Chapter 29

A sharp scream pierced the air, and in its wake, the Second Princess’s attendants erupted into chaos.

“Quick, fetch a handkerchief!”

“Princess, are you all right?”

“Second Princess, your neck is all red!”

Amid the frantic wailing, the Second Princess clutched her neck and spun in circles, hopping about on the ground as if her feet were blistered from hot coals.

Tao Chuyi glanced at the teacup in her hand and hurriedly tossed it aside. She darted to Nangong Yunshang’s side and gazed up at her with utter innocence, her big eyes blinking as if on the verge of tears.

“Has she gone mad?”

Nangong Yunshang shot a helpless glance at her own prince consort, her face caught somewhere between scolding and amusement. It was all because the Second Princess’s frantic hopping was so ridiculously comical—and truth be told, Nangong Yunshang had long itched to give her Second Imperial Sister a taste of her own medicine.

“Naughty prince consort. No more of that in the future.”

Her words carried a mix of reproach and indulgence. Nangong Yunshang didn’t even notice the corners of her mouth twitching upward uncontrollably, her usual ironclad control over her expressions utterly shattered.

Tao Chuyi nodded with a pitiful pout, then lifted her wide, puppy-dog eyes—damp and shimmering, as if they could melt the heart of anyone who looked into them.

“But she bullied Your Highness the Princess. Chuyi wants to hit her.”

“No.”

Nangong Yunshang pressed a hand to her head and rephrased her command.

“Splashing a cup of tea is harmless enough. But no hitting.”

“Oh… all right.”

At last, Tao Chuyi settled down. She squatted obediently by Nangong Yunshang’s side. With nothing edible in reach, she resorted to gnawing on her own hand.

By this time, the Second Princess had regained some composure. Her hair was in disarray, hairpins dangling precariously, her collar soaked through, and she staggered along as if drunk on cheap wine.

“Nangong Yunshang, just you wait! We’re leaving!”

The Second Princess and her entourage had arrived in a rush and departed just as hastily. They had strutted into the mansion with pomp but slunk away dirtied and defeated, much to the amusement of everyone in the Third Princess Mansion. Having come to stir up trouble herself, she had no one to blame but her own misfortune—she could only swallow her resentment in bitter silence and bide her time for revenge.

“She should have left ages ago. Bah!”

Even the ever-steady Yinghong couldn’t hold back her outrage on behalf of their princess.

Tao Chuyi was still nibbling her hand when Nangong Yunshang seized her wrist before the next bite and pulled her away. She promptly stuffed a pineapple crisp into Tao Chuyi’s mouth.

“No eating your hand. It’s filthy.”

Nangong Yunshang flicked her hand away in distaste and beckoned Fendie to wipe it clean.

With a treat to occupy her, Tao Chuyi ceased her mischief and docilely allowed Fendie and Xichan to wash her hands. Even when Nangong Yunshang stepped out of the room for a moment, she didn’t fuss. Her full attention was captured by two plates of pastries.

Once Xichan finished helping her wash her hands and wipe her face, she rose to her feet. Suddenly, a small round object slipped from her sleeve.

Tao Chuyi picked it up. It was round and red. In short order, she popped open the lid to reveal powder the color of fresh blood inside.

“What’s this thing?”

“That’s rouge—from the Rouge Shop. The owner is a woman, and she gave it to me specially.”

Xichan reached to take it back, but Tao Chuyi clutched it tight, nearly dropping it in the process.

“My dear ancestress, people line up every day and still can’t buy this rouge. Please don’t ruin it.”

Seeing Xichan’s tension, Tao Chuyi huffed in annoyance.

“What kind of treasure is this? It’s just powder, and it stinks to high heaven. Not fun at all.”

Xichan swiftly retrieved it from her grasp and tucked it away with great care. “You wouldn’t know, but this isn’t something you can buy with money alone. It all comes down to fate. That’s why this rouge is called One-Line Tug.”

“Boring. Time for the swing!”

Tao Chuyi dashed ahead with Fendie in pursuit. She clambered onto the swing and urged Fendie to push.

The swing soared back and forth through the air. Unfazed by the chill, Tao Chuyi beamed with delight. As it swayed lazily, her thoughts drifted back to that rouge box.

“Fendie, does rouge stink?”

“Of course not.”

Fendie released the swing and offered her a cup of tea. “Rouge should smell fragrant.”

But Xichan’s rouge had stunk, and Tao Chuyi couldn’t make sense of it. Shrugging it off, she put the matter from her mind.

It wasn’t until the next day that she encountered the same rouge again. Word had it that the Rouge Shop owner had sent it as a special gift, presenting the finest One-Line Tug to the Third Princess.

This was Nangong Yunshang’s first time receiving the much-touted One-Line Tug. She had heard it possessed remarkable beautifying properties, leaving the skin snow-white and supple after use. Crowds clamored for it. Yet she had never given it a second thought—she simply had no use for it.

Suddenly, a hand snatched the rouge compact and began kicking it across the floor like a plaything. Tao Chuyi had sneaked up behind her at some point, quietly causing trouble.

It was only a box of rouge; if it got kicked around, so be it. Nangong Yunshang paid it no mind, but she still pinched Tao Chuyi’s ear, hoisted her up, and demanded an explanation.

“What’s gotten into you? What did that rouge ever do to you?”

Tao Chuyi sulked. “Stinky rouge. Now Xichan won’t play with me anymore.”

Nangong Yunshang couldn’t suppress a chuckle and mercifully released her ear.

“So Xichan got on your bad side, and you take it out on my things? Have I been spoiling you too much lately?”

“It stinks.”

Tao Chuyi grabbed her sleeve in turn. “The rouge stinks. It’s bad.”

Nangong Yunshang eyed the shattered rouge box. Indeed, a faint fishy stench wafted from it—like the reek of spoiled fish and shrimp from the marketplace.

Just then, pandemonium broke out beyond the door: panicked cries mingled with agonized howls.

Fendie burst in, her face ashen with alarm. “Your Highness the Princess, Prince Consort—Xichan… her face is ruined!”

At that moment, Xichan lay writhing in the back courtyard. Her cheeks blazed as if seared by flames. In no time, thick welts erupted across her skin, and she rolled on the ground in torment. A ring of onlookers encircled her, yet none dared draw near.

Tao Chuyi shoved through the crowd, on the verge of rushing forward, when Fendie yanked her back.

“Young Master, take care! Don’t go near her—it might be contagious.”

At those words, the bystanders recoiled in greater fear, clearing even more space.

Tao Chuyi struggled to break free and run to her. “But she’s in so much pain. She’s dying—Xichan!”

Xichan shuddered in agony, her body curled into a ball. Not a patch of skin on her face remained untouched.

“Young Master, no—stay back.”

Nangong Yunshang urgently summoned imperial physicians from the palace. After taking her pulse, they revealed that Xichan had been poisoned—with One-Line Tug, no less. The toxin took effect on contact alone, causing the skin to fester and ooze pus. Nights brought unbearable pain. It disfigured without killing, condemning the victim to a living hell.

Horror rippled through the crowd. How had this happened out of the blue—and with such a cruel poison?

Tao Chuyi broke through to Xichan’s side, shouting, “The rouge! The stinky rouge! It must be what hurt Xichan!”

At her outburst, a chill flickered in Nangong Yunshang’s eyes. She ordered a search for Xichan’s rouge compact, along with the remnants of the one shattered in her own room. The imperial physicians inspected them and confirmed the presence of massive quantities of One-Line Tug poison. Even a single day’s use would scar the face beyond repair.

Meanwhile, Dali Temple guards arrived with urgent news: three households had filed reports. All had purchased One-Line Tug, and the women in those families were now disfigured. Among them were unmarried maidens and young wives, virtually all renowned for their beauty. The Rouge Shop had a standing rule: no sales to the ugly.

Nangong Yunshang furrowed her brow and issued orders. “Seal the Rouge Shop at once. Bring everyone there to Dali Temple.”

“Catch the bad guys!”

Tao Chuyi flailed her arms and legs, cheeks puffed in fury. She was determined to save Xichan and thrash the villains.