Yan Feng acknowledged with a yes, then leaped up directly and flew to their position in front of them.
“Her Highness requests your presence.”
From the moment Pei Ji landed, he stood in a defensive posture in front of Xie Wangze and Qingchen, reluctantly lifting his head to look toward Chu Yunge in the pavilion.
He had actually noticed someone in the pavilion earlier but pretended not to know because he did not want to speak to or meet Chu Yunge. Unexpectedly, he still could not escape it.
“Your Highness.”
Xie Wangze bowed in salute. Pei Ji reluctantly cupped his fists, while Qingchen remained mild-mannered: “Amitabha, Your Highness. Is Your head feeling better today?”
Compared to yesterday, his voice was slightly hoarse.
“He made you sick, and you’re still concerned about her?” Pei Ji could not help but complain.
Chu Yunge, whose mood was also somewhat complicated, thought of parting on good terms and reciprocity, so she spoke up: “No imperial physician? How did he fall ill just like that?”
“Just a bit of a chill. No matter.” Qingchen remained mild and said no more.
But Chu Yunge was no fool. She had already realized that Qingchen had fallen ill probably because of the drug she administered last night.
She ignored it and asked directly:
“Since it’s nothing serious, why are you still in the residence today? Did This Princess not tell you to leave?”
Pei Ji spoke first: “You dosed us all with Wish Fulfillment Poison. What do you mean by chasing us away now? Do you want us dead, or do you want us to beg you?”
When Chu Yunge heard the words “Wish Fulfillment Poison,” she urgently accessed her memories.
This was the aftereffect of transmigration. Although she had the princess’s memories, some things only surfaced when mentioned or seen.
Wish Fulfillment Poison was a bizarre thing formed by an insect and a plant growing together, with the plant as the controller and the insect as the dependent.
Once infected with a Wish Fulfillment Poison larva, one could never leave the other party. Over time, the larva would act up, causing unbearable pain.
As for the antidote method, it was clichéd intimate companionship and contact—the more intimate, the better, with zero-distance contact fully neutralizing it.
Originally, this was an evil invention by some men to force women to marry them. Once married and the woman lost her virginity, she would resign herself.
Beyond the physical level, there was also the mental one—gaining the other’s love or falling deeply in love with them oneself could soothe it effectively.
Of course, killing the other party also worked as an antidote, but it caused backlash: minor cases led to severe injury, major ones to death alongside the target. The risk was high.
After recalling what Wish Fulfillment Poison was, Chu Yunge could only say: The setup was way too lewd.
That former colleague of hers, who had been too scared to provoke her after getting scolded and acted all subservient, had struck back hard in the novel.
Even more ruthless: after being rejected by Xie Wangze and Pei Ji repeatedly, she had spent a fortune to obtain this strange poison and dosed both Xie Wangze and Pei Ji.
A thing meant to harm women, turned by the princess against men.
Qingchen had been dosed the moment he entered yesterday, and Yan Feng had been dosed incidentally when Qingchen was.
Because the princess felt that Yan Feng seemed to have a crush on her. Otherwise, why could he always catch her accurately when she felt faint or even passed out from anemia? Sometimes she tricked him on purpose, and he still caught her every time.
Chu Yunge: “…” Incidental? Was that even a crush? Could not Yan Feng catch her because he was her personal bodyguard?
One could only say it was truly melodramatic.
The emperor’s romantic interests—one and all, none spared.
Thus, Qingchen and Pei Ji had not left the Princess Mansion not because they did not want to, but because they had been poisoned.
She had thought too simply yesterday. The plot had already begun; she could not casually chase them away, nor easily escape the vicious supporting female role.
Even more ruthless: calculating the time, Xie Wangze and Pei Ji were both due for the poison to flare up.
Chu Yunge looked at the expressionless Xie Wangze and the furious Pei Ji, hesitating to speak, then hesitating again.
The poison was not administered by Chu Yunge, but she had to solve the problem.
Though Xie Wangze had been humiliated last night, he had stayed with her for a moment and even recited lewd verses on the bed, so he was probably still okay. Pei Ji, however, must have suffered greatly last night.
But he had not made a sound and simply left. Today, the entire day, he preferred to endure the torment rather than come to her, showing how much he loathed her.
In this situation, if they were unwilling to touch her and got desperate, they would kill her at any cost to fully neutralize the poison.
Not to mention, if the emperor got jealous, she would be in deep trouble.
Chu Yunge felt her head aching again. The princess was truly adept at self-destructive behavior in every direction.
It seemed she had to provide the Princess Mansion as the venue and continue to be a player in their emotional game.
She had only enjoyed one day of the princess’s lavish life, with so many exquisite clothes and jewels waiting for her affection, and many male favorites like Li Guangi waiting for her favors. How could she bear to die?
Chu Yunge coughed lightly: “I thought the poison was fake since you showed no reaction. Now it seems it’s real. No need to beg; tonight, I’ll neutralize it for you.”
These men who played palace intrigues and power games had dirty hearts. She was already frail and did not want to be schemed against, adding to her discomfort.
As soon as these words left her mouth, all three men’s expressions changed. Even Yan Feng glanced at Chu Yunge.
Seeing their expressions, Chu Yunge knew they had misunderstood again.
“Not forced intimacy for neutralization.” She explained: “Just companionship to neutralize it. The effect is slightly weaker, but it works.”
As long as she did not truly touch them, she could ensure her temporary safety.
Qingchen glanced at her: “Many thanks, benefactor.”
Chu Yunge: “……No need.” Poison she administered, and they thanked her.
Xie Wangze’s gaze darkened slightly, but he said nothing. Pei Ji, however, was full of suspicion: “You’re suddenly so kind-hearted?”
Chu Yunge spread her hands: “Are you coming or not?”
It was not her who was suffering; she was in no hurry.
Pei Ji was immediately stumped, mumbling for a moment. He sneaked a glance at Xie Wangze, only to find him with eyes on nose and nose on heart. He could only say himself: “Who knows if you’re really helping or have ulterior motives.”
Xie Wangze noticed Pei Ji’s gaze. They had known each other since their youth, but he remained silent, letting him probe.
He also wanted to know if she had ulterior motives or truly intended to neutralize the poison.
“Choose for yourself.”
Chu Yunge was too lazy to explain further. She would cooperate first, then find a way to neutralize it fully and send them away.
The pavilion fell quiet, the atmosphere awkward for a moment, as no one knew what Chu Yunge would do that night. Pei Ji’s face was full of discomfort and anxiety.
Chu Yunge, however, was already thinking about scheduling.
“Everyone has business during the day, so nighttime is suitable for neutralization. Based on when your poison flares, we’ll implement a rotation. Tonight, Pei Ji first; tomorrow night, the Prince Consort; then Qingchen and Yan Feng.”
Four people, four nights; one week took only four days. Just four people—no big deal.
A week still left three days, perfect for seeking other male favorites.
Chu Yunge felt her arrangement was quite good, but the four men felt entirely differently. The sense of taking turns to serve in bed grew even stronger.
Pei Ji’s face flushed beet red.