Chapter 232 – Read The Letter On The Spot
Chapter 232 Read the Letter on the Spot
After saying that, Qu Qiuyan turned around and left, but after a few steps, she stopped and said, “Moying, why don’t you come with me? It might be another letter for you.”
“No, thank you, Third Sister. Someone must have sent the wrong letter.” Qu Moying said indifferently. She sat still, not intending to stand up.
No matter what Qu Qiuyan was planning, Qu Moying did not intend to follow her out this time.
Judging from Qu Qiuyan’s previous panic-stricken look and her calm look now, Qu Moying thought Qu Qiuyan must have come up with another plan after her first plan failed. Although Qu Moying did not know what Qu Qiuyan’s new plan was, she guessed it must have something to do with the first plan. Perhaps it was a plan to prevent the unexpected aftermath of the failed assassination.
Qu Qiuyan was not so capable as to make a move in Duke Qi’s Mansion. There must be someone who made the preparations for her outside the mansion.
Take the previous handling of the assassin as an example, ordinary people could not do these things! Qu Moying would like to see who had such great ability to take the assassin away in the name of the Ministry of Justice.
Qu Moying’s voice was not loud, but many people were paying attention to her and Qu Qiuyan. After hearing their words, several of them turned around. They could clearly understand the hidden meaning in Qu Moying’s words.
Qu Qiuyan gritted her teeth in hatred, but she could only turn around and leave. When she walked outside, she called over a maid who was waiting there and whispered to her. Then, she took a letter from the maid and hurried in. She walked over to Qu Moying and sat down. She took out the letter from her sleeve and was about to secretly stuff it into Qu Moying’s hands.
“Third Sister, there really is no letter for me. This letter must belong to someone else. If you don’t believe me, you can open it and take a look.” Qu Moying didn’t accept the letter. She shook her hand and looked a little vigilant. She leaned her body a little further away from Qu Qiuyan.
Qu Moying’s words attracted the attention of others. Many people looked over, and they saw Qu Qiuyan’s actions. They had heard that Qu Qiuyan and Qu Moying had a bad relationship because they didn’t have the same mother, and now the rumor seemed to be true.
As for Second Madam Qu framing Qu Moying in the ex-Crown Princess’ mourning hall, almost everyone knew it. Seeing Qu Moying’s current reaction, they thought Qu Qiuyan wanted to frame Qu Moying as well. But this was Duke Qi’s Mansion, not Qu Mansion.
Qu Qiuyan was just like her mother. Both of them wanted to frame Qu Moying outside their house. Apparently, they were trying to prevent the truth from being found out.
“Moying, but the maid said it is for you.” Qu Qiuyan insisted in a low voice.
Qu Moying stood up and took a step back. She looked at Qu Qiuyan vigilantly and said, “Third Sister, I told you that this letter definitely has nothing to do with me, yet you claimed that a maid here said it is for me. Don’t you know that another maid here framed me just now? Fortunately, Young Master Qi found out the truth for me.”
Although not many people knew about the matter, there were still some in the know. After recalling the previous matter, they couldn’t help but suspect Qu Qiuyan.
Qu Qiuyan was angry and annoyed. The letter in her hand was now like a heavy burden for her. She had thought it was easy to deal with. As long as she said the maid in Duke Qi’s Mansion did it, this thing would have nothing to do with her if something happened in the future. However, the letter was now in her hand, but she couldn’t send it out, nor could she read it. She didn’t know how to deal with it.
“Third Sister, why don’t you open it here? Let’s see who framed me this time.” Qu Moying urged her. She was already sure that someone was trying to frame her.
Everyone thought that if someone wanted to frame Qu Moying, the only possible suspect here was Qu Qiuyan.
She had reasons and conditions to frame Qu Moying!
Seeing the suspicion in everyone’s eyes, Qu Qiuyan was ashamed and angry. She didn’t know whether she should take out the letter or not. For a moment, she was at a loss, not knowing how to react.
A maid lifted the curtain at the door and came in. Then, Duchess Qi slowly entered.
“Greetings, Duchess Qi.” Seeing Duchess Qi, Qu Moying walked over and bowed deeply, “Duchess Qi, could you please be a witness for me?”
As soon as Duchess Qi entered, she felt that the atmosphere was strange. She had seen much of the world, so she naturally would not make a fuss. She sat down on the chair in the middle and asked slowly, “For what?”
“Just now, Third Sister said that a maid in the mansion sent me a letter. She said that it was for me, and I said it was not mine. I have already got my letter, but Third Sister insisted that the maid was really delivering a letter to me. She took it in and wanted to secretly give it to me. I didn’t take it because it couldn’t be mine. Duchess Qi, could you please take a look for us to see where this letter came from? I am not familiar with the people in your mansion. The only person I might know is the one who wanted to assassinate me before…”
Qu Moying said calmly.
“What? Someone tried to assassinate you? When did it happen?” Duchess Qi asked, frowning. She did not know about the incident yet. If something really happened to Qu Moying when she was on the way to Duke Qi’s Mansion, Duke Qi’s Mansion would have to take responsibility.
“On my way to your mansion, an assassin suddenly rushed to my carriage to assassinate me. He almost…” Qu Moying said with lingering fear. Her lips were pale. It seemed that she was really frightened.
The madams and young ladies present did not know about this matter. All of them were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they looked at each other in dismay!
None of them had encountered such an assassination. Even if an assassination took place, it would only happen to the royal family most of the time. Why would someone try to assassinate a miss from Vice Minister’s Mansion?
Most of the madams and young ladies present had a higher status than Qu Moying, and all of them were scared.
“What happened later?” Duchess Qi reached out and grabbed Qu Moying’s hand. After sizing Qu Moying up, she asked with concern.
“Ministry of Justice’s people happened to be there. They were going to take him away, but they were stopped by Lord Yun Mansion’s people. Then, the assassin was taken away by Lord Yun Mansion’s people.”
Qu Moying said softly.
“Good heavens. That’s great.” Duchess Qi said repeatedly. She really thought that there was a fated connection between her and Qu Moying.
“I wonder if this letter has anything to do with the assassin.” Qu Moying looked down at the letter in Qu Qiuyan’s hand.
Everyone looked down.
Qu Qiuyan felt overwhelmed because of the letter. She almost couldn’t grip it. It was indeed a letter to frame Qu Moying. At this time, she felt the letter was as heavy as a mountain.
Originally, Qu Qiuyan wanted to make it up for her previous plan, but she did not expect it to fail in this way. All she wanted to do now was to take back the letter quietly. Just as she was about to say with a wry smile that she had made a mistake and she would go to look for the maid, she heard Duchess Qi say, “Go and get the letter from Third Lady Qu.”
“No…” Qu Qiuyan wanted to stop her, but a maid came over and took the letter from her hand. She reached out her hand to get it back but failed. She was so anxious that her back felt cold. This letter had long been prepared by her.
It was prepared by not only her but also her uncle. They prepared it in case the assassination failed, although Qu Qiuyan thought it was impossible to fail at that time.
But the assassination really failed. That was why this letter was now put into use.
Duchess Qi took the letter from the maid and looked at the words on the envelope, which read “To Fourth Lady Qu”.
Duchess Qi looked at Qu Moying, who was standing at the side gracefully. Although Qu Moying’s face was mostly covered by the eye veil, Duchess Qi could still sense her calmness. The words “To Fourth Lady Qu” did not affect her. Duchess Qi could not help but feel relieved.
“Someone did make use of Fourth Lady Qu’s name. I will definitely find out who bribed the servants in the mansion.” Duchess Qi snorted.
Just now, a servant had reported the dispute between the two young ladies of Qu Mansion to her. Duchess Qi did not hesitate to stand on Qu Moying’s side.
The meaning behind Duchess Qi’s words was that someone must be trying to frame Qu Moying.
Qu Qiuyan was anxious and panicked. She never thought that Duchess Qi would intervene forcefully and stand on Qu Moying’s side. Her forehead began to sweat.
The letter was sealed. Duchess Qi tore open the envelope and took it out. After reading it, she looked at Qu Qiuyan. Although Duchess Qi’s expression was calm, her eyes were unfathomable. Qu Qiuyan became more and more uneasy. She lowered her head and did not dare to look up at Duchess Qi.
She only felt Duchess Qi’s burning eyes, which made her uncomfortable and stressed.
Everyone in the reception hall became quiet. They all looked at the scene. No one knew what was written in the letter, but they were sure that it was related to Qu Mansion’s two young ladies because Duchess Qi had been looking at Qu Qiuyan after reading the letter. Was it really a letter Qu Qiuyan used to frame Qu Moying?
“Third Lady Qu…” Duchess Qi said slowly.
“Duchess Qi, this letter was sent by a maid in your mansion. If you don’t believe it, you can ask someone. I happened to be stopped by her when I passed by!” Qu Qiuyan hurriedly said, trying to calm down. She glanced left and right. Even Duchess Qi could not accuse her without evidence.
Qu Qiuyan insisted that this letter had nothing to do with her. She was just a messenger, and some servants in the mansion had witnessed the scene when she was at the door.
“Third Lady Qu, can you recognize that person?” Duchess Qi asked.
“Yes. As long as I see her again, I will definitely recognize her.” Qu Qiuyan hurriedly said. She secretly heaved a sigh of relief. She was not afraid of the letter being investigated.
The maid didn’t really belong to Duke Qi’s Mansion. Qu Qiuyan’s uncle sent the maid in by taking advantage of the situation that many people came here today. The maid wore Duke Qi’s Mansion’s clothes, but she was not really a maid here, so it would be impossible for others to find out the truth.
Qu Moying smiled and looked at Duchess Qi calmly, waiting for Duchess Qi to deal with the matter. She had long known that Duchess Qi was formidable, so Duchess Qi would definitely not be cheated by Qu Qiuyan easily.
Duchess Qi looked at Qu Qiuyan’s reaction coldly. Instead of investigating who the maid was, she ordered an old maid beside her, “Go to the back courtyard and see which carriage is trying to take Fourth Lady Qu away from my mansion secretly.”
Qu Qiuyan became anxious again, and her expression changed dramatically. At that time, she was only concerned about the letter delivered by the maid but forgot about the carriage at the back door. For a moment, her hands and feet were cold…
Qu Moying raised her eyebrows slightly and asked, “Duchess, can you send a maid to take a look?”