Jin Guifei sat on the Golden Silk Nan Wood bed, in a vibrant red satin blouse embroidered with peonies symbolising richness, paired with a rosy clouds-style headdress spread out with turquoise trimmed satin, adorned with embroidered birds paying homage to the phoenix. She wore a yellow satin robe emblazoned with colourful peonies and phoenix, with a crimson satin skirt embroidered with dual waves and mandarin ducks. She personified formidable wealth and authority, radiating a royal presence.
This intense charm, along with Jin Guifei’s imposing demeanor, would easily intimidate any woman. Yet, Cai Wei was the exception.
She gazed fearlessly at the authoritative Jin Guifei and calmly asked, "What is the true intention behind the summoning of An Le?"
Jin Guifei felt a twinge of admiration upon seeing Cai Wei’s fearlessness, which was in stark contrast to the trembling officer’s daughters who had entered the palace. In her heart, she had even thought of winning Cai Wei over, as her unparalleled beauty and well-balanced poise would undoubtedly prove valuable in the future, given circumstances were different.
However, the current pressing issue was to get rid of the thorn in her side, King Qin, as quickly as possible.
Therefore, upon hearing Cai Wei’s provocative question, she not only refrained from anger but instead praised her, "An Le indeed has courage and insight. I wonder just how brave you are, would you dare to assassinate the prince?"
Cai Wei paused, "Assassinate the prince? Is madame joking with An Le?"
Jin Guifei gave her a chilling glare, her voice icy, "Do I look like I am joking to you?"
Cai Wei knew she wasn’t yet familiar enough with this revered madame to make jokes. The shocking words Jin Guifei had uttered had left her doubting her own ears, leading her to blurt out "joking" unintentionally.
But, what did she mean by assassinating the prince?
Who does she want to kill? Or rather, who does Jin Guifei want her to kill? She possesses countless devoted experts at her command, why not use them and instead, decide to use someone she can’t control?
As a shrewd person, Cai Wei quickly found the answer, she laughed, "Does Madame think, I will follow your order to go against him?"
"You don’t have a choice in this matter!"
Leaning against the velvet cushion of the eleganceof the Golden Silk Nan Wood bed, Jin Guifei nonchalantly stretched out her hand and a palace maid rushed forward, handing her a steaming cup made from the imperial kiln.
She took over the tea cup, gently stirred the leaves inside with the lid, took a small sip, and then placed the cup back.
"Your family resides in the capital city, right?"
Jin Guifei asked casually, the implication carrying significant weight, "The palace is granting you three months. If me, the palace, doesn’t hear what I want to hear after three months, you know the consequences, don’t you?"
She didn’t verbalize the outcome if Cai Wei failed to assassinate Nangong Yi, but the intent was clear. If Cai Wei did not kill Nangong Yi, her family would pay the ultimate price!
Cai Wei was enraged - her boundary had been crossed!
Family had always been the most precious thing to her in this world, even more so than her own life. She would not tolerate any harm done unto them. Now that someone dared to threaten her with their lives, she could no longer restrain herself.
Even if she could forgive Jin Guifei for her previous poisonings or her multiple attempts of murder against Nangong Yi, she would never pardon her for threatening the lives of her beloved family!
This time, she must end her life, so that she can never wreak havoc again!