Former Dynasty's filthy affairs, I have no interest."

"But I know it was the Emperor himself who went to Kunning Palace to pull you out. That's right, isn't it?"

Wan Tang smiled without replying, which counted as tacit consent.

Hui Guifei continued, "I don't care how you acted before."

"All I see is that the Virtuous Consort's favor is now strong, and she is unrivaled in prestige."

"Even against the Empress, she dares to leverage her favor to contend a bit."

She leaned slightly, eyes blazing, "I don't think you are someone who can swallow grievances and be easily manipulated."

Wan Tang's smile unchanged, she gently nodded, "Sage eyes, Noble Consort sister."

"Indeed, I have some unavoidable leverage that ended up in the Empress's hands."

"Now, truly there are hardships that are hard to speak of."

Hui Guifei snorted, "Hm," she sneered, "Since that's the case, the Empress sent someone to deliver a 'thing' to you, yet you turned and came to me instead."

"Such diligence, it's hard for me to believe that what you brought has no problem."

Ning Daying's eyes widened to circles as she listened, food still in her mouth, she blurted incompletely, "Sister! How do you know everything?!"

"Aren't we together every day?!"

Wan Tang gently wiped her mouth corner, her tone even: "Hui Guifei's eyes and ears reach the heavens; palace affairs naturally have few that can evade her."

"Indeed!" Ning Daying proudly puffed out her chest, grabbed another chopstickful of food and shoved it into her mouth, chewing while muttering, "Even so, you still can't suspect the Virtuous Consort sister of poisoning."

"Sister, I'm not blaming you; between people there must be some trust."

"You see, you're so stifled in the palace because no one trusts anyone…"

She kept rambling, while Wan Tang gently placed a small jet‑black porcelain bottle on the table.

The motion was gentle, yet it silenced all sound abruptly.

Ning Daying, like a curious baby, asked, "What is this?"

"Poison!"

Wan Tang lifted her eyes, looked at the Hui Guifei, whose expression had instantly vanished, her voice still gentle, but the words were earth‑shattering:

"Sister is right."

"Subject today, indeed came to administer poison."