98 The Scandal

XuanRong knew that XuanFei was planning something but she still followed her. When they left the residence's hall, XuanRong noticed that An Wei was following them, so, she was not afraid that something bad would happen to her. Besides, what can a mere woman like XuanFei do to her? YuShen was with her and among her maidservants, YuShen was the one with the highest level of qinggong. Unless XuanFei and Xiao Lou hired some qinggong masters, XuanRong was confident that she could safely return without any help from An Wei. Even now, XuanRong was still arrogant and hated being helped by other people. If XuanFei was trying to scheme behind her back, she would not cower and would face it fearlessly. The blood of the Chen family flowed inside her veins and no one in the Chen family was a coward, including her.

The residence's hall was at the center part of the entire residence. The nearest courtyard was named 'The Thousand Li' courtyard. It was made for the purpose of allowing the family's guests to feel at home when visiting the Prime Minister's residence. Usually, the Thousand Li courtyard would only be used during the visit of her Shushu[1] and TangGe[2] or when there was a celebration and some guests need a place to rest for a night. Thus, the courtyard did not have any servants during evening aside from those guards who were patrolling inside the residence. Occasionally, the servants would only enter the courtyard during morning to clean the rooms and would then leave after they were done with their chores.

When they were walking towards the courtyard, XuanFei tried to open her mouth a couple of times to instigate a conversation but no matter what she said, XuanRong would only glance at her while YuShen would only remain quiet. Without any other choice, XuanFei could only shut her mouth while they were walking.

When they arrived at the Thousand Li courtyard, XuanRong noticed that XuanFei had chosen to bring her at the farthest room of the courtyard. Acting like she did not care, XuanRong followed XuanFei inside and entered the room without any hesitation. After entering the room, XuanFei ordered the servant to light an incense in order to prevent the insects from coming inside the room.

"Jiejie.. please wait here. Fei'er's courtyard is near, and Fei'er already sent someone to bring Jiejie a dress."

Hearing XuanFei's words, XuanRong's left eyebrow rose.

'She wanted me to use one of her dresses?'

Thinking that she would wear XuanFei's dress, XuanRong felt like she would vomit immediately once it happens. Wearing XuanFei's dress was akin to wearing a snake's skin. She would rather not change her dress and let the wine dry on her clothes than force herself to wear XuanFei's dress.

Thinking of that disgusting situation, XuanRong immediately refused to accept XuanFei's offer.

"No. I will send YuShen to my courtyard so that she can get a new set of clothes for me. No need to concern yourself."

Hearing XuanRong's cold refusal, XuanFei's eyes started tearing up.

"Jiejie.. are you angry that Meimei dirtied your dress? Please do not get angry…"

Looking at XuanFei who was acting pitiful, XuanRong could not help but have a headache. They were the only ones present inside the room but XuanFei was still acting like she was the lead actress in a performing troupe. XuanRong knew that she should not let her irritation show on her face and should act like a 'loving' older sister towards XuanFei, but she could not bring to force herself and wear her clothes. In the end, no matter what XuanFei said, XuanRong declined and ordered YuShen to return to the courtyard and bring a new set of clothes for her. When YuShen left, a servant arrived, informing XuanFei that Xiao Lou was looking for her.

"Ah? Mother is calling me? Oh no.. Jiejie is still not done changing her clothes.. What should I do?" XuanFei acted like she was in a dilemma. She turned her head and apologetically looked at XuanRong.

"Jiejie, mother is calling me. I will be back once I talk with mother. Do not leave the room and wait for your maidservant. I will leave someone to accompany you here."

XuanRong smiled and nodded her head. "Don't worry ah. Just return to the residence's hall. No need to fret. Jiejie will wait here. Do not worry. Why worry when I am only waiting for my new clothes? Unless… something bad will happen…" XuanRong ambiguously stated.

When XuanRong stared at XuanFei, XuanFei could not help but retract her gaze. She did not know but that one look coming from XuanRong made her heart skip a beat. Her palm started sweating but at the end, XuanFei was able to force herself to smile and act like nothing was wrong.

When XuanFei left, few minutes later, the servant that was ordered to keep XuanRong company started acting funny.

"D-Da XiaoJie… This.. This servant asks Da XiaoJie to allow this servant to leave… This servant's stomach is hurting. This servant wants to visit the bathroom." The servant's face was very pale. XuanRong did not know whether she was only acting or if she was really not feeling well, but since she wanted to find out XuanFei and Xiao Lou's plan, XuanRong nodded and allowed the servant to go to the bathroom, leaving her alone in the room.

'XuanFei insisted that I should wear her clothes because she knew that I would never agree to it and would send back YuShen to get a new set of clothes for me but..what are those two planning?'

XuanRong slowly tapped the table using her forefinger. She was starting to get bored when she noticed the sudden change of the incense's scent.

XuanRong stood up and went to the burner. She plucked the half-lit incense and found out that it had been tampered. The first half of the stick was normal, but the lower part of the incense was tampered with a sleeping powder. XuanRong dipped her fingers on the burner and scooped a small amount of ashes. She rubbed her fingers together and placed it on her nose, trying to confirm if her thoughts were correct. Few seconds later, XuanRong found out that she was right. The scent indeed changed, and it belonged to the Jing's popular sleeping powder called 'Dancing Powder'.

'How did they get the powder when it was prohibited to sell it?'

The Dancing Powder was a famous powder that was smuggled from the Jing country. It was a type of a muscle suppressant. Once someone inhaled a small amount of it, they would feel like the surroundings were moving and all the things around them were dancing.

'So… they are planning to let me… sleep?'

XuanRong could not help but be disappointed. She was expecting that XuanFei and Xiao Lou would try to blacken her reputation by destroying her purity but XuanRong did not expect that instead of inhaling an aphrodisiac drug, she was given a muscle suppressant. Too bad, after drinking poison for three long years, even if she would directly inhale the powder, she would not feel anything.

"…."

"Go inside and check if she had already fallen asleep or not."

XuanRong, who was feeling depressed suddenly heard XuanFei's voice outside the room. She sighed and laid on the floor, pretending that she had fallen asleep. Since she wanted to know what they were scheming, she could only pretend and lay on the cold floor. XuanFei was not the only one who knew how to act.

XuanRong heard the door opened. Later, she also heard some footsteps and felt that someone nudged her arm, trying to make sure that she was not awake anymore. When the owner of the foot steps did not notice anything peculiar, she left the room and closed the door.

"San XiaoJie[3], Da XiaoJie had already fallen asleep."

"Good. After a few minutes, go to the residence's hall and tell mother that Jiejie went missing and I am searching for her. Make sure that your voice is loud enough to let the Furens know. I will be waiting at the Crown Prince's room."

"Yes, San XiaoJie."

The people outside the room left and XuanRong opened her eyes. She massaged her temple and sighed. She was deeply puzzled. She could not understand XuanFei and Xiao Lou's plan.

'Mmm… XuanFei made me sleep and wanted to tell everyone that I went missing, but she went to the Crown Prince's room instead of dealing with me… why is that so?

The Crown Prince was drunk, but she still went to see him. Why?

Why would she want the servant to bring the Furens to Xu Ji An's resting room?

What was she trying to achieve by letting people know that she was at the Crown Prince's resting room?'

XuanRong thought for a while before she realized something. The idea inside her head seemed very absurd but knowing Xiao Lou, XuanRong knew that she was a cruel person. She would not hesitate to harm herself or other people just to achieve her goal.

'Are they planning to force the Crown Prince into marrying XuanFei?'

XuanRong could not help but choke on her own saliva. Although being caught together with the Crown Prince would greatly damage XuanFei's reputation, it was worth the sacrifice if it would mean that Xu Ji An would be forced to marry XuanFei.

But… what has that got to do with her?

Was XuanFei planning to use her as her stepping stone in Xu Ji An? But how?

XuanRong wanted to know how XuanFei would use her name in her scheme, thus, without thinking twice, she left the room through the window and went to the Crown Prince's resting place.

Standing on the roof, XuanRong called An Wei.

"An Wei."

An Wei suddenly appeared.

"This subordinate is here, Young Miss."

"Go and tell grandfather to check His Highness the Crown Prince. Make sure that he will bring other court officials with him."

"Yes, this subordinate understands."'

An Wei immediately disappeared after he bowed his head.

'If XuanFei wants to self-destruct, I, as her sister should help her. Heh… I really want to know how they would drag my name in the scandal.'

XuanRong was still busy thinking of XuanFei's plan when she heard XuanFei's scream.

"Your Highness, Don't!"

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[1]. Paternal Uncle or Father's Younger Brother.

[2]. Paternal older male-cousin

[3]. Third Young Miss

[Unedited Chapter]