Chapter 275: Using Her as a Pawn

Chapter 275 “Using Her as a Pawn”

The next day, Wang Bishan took the initiative to visit Huo Xianyue.

When the maid announced her arrival, Huo Xianyue felt a flicker of confusion.

Weren’t they both under house arrest? How could Wang Bishan casually come to her courtyard?

Before she could dwell on it, Wang Bishan swept in gracefully, her steps elegant and demeanor composed.

When Huo Xianyue saw her face, she was taken aback—it was flawless, skin like jade, even more radiant and lovely than before the slapping punishment.

In contrast, her own face was still swollen, like a puffy steamed bun.

A surge of envy rose in her heart, and she couldn’t help asking, “Concubine Wang, how did your face recover so quickly?”

Wang Bishan smiled faintly, her tone soft yet tinged with pride. “My aunt, Dowager Consort Xi, heard about my punishment in the manor and felt sorry for me. She specially sent a bottle of the palace’s treasured ‘Jade Smooth Cream.’ I’ve only used it for a few days, and my face is already restored.”

Huo Xianyue’s eyes glimmered with envy as she eagerly pressed further, “Do you still have some of this ‘Jade Smooth Cream,’ Concubine Wang? Could you lend it to me?”

Wang Bishan felt a secret delight. She immediately produced a delicate white jade bottle from her sleeve and handed it over. “Of course. I brought it with me on purpose, hoping to share it with you, sister.”

Huo Xianyue took the ointment excitedly, but as her fingers touched the cool bottle, a sense of unease washed over her. She narrowed her eyes, asking suspiciously, “Why are you being so generous? It’s almost as if you came on purpose to give me this ointment.”

Wang Bishan’s expression stiffened. Quickly hiding her guilt, she explained urgently, “I’m just concerned about your injuries, so I brought the ointment especially for you. What, do you suspect I’m trying to harm you?”

Huo Xianyue gave a cold laugh, her gaze sharp as she examined her. “It’s not suspicion; it’s just strange. We’re both concubines in the Jing Manor, rivals by nature. Why would anyone willingly show goodwill to an opponent? Your actions, Concubine Wang, are truly baffling!”

At this, Wang Bishan feigned anger, her face darkening. “Since Concubine Huo doesn’t trust me, then forget it. Good intentions thrown to the dogs!”

With that, she yanked the ointment bottle back from Huo Xianyue’s hand, and with a flick of her sleeves, turned to leave without looking back.

Back in her own courtyard, Nanny Lai saw that Wang Bishan had brought back the ointment given by Xiao Lingchuan and couldn’t hide her worry. She whispered a reminder, “Concubine, if you fail to persuade Concubine Huo to use this ointment, it will be hard to account to the Prince…”

Wang Bishan shot her a cold glare, her tone dripping with disdain. “Is Nanny Lai afraid of being implicated by me?”

“This old servant wouldn’t dare… I’m only worried for your safety, Concubine.” Lai bowed her head humbly.

“Worried for me?” Wang Bishan sneered, a trace of venom in her eyes. “If you were truly worried for me, why did you take the Prince’s side and scheme to have me apply that poison? Nanny Lai, I treated you like family, and this is how you repay me!”

“This old servant knows she was wrong—I only feared for my life…” Lai’s voice trembled as she defended herself, her face full of guilt.

“Enough!” Wang Bishan cut her off impatiently, a cunning smirk forming at her lips. “Since you have time to spout useless words, spread the news that the Prince came to my room last night. Once that’s done, Concubine Huo will come begging me for this ointment!”

Lai’s eyes lit up as she caught on to the plan. She quickly nodded. “Yes, Concubine. This old servant will see to it at once!”

Soon, rumors spread through the Hidden Brocade Pavilion.

Maids gathered in the corridors, lively recounting how Xiao Lingchuan had visited Wang Bishan’s courtyard the previous night to check on her injuries, even adding dramatic details, saying the Prince was captivated by her restored face and intended to favor her.

These words stung deep into Huo Xianyue’s heart.

She sat before her vanity, the bronze mirror reflecting her swollen, blotchy face—red here, purple there, like a squashed bun.

Why?

They had both been punished, yet Xiao Lingchuan only cared about Wang Bishan, not even sparing her a glance.

Was it really because her face healed better?

Men – they only care about looks! If she didn’t heal her face soon, she would lose his affection entirely!

Biting her lower lip, she summoned her personal maid and instructed in a low voice, “Go to Wang Bishan and get that so-called ‘Jade Smooth Cream’ from her! Bring some jewelry and valuables—don’t go empty-handed, or she’ll put on airs.”

The maid obeyed and soon went to Wang Bishan’s courtyard with a pile of gold and silver valuables.

Before long, the maid returned holding a white jade bottle. Huo Xianyue took it, the cool touch sent a shiver through her, a glimmer of hope lighting her eyes.

On the other side, Wang Bishan watched the jewelry the maid had brought and curled her lips into a cold smile.

Spending money to suffer—hmph, that fool Huo Xianyue was asking for trouble!

She tossed the jewelry carelessly into a box and lounged on her couch, her gaze icy.

Just wait—tomorrow, quite the show would be!

Sure enough, the next day, screams came from Huo Xianyue’s room.

After applying the “Jade Smooth Cream,” her face, which had been almost healed, suddenly began to fester that morning, oozing foul blood and pus, the pain contorting her face.

Before the mirror, she tremblingly touched her cheek. Her fingers met wet, bloody slime, and her shriek nearly pierced the roof.

She smashed the bronze mirror in fury, tears mingling with blood as she gnashed her teeth and cursed, “Wang Bishan, you bitch! You’ve ruined me! I’ll make you pay!”

Meanwhile, Wang Bishan received the news and grinned from ear to ear.

She hurriedly straightened her robes and rushed to Xiao Lingchuan’s study.

As soon as she entered, she dropped to her knees, her voice urgent. “Your Highness, your concubine has done as you ordered—Concubine Huo has used the poison ointment! I beg you, grant me the antidote quickly!”

Xiao Lingchuan sat behind his desk, his gaze as cold as frost.

“What’s the rush? Wait a bit longer.”

Wang Bishan’s heart tightened. Her lips trembled as she was about to speak again, but from outside the door came heart-wrenching wails.

Ling Feng hurried in and bowed. “Your Highness, Concubine Huo requests an audience. She claims Concubine Wang framed her and demands justice!”

Wang Bishan instinctively glanced at Xiao Lingchuan, but his expression remained impassive as he coldly uttered three words, “Let her in.”

The door swung open, and Huo Xianyue stumbled in, her face wrapped in white cloth, only her bloodshot eyes visible, brimming with venom.

The moment she saw Wang Bishan kneeling on the ground, she rushed over without a word, raised her hand, and slapped her with such force that the air seemed to tear.

“Bitch! You dared ruin my face! I’ll kill you!” Huo Xianyue screamed, her voice shrill.

Wang Bishan’s head snapped to the side, her cheek stinging with pain.

She didn’t back down. Grabbing Huo Xianyue’s wrist, she shoved her back, cursing, “What nonsense are you talking? Who ruined you? You brought this on yourself with your own stupidity!”

The two tangled into a brawl, pulling hair, scratching faces, trading filthy insults.

The study descended into chaos. The ink slab on the desk was knocked over, spilling black ink across the floor.

Xiao Lingchuan lounged in his chair, his face calm, but his eyes were as cold as a winter lake, watching the dog-eat-dog scene unfold.

After a long while, he finally spoke lazily, his voice low but carrying an invisible weight. “Enough!”

Ling Feng stepped forward and roughly pulled the two apart.

Huo Xianyue gasped for breath, her hair disheveled, the cloth covering her face had been torn away, revealing festering, hideous wounds that made one's skin crawl.

Wang Bishan was not much better off, her clothes disheveled and several scratch marks on her face, yet her eyes remained stubborn, glaring fiercely at her opponent.

Xiao Lingchuan snorted, his tone dripping with mockery: "I thought you two sisters were so close, but I never expected you'd tear each other apart like this. Guards, Concubine Wang has framed Huo Xianyue, causing her disfigurement. Drag her out and give her thirty strokes with the rod!"

Wang Bishan felt as if struck by lightning, her pupils constricting sharply. She barely managed to utter "Your Highness" before Ling Feng quickly clapped his hand over her mouth.

She struggled to defend herself, but only muffled sobs escaped her throat, her limbs flailing, her eyes filled with terror and resentment.

At that moment, she realized that Xiao Lingchuan had never intended to give her the antidote.

He had used her as a pawn!