Ran Yan walked out of the arch just in ti to et Lady Dongyang coming from the Inner Gate.
She still had that distant look in her eyes, but had beco much thinner and her complexion was pale. Dressed in plain clothes, she looked ethereal, as if she was not of this world.
Ran Yan slightly bowed to her.
Lady Dongyang nodded her head and approached with the help of her maid.
"Please co inside and sit, Great Aunt," Ran Yan said.
Lady Dongyang looked towards the gazebo in the courtyard, her voice sowhat weak, "It’s a bit stuffy inside, let’s sit in the gazebo."
It was only evening, and the heat of the afternoon lingered; actually, it was even more suffocating outside than inside. But since the guest had chosen the spot, Ran Yan followed her there.
The two knelt on the mats in the gazebo, and Ran Yan asked, "You don’t look well, Great Aunt. Are you ill?"
If it weren’t for the possibility that Lady Dongyang could pose a threat to Ran Yan, she wouldn’t harbor much ill will towards her. Sotis, even so really vile thoughts would cross her mind—if Lady Dongyang hadn’t murdered Xiao Song’s first two wives, Xiao Song wouldn’t now be her husband. Perhaps it was the lover’s eyes that only saw beauty, but Ran Yan increasingly felt that no one else in the world could compare to him.
"I have been ill for so days, and I feel my ti is short. That’s why I ca to see you during my mourning period," Lady Dongyang said as lightly as if deciding what tea to drink after dinner.
"From your complexion, it seems it’s not yet beyond redy," Ran Yan countered.
The maid served tea, and Lady Dongyang slowly took a sip before saying, "So illnesses can’t be cured with good dicine."
Ran Yan paused and gestured for the maid by the pavilion to leave.
Lady Dongyang set down her teacup, gazing absently at a red hibiscus stretching into the gazebo from the outside garden, and after a mont spoke again, "I realize now that my actions have been exposed. Xiao Jiu didn’t act against earlier only out of fear of startling the snake and causing the person behind to suspect him. Now that he knows I’ve severed ties with that person, he will definitely seek revenge."
Xiao Song indeed was such a person, and his thods of revenge were always rciless, leaving no leeway for his enemies. If he hated soone, he wouldn’t simply cut that person’s throat; he had the patience to wait and completely destroy them.
"Others may not know Xiao Jiu’s thods, but I have experienced them a few tis," Lady Dongyang continued, her expression still calm as she pulled a thin letter from her sleeve and placed it on the table, "I am here only to make a deal with you. This is a letter showing Li Tai colluding with local officials, intending to rebel. Take it; the condition is that you spare my son’s life."
The ruthlessness of Xiao Song’s revenge made it hard to say whether he would regard fraternal affection.
Ran Yan stared at her and said coolly, "Why should I take this hot potato? Li Tai’s rebellion has nothing to do with ."
"True," Lady Dongyang replied, her gaze lowered as her pale fingers gently caressed the corner of the letter, speaking softly, "but I know that Li Tai has captured Sang Suiyuan."
Ran Yan’s heart skipped a beat, clearly seeing a slight smile flicker across Lady Dongyang’s lips. She raised her head, her eyes clear as autumn waters, looking deep into Ran Yan’s, "How about this deal? A life for a life. I know you can persuade Xiao Jiu."
"Did you take the thunderbolt vine yourself?" Ran Yan suddenly realized. Who else could administer poison to such a cunning woman but herself?
Lady Dongyang stopped the motion of lifting her cup for a drink and replied, "Correct. Li Tai thinks by tempting Xiao Shiyi with the position of sect leader, he could have killed. But he doesn’t realize Xiao Shiyi is no match at all."
During their collaboration, Lady Dongyang had realized that Li Tai lacked the ability to discern and use capable people, a fatal flaw in the struggle for succession.
Lady Dongyang continued taking the poison for two reasons: firstly, to buy ti as Xiao Song was on his way to Jiangnan Road on an imperial mission; bearing heavy responsibilities and being a very cautious person, he would likely not rush to revenge if he heard about her serious illness, preferring to wait and observe the situation; secondly, to fool Li Tai, who had insiders planted in the Xiao residence, while she secretly controlled Xiao Shiyi and continued to pretend to be poisoned, sneaking out of Lanling.
She had actually been in Chang’an for so ti now, just waiting for the right mont.
Ran Yan could deduce as much, but she still didn’t understand—if Lady Dongyang was capable of deceiving Li Tai, controlling Xiao Shiyi, and knowing Li Tai’s movents, how could she fear Xiao Song’s revenge and hurriedly co to make this deal?
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