Shen Li nodded vigorously. She would make those who had once bullied and humiliated her pay in kind.
She wondered if Shen Miao and Xiao Hanzhi were ready for what was coming their way.
As her internal energy had recovered, Shen Miao's senses had become acute again. She heard the footsteps approaching the yard. They were here!
Sure enough, a few moments later, the door was opened, and several people stepped in one by one.
Shen Li cast a casual glance at each person's face, savoring their expressions one by one.
Feeling Shen Li's gaze, Princess Heyuan was the first to show her discontent. However, since Wang Ze from her mansion had just injured Shen Li and she was now in Shen Li's grip, she had to hold back for the time being.
Xiao Hanzhi and Xiao Luochi frowned tightly. Xiao Hanzhi, in particular, was filled with anger. He still remembered that last time it was Shen Li who insisted on performing a sword dance for him and seemed to be glued to him with her eyes.
And then she had clumsily fallen into the water! He wondered what scheme this woman was up to this time.
"Thank you, all the princes and the princess, for your help!" Shen Li said neither over - humble nor over - haughty. "If I hadn't met you all this time, I'm afraid my life would have been in danger soon!"
Everyone knew that Jiaoyue had told Shen Li everything and was prepared for her blame and suspicion. However, they didn't expect her to start with words of gratitude.
This was different from what they had guessed.
Did she have more powerful tricks up her sleeve?
Xiao Jinnan looked at her warily. Was this woman going to set her sights on the Fourth Prince again?
"Shen Li, although it was my mansion's guard who injured you this time, it was because you suddenly rushed out of the crowd that he accidentally hurt you! If you want to take revenge, come at me. It has nothing to do with the Fourth Prince and the others. Don't have wild fantasies!"
Princess Heyuan stepped in front of Xiao Hanzhi with her slender body.
Shen Li sneered inwardly. Did they all think she was blind and still liked that hypocritical Xiao Hanzhi with evil ambitions?
"Princess Heyuan, you're joking! Your guards surely act on your orders! I didn't expect such a despicable method as poisoning the blade to be used in the princess's mansion, and it was the extremely poisonous Fire Cloud Nettle. Such a rare poison. The princess thought highly of me indeed, willing to use it to take my life!"
Shen Li's unhurried tone made everyone gasp in surprise.
"What do you mean? Are you saying I deliberately tried to harm you? Ridiculous! If I want to kill someone, I don't need such methods! It's just a matter of a single word, and I can have your head chopped off!"
"Heyuan! Shut up!"
As soon as Princess Heyuan finished speaking, she was scolded by Xiao Hanzhi. She complained discontentedly, "Cousin! This Shen Li is bullying me!"
Xiao Hanzhi ignored her and only looked at Shen Li. "Heyuan is too impulsive. If she said something to offend Miss Shen, please don't take it to heart!"
Shen Li looked at Xiao Hanzhi, who still held his head high even when apologizing. He was a son of heaven, born with arrogance. If it weren't for the power of the Night Shadow Department, he probably wouldn't even spare her a glance.
"Fourth Prince, you're overestimating me! I'm just a young woman, and my parents are not around. If I'm wronged, I can only rely on the emperor's grace to seek justice. I believe that with the emperor's wisdom, he will surely give me a fair deal."
With just a few words, Shen Li portrayed herself as a lonely, helpless woman.
This enraged Princess Heyuan, who had been the only daughter of the eldest princess since childhood. She angrily said, "Shen Li, if you want to sue, go ahead. I, Heyuan, am not afraid! I believe the emperor uncle will side with me and severely punish you! Don't come crying to me then!"
Shen Li laughed inwardly. This Heyuan was really a fool!
No wonder in the previous life, although she was born noble and protected by the eldest princess, she was still sent to marry a Xiongnu chieftain and died miserably in a foreign land the next year.
Prince Xiao Luochi, the Tenth Prince, couldn't stand his silly cousin giving the enemy an opportunity. He looked at Shen Li with an unfriendly tone. "Miss Shen, why be so aggressive? Since the incident has already happened, why don't we find a way to make amends?"
"Although Miss Shen was poisoned, fortunately, the poison has been removed. Well, Princess Heyuan can send some tonics and medicine for injuries as an apology. And then send some jewelry as compensation. This should make up for Miss Shen's loss!"
At this point, Xiao Luochi sneered with a warning tone. "If Miss Shen is still not satisfied, I really don't know what else she wants to ask for and blackmail us with!"
Shen Li snorted disdainfully. Was she being aggressive?
It was clearly Heyuan who was bullying others with her power!
And this Xiao Luochi talked about apology and compensation, but he treated her like a beggar.
"Your Highness, the Tenth Prince, is so magnanimous. I'm not worthy of such kindness. Although my Shen family is not wealthy, we still have some precious medicines and clothes. It would be more practical for Princess Heyuan to send those things to relieve the people outside the city. I dare not offend the princes and the princess. All I've ever wanted is just justice."
"Shen Li, don't go too far! I, the princess, am giving you those things because I think highly of you. Don't be ungrateful!"
"Hehe! You'd better keep your so - called dignity, Princess, because you don't have any. All I want is an apology and the culprit who hurt me. I'm not blessed enough to accept the rest."
"You..."
Heyuan realized that Shen Li was scolding her. But unfortunately, she was not as quick - witted as Shen Li and couldn't argue with her.
"Wang Ze is from my mansion. I will never hand him over!"
"Heyuan! Hand him over to her!" Xiao Hanzhi stopped her. This incident today was beyond his expectation. Moreover, he suspected that there was something wrong with Wang Ze.
Given Heyuan's personality and intelligence, she would never have thought of the trick of poisoning the blade. And the Fire Cloud Nettle was too rare. Perhaps Wang Ze had long been someone else's tool.