Chapter 29: What Should Be Done

Jade briefly explained her purpose for coming, but it immediately aroused Concubine Wan’s suspicion. She shot her a displeased glare, “Did Rongfei truly send you here? Knowing you’re ill, why would he insist you come?”

Because of their unusual partnership, Concubine Wan couldn’t help but be wary, her brows furrowing as she began to question Jade, “Have you been discovered?”

This was no minor matter—if it were true, then amidst this conflagration, yet another innocent life might be lost.

Hearing this, Jade shook her head in panic, “Please don’t misunderstand, I haven’t been discovered. My injury isn’t for nothing, and I even helped that assassin escape before—surely that’s proof enough!”

Concubine Wan scoffed, seeing through the situation, “You did it for yourself, didn’t you? That man was desperate, ready to bring everyone down with him. If you hadn’t called out, he would have had no other way but death.” She hadn’t expected the sort of person she’d recruited as a killer.

If the roots weren’t severed, she herself might be dragged down in the end.

Thinking of that man, she glanced again at the raging fire, her uneasy heart easing a little. “Now that the trouble’s dealt with, no one will dare threaten me again.”

There was a hidden meaning in her words, and Jade’s expression changed. “Your Grace, what do you mean? Was the fire not an accident, but rather… an attempt to silence someone?”

She, too, found it odd—the humidity here was heavy, how could a fire break out for no reason?

Concubine Wan didn’t reply. Instead, she reached out a slender finger, her painted nail gently lifting Jade’s chin. Her beauty was like a poppy flower, dangerous and alluring. “Listen well—your first duty in this palace is to mind your own business. Knowing too much only leads to an unmarked grave.”

The consequences lay plainly before them—the fire was being doused with water, yet many beams and tiles had already been burned through.

After all, the bodies inside were charred beyond recognition.

Jade trembled in fear, not daring to speak further. She quickly stammered, “Please rest assured, Your Grace. I am utterly loyal to you, only wishing to earn enough to leave and marry. I would never betray you!”

“That’s best.” Concubine Wan nodded in satisfaction, then yawned again. “You’ve come here today likely at that woman’s arrangement—she must suspect you. So long as she lives, your danger grows. You know what must be done, don’t you?”

As she spoke, Concubine Wan drew a packet of powder from her sleeve and forced it into Jade’s hand.

The chill of spring awakened a deep sense of dread, as if a demon had crawled out of hell.

Jade gritted her teeth and finally yielded. “I understand, Your Grace. Please rest assured, I will get it done!”

“Good, go back and report as needed. You’re clever enough to know what to say.” Concubine Wan yawned again, unwilling to pursue the matter further—today’s fire had been exceptionally satisfying.

Jade returned and gave a perfunctory report on the fire, uttering a few words of reassurance.

But Concubine Wan’s warning left Jade uneasy. On her way back, she kept stealing glances at Flower’s face. “Could Her Grace really have noticed? If so, then…”

Jade’s heart twisted with torment. She had never imagined she would one day be forced to kill Flower herself, but now it seemed inevitable.

Clutching the packet of poison, Jade sank into deep contemplation. “Forgive me, Your Grace. I only wish for freedom—I have no choice.”

When Flower returned, she loudly complained of hunger. Jade went back to her room to rest, pretending not to care, while secretly watching for an opportunity in the kitchen, but none presented itself.

She had to wait until morning. Rising early, Jade went to the kitchen and added the powder to the ingredients ahead of time.

“Forgive me, Your Grace. I have no other way. Please, let this be my deliverance!”

In any case, few women in this deep palace ever lived out their days in peace, least of all someone like Flower, who neither fought nor schemed, naively pushing herself away from the Emperor. What good days could await her?

So Jade always felt that she was merely seeking a better life for herself. It wasn’t so wrong—after all, if one doesn’t act for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy them.

Su Xin, who had watched Jade since yesterday, was now filled with inner conflict. “Who would have thought that someone who grew up serving Her Grace alongside me would harbor such wolfish ambition? I truly mistook you for a friend!”

Su Xin gritted her teeth and quickly returned to Flower’s side to report what she had seen.

Flower feigned calm, sitting at the table with the maids, but only Su Xin, Jade, and Flower herself remained.

Jade was puzzled. “Where are the other sisters? Why haven’t they come?”

Previously, all the maids ate together without so many rules. Now, with two absent, Jade felt uneasy—was it because she’d been discovered?

Su Xin quickly replied, “You’re worried about them, are you? Yesterday, they shirked their tasks and I caught them, so I punished them. When they finish yesterday’s work, they can come eat. I didn’t save them any food.”

Her words were sharp and biting—the suspicion was born of guilt, nothing more.

Jade had nothing to say, forcing a smile and awkwardly urging, “I see, then let’s eat quickly.”

“Of course. You’re still weak—these greens will help you recover. Today, you should eat them all.” Flower pushed the plate of vegetables toward Jade.

Jade’s face changed at these words, glancing at Flower’s smiling face in confusion. “Your Grace, aren’t these your favorite? You always say they’re homegrown and healthy. I wouldn’t dare touch them—it should be you who eats them!”

Precisely because Flower loved them, Jade had poisoned these vegetables, intending to avoid eating them herself and thus escape harm.

Yet she hadn’t expected things to unfold so abruptly.