Chapter 27 - A Way to Trick Them All

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"What are you doing in Zhen's study?"

Feng Yao lifted her fingers and lightly tapped at the bookshelf behind her before lying. "I'm investigating. Can't you see?"

The tick in Long Yi's jaw started again as he stared at Feng Yao. "Investigating what?"

Feng Yao sighed as she stared at him as if it should have been obvious.

"The death of the previous Wei Emperor."

Everyone froze at her words. All the servants standing behind Long Yi in the corridor immediately fell heavily to their knees as none of them dared to look at him. But Feng Yao simply laughed as she stood up. With her sudden bombshell, no one had noticed the papers stuffed into her robes.

"No need to be so stiff. Of course I couldn't find anything. But I'm sure that Your Majesty already knew that."

Long Yi's eyes narrowed at her. This wasn't the same girl he had locked up earlier. That girl had been completely under his control. But the person standing in front of him? This was a side he'd never seen before.

Almost like this was the true her.

Feng Yao watched as he continued to study her. His reaction was exactly what she had hoped for.

She had known that she wouldn't have enough time to leave before he found her. And when he did, he could easily lock her back up or worse: force her to spend the night with him.

But then again, wasn't there a certain saying?

 Curiosity killed the cat.

Feng Yao grinned. It looked like she had caught his interest once again. Perhaps, this would finally be the last time.

"Why was Your Majesty looking for me?"

She snapped him out of his thoughts and he suddenly laughed. As he moved towards her like nothing happened, the servants kneeling on the floor threw each other confused glances.

"Zhen wanted to come tell you about our successful ceremony. But seeing how you've already managed to personally come to Zhen, how about we celebrate together with a feast?"

Feng Yao leisurely raised an eyebrow at him. "What about the actual banquet?"

He waved away her question. "Not important. They can wait until Zhen arrives to begin."

Long Yi turned to speak to the servants, but his eyes never left her. "Go fetch Zhen and Zhen's Empress the food prepared."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The servants still kneeling on the floor quickly scrambled upwards and hurried out of the room.

Before long, they came back and worked around them in a flurry to set up a make-shift banquet that looked just as good as the real one that Long Yi was supposed to be at. Perhaps it was even better.

Feng Yao and Long Yi were ushered into sitting next to each other at the table.

"What do you like to eat, Feng Yao?"

Feng Yao's eyes followed the movement of the serving girl who was currently setting down the last dish of broiled chicken before turning her attention to him.

In a casual voice, she replied, "Hm? Anything, I guess."

His eyes were suspiciously bright as he nodded in thought. Feng Yao narrowed her gaze as she watched him.

What did he do to the food?

Long Yi smiled at her before personally picking up his chopsticks and moving a piece of stir-fried pork into her bowl of rice.

"Here. Zhen personally recommends this."

Feng Yao pretended not to notice his suspicious behavior and nodded at him. "If Your Majesty personally likes it, then I will gladly try it."

She picked up her own chopsticks and ate whatever he put into her plate. Keeping her head lowered, she almost didn't see the way that his smile widened with each bite she took.

Almost.

Feng Yao knew that he had probably poisoned all the food. Perhaps it was because he was curious about how her body was so tolerant to it.

Well if that's what you wish to know, then I will gladly tell you. But be careful for what you wish for...

Before long, Feng Yao had already finished almost half of the dishes. Inside, she was feeling quite satisfied. Being persecuted, chased, and imprisoned really did a number on her appetite.

She suddenly paused and looked up at him. His falsely doting expression was the same as usual.

"Your Majesty, are you not hungry?"

Feng Yao reached over and took a sip of her tea. The servants had just put out two freshly-brewed cups in front of them, and it smelled delightful after her small feast.

Long Yi chuckled as he reached out his arm to copy her. With the tea cup in his hand, he replied, "Zhen is happy just by drinking tea and watching you. Eat as much as you'd like. Zhen will not interfere."

She nodded like she was satisfied with his answer. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him leisurely sipping on his drink as he continued to watch her with his never-changing smile.

Suddenly, an uncomfortable feeling began to build in her stomach. Feng Yao's arm paused in the middle of reaching out to set her cup down as her features clouded over.

Seeing this, Long Yi set aside his empty teacup and leaned forward towards her. His eyes were shining in interest.

"How are you feeling?"

Feng Yao slowly picked up and placed her chopsticks in a neat stack over her bowl before turning to look at him.

"You slipped me an aphrodisiac?"

The burning inside of her stomach slowly traveled before uncomfortably warming her entire core.

Long Yi laughed. "My apologies. Zhen just couldn't resist slipping it into the food in along with the other poison."

Feng Yao watched as he wrapped his fingers around her arm and pulled her up to stand against his body. His touch left her feeling discomforted, but she didn't let any of it show on her face.

Feng Yao actually was secretly pleased with how this was turning out. She didn't even have to pretend to be affected. With the help of the drug, her cheeks were becoming quite flushed along with her eyes turning a bit hazy.

Long Yi's other arm tightly wrapped around her waist and pulled her flush against his skin. His bright eyes never left hers as if he was mesmerized by the sight of her rosy cheeks and heated gaze.

"Look at you," he whispered. His finger lightly tipped her chin upwards towards his face. "You're beautiful."

Feng Yao's entire vision suddenly blurred as she felt a warm sensation on her lips. He was kissing her.

Before he could forcibly slip his tongue inside her mouth, she harshly bit the inside of her cheek. Immediately, the strong metallic taste spread throughout her entire mouth just as she parted her lips for him.

Tasting her blood, Long Yi abruptly pulled back. The corner of his mouth was slightly stained red as he frowned at her.

"What are you doing? Zhen did not allow for you to do this."

Feng Yao smiled as she brought her thumb towards her lips and wiped away the little bit of blood that had escaped her mouth.

"You wanted to know my secret. I just decided to show you in a different way."

His eyes narrowed at her as she continued to grin.

"Your experimental drugs don't work on me. My blood has already become its own deadly poison from ingesting poison for countless years."

Feng Yao confidently lied through her teeth. It was true that she had consumed countless amounts of poison over her childhood. But it was physically impossible for her blood's toxic level to become so dangerous without killing her first.

She was bluffing. But then again, he didn't know that. And that meant that the people listening to them didn't know that either.

Long Yi watched her calmly. "You're lying to Zhen."

Feng Yao smiled. "No, I am not."

But he didn't buy it. His face suddenly morphed into a sneer as he roughly yanked her forward again. Feng Yao's eyes widened as she was forcibly pulled back against his body.

"Zhen already told you. Do not lie."

Feng Yao had no time to react as he stole her lips and began to wildly kiss her again. Her blood from where she bit her own cheek slowly dribbled down his chin again, but he didn't seem to care as he continued to harshly invade her mouth with his tongue.

He was so caught up in it, that he didn't realize the way that Feng Yao's expression had shifted from surprise back to calmness. It almost seemed as if she was no longer the person currently being forcibly taken advantage of. Nonchalantly, her eyes flickered to the window behind Long Yi.

The sun is going down. How convenient.

From underneath Long Yi's lips, her mouth curled up into a small smile. But Long Yi didn't have time to think about it more before the girl in his arms let down her guard and melted in his arms.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction run through his body like a spark of electricity at the sensation. His heart sped up in excitement at realizing that she was finally succumbing to the aphrodisiac.

A soft moan escaped his lips as he felt her fingers wrap around his waist and pull him closer against her soft body. He didn't even mind that her fingernails were slightly digging into his skin as he felt her lips boldly begin moving towards kissing the side of his neck.

"Long Yi..."

Her seductively sweet voice spoke his name right next to his ear. Long Yi couldn't help the tremor of lust that shot through his body from her gentle whisper against his skin.

"Yes, my Empress?"

"...You're despicable."

The faint sound of a metal blade being unsheathed was the only warning he had that something was off. From beyond his lust-filled haze, he could hear the familiar voices of his guards shout out.

"Your Majesty!"

Long Yi's eyes immediately lost any trace of his earlier lust as he jumped backwards. Snapping his gaze up, he noticed that his two best personal guards had already forced a protectively barrier between him and Feng Yao.

His face darkened as an icy chill entered his sharpened eyes. "What are you doing?"

In Feng Yao's hand was a short blade that glinted dangerously in the fading sunlight. Long Yi instantly recognized it as his personal dagger that he always kept hidden in the secret sheath along his waistband.

He was suddenly hit with how amusing the situation was. Throwing back his head, he let out a loud and happy laugh. The usual frightened glances from his servants and guards bore into his back, but he ignored them just like usual.

"You really impressed Zhen this time. To manage to steal Zhen's hidden weapon is something you should be proud of."

A patronizing look overcame his features as if he was speaking to a child. Spreading out his arms, he sweetly coaxed her towards him.

"Now enough of that. Let go of that dagger and come back to Zhen. You can't possibly think you have any chance of killing Zhen now?"

Feng Yao's cheeks were still flushed from the drug, but her eyes seemed unnaturally clear in this moment.

"Do you still remember that story about the two birds, Your Majesty? You claimed that I was that bird you caged in order to protect. But I think you have it wrong. I am not the caged bird. You are."

Upon hearing her words, Long Yi's grin suddenly morphed into a cruel sneer. "Hahaha! You think you can kill Zhen with that puny knife, Feng Yao? Zhen, the person who treated you the best, is getting this kind of treatment in return for all that I sacrificed for you?"

His icy gaze was piercing as he angrily shouted at her.

"Zhen killed the Imperial Doctor for the sake of you! Zhen brought in that concubine because of you! Zhen did all of this and more, and yet you still insist that you do not return Zhen's love!? You still refuse to help Zhen!?"

In the face of his outburst, her expression was unfazed as if even an army of men wouldn't be enough to destroy her calm.

"In the end," she softly began. "You still don't understand my words."

Her expression suddenly shifted into a cryptic smile. Long Yi froze as he felt the air shift around them both.

"Who says the person I was trying to kill was you?" Her words echoed ominously in the silent room as she let out a wild laugh. "You see, Your Majesty? The best way to kill someone is to kill the person they love the most."

"What—?"

Understanding finally dawned upon Long Yi as his eyes widened. Panic overcame his features as he abruptly shoved past his guards and rushed towards her. He didn't even notice that his vision was beginning to blur. Was it because of the shock? Or was it because of something else?

But it was too late.

Through his blurring eyes, he watched as Feng Yao raised the knife and pierced it straight into her own chest. Her face never even lost its devilish grin as she began to cough up blood.

"Feng Yao!" Long Yi reached out his arm towards her falling body, but he was suddenly overcome by a wave of dizziness.

Without warning, his legs collapsed underneath him as he felt a painful sensation attack his lungs. Long Yi quickly covered his mouth just in time for a violent wave of coughing to overcome his suddenly weak body. When he finally pulled his hands away, he was stunned to see them both covered in his own blood.

"Your Majesty! Quick! Bring the doctor in here!"

"I'm here, I'm here! Hurry! I need to treat His Majesty!"

The voices of his guards and servants screaming out around Long Yi slowly began to blend into white noise in the back of his mind. Faintly, he registered one of his guards catching him before he fell to the floor in one heap.

One thought ran through his mind.

When did she manage to poison me?

Long Yi slowly turned his body and tried to reach out towards Feng Yao who was now lying bloodied and lifeless on the cold floor.

At that moment, the doctor hastily bent down in front of him and took his pulse.

"Don't worry about Zhen. Make sure she stays alive..." Long Yi tried to push away the doctor's arm, but the movement was too much for him. His entire vision darkened as he fell unconscious.

The doctor froze at the Emperor's words as he stared at the unconscious Long Yi.

What was he supposed to do? He was only a replacement doctor until they had a new Imperial Doctor.

Even though His Majesty had ordered him to save the girl, it was useless. Glancing behind him towards the young woman lying limply on the other side of the room, he already knew that there was no way that she could still be alive.

The fallen dagger that he had earlier seen her pierce her own chest with was lying on the ground next to her. All around her bleeding chest was a frightening large pool of blood. No one could survive with that much blood loss. As a doctor, he knew that quite well.

He suddenly remembered something that he had heard her say while he was waiting on the other side of the wall with the servants.

"My blood has already become its own deadly poison from ingesting poison for countless years."

Was that the reason that His Majesty suddenly fell ill?

The doctor's conclusion only made him more determined to not touch the girl named Feng Yao.

One of the guards standing protectively around His Majesty hurriedly spoke at that moment.

"Can you cure His Majesty?"

The doctor looked back down at the pale-faced Emperor before giving a nod.

"Yes. This is an unusual poison, but it is possible. If we hurry, His Majesty may regain consciousness within a week."

The guard nodded.

"And the girl?"

The doctor paused as he took one more glance at the lifeless Feng Yao.

"...Leave her. She is dead."

"Understood."


Feng Yao waited until the very last set of footsteps belonging to a frightened servant hurriedly exited the room before she slightly opened her eyes. Luckily, the sun had already set so there were no bright lights to blind her.

"My goodness, Feng Yao. You just get scarier and scarier, don't you?" She whispered to herself before letting out a soft laugh.

Looking down, the sight of her blood-soaked torso greeted her weary eyes. Actually, it wasn't real blood.

Earlier, just before she had pretended to swing the dagger towards her own chest, she had bit down on the red pill she'd been keeping safe in her possession.

As for what exactly that red pill did?

Feng Yao shuttered from the bitter taste that still remained in her mouth. The red pill wasn't really a medicine. It was actually just a dark red dye that she had mixed with a few other ingredients.

When it came into contact with water, or saliva in her case, the ingredients bubbled up and formed a thick but liquid paste. Since she also mixed in the red dye, the result tended to look awfully close to blood. Even the doctor that had glanced at her earlier hadn't noticed the difference.

Feng Yao let out a sigh. Having to out-scheme the Emperor was really tiring, even for her.

But he was an idiot. A lusty, overconfident idiot.

He may have poisoned her food, but she also managed to poison their water. Since he also seemed so excited over getting to kiss her, Feng Yao just continued to let him do as he pleased. At least that way, it raised his heart rate and made the poison take effect faster in his body.

She reached out and patted the inner robes of her guard uniform she still had on from earlier. Luckily, the five letters inside were still dry and free from the red dye.

Guess I had better head out before they come back in here. Although, I highly doubt any of them want to come check on me since my blood is so "poisonous."

She was lucky that the doctor had overheard her bluffing about having poisonous blood. At that time, she hadn't known for sure if Long Yi would have already called the doctor in. But considering that he was feeding her poison, it made sense that he'd want to have a doctor close by.

But that lie hadn't been for Long Yi. The reason why she had said that was because she wanted to scare away anyone from coming near her to investigate her "corpse."

And thankfully, it had worked since Long Yi ended up collapsing right after ingesting her blood. He had even so graciously allowed for everyone to see when it dribbled down his chin during his heated moment.

Feng Yao forced herself to get up from the sticky pile of red. She was pretty sure that she looked like a mess. But there was still one more thing she had left to do.

Reaching back inside her outfit, she patted the five letters tucked away safely from prying eyes.

"Let's get you guys where you need to go," she whispered. It was time to escape.

And for real, this time. 

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Author's Note:

Woo hoo! A double update! It's my present to all of you for reading, voting, and commenting ♡

Next chapter will be the last for this arc before we begin a new one, so look forward to it!

~(^_^)~

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