Without revealing any clues, she put the cover on the box of needles and handed it to Dai Yue. Luo Qing Luan pretended to be weak and powerless again. She saw Wang Xue Ru entering and seemed to want to sit up to speak. Unexpectedly, the moment she started talking she coughed successively, "Cough, cough, cough, cough......"

Afraid she'd catch the illness, Wang Xue Ru retreated to the side in alarm and reflexively wanted to scold, "You......" Her voice came to a stop abruptly when she thought of her objective for today and immediately changed her tone of voice, "This child, why have you managed to become like this? Hurry and let me see, don't let yourself get sick."

"It's nothing, sorry to trouble you......cough, cough, cough......sorry to trouble you for coming to see me. Qing Luan is really......ah, ah, ah, atchoo!" Luo Qing Luan appeared both surprised and happy, like she was very grateful for Wang Xue Ru's concern, but the reality was that she's quite sick. Before she was able to finish her sentence, she already both coughed and sneezed, making Wang Xue Ru unable to approach, yet unable to leave. Her expression was quite unsightly.

Standing at the distance, Wang Xue Ru saw that Luo Qing Luan seemed to be better after taking the handkerchief that Dai Yue handed her and wiping her mouth . With great difficulty, she resisted her discomfort and finally walked over to the bedside. "Qing Luan, from what I can see, you caught a cold, right?"

"Uh......maybe a little?" Luo Qing Luan was a face full of innocence as she looked back at her.

[This little wench, clearly so audacious that she dared to push her daughter into the water. Now that she's here, the wench actually assumed such an obedient appearance. Simply vile!]

The more Wang Xue Ru watched, the angrier she became. She directly waved her hand and had her servant bring something. "Come, Qing Luan, I had a physician prepare a decoction for colds and chills. Your sister already drank some. The result is pretty good. You should also quickly drink it. Your illness might even be better by tomorrow."

After saying this, she took the basket from her servant maid and took out a porcelain goblet to pour out a bowl of darkish medicine then brought it over.

With a glance, Luo Qing Luan saw that this medicine was not only extremely dark in color, it also emitted a faintly sour smell. She creased her brows. "Father's Concubine, it stinks. I can't drink this......"

Wang Xue Ru heard this and hate boiled in her heart as she clenched her teeth.

This decoction was something she prepared for this rotten girl 'with utmost care', made of special ingredients. Once she drank it, within three days, her face will give birth to a red rash. Moreover, it will also destroy her voice so that it'll become hoarse like a crow's.

In the past, she taught her daughter to convince Luo Qing Luan to put on makeup distastefully such that her infamy as an ugly girl spread far and wide. Otherwise, how would Qing Shuang have obtained her standing as West Chu state's most outstanding beauty in both appearance and demeanor? But now, even looking at Luo Qing Luan's bare face made her so envious that she secretly clenched her teeth, becoming even more determined to destroy this gorgeous face on her daughter's behalf.

"Qing Luan, be obedient."

Wang Xue Ru reigned in her temper and straightforwardly sat by Luo Qing Luan's side to bring the bowl in front of her face. "I'm worried about you, understand? You are the future Fifth Prince Consort. If you don't get better right away, how can you marry him?"

It was better when she didn't mention this matter. To the contrary, it reminded Luo Qing Luan of something and she immediately became deeply distressed. "Father's Concubine, please don't speak anymore. I already know that Elder Sister likes the Fifth Prince. I feel terrible. I don't want to drink medicine, just let me die from sickness."

"How can this be possible? Good Qing Luan, don't get angry. Come drink the medicine."

"I can't bring myself to drink it......"

No matter what Wang Xue Ru said, Luo Qing Luan only sported a broken-hearted, inconsolable appearance. She wouldn't agree to drink no matter what. Wang Xue Ru was so furious that she secretly ground her teeth, regretting touching upon Qing Luan's sore spot.

[How detestable! Wait until you drink the medicine, how good you'll look!]

Cursing Luo Qing Luan in her mind again, Wang Xue Ru sighed a long sigh and appeared helpless. "Fine fine fine. Qing Luan, as long as you drink the medicine obediently, I'll help you scold your sister when I return. It's fine, now, right?"

"Really?" Luo Qing Luan appeared to take her at her word.

"No matter whether Qing Shuang really likes Fifth Prince, I will still warn and remind her that Fifth Prince is your fiancee, Qing Luan. How could she set her mind on him? That stinky head truly didn't know right from wrong."

While she was speaking, she again brought the medicine closer, "This time, Qing Luan, you can drink the medicine now, right?"

If she wasn't trying to trick this rotten girl into drinking the medicine, why would she scold her own precious daughter! Humph, see how she's going to make Luo Qing Luan's face covered in rashes, make her too shameful to see anyone for the rest of her life, and even unable to speak properly!

"Father's Concubine is so kind."

Luo Qing Luan finally became cheerful, showing a smiling expression, and took the decoction in hand. She bowed her head to sniff a couple of times, brows wrinkling slightly. Wang Xue Ru even thought she was going to complain and was going to say something when she saw the girl showing an appearance of resisting the smell while bringing the bowl towards her mouth.

[Drink it, drink it......]

Wang Xue Ru couldn't help but look forward to it.

Who would have thought——that blackish bowl of medicine arrived at Luo Qing Luan's lips when she abruptly stopped and suddenly opened her mouth to sneeze. An entire bowl of medicine all spilled on Wang Xue Ru's body.

"Aiya! Father's Concubine, how did it spill? I truly feel so bad......"

Even if she was an idiot, Wang Xue Ru was still aware what happened this time.

As if her buttocks were on fire, Wang Xue Ru quickly jumped up and anxiously wiped her body. Her servant was also surprised by the sudden turn of events and hastened to come over to help. Too bad, not long after, the highest quality snow silk brocade embroidered dress that she spent over fifty silver taels on was ruined by the bowl of blackish medicine. Wang Xue Ru seethed with anger, steam nearly spouted from her head. How could she still continue to pretend?

Once her expression changed, Wang Xue Ru shouted a torrent of curses, "You lowlife, you actually ruined my clothes?"

Luo Qing Luan casted a glance as light as a feather toward her and blinked a few times before responding with a smile. "Aiya, Father's Concubine, isn't this called returning politeness with politeness? You brought me a bowl of medicine with stuff added to it for me to drink, I naturally have to repay you!"