Chapter 8 The Hidden Overlord in the Prince's Mansion

Chapter 8 The Hidden Overlord in the Prince's Mansion

After that night of "sleeping in each other's arms," ​​Pei Yunjing seemed to be in a much better mood.

Although he still had a deadpan expression when he woke up, and kicked Tang Li to the corner of the bed like trash, he mercifully relented, considering that Tang Li had actually slept for a full three hours last night:

"Except for leaving the manor, you are free to move around within this palace."

But he didn't forget his mischievous side, pointing to the golden bell on Tang Li's wrist: "You're not allowed to take off the bell. If I can't hear you..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture, his eyes cold.

Although Tang Li cursed inwardly, she still obediently thanked him on the surface.

As long as I'm not locked in the study like a decorative item, this is the first step to victory!

...

"Ding-dong... ding-dong..."

The crisp sound of bells echoed in the back garden of the Regent's Palace.

For the servants, the sound of the bell meant the arrival of the new queen who "wouldn't live more than three days," and most of them avoided her or gossiped about her behind her back.

But for another group of "natives" in the palace, the sound of the bell was simply heavenly music.

[Woof! Woof woof! The boss is here!]

The big black guard dog in the backyard, which was usually so fierce that even the guards dared not approach, immediately broke free of its chain and rushed over wagging its tail as soon as it heard the bell.

It circled the pear tree frantically, drooling all over the ground:

[Boss! That trick you taught me last time about playing dead to get meat bones was so useful! The chef gave me two extra ribs yesterday! Any instructions for today?]

Tang Li crouched down, patted the big black dog's head, and gave it a piece of chicken breast that it hadn't finished eating at breakfast:

"Good boy, Big Black. Keep an eye on the front yard for me from now on. If any unfamiliar faces come in, remember to call out three times (long) and once (short)."

[Woof! Mission accomplished!] The big black dog, carrying a piece of chicken in its mouth, strode off on patrol, full of pride and swagger.

Having dealt with the security captain, Tang Li strolled over to the lotus pond.

An old turtle, as big as a washbasin, was basking in the sun on a rock.

Upon seeing the crabapple, it slowly stretched its neck:

【Girl...you're here? There was no movement in the master bedroom last night, looks like that kid finally got a good night's sleep...I've seen three generations of princes pass away, and this kid is the most difficult to serve...】

Tangli sprinkled some fish food into the water and said with a smile, "Grandma Turtle, if you ever hear any gossip from underwater, remember to tell me!"

In just half a day, Tangli, with her max-level beast language skills and the snacks she carried with her, successfully recruited the royal family's army, navy, and air force.

Although she had no power to manage the household, she became the truly well-informed "invisible overlord" of the palace.

...

As noon approached, Tangli got hungry.

Now that she was allowed to move around the mansion, she decided to go and take a look at the main kitchen herself.

After all, she was getting malnourished from eating leftovers that Granny Liu brought her every day.

As soon as I reached the entrance of the main kitchen, I smelled a rich aroma of bird's nest.

Tang Li's eyes lit up, and she was about to step inside when she heard a slurping sound coming from inside, accompanied by indistinct voices:

"...This top-grade bird's nest is truly exceptional, it smells amazing! Anyway, the prince has no sense of taste, so it doesn't matter what he eats. That unfavored concubine's daughter is even less worthy of this delicacy, she might as well end up in our stomachs!"

Tang Li paused, peering through the crack in the door.

The kitchen manager, Fatty Zhu, was sitting cross-legged in a grand chair, holding a delicate white porcelain cup in his hands, and gulping down the bird's nest soup that was supposed to be sent to the main courtyard.

After finishing his drink, he wiped his mouth and poured the remaining bits of food into the swill bucket next to him, which was used to feed the dog.

"Pah! Send the rest to the servant in the side room and say it was a gift from the Prince."

OK.

Not only did they skimp on the food, they also openly stole the offerings!

Tang Li laughed in exasperation.

She didn't just rush in and overturn the table.

She was an "unfavored" princess, and if she went to complain, no one would pay attention; instead, it would only alert the enemy.

To deal with such greedy and wicked people, you have to use some underhanded tactics.

Tangli looked around and her gaze settled on a small hole behind the rice jar.

A sly little mouse was peeking out, trying to steal some rice, but it was startled and trembled when Zhu Pangzi threw a shoe sole at it.

Tang Li narrowed her eyes slightly and sent out a summoning signal:

"Little one, come here."

The oil-stealing rat paused, then cautiously crawled to the foot of the crabapple tree, tilting its head back:

[Squeak? You can understand me? Human, do you want to steal rice too?]

Tangli squatted down, took out a crumb of shortbread from her sleeve, and handed it to it:

"I'm not stealing rice. I'm here to tell you about a great place to make money."

She pointed to Fatty Zhu, who was picking his teeth, and asked in a low voice, "Do you know where this fat guy usually hides his secret stash of money?"

The oil-stealing rat's eyes lit up instantly, and it gestured wildly with its two front paws:

[I know! I know! It's under the third floor tile under his bed! There's a hidden compartment there, full of fragrant paper (banknotes)! I've smelled it for ages, but it's all dead money, it doesn't circulate, I'm afraid it'll get moldy!]

"very good."

Tang Li's lips curled into a devilish smile.

She pulled out a handful of nuts and tempted, "Go gather your brothers and sisters. There's a big project tonight."

"Don't bring out those silver notes." Tang Li's eyes were cold. "You all go in and... chew all those papers to shreds. The shreds the better, like... snowflakes in winter."

[Squeak! Biting paper? We're experts at that! My teeth's been itchy lately!]

The oil-stealing mouse excitedly hugged the nut and dashed off to call for help.

...

That evening, in the kitchen manager's bedroom.

Fatty Zhu had a little wine and was sleeping like a log.

Under his bed, a silent "money-shredding operation" was in full swing.

Dozens of rats had a clear division of labor: they pried open the floor tiles and crawled into the hidden compartment.

That thick stack of silver notes that Fatty Zhu had embezzled for three years was quickly turned into flying scraps of paper by the rats' sharp teeth.

[Crunch! So crisp!]

[For the nuts! Take a bite!]

The next morning.

A bloodcurdling scream shattered the tranquility of the Regent's Palace.

"Ah—!!! My money! My money!!!"

Fatty Zhu stared at the pile of worthless scraps of paper in the hidden compartment, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground, crying his heart out.

That was his savings for his wife, which he had been hoarding for three years!

Five thousand taels of silver!

They all became bedding for rats' nests!

...

Main courtyard, study.

Pei Yunjing was holding a teacup when he heard screams coming from afar, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"What's going on?" he asked casually.

Lightning stood on the shelf and muttered two gloating words:

That fat cook got his comeuppance! His secret stash of money was eaten up by rats! Serves him right! He didn't give me fresh pork tenderloin last time!

Although Pei Yunjing couldn't understand what Lightning was saying, Uncle Zhao quickly came in and reported this "strange news".

"Your Highness, it's Steward Zhu from the main kitchen. I heard... his secret stash of money hidden under the floor tiles was gnawed to shreds by rats overnight, leaving not a single tael. Now he's gone insane."

mouse?

And they even target banknotes?

Pei Yunjing took a sip of tea, and the image of that little woman sneaking around in the garden yesterday, whispering to the mice, came to mind.

He lowered his head, concealing a hint of a smile in his eyes.

Without making a sound, use someone else to do the dirty work.

No, it's using rats to kill people.

"Tell the accountant to check Zhu Pangzi's accounts over the years." Pei Yunjing put down his teacup, his voice indifferent. "Make him cough up how much he's embezzled. If he can't, chop him up and feed him to the dogs."

"As for the Princess..."

He paused, remembering the cunning little fox.

"Add a dish of bird's nest to her lunch. Don't let her bother with the rats anymore, it's disgusting."