Chapter 271 A Bunch of Fools

Chapter 271 A Bunch of Fools

Xiaoyue sat down with her daughter in her arms, and the old man placed the package of herbal residue on the table.

Ruo Xi Baby's big eyes squinted slightly, and the little girl wore a faint smile on her lips. Her small hands twitched.

Xiaoyue caught a faint whiff of medicinal fragrance.

"Hmph, old fool, how dare you mess with my mother!" Ruo Xi Baby thought as she looked at the old man in front of her. Her small hand twitched, but her mother stopped her.

"Xier, take it easy!" Xiaoyue pressed her daughter's small hand and said softly.

The old man across from them didn't understand these words, nor did the people around them.

But Ruo Xi Baby knew that her mother didn't want the old man to die so quickly; she still wanted to squeeze some information out of him.

Over the past six months, Ruo Xi Baby had helped her mother and uncle with many tasks, so they were well aware of her capabilities.

"Your Highness, please take a look. These are all the medicinal herbs!" the old man said, coughing several times, mostly toward the herbs.

The powder from the herbs dispersed into the air, invisible to others, but Ruo Xi Baby spotted it instantly.

The pink powder particles weren't highly toxic, but they could cause someone to faint within a quarter of an hour.

Looking to the side, similar particles were also floating around Wen Xu.

"Nandun Village, they all need to go!" Ruo Xi Baby gritted her tiny teeth, thinking to herself.

However, the thought of slaughtering an entire village worried her, as she feared others would brand her mother as a ruthless princess.

Whether it was her ruthless uncle or her mother, she didn't want their reputations to be tarnished.

It was obvious that someone with ill intentions was behind this, yet her mother and uncle were being blamed. It was truly unjust.

So, while her mother was examining the herbs, Ruo Xi Baby turned her head and looked around.

Those with malicious intentions would have dark marks between their eyebrows and carry an aura of hostility.

"Hmm? That guy in the blue round-collared robe seems alright. Judging by his face, he seems pretty decent. Hopefully, he will come to his senses."

Following her daughter's thoughts, Xiaoyue glanced slightly at the man.

The young man had a dignified look and a cold, stern face, radiating an air of righteousness. At that moment, he clenched his teeth, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to speak.

Xiaoyue suddenly felt as if she, too, could read people's faces like her daughter.

"Ahem, ahem..." Xiaoyue was choked by the dust and let out a light cough.

"Your Highness, are you okay?" Wen Xu looked up and asked.

Hongmei and nanny Gui looked at the old man's expression, their eyes glinting with a hint of menace.

Nanny Gui, who had weathered the palace alongside the Empress Dowager, had a keen ability to read people's expressions, almost like a fortune teller. Nothing could slip past her sharp eyes.

So, when these people showed even the slightest hint of deceit, nanny Gui noticed. She subtly raised her hand, a silver needle in her hand.

"It's nothing," Xiaoyue shook her head. She glanced at Wen Xu and noticed his tightly furrowed brows. She took a deep breath and said, "Hongmei, stay here and help Imperial Doctor Wen. I'll head to the back mountain to check things out."

"Yes, ma'am!" Hongmei replied, signaling a few underlings to stand guard and protect Wen Xu.

Xiaoyue held Ruo Xi Baby in her arms as they stepped out, while the old man, coughing, signaled for a few people to follow.

Nanny Gui glanced back at the trailing group, a cold smirk playing on her lips.

"Nanny Gui, make sure it's handled cleanly later," Xiaoyue said.

"Yes," Nanny Gui nodded.

Ruo Xi Baby was nibbling on her fingers when Nanny Gui reached over, took her into her arms, and gently pulled her fingers away, saying, "Little princess, we don't eat fingers. Later, Nanny will bake you some tasty cakes to nibble on!"

"Mm!" Ruo Xi Baby nodded and smiled at Nanny Gui.

Nanny Gui bore a scar across her face. Ruo Xi Baby had heard from the Empress Dowager and her brother that when the Empress Dowager first entered the palace, she was plotted against by the previous dynasty's concubines. Nanny Gui and Nurse Jin always protected her, and Nanny Gui's face was scarred by that concubine. Later, when the Empress Dowager gained favor, she had the imperial physicians prepare many jade complexion creams for Nanny Gui.

Yet, despite everything, the scars never fully disappeared.

Within the imperial court and palace walls, every step was perilous. A single misstep could cost one's life.

Hence, individuals like Xiaoyue had to adopt a ruthless demeanor to safeguard themselves.

The hills around Yunzhou City were not particularly high.

To make it easier for people to enjoy, there were steps leading up the mountain, with only a narrow, well-trodden path diverging at the entrance.

Xiaoyue ventured onto the narrow path, her eyes scanning the dandelions dotting the hillside and the thriving herbs. As she strolled, she knelt, plucked a plant, and passed it to Nanny Gui.

Nanny Gui took it, examined it closely, and sniffed it, saying, "How could there be toxic herbs from the Western Regions planted on this mountain?"

Ruo Xi Baby gazed at the plant, lost in contemplation.

"Ah, this... this can't be, this..." The old man and his companions were taken aback, their bodies stiffening as they turned their gaze to Xiaoyue and Nanny Gui.

"Hmph, the concoctions you've been dispensing are laced with noxious toxins from the Western Regions. Don't try to claim it was an accidental inclusion. This is not medicine for healing!" Xiaoyue turned and faced them, speaking coldly.

"Your Highness, we are utterly unaware of how this occurred. We implore your leniency; please do not hold this against us!" The old man straightened up and said, "In our humble Nandun Village, every family is burdened with the care of elders and children..."

"So, you resort to harming others, targeting their elders and children?" Nanny Gui asked.

"We've done no such thing, Nanny. You mustn't falsely accuse us!" The others chimed in.

"Come, Nanny, let's head back," Xiaoyue turned to leave.

"Stop!"

A sharp command halted Xiaoyue and Nanny Gui in their tracks.

Ruo Xi Baby sighed softly, "What a pack of fools!"

Her mother's tactics weren't especially ingenious—merely employing a common ice plant to reveal these individuals' true, hideous nature.

"How dare you!" Nanny Gui snapped, advancing a step.

"Nanny, give us the child. We won't harm her. As for the two of you... let's just say you had an unfortunate accident. Don't worry, we'll respect you both. Even though you, Princess, are as beautiful as the moon, we won't defile you in the slightest. It's just... we have no choice. We need to survive too!" The old man looked at Xiaoyue, then after a moment of silence, added, "If you make it into the city, our Nandun Village is finished!"

"Who is using the survival of your entire village as a bargaining chip to harm our Princess?" Nanny Gui demanded.

"Nanny, it's better if you don't ask. Even if you do, you won't make it down the mountain, and no message will get through. As for the child, we'll take care of her!"