The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 153 Calculations in the Heart

Li Huaijiang watched them chatter away, eventually forcing Li Jiangui to leave, and couldn't help but smile.

She knew her elder sister's personality best; no one could force Princess Yongning to do anything.

If Princess Yongning were truly someone who could be easily manipulated, she wouldn't have gone against the prevailing opinion to establish a girls' school.

But the Empress Dowager was no pushover either. Li Huaijiang could only do her best to help with this matter, and wouldn't do anything more than that, as she had her own things to do.

While thinking about this, Li Huaijiang suddenly realized that the maid who always served Shen Hanyu was gone.

Miao Cui followed Song Hui at a distance, while Song Hui and the others went hunting and didn't make any moves for the time being.

He led the horse over, and someone he had a fairly good relationship with walked over, his eyes mocking.

"Song Hui, you're quite something! You're about to climb the social ladder."

Song Hui shook his head: "It's still far from certain. The princess's reputation should not be tarnished. It's better not to say such things."

The man hooked his arm around Song Hui's shoulder: "Don't be modest. With the Empress Dowager as your guarantor, it's only a matter of time before this matter succeeds. Don't forget about us when you become the imperial son-in-law."

Song Hui pushed him away, his face looking rather unpleasant.

Princess Yongning was no ordinary person; for her to succeed in this matter was exceptionally difficult.

"Stop talking, let's go hunting."

Seeing that Song Hui really didn't want to talk about it, the group wisely stopped talking and went into the woods.

Miao Cui didn't follow too closely, but she still overheard a few of their jokes.

There were many people in the woods, including women, so she wasn't afraid of being discovered and kept an eye on Song Hui's every move.

Neither Li Jun nor Princess Yongning went over to the banquet. Li Jun couldn't help but say, "Elder sister, why don't you go back to your residence first? Out of sight, out of mind. If you stay here, Grandmother will definitely bring it up again."

The Empress Dowager hasn't said anything now because she's in the wrong. The autumn hunt will take several days, and if the topic of Princess Yongning is brought up again, she'll be summoned for a lecture.

"You can hide for a while, but you can't hide forever. Let's take advantage of this autumn hunt to completely extinguish their hopes."

Seeing that Princess Yongning already had her own ideas, Li Jun didn't say anything more.

Song Hui brought back a wild rabbit. He didn't rush over. Instead, he carried the rabbit back to his tent. When he came out, Miao Cui sensed that something was wrong.

Song Hui changed his clothes and said to the servant beside him, "Clean the dust off this wild rabbit; I'm going to take it to the princess."

The servant carried the wild rabbit to the side, and Song Hui lowered his eyes, touching the sachet hanging from his waist.

Miao Cui keenly noticed this one action. She left and first went to find Shen Hanyu. After speaking with Shen Hanyu and obtaining permission, she went to inform the palace maid beside Princess Yongning, asking Princess Yongning to pay close attention to Song Hui's belongings.

Princess Yongning was quite surprised that Shen Hanyu helped her. She had returned to her camp after everything was fine there, and it was at this time that Song Hui came to visit her.

Princess Yongning let him in, and as soon as he looked up, he saw Song Hui carrying a wild rabbit, and then he smelled the fragrance coming from Song Hui's direction.

good smell.

He's a grown man, yet he smells so good.

Princess Yongning's gaze naturally fell on the sachet he was wearing.

Thanks to Miao Cui's reminder, Princess Yongning became more cautious.

"What are you here for?"

Song Hui put the rabbit down.

“I saw this rabbit while hunting and thought I would give it to the princess.”

Princess Yongning remained indifferent, showing no interest in the rabbit.

"You can go back."

Princess Yongning began to drive people away.

Song Hui lifted his robe and knelt down.

"Your Highness, may I have a few words to say? I will leave after I finish speaking."

He bowed his head, his attitude sincere.

Princess Yongning picked up a handkerchief and pressed it to her nose, then let him speak.

“My family is controlled by the Empress Dowager. She told me that I must make the marriage between the princess and me happen. I have great talent, but my official position is too low to resist. I beg the princess to have mercy and let me rescue my family.”

This means to pity her.

If Song Hui hadn't resorted to these underhanded tactics, Princess Yongning might have actually stepped in to help him, but things are different now.

"Because of your pitiful background, I want to accommodate you and help you. You want to take advantage of my kindness to fulfill your wishes, Song Hui. Before you come to me for help, can you please hide your wicked heart?"

A palace maid stepped forward and ripped off the sachet that Song Hui was wearing.

"Call the doctor."

Song Hui knelt on the ground, his body trembling slightly.

Princess Yongning couldn't help but smile as she looked at the sachet on the table.

"However, I must thank you. If it weren't for this great opportunity you provided, I would still be wondering how to resolve this situation."

The imperial physician arrived quickly; everything seemed to have been planned by Princess Yongning.

Song Hui kept racking his brain trying to figure out where things had gone wrong. His servant wouldn't betray him, so who else could it be?

The contents of the sachet were taken out, and the imperial physician examined them carefully before drawing a conclusion.

"This is a type of sleeping potion. It takes a while to take effect and doesn't cause much harm to the human body, but it's still a low-grade product that can make people lose their minds and be controlled by others."

Princess Yongning smiled and said, "Guards! Young Master Song is plotting to harm me! I urge my father and mother to avenge me!"

Song Hui's body went limp, knowing that he was completely doomed this time, and that he might even lose his life because of it.

Princess Yongning deliberately made a big fuss about this, and Shen Hanyu and Wei Ming also received the news.

"How could something like this have happened so quickly?"

Wei Ming pulled Shen Hanyu over, wanting to see what had happened, but Shen Hanyu had already guessed what was going on.

When Li Jiangui arrived outside the camp, he was found in the woods. Upon hearing that Princess Yongning was in trouble, he rushed back without stopping.

Consort Xian sat next to Princess Yongning, looking at Song Hui as if she were looking at a dead man.

Princess Yongning went to Empress Wang in tears.

"Mother, Mother Consort, you must avenge me! This Song Hui dared to bring sleeping potion to harm me."

Consort Xian held Princess Yongning in her arms, her face full of heartache.

Li Jiangui walked in, looked around, and saw that the Empress Dowager hadn't come over, probably because she felt embarrassed.

This was the first time Lee Geon-kyu had ever seen the grown-up Yong-ning cry like this. Although he knew there were other reasons involved, she was still his child, and he felt sorry for her.

"what happened?"

He came over first to clarify things.

The imperial physician, holding the sachet, recounted the whole story with the palace maid.

Li Jiangui looked at Song Hui, who was kneeling on the ground without saying a word, as if he had already resigned himself to his fate.

"You've got some nerve."

Song Hui couldn't explain. He was the one who brought the items and stalled for time. But one wrong step led to another. He didn't know how Princess Yongning knew in advance. She had clearly instructed people not to let Princess Yongning's side discover anything amiss.

"Do you know what crime it is to murder the princess?"

Song Hui's palms were pinched until they bled.

"know."

All honors and future prospects vanished in that moment.