Chapter 161

Chapter 161

He had known it. Something like this was bound to be discovered sooner or later, and the day it was discovered would be the day he died.

Only, before his death, he still hadn’t been able to see his wife.

Eddie’s face was ashen, but he forced himself to hold on and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Prince Eugene is of noble status. How could he possibly have any dealings with me?”

“Indeed. Strictly speaking, it was more of a one-sided threat.” Tu Nan nodded. “He took your wife and threatened you, forcing you to pretend you knew nothing, while he kept poisoning the King’s food and drink.”

Eddie’s entire body began to tremble against his will. He stared at Tu Nan in terror, as if he were looking at death itself.

How could this person possibly know all of that?

Why did everyone have to force him?

He was just an ordinary cook, yet he had to live in fear every single day!

Deep in his eyes, a suspicious red slowly began to surface.

As long as he killed the person in front of him, this matter would never get out…

Tu Nan keenly sensed that something about his aura was wrong. A sense of danger climbed higher, bit by bit.

The Weird feeling coming from the man before her was growing stronger and stronger.

“As long as you die…”

“I’m here to help you,” she blurted. “Don’t you want to know where your wife, Lydia Nelson, is?”

Eddie froze. Hearing that familiar name brought a little of his reason back.

The red in his eyes faded somewhat. He looked suspiciously at the young girl before him, his voice still carrying a dangerous edge.

“What did you say?”

“I can help you find Lydia Nelson.” Tu Nan looked him straight in the eye. “But I have one condition.”

Eddie was silent for a while before finally asking in a low voice, “What condition?”

“I want you to…” Tu Nan paused, then took a glass vial from her sleeve. The liquid inside swayed gently. “Put this in the King’s food tonight.”

Eddie: “…”

He couldn’t understand why everyone wanted the King dead.

Eugene was one thing, but now even a noble girl who looked so weak and harmless wanted the King’s life.

Expressionless, he asked, knowing full well the answer, “What is that?”

“Don’t worry,” Tu Nan said. “It won’t take the King’s life. At most, it’ll make him suffer a little.”

“If something suddenly happens to the King after he eats what I made, do you think I’ll still have a life left?” Eddie said bitterly. The red in his eyes spread again. “If that happens, even if I find Lydia, what meaning would there be?”

He might as well find a way to pry her mouth open…

“What if I said I could help you leave the Royal Palace?” Tu Nan seized on his thoughts and spoke with complete confidence. “If you stay in the Royal Palace, Eugene will get rid of you sooner or later. But if I can help you and your wife leave tonight, you can go far away and never be threatened by anyone again.”

Eddie thought it over. On the other hand…

Her proposal truly did tempt him. But-

“You’re only a guest at the Royal Palace. You can help us escape?” he asked doubtfully.

“Tonight, the rain is pouring, and the Royal Palace has invited many guests. You can easily steal a Carriage and slip out of the city with the crowd.” Tu Nan’s tone left him no room to refuse. “I can guarantee that no one will discover you.”

“Why should I believe you’ll help me?” Eddie asked darkly.

“Of course I won’t help you for no reason.” Tu Nan lowered her voice. “I need you to do one more thing for me…”
Eddie lowered his head and thought for a long time before finally making up his mind.

“If you dare lie to me, I swear I’ll report you to the King.”

“I wouldn’t gamble with my own safety,” Tu Nan said calmly. “And by the same token, you should understand what kind of crime it is to drug the King. Once you leave the Royal Capital, go as far away as you can. Never show your face again.”

“Of course.”

“Now give me something that will make Lydia trust me immediately,” Tu Nan said, looking at him. “Then go back to the Kitchen at once. Don’t let anyone notice anything unusual about you.”
—
Tu Nan took the handkerchief Eddie had given her and went to find Xu Duoyi.

“Handled?” Xu Duoyi asked.

Tu Nan nodded. “Now we just need to find where Lydia is being held and figure out a way to rescue her.”

“Leave it to me.” Xu Duoyi patted her chest. “After surviving in the Strange Tales world for this long, I’ve picked up a few tricks.”

Eugene was smart. He had not assigned too many people to guard the tower.

Even Eddie had never imagined that the wife he longed for day and night was actually inside the Royal Palace.

It was raining heavily tonight, and the sky was darker than usual. On top of that, the Royal Palace was hosting a banquet, so no one paid any attention to this place.

Even the only two men guarding the tower were rather lax.

They had been stationed here for ages, and no one had ever come.

A damp breeze swept past.

One of them sighed. “We’re so unlucky, getting assigned here of all places.”

The other did not answer.

“Are you listening?” He frowned, growing suspicious. Just as he was about to turn around, a powerful wave of drowsiness suddenly crashed over him.

It came on too fiercely for him to resist. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.

“Done.” Xu Duoyi poked her head out, smiled smugly, and waved to Tu Nan behind her.

She straightened up and dusted the Sleep Fruit powder from her hands. “Only two people. Easy as pie.”

Tu Nan stepped out from behind her, glanced at the two lying on the ground, and gave her a thumbs-up.

“Let’s hurry.”

The two of them carefully stepped around the two Soldier guards on the ground and climbed to the top of the tower.

There was only one room at the top, secured with a large Lock.

“I’ll do it.” Xu Duoyi had Tu Nan step back, then took out a bottle of liquid and poured it over the Lock.

The liquid made a sizzling sound the moment it touched the Lock. Before long, it had actually corroded it.

“What is that?” Tu Nan asked curiously.

“Digestive fluid from a Man-eating Flower.” Xu Duoyi looked around, but when she couldn’t find anything to pry the door open with, she simply kicked it.

The Lock on the door had already been mostly eaten away. With Xu Duoyi’s kick, it dropped straight off.

Outside, there was a thunderous boom. A huge clap of thunder happened to cover the sound of the door being forced open.

The two of them looked inside.

A pale-faced Woman was huddled in the corner, staring at them in terror.

“Who… who are you?” she asked, trembling.

Tu Nan took out the handkerchief Eddie had given her. She walked into the room and handed it to Lydia, then said gently to the badly frightened Woman, “Your husband sent us to save you.”

Lydia looked at her in fear, her large eyes brimming with tears and red around the rims. She took the handkerchief and struggled to make it out in the dim room.

In one corner of the handkerchief was Eddie’s name, embroidered there by her own hand.