Chapter 162

Chapter 162

“Are you really here to save me?” Lydia lifted her tear-filled eyes, a glimmer of hope in her voice. “Then… what about Eddie?”

“He still has something to do,” Tu Nan said curtly. “Someone could come here at any moment. We need to leave as soon as possible.”

“Where are we going?” Lydia asked fearfully.

She had been imprisoned for too long. Her whole body had grown much thinner, and her dress hung loosely on her frame. Her complexion was sallow; clearly, she had not been treated well during this time.

“To get you out of the Royal Palace.” Tu Nan took her hand and led her outside. “You and Eddie must never come back here again.”

Lydia stepped out of the cage that had trapped her for so long and, for the first time in ages, breathed in the scent of freedom.

Cold tears fell before she realized it. Lifting her skirts, she hurried eagerly toward the exit.

“You take her out,” Tu Nan said to Xu Duoyi beside her. “I still need to go find Eddie one more time.”

Xu Duoyi nodded.

“Lydia.” Tu Nan stopped Lydia and asked in a low voice, “Give me something that can prove your identity. I’ll give it to Eddie so he can feel at ease.”

Lydia did not suspect anything. She took off a Bracelet from her wrist and handed it to her.

Tu Nan accepted the Bracelet, then lowered her voice and said to Xu Duoyi, “I’ll be as quick as I can. Be careful, and don’t let anyone see you.”

Xu Duoyi nodded.

There wasn’t much time left before the banquet began. Tu Nan quickened her pace and ran toward the Kitchen.
—
Eddie was restless and distracted.

On one hand, he was worried Judy was playing him. On the other, he couldn’t help hoping she really had found Lydia.

It was almost time to serve the dishes. All the other courses had already been prepared, leaving only the final soup.

As he stirred the soup in the pot, his thoughts kept drifting farther and farther away.

“Eddie, someone’s looking for you.”

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

“Why do people keep coming to see you tonight?” one of his companions teased with a sly smile. “I heard it’s another pretty young lady.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Eddie cut him off in a panic, turned off the fire, and ran outside.

He rushed out the door and looked around before finally spotting Tu Nan hiding in a corner.

Eddie instinctively glanced around, then walked over and asked in a lowered voice, “Is it done?”

Tu Nan smiled and took out Lydia’s Bracelet.

Eddie’s eyes lit up, and he immediately reached out to take it.

Tu Nan drew her hand back, making him grab at empty air.

“What is this supposed to mean?” Eddie snapped angrily.

“I’ve already rescued your wife.” Tu Nan’s face was expressionless as she took out the bottle of poison and handed it to Eddie. “Now it’s time for you to keep your promise.”

Eddie’s face stiffened. He stammered, “This is too dangerous…”

Tu Nan gave a cold laugh, not at all surprised by his reaction.

“In that case, say goodbye to your wife forever.” She made as if to put the bottle away.

“Don’t!” Eddie gritted his teeth and snatched the bottle from her hand. “I’ll do it now.”

“Don’t forget what I asked you to do,” Tu Nan threatened in a low voice. “And don’t try to play any tricks, or I can’t guarantee you’ll ever see Lydia alive again.”

Eddie’s face went pale. Clutching the bottle tightly, he lowered his head and walked back into the Kitchen.

The Kitchen was in utter chaos at the moment. With meals for so many people to prepare, almost everyone was busy running themselves ragged, and no one noticed anything unusual about him.

Eddie walked up to the pot of soup and hesitated.
At last, he made up his mind, pulled out the stopper, and poured every drop of the liquid in the bottle into the pot.

He couldn’t be blamed for this. He had been forced into it. All he wanted was to be with his wife. What had he done wrong?

Expressionless, Eddie picked up a spoon and stirred the thick soup in the pot.

The aroma grew even richer.
—
Tu Nan did not return directly to the banquet. Avoiding everyone’s line of sight, she went to Maria’s room instead.

Maria was sitting in her room reading. She was fully dressed, her manner relaxed and composed, clearly already prepared.

Compared to her, Tu Nan, who had been running around outside for ages, looked like a refugee fleeing a camp.

Her skirt was splattered with mud and dirty water, and her hair was in complete disarray.

“Did you go dancing in a mud pit?” Maria asked without the slightest courtesy.

“For the sake of the fact that I was out doing something for you, stop mocking me,” Tu Nan replied just as bluntly. “The banquet is about to begin. I need to change as quickly as possible.”

“Did you get it done?” Maria rose and took a Gown from the wardrobe, tossing it to her. Then she summoned a trusted Maid to help her change.

Court Gowns were extremely complicated to put on. Even with someone helping, by the time Tu Nan had changed into the new Gown, quite a while had passed.

“Do you have another Gown similar to this one?” Tu Nan asked, looking at the soiled Gown on the floor.

The one Maria had first given her was a dark purple Gown in the style currently in fashion. As a princess, she owned many Gowns of a similar kind.

She then instructed the Maid to find another Gown that looked almost the same as the original, with only the material differing.

One was silk; the other was velvet.

Tu Nan picked up a glass of red wine from the table beside her and splashed it over the Gown without hesitation.

Maria raised an eyebrow.

“Throw this Gown out,” Tu Nan said, handing the first dirty Gown to the Maid. “Throw it into the bushes outside. It doesn’t need to be too well hidden, but don’t make it too obvious either. Most importantly, don’t let anyone see you.”

The Maid glanced at Maria.

Maria gave a slight nod.

Only then did the Maid pick up the Gown from the floor, open the door, and leave quickly.

“Can you explain now?” Maria looked at Tu Nan with unhurried interest. “What exactly is the point of doing this?”

“Just in case.” Tu Nan frowned slightly. “Hopefully we won’t need it.”

“And this Gown?” Maria looked at the Gown that had been splashed with red wine. “What do you plan to do with it?”

“Just keep it for now.” Tu Nan tossed the Gown onto a nearby stool. “I’ve already convinced Eddie to drug the King’s food.”

“How did you find Lydia?” Maria asked, somewhat curious. “And in such a short amount of time, too.”

“Some special methods.” Tu Nan shrugged. “Eugene may be rough, but he does have a careful side. Fortunately, my luck wasn’t bad. He hid her inside the Royal Palace, and I got to her just in time.”

Knock, knock, knock.

No sooner had Tu Nan finished speaking than several measured knocks sounded from outside the door.

“Who is it?” Maria asked.

“Your Highness, it’s almost time. The King sent me to escort you to the banquet hall.”

“I understand,” Maria replied, glancing at Tu Nan.

Tu Nan walked to the door and opened it, letting the Maid outside see her.

“Miss Judy.” The Maid curtsied to her.

“The princess and I will be there shortly,” she said softly.