Poisonous Goddess: I'm just lazing around in the mortal realm.

The heavy rain pounded down, bending the back of the green parasol tree.

She buried her head deep in her hands. Although she could tell that An Ruyi intended to kill her, because it concerned matters of state, and her life was hanging by a thread, she could only continue to beg for mercy.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, this servant really cannot say."

"Is it that she can't say or doesn't want to say? Your Majesty, I think Aunt Qingwu is quite confused." Xiang'er's voice rang out at the right time, as if hitting An Ruyi's wavering heart with a heavy hammer.

An Ruyi slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. She gazed at the torrential rain, her heart unable to find peace for a long time.

She had noticed Qingwu's unusual behavior since she became pregnant, but she was still attached to the deep bond between master and servant that they had shared for more than ten years, and she wanted to deliberately deceive herself.

But what has she gained from this repeated indulgence?

Today, Qingwu can meet with the Emperor at night, but what about tomorrow?

I'm afraid that one day, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we'll step on her!

An Ruyi seemed to have finally made up her mind. She slowly lowered her eyes, her cold gaze falling on Qingwu.

"Qingwu, since you refuse to tell me the truth, then Yong'an Palace will not tolerate you. I suppose you've long since passed the age of leaving the palace by my side. How about I prepare a small gift for you and release you from the palace?"

She was ultimately soft-hearted; An Ruyi simply couldn't bring herself to harm the servant she had worked with for over ten years.

She knew that as long as Qingwu stayed away from the palace, a place of trouble, and away from her, Qingwu could live a good life. This was the only dignified ending she could give him.

"Your Majesty, Qingwu will never leave you. Qingwu knows she was wrong! Qingwu will never dare to do it again!"

Qingwu immediately kowtowed to her, fearing that if An Ruyi gave the order, she would have to leave the palace for good.

"Your Majesty, isn't this against the rules?"

A look of surprise crossed Xiang'er's face. She really didn't expect that the usually powerful Consort An would treat a maid who wanted to climb into the emperor's bed so kindly.

Her hand gripped the umbrella handle tightly, feigning a torrential downpour, and she deliberately moved closer to An Ruyi, lowering her voice to continue.

"Your Majesty, if Aunt Qingwu leaves the palace like this, I'm afraid the Emperor will remember her in the future... then Aunt will have to come back, won't she?"

"return?"

An Ruyi suddenly realized something. She turned her head and glanced at Xiang'er, her eyes clearly warning her that she knew Xiang'er was deliberately provoking her.

Upon seeing this, Xiang'er quickly lowered her head, fearing that An Ruyi's anger would affect her.

"Qingwu, I have a distant relative in Jianning. They live a relatively wealthy life. Since I've released you from the palace, why not marry you off there? That way, you'll become related to me."

“Jianning… no, Your Highness, this servant wants to stay by your side.”

A look of fear crossed Qingwu's face. She immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly. She didn't care about the fate of her worthless life.

But she knew that if she really left An Ruyi's side, her master would not let her family off the hook.

"Alright, this matter is settled. You should rest well today. Tomorrow morning, I will send someone to take you to Jianning."

An Ruyi's unquestionable voice came from above Qingwu's head. When she looked up, she saw the deep red color gradually disappearing in the rain.

The heavy rain washed over Qingwu's pale face, as if her plans of the past few years had all come to naught. She knelt on the ground, her eyes filled with astonishment.

No matter how much she planned, she never expected to end up like this.

Jianning was the most prosperous coastal city in Nanyang, and An Ruyi had finally taken a liking to her.

However, An Ruyi did not know that once Qingwu left her, Qingwu's only remaining sister would disappear from this world forever.

She staggered as she tried to stand up, but an oil-paper umbrella shielded half of her body.

"It's you?"

Qingwu stared at Xiang'er in astonishment. With her youthful and full face and her magnificent palace dress, it was clear that Xiang'er had already taken Qingwu's place in front of An Ruyi.

“Aunt Qingwu, Her Majesty instructed me to give you a bag of silver for protection. I suppose she will have to deliver food to the Emperor early tomorrow morning, so I’ll just have this servant tell you that you will leave the palace tonight.”

Xiang'er's confident demeanor only made Qingwu despise her.

"What...right do you have?"

Qingwu staggered a few steps. Although she was afraid of An Ruyi, An Ruyi had always regarded her as her sister. As for her, she had never dared to do anything to her.

"What makes me so special? It's just that I know how to seize opportunities, like the incense you tampered with, or your secret rendezvous with the Emperor and translating his secret messages?"

She raised her eyebrows slightly, her young and delicate face filled with arrogance.

It's as if this is her most authentic self.

"Did you betray me? Did you tell the Empress that I was translating secret letters for the Emperor? No... impossible... how could you know I was a southern barbarian?"

Qingwu shook her head, looking disheveled. In Xiang'er's eyes at that moment, she looked like a clown, making everyone burst into laughter.

"Impossible...impossible! Even Her Majesty doesn't know this, how could you know?"

Qingwu lowered her eyes to look at her disheveled appearance, then suddenly seemed to remember something. She gritted her teeth and raised her head, saying...

"who are you?"

"Who am I? I am Xiang'er, Aunt Qingwu."

Xiang'er's lips curled into a cold smile. She gently helped Qingwu up, then patted her palace dress with obvious disgust, as if she particularly disliked being in contact with Qingwu.

"What exactly is your purpose in approaching the Imperial Concubine? Now that you've driven me away, I'm not your target, am I?"

Qingwu's expression gradually calmed down. She forced herself to calm down in order to find Xiang'er's weakness.

But Xiang'er's little face showed no panic. Instead, she leaned closer to her and lowered her voice.

"Qingwu, the master said he no longer trusts you. Don't you understand why I'm the one who replaced you by An Ruyi's side? Or rather, why An Ruyi happened to run into you in the Imperial Study today?"

"you--"

Qingwu stared at Xiang'er in astonishment. She never expected that Xiang'er would be sent by her master!

Xiang'er raised her hand and gently smoothed her half-damp hair. Her performance today was so exquisite that she almost became immersed in it herself.

She smiled and curved her lips.

"My master has long seen that you have developed feelings for An Ruyi, and you cannot help him complete his mission no matter what. Since you are a useless pawn, staying by An Ruyi's side will only be a scourge to me sooner or later!"

Xiang'er raised her hand, her proud little face tilted up. She served An Ruyi so diligently, all for the sake of driving Qingwu out of the palace today.

"I'll go tell Her Majesty...I'll go find the Imperial Concubine..."

Qingwu pushed her away in disbelief, but unexpectedly, a dark figure rushed in front of the two of them and instantly restrained the restless Qingwu.