The imperial kitchens were in a state of chaos, with imperial chefs and auxiliary palace maids and eunuchs rushing about in a frenzy.
No one noticed a little girl, about five or six years old, appearing at the corner of the corridor, accompanied by a swirl of black mist.
She had a chubby baby face with delicate features, and her hair was tied in two little pigtails. She wore a pale pink, cinched-waist dress, making her appear remarkably petite and adorable.
With her short, stubby legs, she employed the "Shifting Steps and Shadow Dance" technique, taking advantage of everyone's busyness and inattention, and darted into the imperial kitchens.
At that moment, several imperial chefs in the kitchens were preparing a longevity soup for the Empress Dowager.
"Steward, to prepare this longevity soup, I must have all eighteen ingredients. Even one missing will affect the soup's flavor," said a head chef, his brow furrowed.
"It's fine. Whatever ingredients you need, I will have them prepared for you. As long as the soup you make pleases and satisfies the Empress Dowager and those attending the banquet, all other issues are minor. Do you understand?"
The chief eunuch of the imperial kitchens, with his thumb and forefinger raised in a delicate orchid gesture, spoke in a high-pitched, effeminate tone to the head chefs in the kitchen.
"Yes, we understand!" the head chefs replied in unison.
"Good, then hurry up and make this longevity soup. Otherwise, there won't be enough time," the eunuch steward urged.
Immediately, the imperial chefs plunged back into their work. None of them noticed the "little girl" crouching in a corner of the imperial kitchens, intently observing their actions and words. A sinister smile curved her lips. She flicked a red, unknown pill from her sleeve into the large earthenware pot where the chefs were preparing the soup. It dissolved instantly upon hitting the water. Then, unnoticed by anyone, the "little girl" slipped out of the imperial kitchens.
Following that, the "little girl," carrying the palace's topographical map prepared by Lin Zhenfan, quickly slipped into Yiran Palace, where Consort Ping resided.
Today, Prince An was not attending the tea party held in the Imperial Garden due to his health issues and was resting in Yiran Palace. His mother, Consort Ping, had also stayed behind to keep him company.
"Yu'er, for lunch today, Mother has prepared a nourishing chicken soup with red dates and goji berries for you, following the dietary plan written by Consort Leng. Come, Mother will feed you," Consort Ping said with a smile, picking up the nourishing soup brought by a young palace maid, intending to feed Prince An herself.
"No need, Mother. Your son can drink it himself," Prince An immediately refused, reaching for the soup bowl in Consort Ping's hand.
"Yu'er, your body is too weak. Let Mother feed you," Consort Ping insisted on feeding Prince An.
"Mother, there's really no need. Your son is no longer a child, and others will laugh at me," Prince An said helplessly.
"Alright, then drink slowly." Consort Ping finally gave up her attempt to feed him.
Just then, a young palace maid entered Yiran Palace. With sharp eyes, she spotted a "little girl" crouching behind a screen, next to a large vase. "Hey, little sister, where did you come from? How did you get into our Yiran Palace?" she called out.
Aware that she had been discovered, the "little girl" initially intended to kill the palace maid with a single blow. However, after careful consideration, she abandoned the violent approach and opted to exploit others' sympathy by acting cute and pitiful.
"Sister, I'm lost, and I don't know where this place is."
The "little girl" blinked her large eyes pitifully and said.
"Lost? Then whose child are you?" the palace maid asked, her brow furrowed.
"I, I... don't know either."
The "little girl" continued to shake her head, feigning innocence.
At that moment, Consort Ping and Prince An inside the palace heard the dialogue between the palace maid and the "little girl."
"Xiao Xi, take her to the Imperial Garden and ask around. Perhaps it's one of the children of the noble ladies attending the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet who got lost while playing and wandered here," Consort Ping's calm voice carried from within the palace.
"Yes, Consort Ping!" The palace maid then took the "little girl's" hand and left Yiran Palace.
However, when the palace maid led her past a blind spot, the "little girl" immediately pulled a dagger from her sleeve, concealed it in her hand, and then stabbed the palace maid in the back twice. The palace maid died on the spot.
The "little girl" then dragged the palace maid's body into a nearby hidden corner, after which she turned and slipped back into Yiran Palace.
Inside Yiran Palace, Prince An had finished his chicken soup and was resting in bed. After settling Prince An, Consort Ping also left Yiran Palace and returned to her chambers with two young palace maids to rest.
At this moment, Prince An lay in bed, half-asleep. As the "little girl" slowly approached his bedside, he immediately sensed danger, his eyes snapping open. He propped himself up weakly with his hands.
"Who are you? Why have you suddenly intruded upon my resting place?" Prince An reprimanded the "little girl" in a somewhat weak voice.
"Heh heh, you're so injured, yet you still have such strong vigilance?"
The "little girl" looked at Prince An with a sinister smile. Then, she opened her palm and waved her hand in front of Prince An. A thick black smoke billowed out from her sleeve, instantly enveloping Prince An.
Prince An attempted to shout for guards, but his voice was too hoarse. He struggled to utter a sound after repeatedly trying. He was forced to gather his inner strength and strike the "little girl" with his palm, but she repelled it with her own. Subsequently, Prince An suffered the backlash of the inner energy, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fainted.
Immediately after, the "little girl" quietly departed.
...
Meanwhile, Lin Zhenfan was helped into his room and sat alone on the bed, lost in thought.
Before long, his window was suddenly blown open by a strange gust of wind, and a cloud of black smoke was blown in.
Lin Zhenfan knew who had arrived without looking.
"Huo Ying, how is the task I assigned you progressing?"
"Esteemed Pavilion Master, please rest assured. Poisoning people is what I, Huo Ying, do best," Huo Ying said with a sweet smile.
"That's good. I have another task for you now. Go to Prince Ning's manor and steal the Thousand-Year Warm Jade for me. This Pavilion Master has suffered backlash from the Puppet Gu and injured my body. I urgently need the Thousand-Year Warm Jade to recuperate," Lin Zhenfan said, clutching his chest again as his chest pain recurred.
"Alright, seeing how uncomfortable you look, I, Huo Ying, will help you one more time today."
After speaking, Huo Ying turned and vanished from Lin Zhenfan's room in a flash. After Huo Ying left, Lin Zhenfan also lay down on the bed.