"Sending servants?"

Prince Ji Shu sneered when he heard the report. He waved his hand. "Investigate all of them, especially those who stood opposite of me."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After giving that instruction, Prince Ji Shu stayed still for a moment. He looked at the room where his fiancée was staying but refrained from going in and possibly disturbed her. Prince Ji Shu chose to return back to the celebration, but this time, he didn't beat anyone.

He was only giving them cold reception. 

The celebration continued for a period of time afterwards. The officials couldn't possibly go against his words and chose to believe his excuse in the surface. In the end, they all simply expressed that they wished First Miss Wei could get well soon.

Prince Ji Sheng's entourage also left the party after some had started to leave.

"I wish you well, Imperial Third Brother. The border is cold, so you should make sure to take care of your health."

Prince Ji Sheng cupped his hands. His face was still as rigid as ever. "Many thanks for your concern, Imperial Fourth Brother. May your fiancée get healthy soon."

The two brothers bade their farewell and they departed. The other two princes also didn't stay there for a long time anymore. Princess Ji Xiaoli will still have her hairpin ceremony tomorrow, so she had to rest early.

…

When they had returned back to the residence, Wei Liuying finally spoke out, "The hairpin ceremony is right after the celebration?"

"Yes," Yang Xian admitted. "The Emperor decided that it'll be for the best that Princess Ji Xiaoli had her hairpin ceremony as fast as possible so that they could proceed with the marriage agreement with Xiong Tribe and ended the long lasting war.'

"When the war stopped, I'm sure that everyone will be full of praise to the Emperor's insight and Princess Ji Xiaoli's bravery," Wei Liuying added.

Yang Xian chuckled. "Yes, but only temporary. When war started again, whose reputation would go to drain in your opinion?"

Princess Ji Xiaoli.

The answer was obvious, but Wei Liuying didn't dare to utter it out. The three of them were in Prince Ji Sheng's study room. The room was designed so that no one would be able to hear anything that was said from inside. That way, they could talk freely without the need to worry that someone will hear.

Of course, Prince Ji Sheng never let anyone near the study room.

"What did you use, Liu Ying?" Prince Ji Sheng asked.

Wei Liuying straightened her position. "Replying to His Highness, I used daffodil bulbs to Wei Xiao Hua's food."

"Daffodil?"

"Daffodil is a common flower in the capital city and it's often used by women when they were using some makeup or taking a bath with herbs," Wei Liuying replied. "However, daffodil bulbs are poisonous if its ingested because it can cause nausea, vomiting, rash, or in large amount, even death."

Prince Ji Sheng didn't say anything when Wei Liuying said that. Several types of flowers were indeed poisonous, but women liked their scent and also their aroma. Because of that they didn't care and kept the flower to decorate their garden. Of course, only some of them could be eaten and they were not foolish enough to poison themselves.

Yang Xian rubbed his chin. "I believe this is not the first time you use it?"

"I eat it in the past," Wei Liuying replied with a deadpan expression.

"You eat it?"

"Yes."

When food was scarce, Wei Liuying had no other choice but to scavenge for food in the residence. There was nothing but flowers and some herbs around, so she had to test them one by one to find out which one was edible. When she was poisoned due to the flowers, the physician didn't find anything wrong and only thought that she was malnourished.

Medicine was not that advance yet as people's focus has always been war. Maybe in the near future they would be able to realize that there was indeed something strange with the flowers. But at this point of time, Wei Liuying knew that she could use it to her advantage.

Yang Xian nodded. "Don't eat it anymore."

"I won't."

"Good."

"Also, this is the first time I see you take action on your own like this," Yang Xian commented. "Most of the time you're only an insignificant figure at the background who will not do anything."

"I can't act on the front because of my position, so I have to scheme from the back. Right now, I'm not playing the role of a good yet timid daughter of the Wei Family. Is there any need for me to continue playing the passive role on the surface when it has nothing to do with my current identity?"

Wei Liuying's eyelids fluttered slightly. "But if you wish for me to not do any action on my own…"

"Feel free to do what you want," Prince Ji Sheng interrupted. His expression was still as cold as ever. "As long as you don't put me on disadvantage, I don't mind whatever you do."

"Yep. You can do whatever you want. Besides, isn't life look more interesting when you're daring than when you're timid." Yang Xian winked and laughed. "You need to use your mind to create advantage for yourself too and don't let other people continue to take advantage of you just because of your lower position."

"I'm not going to scam ladies just like you, Strategist Yang."

*cough* *cough*

Yang Xian looked at Wei Liuying with a frown, trying to keep his composure. "When did I ever scam ladies? All I did is just asking them some question."

"And make them fall for your charm."

"And make…. No! I didn't do that. I'm the righteous Prince Ji Sheng's right hand, so how can I possibly do something so immoral?" Yang Xian denied right away.

Wei Liuying merely looked at Yang Xian with a cold face. Over the past week when she stayed in Prince Ji Sheng's residence, she had heard of rumors regarding Yang Xian. He was already known to be a peculiar strategist who loved to roam around on the street and talked about many things.

Of course, most of his target would be the ignorant ladies who didn't know when they should close their mouth.

"You learn too much from Yan."

"Why do you think it's from Yan?"

"Because he's the one who start to flirt with any women who throw themselves to him in order to get advantage without the need to promise them anything," Wei Liuying replied unhurriedly. Though, Shi Yan's girly face also made it harder for him to get close to women without them suspicious that he might be a woman.

If he cross dressed, she was sure that it would be really good.

In the store, Shi Yan sneezed loudly. He furrowed his brows and looked outside the window with confusion. 'Who's the pretty lady who think about him? Has his charm finally work?'

Listening to Wei Liuying, Yang Xian was speechless. Well, he had to admit, though. Part of his skill did come from Shi Yan because the two of them used to work together to search for information.

"Back to the topic."

When Prince Ji Sheng started to take control, both Yang Xian and Wei Liuying stopped talking. It was as if they were already trained to get serious whenever they heard Prince Ji Sheng's voice.

"Tomorrow Princess Ji Xiaoli's hairpin ceremony, you two don't have to come," Prince Ji Sheng gave his order.

Yang Xian frowned. "Are you sure about this, Your Highness? There are already several officials who are looking at you with malicious gazes today. From what I had seen, those who still keep neutral can be counted with fingers."

"I know."

Prince Ji Sheng had also noticed most of the people's gaze this afternoon. However, he didn't want to attract attention and tried to keep low profile tomorrow. "I want you to stay behind and take care of our departure."

"When will we depart?"

"The day after hairpin ceremony."

Yang Xian arched his eyebrows. "So quick?"

Prince Ji Sheng tapped his fingers on the armrest. "There are too many dangers in the capital city. Besides, those who didn't want peace to happen will surely make their movements and tried to stop us."

"Leave it to me, Your Highness."

"And you, Liu Ying," Prince Ji Sheng looked at Wei Liuying then frowned. Everything could be done by Yang Xian splendidly without the need of help from other people. "You can do whatever you want."

Whatever she wants?

Wei Liuying was perplexed when she heard what Ji Sheng said. She turned her head to look at Yang Xian, but he simply shrugged. "I can take care of everything for now. However, it'll be better if you do some closure for your own case or something like that because who knows what will happen to your original names?"

"It's fine even if they want to use my name," Wei Liuying replied. "What they can't do is finding someone with similar face and stature as me so quickly." 

Hearing that, Yang Xian smiled bitterly. Who could possibly be as beautiful as Wei Liuying but has such small stature because of malnutrition? The Wei Family wouldn't be able to find her replacement in such a short period of time. And even if they could, Wei Liuying didn't mind. At least for now.

Because she had a more important matter to do.

From now on, she was not Wei Liuying.

She's Liu Ying, Prince Ji Sheng's second strategist and also Yang Xian's apprentice.