Chapter 17: The Former Girl’s Infatuation Was Simply Bewitched

Chapter 17: Her Youthful Infatuation Was Nothing but a Delusion

The moment these words were spoken, the room fell into heavy silence.

After a long pause, Madam Pei’s cold, stern voice rang out.

"What do you mean by that?"

Pei Yun calmly took a sip of tea. "Grandmother, your recurring bouts of illness over the past six months were not without cause. Why don’t you ask Aunt Wang what she has been adding to your medicine?"

Despite the freezing cold, Wang Shi’s back was drenched in cold sweat. She forced herself to remain composed, feigning disbelief. "Your Highness, whatever I may have done, no matter how little you think of me, you cannot pin such a heinous crime on me!"

Madam Pei stared at Pei Yun, and after a moment, as if suddenly understanding something, she let out a cold snort. "Your aunt may be fond of petty schemes, but she is not so wicked as to resort to poisoning. Yun’er, is it because you resent her for sending Qian’er into the Eastern Palace that you’ve staged this charade to take revenge on her?"

Pei Yun almost let out a laugh.

Truly, her dear grandmother.

She’d rather suspect her own granddaughter of deceit than believe Wang Shi capable of harming her.

Settling back in her chair, Pei Yun lazily lifted her gaze, a faint smile on her lips. Without offering any explanation, she quietly said a single word: "Yes."

"Today, Aunt Wang ordered Zhao Fu to steal the medicinal herbs. I deliberately instructed Shu Yan to catch him in the act. As for the debt collectors showing up to demand payment, that was also my doing—all to show you, Grandmother, what your beloved Aunt Wang has been up to behind your back."

Madam Pei had not expected Pei Yun to admit it so readily. Enraged, she snapped, "No wonder you were so insistent on pursuing this matter earlier! You ungrateful girl, you’re determined to cause chaos in this household! I am your own grandmother, and yet you scheme against me?"

"My own grandmother?" Pei Yun let out a derisive laugh as if hearing a joke.

"Have you ever treated me as your own granddaughter? You claim to act in my best interests, yet you sought to send Pei Qian into the Eastern Palace to replace me."

Pei Yun slowly rose to her feet, meeting Madam Pei’s gaze without fear. "Tell me, what woman could endure her sister trying to steal her husband?"

Just as Li Zhangye reached the entrance of the hall, he happened to overhear these words. He stopped in his tracks, not entering.

Pei Siyuan called out nervously, "Your Highness..."

Li Zhangye glanced into the room from afar, faintly catching sight of a slim, elegant silhouette. She tilted her chin slightly, proud and unyielding, like a red plum blossom in the snow.

"It seems Minister Pei still has some family matters to attend to. I shall withdraw to the Crown Princess’ quarters for a short rest," he said indifferently.

With that, he turned and left.

"Of course." Pei Siyuan forced a smile and bowed as he saw the Crown Prince off, then hastily tugged at his son’s sleeve and hurried into the hall.

The moment Wang Shi saw them, she rushed forward as if spotting a lifeline.

"Husband!"

"Mother, Your Highness, what is going on?" Pei Siyuan panicked, pacing back and forth. "The Crown Prince is still in the residence—how could you cause such a scene?"

No one in the room answered him.

Pei Yun kept her eyes fixed on Madam Pei. "For the past six months, Grandmother, you must have often felt exhausted and weak. That is the effect of the slow-acting poison—it won’t kill you immediately, but over time, it will ravage your organs until recovery becomes impossible. The poison is difficult to detect, but the imperial physicians are highly skilled. One examination is all it’ll take."

Wang Shi’s face instantly turned pale.

Though Madam Pei was somewhat swayed by Pei Yun’s words, she still believed her to be making mischief. "You spiteful girl, what are you playing at?"

What was she playing at?

She *did* have something she wanted!

"If this poison isn't counteracted, Grandmother, it may well shorten your lifespan. And as it happens, I know a physician who knows how to treat it." Pei Yun's lips curled into a smile. "But the capital isn’t the best place for detoxification and recuperation..."

"You... you..." Madam Pei suddenly understood, her body trembling slightly. "Ungrateful brat! You're trying to drive me away! Aren't you afraid I'll spread the word that the Crown Princess shows no respect or *family* piety toward her grandmother?"

"Go ahead. The Crown Prince is right here in the residence. Tell him whatever you wish—what do I have to fear?" Pei Yun arched an eyebrow, completely unfazed. "Worst case, I’ll stop being Crown Princess and give up this ducal estate entirely. From the moment you began tormenting and mistreating my mother, you should have known her daughter wouldn’t let it slide."

She spoke these words slowly, with a smile, yet her gaze grew increasingly cold and sharp.

At the mention of Zhou Shi, Madam Pei seemed to have an epiphany, her hateful glare suddenly snapping toward her.

Pei Wei immediately stepped in front of her mother.

"So *you’re* the one, you scheming witch, stirring up trouble behind the scenes!"

She then turned back to Pei Yun, pointing at her, her face livid with rage. "To treat your own grandmother like this—you little monster, you’ve gone mad! Completely mad!"

Watching Madam Pei's loss of control, the smile on Pei Yun's lips deepened.

Yes, she was mad. She should have gone mad long ago.

Let others condemn her for disrespecting her elders or curse her for being cold-blooded—in this life, she wouldn’t let *anyone* who hurt her loved ones get away.

Even if that person was her own flesh-and-blood grandmother!

"Uncle."

Pei Yun's melodious voice reached Pei Siyuan's ears, making him flinch.

"Aunt refuses to admit it, but I have solid proof. Do you want to deal with this yourself, or shall I report it to the authorities?"

Pei Siyuan's face turned ashen, caught in a dilemma. After hearing her earlier words, he knew full well his niece was beyond restraint—she’d *actually* go through with it.

And then his official career would be utterly ruined.

"Husband, husband, don't listen to her nonsense! I truly didn't poison anyone..."

Wang Shi continued her frantic denials.

Pei Chian stood guiltily in a corner, silent, while Madam Pei, perhaps too agitated, clutched her chest, slumping into her chair.

Surveying the scene before her, Pei Yun felt satisfied but annoyed.

This was enough.

She’d *only* meant to expose Wang Shi's dishonesty and let her grandmother handle it. Later, when her grandmother succumbed to the poison's effects, she would send her away, claiming she needed famous doctors in Jiangnan.

Settling things cleanly, no loose ends.

But she hadn't anticipated Madam Pei's fierce protection of the second branch.

Pei Yun suddenly realized she’d gone too easy on them.

It didn't matter if her grandmother refused to believe Wang Shi had poisoned her now—the more she disbelieved, the better. She would gradually reveal the evidence, making her grandmother understand just how desperately Wang Shi wanted her dead.

Killing someone was easy—breaking them was the real victory. The deeper the trust, the more unforgettable the betrayal.

When her grandmother grew increasingly unwell, even if she wished to remain in the capital, she’d *come crawling*.

Now that would be interesting...

Pei Yun cast a cold glance over the chaos, when suddenly her eyes locked with someone’s. The girl bit her lip, then abruptly turned and grabbed Wang Shi's sleeve.

"Mother, just confess. There's no escape. I can’t cover for you any longer—I don’t want anything to happen to Grandmother..."

Pei Yun gave Pei Qian a deep look, but before she could finish speaking, Wang Shi’s slap had already struck her face.

A sharp slap rang out.

Pei Yun did not linger any longer. She strode out of the room.

Behind her, Madam Pei’s furious voice rang out: "Wang Liuniang, you venomous snake! You truly plotted against me—"

Amid the shouts and tussling, the hall descended into chaos. Pei Yun ignored it all and instead headed straight for the courtyard, where she asked a servant about the Crown Prince’s whereabouts. When she arrived at Qinglin Garden, she found Li Zhangye seated at the desk in the inner chamber, leafing through one of her leisure books.

She curtsied.

"Your Highness."

Li Zhangye set the book down and looked up. "It’s getting late. We should prepare to return to the palace."

Pei Yun was slightly surprised. She’d expected questions—after all, she had heard that the Crown Prince had already arrived outside the hall of Chengzhong Hall earlier.

Though family shame shouldn’t be aired publicly, she had chosen to settle this matter today precisely because she had no intention of hiding it from him.

But upon reflection, she found it reasonable. The Crown Prince had no interest in the Pei family’s dirty laundry—why would he bother asking?

She murmured "Yes" and turned to give the necessary orders.

Unlike their arrival, when it was time to depart, nearly everyone looked grim—except for Pei Wei. As Pei Yun had anticipated, neither Madam Pei nor Wang Shi were present.

Pei Siyuan managed a strained smile and explained that the two were unwell.

The Crown Prince said nothing further.

On the journey back to the palace, Pei Yun was overwhelmed by exhaustion. She leaned wearily against the carriage wall, half-dozing, when she suddenly heard a voice beside her: "The old madam’s health is failing, and the capital is too cold—unlike the milder, more comfortable climate of the south, which is better for recuperation. After the Lantern Festival, I will arrange for her to return to Cangzhou to live out her twilight years in peace."

The deep, familiar voice brought Pei Yun to alertness.

She opened her eyes and tried to sit up properly, but as the carriage jolted, she pitched forward uncontrollably.

An arm shot out to steady her, and she ended up pressed against a broad, firm chest, her face buried in the crook of his neck. The faint scent of pine filled her senses. After a heartbeat of shock, she scrambled back into proper posture.

Pei Yun frowned slightly, unsettled. She doubted that even qualified as an embrace—after all, even in the intimacy of the bedchamber, the Crown Prince had rarely held her.

Perhaps he disliked being too physically close to her.

She glanced up cautiously, trying to gauge his mood, only to find him momentarily distracted. When his gaze returned to her, it was inscrutable—dark and unfathomable as still waters, yet with undercurrents swirling beneath.

Pei Yun felt a strange dread creeping up her spine under his stare, like prey under a hunter’s gaze. But when she looked again, the Crown Prince had already reverted to his usual composed, dignified, and refined demeanor.

As if what she had seen was merely an illusion.

"What does the Crown Princess think of what I just proposed?" he asked.

Pei Yun replied respectfully, "Your Highness is most considerate. Your consort thanks you on behalf of my grandmother."

Pei Yun couldn't help feeling pleased.

Whether the Crown Prince acted out of sincerity or displeasure at Madam Pei's rudeness toward her, he had completely dealt with the problem.

From now on, if anyone inquired, she could simply pin it all on him.

Just thinking about it cheered Pei Yun up, and even the Crown Prince before her seemed far more agreeable.

If she had to recall the last time she thought he looked this good, it would have been before their wedding.

In truth, her first encounter with the Crown Prince was not on their wedding day, but at a banquet hosted by the Marchioness of Pingnan.

Across the lake, she had glimpsed the Crown Prince competing in archery with other noble youths, and the image stayed with her.

She had heard countless praises of his princely looks and grace, but it was only upon seeing him in person that she realized just how handsome her future husband was.

She even remembered, in the quiet of the night, using her limited artistic skills to sketch the scene of the Crown Prince drawing his bow, often sneaking glances at it afterward.

Yet, that youthful infatuation could now only be described in four words:

Completely spellbound.

During her first visit home, she came across that painting and thought it was ridiculous, unable to bear to look at it again. She had initially intended to have Shu Mo dispose of it, though she couldn’t recall why, it ended up abandoned on the desk.

Pei Yun's brow furrowed slightly, as if recalling something.

She had only glanced at it briefly earlier, without closer inspection, so she couldn’t be certain—but the red silk ribbon that had once bound the scroll looked like it had come undone...