Chapter 115: Reaping What One Sows

Upon hearing Shangguan Qinglan’s voice, a flicker of dark light passed through Shangguan Liqian’s eyes, though her expression smoothed into calm a moment later.

She turned around, her face masked with a perfectly measured look of surprise as she spoke. “Elder Sister?”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she added, “When I last visited the manor, Madam mentioned that your child was gone. Are you feeling better now?”

Liqian: When facing an enemy, keep the knife sharp and poke exactly where it hurts most!

At this seemingly concerned inquiry, Shangguan Qinglan’s body instinctively stiffened.

How could she be better?

That child—the only child she ever had a chance of bringing into this world—was gone. She would never have the chance to be a mother again. Yet, after paying such a heavy price, she hadn’t received the pity or affection she deserved.

Instead, her husband and her family now viewed her as nothing more than a discarded pawn. Not only did no one care about her current plight, but they also showered her with nothing but complaints.

In the eyes of the capital’s noblewomen, she had become a laughingstock. And all of it was because of the person standing right in front of her!

Shangguan Qinglan lowered her gaze to hide the venomous resentment and jealousy burning within, struggling to keep her emotions in check.

Seeing that her sister didn’t answer, a flash of mockery crossed the depths of Liqian’s eyes. On the surface, however, she maintained the facade of a dutiful younger sister, her voice tinged with a guilty explanation.

“Her Majesty keeps a very close watch on me, so I haven’t had the chance to visit the Marquis’s Manor to see you. You won’t blame me, will you, Sister?”

Hearing this, Shangguan Qinglan nearly lost her grip on her composure.

If she had heard this before, she might have believed it. But after seeing the way the Empress Regnant treated this illegitimate sister today, she could no longer deceive herself.

How was this imprisonment or being kept like a pet? The Empress was clearly treating her exceptionally well.

The current Shangguan Liqian carried herself with the air of a favored consort, yet she had the gall to claim she had no freedom? Who would believe that?

It wasn’t that Shangguan Liqian couldn’t leave the palace; the wench simply had no intention of visiting her. Otherwise, with the favor she enjoyed, the Empress would likely grant her any request, let alone a simple trip to the Marquis’s Manor.

These words were nothing more than empty excuses. Did Liqian really think she couldn’t see through them?

Of course, she didn’t actually crave her visit. Liqian was nothing but a little brat born of a lowly woman. If she hadn’t latched onto the Empress Regnant, how could she enjoy such glory today? She had simply been lucky enough to fly to a high branch; did she truly think she had turned into a phoenix?

It was pure delusion!

Once her initial anger passed, Shangguan Qinglan thought of the things—and the people—she had prepared in secret. She forced down her resentment and spoke with a feigned warmth.

“How could I? We haven’t seen each other in so long. I’ve missed you too much to ever dream of blaming you.”

“I’m glad you don’t mind.” Liqian gave a cold laugh in her heart, though she looked relieved on the surface. Then, she continued to smile and drive the knife deeper into her sister’s heart. “As for the child, you are still young, Sister. There will be others in the future.”

The smile on Shangguan Qinglan’s face faltered. She forced herself to agree against her will. “Yes… yes, of course.”

Watching her sister struggle to maintain a fake smile while clearly wanting to grind her teeth to dust, Liqian felt her mood improve significantly.

At that moment, a Secret Guard reported back regarding Shangguan Qinglan’s true intentions.

The sachet Shangguan Qinglan wore contained a drug designed to make one lose their reason and give in to lust. She was currently chatting simply to stall for time, having prepared a “grand performance” tailored specifically for Liqian.

Liqian gave a slight nod toward Leng Yu in the shadows, signaling her to proceed with the plan.

Hidden in the darkness, Leng Yu vanished in the blink of an eye.

Liqian reached down and touched the jade pendant Luo Wushuang had hung at her waist before she left. A warm smile touched her lips.

Wushuang was truly meticulous. After learning that Liqian wanted to “lure the snake out of its hole,” the Empress had been worried about her falling prey to some underhanded scheme. She had immediately sent someone to the treasury to retrieve this “Medicinal Jade” from the Medicine Valley, which was said to neutralize a hundred poisons.

Only after assigning people to protect her both openly and in the shadows did the Empress finally feel at ease letting her leave.

Noticing the growing look of anxious anticipation on Shangguan Qinglan’s face, a hidden smile flickered in Liqian’s eyes. She feigned unsteadiness, swaying slightly as her brow furrowed. She raised a hand to press her fingers against her temple.

She felt Shangguan Qinglan’s breath hitch for a second before it returned to normal. Playing along, Liqian spoke up. “I don’t feel quite well. I’d like to rest for a moment. Would you like to come with me, Sister?”

These words played right into Shangguan Qinglan’s hands. She had been worrying about what excuse she could use to follow her, and now the opportunity had presented itself.

“How could you suddenly feel unwell? Come, I’ll help you to a nearby bedchamber to rest,” Shangguan Qinglan said, her voice dripping with fake concern, even as a triumphant glint of a successful scheme appeared in her eyes.

Thinking of the “gifts” she had ordered her family to bribe the palace maids to prepare in that bedchamber, she could barely hide her smirk.

She couldn’t wait to see how the Empress would react once she saw her sister’s debauched side. Would she still dote on her then? The thought of this wench being cast aside by that noble woman filled Shangguan Qinglan with absolute euphoria.

Liqian did not miss her sister’s strange behavior. However, the moment she realized that everything the woman had painstakingly prepared would be used on herself, Liqian’s last shred of pity vanished.

Heaven may forgive sins committed against it, but there is no salvation for those who bring ruin upon themselves.

This was all of her sister’s own making. Whatever the outcome, she had brought it on herself; she could blame no one else.

Unaware that her plan had been seen through, Shangguan Qinglan continued to look forward to the opening of the show.

As they stepped into the nearby bedchamber, Shangguan Qinglan saw that the maid guarding the door was the very one who had been in contact with the Shangguan Manor. Her heart settled completely.

Little did she know, the real show was only just beginning.