I Live on the Land in Global Games

Chapter 488: 471 Poison Duck PearChapter 488: Chapter 471 Poison Duck Pear

“Jin Jing, tell me the route to the dwarves’ home and their general schedule,”

“First, follow the path through the forest from sunrise to sunset, then head southeast, cross four mountains, and three Xiao Xi, and you will find the dwarves’ home in the valley where flowers bloom and it’s always spring.

As long as it is a fair day, the hardworking dwarves will leave home early, hunt in the forest or gather wild fruits to supplement their household. By the end of the month, draped in long cloaks and on stilts, they head to the nearest village to barter with villagers for daily necessities. Because the journey is long, they often don’t return until the next day,”

Then there were the Queen’s footsteps, it seemed she had finished speaking with Jin Jing.

Hearing her inquire about the dwarves’ residence and schedule, could it mean she was going to find Shirley? Was it about to be time to deliver the poisoned pear?

After walking a few steps, she heard the sound of a door opening, followed by the Queen asking, “Has His Majesty visited the Collection Room these past days?”

“No,” a woman’s voice responded, probably a Maid.

Mu Ying immediately realized the Jin Jing must be in the Collection Room.

After that, she didn’t hear any more valuable information; the Queen seemed to be preparing something, while the King was continuously dealing with state affairs.

Mu Ying began to ponder how to visit the Collection Room herself.

Although she knew that Jin Jing was in the Collection Room, she still had no idea where exactly the room was.

To avoid rashly interfering with the development of the story before understanding the ins and outs, she had no choice but to continue in this restrictive manner.

Before she could figure out the location of the Collection Room, the Queen had already ridden out of the Royal Palace.

The Queen rode out of the palace alone at dawn, without anyone accompanying her.

But behind her, the Guard Commander of the King followed at a distance.

Mu Ying had heard the night before that the King personally assigned his Guard Commander to track the Queen and oversee her.

Mu Ying temporarily abandoned the matters within the Royal Palace and followed the Queen.

Following Jin Jing’s instructions, the Queen found the home of the dwarves, which coincidentally was on a day when the dwarves had gone to the village for supplies, and Shirley was alone in the cabin.

Before approaching the cabin, the Queen took out a small crystal bottle, uncorked it, and drank it down.

Then, she visibly aged before one’s eyes, turning into an old woman within minutes.

Mu Ying could see clearly that the potion in the small crystal bottle was an aging potion.

Nowadays, many witches use this potion as a Disguise Potion, aging their appearance to conceal their identity.

The Queen’s transformation confirmed Mu Ying’s suspicion.

However, the Queen was just an ordinary human, not a witch, and was most likely connected to a witch, which is how she acquired the potion.

After aging, she carried a basket, leading her horse to the front of the cabin: “My dear girl, would you buy pears? They’re red and fragrant! How about trying one first?”

It had been a while since Princess Shirley had seen anyone from outside, and life in the forest was peaceful and tranquil, but ultimately somewhat boring.

Seeing a kindly old woman selling pears, she excitedly exclaimed, “Wow! These red pears are so cute, they must be delicious!”

The Queen handed Shirley the biggest, reddest pear.

Shirley took a bite and then collapsed on the ground.

Laughing loudly, the Queen proclaimed, “Haha! I am the fairest of them all!”

Then, she took the poisoned pear back from Shirley’s hand, turned to the side, and under the cover of her long hair and cloak, she whispered softly, “Shirley, better to sleep than to die, this is all the help I can offer you.”

If it weren’t for the ear beans Mu Ying had placed on the Queen, that last phrase would have been inaudible even from a few meters above her.

The sentence before, shouted like a madwoman obsessed with beauty, echoed through the valley.

Clearly, the first sentence was deliberately spoken loud enough for others to hear, while the last was her true sentiment.

For whom was that spoken? Mu Ying was well aware, the Guard Commander sent by the King to keep a watchful eye was also concealed in the valley, observing the Queen’s every move!

At the moment, Shirley lies unconscious on the ground, her lips crimson, without a hint of breath, appearing as though she were dead.

After the Queen left, the Guard Commander indeed came to check and felt for breath.

Only after the Guard Commander had also left did Mu Ying come down to examine, even taking a sample from the piece of pear lodged in Shirley’s throat using vines.

This pear had originally been soaked in Fake Death Potion; Shirley was indeed unharmed, merely in a state of suspended animation akin to false death. As soon as the piece of pear was removed, she would be able to come back to life.

However, Mu Ying did not meddle as a “good Samaritan.” Once she understood the situation with the poisoned pear, she rode her Flying Carpet to pursue the Queen.

The Queen’s treatment of Shirley was clearly not as malevolent as Shirley believed.

At that time, she spoke so softly, even deliberately facing away from where the Guard Commander was, clearly not wanting others to overhear.

Such privately spoken, secretive remarks were far more credible than those blurted out without care for all to hear.

“Being asleep is certainly better than being dead. Could someone actually wish for Shirley’s death?”

Mu Ying pondered.

Although the Queen was a stepmother, she had given birth to the little prince, the sole heir to the throne of the Rose Kingdom, so her status must also be quite high.

Who could compel her to preserve Shirley’s life in such a convoluted manner?

One answer seemed imminent: the King.

The direction of this story was becoming increasingly perplexing.

Why would the King want his own daughter dead?

From the name Shirley, it was apparent she had been cherished at birth, and even if the King no longer favored her after the birth of the little prince, it didn’t warrant a death sentence!

A King plotting to kill his daughter implies either the daughter is not his own or there’s some tremendous benefit in her death.

After returning to the Royal Palace, the Queen went straight to the Collection Room.

“Jin Jing, am I now the most beautiful person in the world?”

“Yes, Your Majesty the Queen.”

At the same time, the King was meeting with the Guard Commander.

“How did it go? Is Shirley dead?”

“Your servant has confirmed, the Princess has ceased breathing, very peaceful, seemingly without having felt the slightest pain.”

“Let this be the last thing she does for the nation!”

...

Mu Ying caught on to the implication; why did it seem like Shirley’s death was beneficial to the nation?

Late at night, the King went to the Collection Room again.

“Jin Jing, has the Prophecy been lifted?”

“It has been lifted, my liege.”

Mu Ying recalled Shirley mentioning that Jin Jing would occasionally make Prophecies.

Could this Prophecy have been made by Jin Jing?