Chapter 16: Setting the Trap with One's Own Body

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Zhao Jiao had deliberately provoked trouble and was well prepared, yet Feng Yuer’s arrogance, ruthlessness, and cruelty still exceeded her expectations. Qiao Xiu and the two maids moved with practiced skill; the wounds were not visible, but they caused Zhao Jiao such pain that she broke out in a cold sweat, trembling uncontrollably.

This was the imperial palace. No matter how favored Feng Yuer was, she could not simply kill the daughter of an official family. Zhao Jiao was fully aware that her life was not in danger, only that she had to endure some suffering.

Of course, this pain would not be endured in vain.

Her current status was humble, and she was physically weak. The great revenge would come in the future, but Feng Yuer was someone she could still deal with.

“Out of all the characters in the world, why insist on using that one? I told you to change it, but you refused to listen and showed no gratitude! Today is just a lesson for you. If you know your place, you will leave the palace on your own. You actually think you can enter the palace to serve the Empress Dowager—how presumptuous! Your face disgusts me, so… don’t ever appear before me again. If I see you at tomorrow’s palace banquet, crushing you will be as easy as crushing an ant! Don’t believe me? Just try!” Feng Yuer, seeing that she was done, signaled for them to stop, then crouched down, pinched Zhao Jiao’s chin, and whispered a chilling warning.

Afterwards, she stood, wiped her hands with an embroidered handkerchief, tossed it aside disdainfully, and turned away with her entourage without another glance.

Zhao Jiao collapsed weakly onto the snow, her body uncontrollably trembling.

She gazed upward at the swirling snowflakes as if time had stopped in that moment. She wanted to lie there forever, but she couldn’t. Feng Yuer harassing her was only the first step. Since Feng Yuer was so eager to come after her, how could she disappoint? The injuries she bore were hidden and not eye-catching; she had to make them visible herself!

With great effort, she propped herself up on her hands and sat upright. Then, she raised her hand and slapped herself several times, using all her strength. Her face immediately swelled red and tender, and only when she tasted the metallic tang of blood in her mouth did she stop, satisfied.

In the distance, Yin Kou, who had been anxiously waiting, hurried over when Feng Yuer and her group left, but upon seeing this scene, she froze in shock.

Miss Xu… is she mad?

“Were you waiting for me?!” Zhao Jiao did not expect the girl to have been waiting all along, and inwardly sighed, feeling as if she had been watched.

“…Yes… Nurse Li ordered me to wait for you,” the girl stammered honestly, clearly frightened.

Zhao Jiao raised her hand. “Help me up!”

“Yes!”

As soon as Yin Kou’s hand touched Zhao Jiao’s arm, Zhao Jiao winced in pain, grimacing. Combined with the wounds on her face, she looked quite frightening.

“Miss…”

Yin Kou’s pupils contracted as she saw the exposed skin on Zhao Jiao’s arm. Having been in the palace for years, she had seen all sorts of cruel means.

“You saw nothing today… I don’t want innocent blood on my hands, do you understand?”

Zhao Jiao didn’t want to scare anyone, but this girl had seen it all.

“I… saw nothing!” Yin Kou lowered her head, her voice trembling.

“Your name is Yin Kou, right?”

“…Yes!”

Zhao Jiao gripped the girl’s hand and used her strength to help herself stand.

“How long have you been in the palace?”

“I entered at ten years old. It’s been four years!”

“Do you want to leave the palace?”

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“…” Yin Kou lowered her head. Who wouldn’t want to? But she wasn’t yet old enough to leave.

Zhao Jiao didn’t press further. “Let’s go, help me to Feng Xiang Palace!”

“…Yes!”

What was she planning to do in this state? Yin Kou’s heart raced in panic.

“Just a little while without seeing you, and you’ve become like this?”

Yin Su Mo suddenly appeared, walking toward Zhao Jiao through the wind and snow.

“Greetings, Your Highness!”

Yin Kou hurriedly bowed. Miss Xu knows Prince Su?

Zhao Jiao looked up, wanting to greet him with a smile, but her expression looked worse than crying.

“Please forgive me for looking so disheveled.”

“Serves you right!” Yin Su Mo approached with a furrowed brow, speaking pointedly.

Zhao Jiao forced a helpless smile. Had he seen through her?

There was no choice. Being insignificant meant that even killing a thousand enemies cost her eight hundred in return. She didn’t even think much of this tactic herself.

“Looking so pitiful, do you dislike being alive? How ugly. Come on, I was just passing Feng Wei Palace; I’ll go with you,” he said, though obviously arriving too late.

Yin Su Mo clearly understood the situation and naturally reached out to help her up. Yin Kou quietly stepped aside.

“Your Highness, I’m going to Feng Xiang Palace to lodge a complaint. Please go ahead; we’re not going the same way.”

A complaint?!

Both Ling Dang and Yin Kou were shocked.

Yin Su Mo’s eyes flickered as he scrutinized Zhao Jiao carefully. “You’re going to complain to the Empress?”

“Yes!”

“Who are you complaining about?”

“Princess Nian Zhao! She beat me for no reason and threatened me. I’m terrified and must ask Empress Dowager to intervene!”

“Do you know what status Princess Nian Zhao holds?”

Yin Su Mo stared at Zhao Jiao, trying to understand her but becoming more perplexed.

Zhao Jiao smiled again. “I know.”

“If you dislike your life, then I’ll send you on this journey. I love watching drama!” Yin Su Mo withdrew his gaze, half-joking, then turned to Yin Kou. “You’ve been assigned to serve her, right? Go back and tell the stewardess, then come to Feng Xiang Palace to fetch her.”

“Yes!”

Yin Kou obediently accepted the order but was terrified on the inside.

The long palace corridor seemed endless. Despite Yin Su Mo’s support, Zhao Jiao still walked with difficulty.

“Your Highness, were you really just passing by?”

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“What exactly do you intend to do?”

They spoke in unison.

Then followed a long silence. As they neared Feng Xiang Palace, Yin Su Mo finally spoke.

“As far as I know, you don’t have a childhood name. The character Zhao is the same as the country’s name. Your father must not have had the courage to give you such a childhood name. Once you enter Feng Xiang Palace, there’s no turning back. One wrong move, and it will be an irredeemable disaster—not just for you, but for the entire Xu family. I’m quite curious why you would risk your life to provoke Princess Nian Zhao?”

“Because I find her intolerable! She can’t stand me using the name Zhao, but coincidentally, I think she doesn’t deserve it either. In this world, she’s the least worthy to bear that name!”

Zhao Jiao spoke matter-of-factly. Yin Su Mo’s face grew serious. What kind of person was she?

Was it all for Feng Zhao Zhao?

He had never seen anyone so bold—dares to provoke anyone and anything! It seemed there was no one in heaven or earth she feared. The Xu family could actually raise such a fiercely loyal and passionate daughter...

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived at Feng Xiang Palace. Thank you for escorting me this far. I’ll go in by myself.”

A clear debt for a clear grievance. For his sake, since he had paid respects to her father, she did not want to implicate him.

“It’s just a few steps. If you don’t want to crawl inside, don’t make a fuss!”

Princess Nian Zhao… normally, he really hadn’t realized she could torment someone so thoroughly in such a short time!

He had rushed over after hearing the news but was still late.

Zhao Jiao lowered her head, silent, allowing him to support her. Well, she had warned him. Though rash, today’s incident was not without some confidence!

If Feng Yuer got into trouble, her alliance with Prince Li would be uncertain—almost blocking the alliance between Prince Li and the Princess’s Mansion. Then the crown prince position would still be in the Empress’s favor!

She always knew the Empress’s attitude toward the crown prince’s position was not as indifferent as she pretended. Once, the Empress even schemed to have her and her son involved somehow, though it didn’t come to pass.

With Yin Su Mo present, Zhao Jiao easily had a second audience with the Empress.

“Oh dear, what happened? You were fine just a moment ago.”

The Empress was momentarily stunned by Zhao Jiao’s pitiful, battered cheeks.

Zhao Jiao knelt with a thud, her teeth chattering in pain. “I beg Empress Dowager to make a ruling. The Princess wants to kill me. Please save me!”

She sobbed uncontrollably, tears and mucus flowing as if she had suffered the greatest injustice and fright. While speaking, she rolled up her sleeve for the Empress to see the wounds. “Your Majesty, they pricked me with needles. It hurts so much and feels so cold. The needles were so long…”

Seeing the densely dotted needle marks, some even bleeding, the Empress immediately turned her face away. “Such wickedness!”

Yin Su Mo’s face darkened at once. No wonder she had difficulty walking!

“Ling Dang, fetch the imperial physician!”

After speaking, Yin Su Mo knelt solemnly before Zhao Jiao. “Your Majesty, please do justice for Jiao Jiao!”

“Quick, get up. What are you doing? Stop this nonsense. Someone, help Miss Xu up and have her sit down. Add a soft cushion and a brazier—look how cold she is…”