Arc 2: Part 28
Xiao Qingwan's face fell: "Xiao Bai Zhu, are you so unwilling?"
"Yes!"
Xiao Qingwan was upset and glared at her: "Xiao Bai Zhu, don't push your luck. What I need you to do is not up for your refusal!"
After scolding fiercely, she put on a reluctant look, said: "Of course, I don't disregard your feelings. I know you don't like cooking. So, for this one last time, help me out. Afterwards, you'll never have to cook for me again. What do you say?"
Seeing the girl's hesitation, Xiao Qingwan was satisfied.
She further coaxed, "Really, you won't have to help me again. Is that okay? Whatever you want, I'll give you! Silver notes, jewelry, I'll send someone to bring them right now!"
"Well... Okay..."
With a reluctant appearance, Tong Su hesitantly agreed.
Xiao Qingwan was overjoyed, completely oblivious to the disguise. She hurriedly sent someone to fetch things while instructing.
"For this gathering, I'll pose as you, and you will pose as me. Nobody will notice. You don't know these people and don't need to pay them any mind. Just say you're Xiao Qingwan; I'll have the maid assist you…"
Tong Su took a sip of floral tea. The light, clear liquid tasted sweet and soothing on her tongue, which made her gently squint her eyes.
Perfect, she was just considering how to expose Xiao Qingwan's true colors.
Such an opportunity should not be wasted!
Xiao Qingwan was expelled from the Xiao family in her previous life, just after this winter hunt.
At that time, Xiao Bai Zhu was the apple of Xiao Lingchen's eye, while Xiao Qingwan was a nameless older sister in the Xiao mansion. The difference in status was striking. How could she ever accept that?
She set her sights on the young Prince He Lian. She sneakily took a bowl of clam soup at Xiao Bai Zhu's banquet, grabbed a jar of Xiao Lingchen's fine wine, and slinked her way to Prince He Lian's tent.
Prince He Lian had a fondness for good food, fine wine, and beautiful women, and Xiao Qingwan was not bad-looking. According to her detailed plan, she should not fail.
But unexpectedly, Prince He Lian only had a spoonful of the clam soup, his mouth immediately swelled up, large red patches appeared all over his body, and he even fainted due to suffocation!
Prince He Lian’s subordinates, terrified, took her as an assassin and captured her. She, in fear, revealed her identity, asserting the soup was prepared by Xiao Bai Zhu, having nothing to do with her.
Amidst the turmoil, it wasn't until Xiao Lingchen was summoned that the situation could be stabilised.
It was not easy for young Prince He Lian to be revived. He enquired about the situation and naturally, Xiao Qingwan's attempted seduction was revealed.
The prestige of the Xiao family was severely compromised, and the relationship between Xiao Lingchen and Prince He Lian rapidly worsened. Taking advantage of the situation, competitors inflicted a major blow to their power and thwarted the alliance with the Royal Northern Duke's Mansion.
Given these circumstances, even if Xiao Lingchen didn't take action, would his allies let Xiao Qingwan go?
In the end, Xiao Qingwan barely escaped with her life, was banished from the Xiao clan, expelled from the mansion, and ended up as a tavern courtesan.
Throughout the incident, Xiao Qingwan couldn't begrudge anyone else more than Xiao Bai Zhu.
She blamed everything on Prince He Lian's food poisoning, and since the food was prepared by Xiao Bai Zhu, she accused him of deliberately planning to harm her!
As a result, after her rebirth, she targets Xiao Bai Zhu every chance she gets.
"Sister, do you know what 'strategic counter-effort' and 'luring the tiger out of the mountain' mean?"
Xiao Qingwan didn't hear clearly and turned her head in surprise, "What?"
Tong Su beamed a radiant smile, "Nothing. Sister, why don't you tell me the names of the young ladies who will be coming? I'll try to remember as many as I can, so I don't mistake anyone."
Xiao Qingwan unsuspectingly went along, calculating every step of her plan in her mind, she too, smiled smugly, "Alright."
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