Chapter 367 – Each Had An Axe To Grind
Chapter 367 Each Had an Axe to Grind
Qu Moying asked thoughtfully, “These were sent from Lord Yun Mansion?”
“Yes, they were sent from Lord Yun Mansion. They were sent on the day you agreed to attend the gathering when I was thinking about what accessories to prepare for you.”
Granny Yan said with a smile.
If Qu Moying hadn’t asked where she got the accessories, she would not have said it for the time being, but she would find an opportunity to remind Qu Moying to be attentive to her clothing wherever she was. If Qu Moying entered the palace, a trifle might determine her life, so she needed to be careful.
Now it seemed that Qu Moying did notice this question, but she didn’t mention it at first. Thinking of this, Granny Yan smiled brightly, and the doubt in her heart was totally gone.
Qu Moying raised her eyes and asked, “Is there anything special about this jade fan?”
Granny Yan nodded vigorously. “Yes, it’s indeed special. I heard that this jade fan used to be worn by Lord Yun’s mother, Old Consort Yun. Grand Princess Changyu should recognize it.”
This was exactly what the servant of Lord Yun Mansion who sent these accessories over said, which was also the most important reason why Granny Yan had chosen this fan.
By hanging this jade fan on her waist, Qu Moying could get the protection of Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion.
“Others could not recognize it, right?”
“No, I don’t think so. Old Consort Yun had passed away long ago when Lord Yun was a child. Young ladies certainly don’t know Old Consort Yun, so they will not be able to recognize Old Consort Yun’s jade fan. Even I took a while to recognize it.”
Granny Yan replied.
Granny Yan remembered this jade fan after hearing the servant’s words. When Old Consort Yun was alive, Granny Yan was just a young maid. She sometimes saw Old Consort Yun at Empress Dowager’s place, and she thought Old Consort Yun was a gentle princess consort. Moreover, Old Consort Yun did like this jade fan because she always hung it by her waist.
Qu Moying fell silent with a strange expression on her face.
“Lady, Grand Princess Changyu is His Majesty’s younger sister. Her status is not ordinary, but the statuses of the young ladies attending the gathering may also be extraordinary. Your status is still a bit low, so it’s safer for you to wear it.” Granny Yan said meaningfully, afraid that Qu Moying would refuse to wear it.
Qu Moying nodded with a bitter smile. “Don’t worry, Granny Yan. I’ll wear it.”
It was better to be protected than not.
In her previous life, her father, the only one who protected her, was gone, so her entire world collapsed.
She didn’t want to pretend to be lofty, strong, and independent. She knew she had to compromise sometimes, just like how she compromised to make a deal with Pei Yuanjun, which had nothing to do with love at all.
Moreover, she was certain that this gathering wouldn’t be just a peaceful gathering. Since Liu Jingyu would attend it, this gathering definitely couldn’t be peaceful…
Qu Moying calmed herself down and said with a faint smile, “Go to the Ji Family and pass a message to Madam Duan. Ask her if there is any good accessory in her shop. If there is, let her prepare a set for me. Tell her that I am going to the gathering at Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion. There will be many noble ladies, and County Lady Jingyu will probably be attending as well.”
Granny Yan did not understand what Qu Moying meant. She thought that Qu Moying was not satisfied with the accessories she had prepared, and she hurriedly explained, “Lady, do you want Yue’s Gold Pavilion’s accessories? Although its accessories are good, they are inferior to what I have prepared for you!”
Qu Moying smiled calmly. “No, it’s just an excuse. I just want the news that I and Liu Jingyu are going to attend Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion’s gathering to be spread to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion.”
Her words had so many meanings that Granny Yan was stunned for a moment, but then she reacted and asked in confusion, “Lady, do you want Princess Ji to attend the gathering?”
In Granny Yan’s opinion, if Ji Youran were to attend the gathering, something unexpected might happen, and the gathering might be messed up. However, this was Qu Moying’s first time attending such a gathering, and Granny Yan hoped that it would end perfectly without any mishap.
“I don’t really want her to attend it, but she will definitely attend it if she gets the information.” Qu Moying narrowed her eyes and hid the coldness in her eyes. She believed that Ji Youran’s biggest rival now was Liu Jingyu!
Ji Youran had been dreaming about being the Crown Princess and plotting for it for so long. In order to become the Crown Princess, she even stained her hands with the blood of Ji Hanyue and her family. However, she was not the only one coveting that position. She was at a disadvantage compared with another competitor Liu Jingyu.
Granny Yan was still a little worried. “Lady, Princess Ji is not easy to deal with. Will you suffer a loss this time if she shows up?”
Qu Xuexin’s matter had escalated into a great disturbance mainly because of Ji Youran. If Ji Youran hadn’t made a big deal out of it, Qu Xuexin would not have been in such a difficult situation.
“Don’t worry. First Lady chose to be a home-based nun because of her. Although people did criticize First Lady at first, they disliked Princess Ji later because she went too far.”
Qu Moying smiled silently and said meaningfully.
She was really looking forward to seeing the drama when Ji Youran and Liu Jingyu met. She hoped that the two of them could meet up as soon as possible. If they met, even Pei Luo’an would not be able to control the situation!
“Lady, I will go send a message right now.” Granny Yan was still a little worried, but she eased up when she saw Qu Moying’s confident look. She appreciated Qu Moying more and more. Although Qu Moying was young, she was well aware of everything.
Granny Yan couldn’t help but be convinced by Qu Moying’s intelligence!
Watching Granny Yan leave, Qu Moying lowered her eyes and looked at her wrist with a bit of gloominess. The corners of her lips curled up in ridicule. There was a follow-up of Qu Xuexin’s matter, and there were a lot of discussions about Ji Youran and Liu Jingyu. It sounded like people were crying out about Qu Xuexin’s grievances, but their words were actually against Ji Youran and Liu Jingyu.
Ji Youran was Crown Prince’s Side Princess, and Liu Jingyu was said to be the future Crown Princess. The Crown Prince’s enemies were naturally their enemies.
But the two of them were bound to be like fire and water!
It was ridiculous that while Ji Youran and Liu Jingyu were both fighting for the position of the Crown Princess, Ji Youran was obsessed with her jealousy for the deceased Ji Hanyue.
She would rather die than let Ji Hanyue’s memorial tablet be placed by Pei Luo’an’s side…
“What? An invitation card was sent to Qu Mansion?” Liu Jingyu pressed her hand on the table and suddenly stood up with fury. She felt annoyed as soon as she heard the word “Qu”.
“Yes, I heard from the people around Prefectural Princess Xiangrong that they did send an invitation card to Qu Mansion, but I don’t know which lady in Qu Mansion will attend it. However…” Hai Tang stole a glance at Liu Jingyu and continued in a low voice, “I heard that Prefectural Princess Xiangrong believed that it will be Fourth Lady Qu.”
“Why?” Liu Jingyu forcefully suppressed her anger and sat down again. Her mother had reprimanded her and told her not to be as rash as before because she had something more important to do now.
“On one hand, only Fourth Lady Qu can go out of Qu Mansion and attend the gathering for the time being. Third Lady Qu has been behaving herself recently, and I haven’t heard that she has received this invitation. On the other hand, Prefectural Princess Xiangrong wants to see Fourth Lady Qu. It was said that she has a good impression of Fourth Lady Qu.”
Hai Tang explained.
Hearing this, Liu Jingyu was unhappy. She snorted, “How could Prefectural Princess Xiangrong be interested in the daughter of a Vice Minister? Moreover, she is a shameless one.”
She hated Qu Moying from the bottom of her heart.
When she was a little girl, she heard her mother talk about Qu Mansion’s Madam and the abandoned daughter who was raised in the village. People said that the abandoned daughter was pitiful, but Liu Jingyu just didn’t like her.
She remembered seeing Qu Moying once. At that time, hatred suddenly rose in her mind, and she almost killed Qu Moying. However, Qu Moying was actually so lucky that nothing happened to her, which Liu Jingyu thought was a pity.
She thought that Qu Moying should repay Little Yue’s debt since she was Little Yue’s daughter, and she would not let Qu Moying off the hook.
Liu Jingyu calmed herself down and asked, “Miss Yan will also attend it this time, right?”
“I… I don’t know about this.” Hai Tang looked at Du Juan with embarrassment and winked for help.
Duan Juan hurried forward and said with a smile, “Lady, Miss Yan has always been on good terms with you, and she has always been invited to such gatherings. She should be going.”
“That’s good!” Liu Jingyu sneered. Yan Yujiao’s temper was not good. Moreover, she had crashed into Qu Moying once before. When Liu Jingyu schemed against Qu Moying, she utilized Yan Yujiao, so Yan Yujiao would definitely be unhappy when she saw Qu Moying. She would seize the chance to instigate Yan Yujiao, and the latter would definitely make things difficult for Qu Moying.
This was Qu Moying’s first time attending the gathering of noble ladies. There would be many people eager to make things difficult for her. Even if she secretly added fuel to the fire, no one would notice it.
Thinking of this, she calmed down a lot.
She asked, “Are my accessories ready?”
“Yes, I’ve already prepared them. Hearing that you are going to Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion, Madam specially sent over a set of jade jewelry. I saw that there is a beautiful small jade fan. Why don’t you hang it on? It’s more beautiful than common sachets and jade pendants.”
Hai Tang suggested with a smile. She knew Liu Jingyu’s personality well and knew she didn’t like to be similar to others. It was summer now, and jade was cool. On the one hand, others did not have a jade fan, and on the other hand, they definitely did not come up with the idea of wearing a jade fan.
Liu Jingyu nodded with satisfaction. “Alright, I will choose that set of jewelry. There’s no need to be too gorgeous, but it has to be elegant and refined. I don’t like to be similar to those common people.”
“Of course. How can those people compare with you? Their collections couldn’t compare with yours, not to mention their status.” Du Juan had a glib tongue, and Liu Jingyu was happy to hear her flattering words.
She smiled arrogantly!