Chapter 5: Double Trap

A maid was secretly entering Qiu Tian Manor. She carries a basin of water and came to Li Bai Xue's door. She was about to go in when a figure drops from above beside her. She looked at the girl dresses in narrow sleeves song-style trousers. Her hair was tied into a bun.

The maid knew who it was at a glance. It was none other than Lin Qian, Da Gongzhu personal bodyguard, and servant. Lin Qian withdrew the sword out of its scabbard. The girl kneels down on the floor.

"Gongzhu doesn't like people to enter her room. Who are you?" Lin Qian question.

The girl's voice shakes, "I am the new maid assigned to Qiu Tian Manor. I am new so I don't know the rules."

"New maid?"

"Y-yes!"

Lin Qian's eyes narrowed and the sword inch closer to the girl's neck. The girl's eyes grew big in fear as she couldn't stop her body from shaking.

"Qiu Tian has few servants. I as Da Gongzhu personal servant recognize all the faces here. Also, Qiu Tian Manor doesn't need a new servant. So tell me who are you really?"

Tears start to come out of the girl's eyes. "Please spare me! Please have mercy on me!"

The door open and came out a tired Li Bai Xue. "What is going on?"

Lin Qian didn't dare kneel because of the servant girl, but she still kept her manners. "Gongzhu, this servant girl is suspicious."

Li Bai Xue always believes everything, Lin Qian. She has an unbreakable trust in her. Li Bai Xue turns towards the servant girl. "Who sent you here?"

The servant girl ran and climb up to Li Bai Xue's leg. "Da gongzhu please spare me! Please!"

Li Bai Xue shook off her leg. "Stop. I asked who sent you here?"

The servant stop crying and removed her hand from Li Bai Xue. "It was... Royal Consort Xian... she threatens me! Gongzhu, please spare me! I still have a family to provide for! I have a younger sister and an old granny who can't support themselves. They-"

"Silence." Li Bai Xue cold eyes stared straight into the maid's eyes. "I did not ask for your background story. Lin Qian, killed her."

The maid's eyes widen and she once again grabs Li Bai Xue's leg, but Li Bai Xue avoided it. "Gongzhu please spared me!" Li Bai Xue didn't even stop to listen to the maid. In her moment of desperation, she shouted, "I will spy on Royal Consort Xian for you! I will be a spy for you, please just spare me!"

Li Bai Xue turns around and smiles coldly at the maid. "What is your name?"

The maid as if she saw the light, said happily, "I am Pao Hui."

"What did Royal Consort Xian told you to do?"

"She told me to poison the water for washing your face. I don't know what kind of poison she asked me to put in there. But here is the poison," Pao Hui took out a small porcelain jar. Lin Qian took the jar and open the lid. She saw a clear liquid like water.

Li Bai Xue glance at Pao Hui. Lin Qian immediately understood. She tosses a small pouch of silver to the maidservant. Pao Hui kept on thanking her for her mercifulness and quickly left.

"Gongzhu when do you want me to kill this nuisance?" Lin Qian asked.

Li Bai Xue smiled coldly. "She still has her uses. When I am done using her then I will dispose of her. She is an Imperial Consort Xian spy. Make two copies of the poison. One in the palace and one outside of the city."

Lin Qian made a sound of agreement and then left. Li Bai Xue enters her room again and stares at the mirror reflection of herself. She was not a kind heart. If she was then she would have died a long time ago. She had learned from a young age to dispose of whoever threatens her life. The one reason, she hasn't messed with the Empress or the Consort was because of the power behind them. But whoever they send will not survive since she needs to lives.

She did not want to die. She wanted to live, but she only wants a quiet and peaceful life. However, in the palace, this will never happen.

***

Pao Hui had returned to Imperial Consort Xian manor. She had recalled everything that had happened to her. Imperial Consort Xian smiled as Li Bai Xue had fallen into her trap. Li Yun Meng also smiles happily. Only Li Xia Xing off to the side felt something was wrong.

"Everyone also praised that wrench as intelligent, but she has fallen into mother trap," Li Yun Meng said.

Imperial Consort Xian smile at her eldest daughter. "That right, all she needs to do is ruin herself and then you would a candidate as the Er Gongzhu to marry the Crown Prince. All you need to do is just wait for the Crown Princess title."

Li Xia Xing snort at the mother and daughter's show of affection. They both turn their heads at her. "Ah, sorry. It just do you really think Da jie is that stupid. She is playing into your trap perfectly. You are not suspicious at all."

"Are you cursing me?" Li Yun Meng asked as she points her fingers at her.

"Of course not," Li Xia Xing said with a smile. "I am just telling you to be extra careful." She drinks a sip of tea before she got up. "Since you have nothing to say to me then I am taking my leave first."

Li Yun Meng threw a cup after Li Xia Xing left. "Mother! That little shrew is looking down on me. Even during the last gathering, she did nothing to help me! She does not look up to me as her older sister."

Imperial Consort Xian pat her back. "It is okay. You don't need to worry about her. Once you become the Empress, she won't even have time to look down on you."

Li Yun Meng's anger was subdued when the empress's position was mention. She smiles as she thought of all the glory and power that came with it. "That right. I will become the Empress."

***

Li Xia Xing went back to her room. She threw her outwear onto the ground. "Jia Er! Threw it away. It is contaminated with dirty air."

Jia Er is Li Xia Xing's personal handmaiden, stepped up and grab the clothes. Li Xia Xing found both her mother and sister disgusting. Not only that they were stupid as well. She used to desire her mother and sister's love, but now she just revolts them.

She changes her outfit and opens the window to let in the fresh air. When she thought of her mother's and Da jie's trap for each other. She smiles deeply without a clear meaning but her eyes held indifference.