Those years when I was Cannon fodder

Intensified Toxin, Level One Danger

In the dim light of dawn, Chu Yu stirred from her slumber, her mind clouded with uncertainty. The petals she had consumed last night still held their secrets, concealing their true effects from her weary body.

But in the face of life itself, any potential side effects seemed trivial and unworthy of mention.

The soothing coolness of the petal juice had a soothing effect on Chu Yu, momentarily calming her racing thoughts. She realised that leaving abruptly was not a viable option. No matter how successful her escape, her father would simply send her back at Third Madam's insistence, feigning her indispensable presence.

Chu Yu's inexplicable aversion to Third Madam had no concrete basis, no tangible evidence to support her suspicion of ill intent. It remained a mere conjecture, a hunch she couldn't fully explain.

"Stay calm, Chu Yu," she whispered to herself, determination gleaming in her eyes. "Now is not the time to run. Wait until tomorrow when Doctor Xu arrives to examine you. That will be your golden opportunity."

With a plan forming in her mind, Chu Yu's racing heart began to calm. However, as a precaution, she placed the cup of the enigmatic flower petal juice on the table next to her bed. If any danger loomed, she would seize the elixir to remain vigilant.

Bound by her weakened state, all Chu Yu could do was stay awake, unravel the mystery behind Third Madam's actions and devise a strategy for liberation.

That fateful night, Chu Yu drifted in and out of restless sleep, plagued by a foreboding unease that clung to her like a haunting shadow. Sleep eluded her, for there was an ominous presence hovering, depriving her of peaceful respite. Tossing and turning, she struggled against the invisible bonds of her subconscious.

When her eyes fluttered open once more, a piercing headache assaulted her senses, surpassing the discomfort she had experienced before falling asleep. Alarmed, Chu Yu cried out, her voice hoarse and cracked. It was then that she noticed the vivid hue that adorned her ten fingernails - a ghastly shade of purple.

The simple act of rising from her bed sent waves of dizziness over Chu Yu, as if the whole world had been turned upside down. Leaning against the wall, she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to regain her balance.

Her trembling hand reached for the bottle on the bedside table.

But at that moment, she was seized with hesitation. Could it be that the petals contained a subtle poison? Perhaps its potency increased when the petals were juiced, amplifying its effects?

No, she reasoned, dismissing the idea. If the juice did contain poison, she would have noticed it when she drank it last night. Even without relying on her taste buds, she refused to believe that she was so powerless as to be unable to detect the presence of poison in her body.

Moreover, she remembered a strange sensation from the night before - a familiar longing, a faint echo of her once-legendary 'golden tongue'. There was no trace of aversion; on the contrary, she had savoured the juice and craved more.

This eerie feeling had accompanied her countless times in her past life. It was not a figment of her imagination.

What, then, could be the cause of her purple nails?

That fateful night, Chu Yu drifted in and out of restless sleep, plagued by a foreboding unease that clung to her like a haunting shadow. Sleep eluded her, for there was an ominous presence hovering, depriving her of peaceful respite. Tossing and turning, she struggled against the invisible bonds of her subconscious.

When her eyes fluttered open once more, a piercing headache assaulted her senses, surpassing the discomfort she had experienced before falling asleep. Alarmed, Chu Yu cried out, her voice hoarse and cracked. It was then that she noticed the vivid hue that adorned her ten fingernails - a ghastly shade of purple.

The simple act of rising from her bed sent waves of dizziness over Chu Yu, as if the whole world had been turned upside down. Leaning against the wall, she squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to regain her balance.

Her trembling hand reached for the bottle on the bedside table.

But at that moment, she was seized with hesitation. Could it be that the petals contained a subtle poison? Perhaps its potency increased when the petals were juiced, amplifying its effects?

No, she reasoned, dismissing the idea. If the juice did contain poison, she would have noticed it when she drank it last night. Even without relying on her taste buds, she refused to believe that she was so powerless as to be unable to detect the presence of poison in her body.

Moreover, she remembered a strange sensation from the night before - a familiar longing, a faint echo of her once-legendary 'golden tongue'. There was no trace of aversion; on the contrary, she had savoured the juice and craved more.

This eerie feeling had accompanied her countless times in her past life. It was not a figment of her imagination.

What, then, could be the cause of her purple nails?

Chu Yu could scarcely fathom it. Had anything unusual happened last night?

No, she had shared the same meal with her father and Third Madam, exercising the utmost caution and only partaking of dishes that others had not touched.

But overnight, the poison had wreaked havoc, altering even the initially unaffected nails. Chu Yu searched her memories, desperately searching for the oversight she had made.

Could it be that Third Madam had sneaked into her room after she had fallen asleep and poisoned her?

Fighting against her weakened state, Chu Yu rose to her feet and approached the door, which remained firmly locked. A single strand of hair lay undisturbed in the crack, confirming that no intruder had breached her sanctuary.

This negated her assumption.

During dinner last night, Third Madam had seemed perfectly fine, her demeanour expectant, with no hint of a sudden decision to poison her.

If anything had happened, it must have been after the tumultuous episode that had unfolded in the middle of the night.

Cautiously, Chu Yu opened the door, only to be met with searing pain.

Her complexion paled and sweat began to form on her forehead. Each agonising step felt like an eternity, the mere dozen metres stretching into an arduous journey.

But she couldn't bear it any longer.

Overwhelming dizziness washed over her, causing her to collapse to the ground. Struggling to turn her head, Chu Yu saw a puff of smoke rising from the kitchen.

Qingyu was preparing breakfast.