The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 724 - 724 336 sets of burlap bags (one update)_3

Chapter 724: 336 sets of burlap bags (one update)_3 Chapter 724: 336 sets of burlap bags (one update)_3 “Yes!” The palace maid went to the nearby tea room to make tea.

The evening breeze was gentle, and the willows swayed. The Imperial Garden was bathed in tranquility and peace.

The palace maid brought the tea, poured a cup, and handed it over to Consort Jing with both hands.

Nanny Cai reached out to take it, only to recoil with a hiss, angrily snapped, “You audacious one! Are you trying to scald the Consort to death?!”

“Ah! This servant didn’t dare!” The palace maid, frightened, knelt down. The abrupt motion caused tea to spill from the cup, splashing her hands, and instantly turning them a burnt red.

Consort Jing gently said, “Let it be. She didn’t do it on purpose and she is young. Give her more instruction. Stand up.”

“Thank you Consort! Thank you, Consort!” The palace maid was grateful and stood up shakily.

“Put it down,” Consort Jing instructed, looking at the cup of tea in her hands.

“Yes!” The palace maid placed the tea on the stone table.

Consort Jing then said, “Let me see your hand.”

The palace maid quickly withdrew her hand behind her back: “I dare not offend your esteemed eyes!”

“Just let me have a look,” Consortium Jing’s tone was soothing.

“…Yes.” The palace maid lowered her head and cautiously extended her hands.

Consort Jing examined the maid’s hand and said, “They are quite red from the burns. You don’t have to serve for now, go, and apply some ointment.” She paused and added, “Almost forgot, this isn’t the nunnery, and you young ones would not have ointment. Nanny Cai, escort her to my room and find her a jar of burn ointment.”

Nanny Cai smiled, “Your highness is truly generous.”

“Thank you, Consort!” The palace maid kneeled down and knocked her head on the ground to pay her respects.

The palace maids and eunuchs in attendance felt that Consort Jing was truly kind-hearted and benevolent. Having followed vegetarianism and Buddhism for many years, she was as compassionate as a Bodhisattva, far more approachable than the inhabitant of the Renshou Palace.

Serving in the Renshou Palace always felt like carrying one’s head in his or her hands, never knowing when one might offend its owner; there would be no one to plead for them if they were beaten to death.

Nanny Cai led the palace maid away.

A short distance away, Xiao Liulang retracted his gaze, turned to Gu Jiao and said, “My stomach aches, I suddenly need to go to the Greeting Room. Wait for me here…never mind, don’t wait, head to the Renshou Palace, I’ll meet you there later.”

Gu Jiao glanced at Consort Jing, a short distance away, then at Xiao Liulang, and nodded quickly.

Xiao Liulang lightly tugged at his lips, “Then I’ll be off.”

Gu Jiao: Quick! Go!

Xiao Liulang, being subtly rejected by his wife: “…”

Xiao Liulang headed towards the Greeting Room. He naturally didn’t need the restroom.

He tried to keep his distance and found a secluded area behind the artificial mountain, where he took a bamboo flute out from his sleeve.

He had just met with the Elder Wine Server and learned about Gu Jiao’s assassination attempt, the events at Huaqing Palace, and that Consort Jing held the death warriors of the late Emperor.

There was one detail perhaps not even the Elder Wine Server or the Emperor knew: Princess Xinyang also had death warriors left by the late Emperor.

Xiao Liulang composed himself and then blew the bamboo flute.

In the dense tree canopy, a figure dressed in black, holding a long sword against his body, was meditating. Suddenly, upon hearing the flute, he opened his eyes, tightened the grip on his sword, became stern, and using his lightness technique, rushed towards the source of the flute sound.

Nanny Cai left with the palace maid whose hand had turned red from the tea. Now in the pavilion, only Consort Jing and a few palace maids remained.

“Maids, go and pick some flowers for the Consort,” one of the palace maids suggested.

“Good idea.”

Consort Jing nodded, “All of you go, try to finish before it gets dark.”

“Yes!”

The palace maids and eunuchs descended the steps and began picking flowers from the garden.

No sign of the hidden guards remained.

All of the hidden guards had disappeared!

Consort Jing sensed something was amiss. She furrowed her brows and turned around, only to be hooded before she caught a glimpse of the attacker!

Being a martial artist herself, unlike the normal royal concubines, she quickly acted. She flicked her finger, launching a poisoned needle towards Gu Jiao!

Whoa!

Poisonous Scorpion!

By sheer luck, Gu Jiao was prepared and sidestepped, catching the needle mid-flight and embedding it into her assailant’s arm.

Before Consort Jing could scream, she was drugged!