Chapter 382

Chapter 382 – Aggrieved Prefectural Princess Xiangrong

Chapter 382 Aggrieved Prefectural Princess Xiangrong

The one who was walking over was actually Grand Princess Changyu’s son, Marquis Jingyang’s Mansion’s Young Master, Zhao Qingxuan. “Are you Fourth Lady Qu?”

Qu Moying knew Zhao Qingxuan.

She was even familiar with Zhao Qingxuan. In her previous life, Zhao Qingxuan followed Pei Luo’an to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion many times. At that time, Zhao Qingxuan kept asking Ji Yongming to teach him martial arts, saying that he wanted to be a general and go to the border to make great contributions to the country.

In order to learn martial arts, not only did he pester Ji Yongming, but he also pestered Ji Hanyue. He secretly climbed up the wall of Ji Hanyue’s yard and was caught on the spot by Ji Yongming.

Later, Grand Princess Changyu took Zhao Qingxuan back to study, but she allowed him to study and learn martial arts at the same time.

“Yes, it’s me!” Qu Moying said. This was the first time that she saw Zhao Qingxuan in this life, so she pretended that she didn’t know him.

Zhao Qingxuan was quite a dandy. Qu Moying did not want to have any interaction with him. Moreover, he had a very good relationship with Pei Luo’an. Just because of this, Qu Moying would not like him.

“You really are Fourth Lady Qu.” Zhao Qingxuan seemed to be in a good mood. He specially sized up Qu Moying a few times. Just now, he saw Qu Moying coming over with a long eye veil. She looked relaxed. The wind blew over her and made her look like a fairy. If not for the conspicuous eye veil, he would not dare to recognize her as Qu Moying.

She was not like what the rumor said at all!

Qu Moying acted as if she did not know him. “May I ask who you are?”

Zhao Qingxuan said with a smile, “I am Prefectural Princess Xiangrong’s elder brother! Did you see my younger sister?”

“So, you are Young Master Jingyang!” Qu Moying bowed slightly and then straightened up. “Someone fell into the lake. Prefectural Princess Xiangrong went to investigate the accident.”

Zhao Qingxuan frowned. “She went to inquire people?”

Qu Moying nodded. “Yes!”

“Fourth Lady Qu, did you see Princess Ji?” He was about to ask Prefectural Princess Xiangrong about this. Ever since he saw Ji Youran leave with Pei Luo’an, Zhao Qingxuan had been very uneasy and wanted to follow them to take a look. However, Pei Luo’an told him not to go over, saying that Prefectural Princess Xiangrong was also there.

However, Zhao Qingxuan was really worried, so he wandered around here. He wanted to tell his younger sister to be cautious. Liu Jingyu was here, and Ji Youran suddenly came. Moreover, she pulled Pei Luo’an away with her. Zhao Qingxuan could sense that there was something in the air. He wanted to remind his younger sister, but he was afraid that Pei Luo’an would notice him.

“I saw Princess Ji. She was talking to County Lady Jingyu just now.” Qu Moying answered calmly, not knowing what Zhao Qingxuan was trying to do.

Hearing that Liu Jingyu and Ji Youran actually met each other, Zhao Qingxuan widened his eyes and asked anxiously, “Did they quarrel?”

Qu Moying shook her head. “No, they just exchanged a few words.”

Zhao Qingxuan couldn’t help but finally ask, “Then… did you see the Crown Prince?”

“Yes, I saw him!” Qu Moying directly answered. She did not know what Zhao Qingxuan was up to. Since he had a close relationship with Pei Luo’an, how could he not know where Pei Luo’an was?

“Was Princess Ji with the Crown Prince when she met County Lady Jingyu?” Zhao Qingxuan thought it was a disaster.

“No, I saw the Crown Prince just now. But when Princess Ji and County Lady Jingyu were talking, I didn’t see the Crown Prince.” Qu Moying didn’t tell Zhao Qingxuan everything.

But what she had said was all true.

“That’s great!” Zhao Qingxuan heaved a sigh of relief. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Ji Youran to quarrel with Liu Jingyu. In Zhao Qingxuan’s opinion, neither of these two women was easy to deal with. However, they were in his mansion. If something really happened, the Grand Princess Mansion would be held responsible.

If his mother knew that he played a part in this matter, his mother would definitely not spare him.

Zhao Qingxuan cupped his hands towards Qu Moying and sincerely thanked her. “Thank you, Fourth Lady Qu.”

Qu Moying smiled slightly and said goodbye to Zhao Qingxuan. She and her maids had taken this path when they first came here, and Yu Dong recognized the way. The three of them did not delay and walked back to the inner yard.

It had been quite a while. Prefectural Princess Xiangrong should have already found out something. Even if she did not get direct evidence, she must have known something…

Indeed, Prefectural Princess Xiangrong basically knew what was going on.

Two maids were kneeling in front of her. One was the maid who fell into the water, and the other was the one who provided services on the second floor.

Both of them were kneeling in panic and confusion, their faces pale and flustered.

The two of them had already told the whole story.

Prefectural Princess Xiangrong’s face darkened. She looked coldly at the two maids and snorted, “How dare you!”

The maid who fell into the water seemed to be bolder. She kowtowed twice to Prefectural Princess Xiangrong and explained stutteringly, “Prefectural Princess, please spare our lives. She said that… she served County Lady Jingyu, and County Lady Jingyu is your good friend. We dare not disobey.”

Prefectural Princess Xiangrong said coldly, “You haven’t seen her before. She said she served County Lady Jingyu, and then you believed her?”

“I… I… I saw her standing beside County Lady Jingyu before.” The other maid stuttered, trembling in fear.

If they hadn’t seen the old maid standing next to Liu Jingyu, the two of them wouldn’t have believed the old maid so much. Because of this, they immediately believed the old maid when she said she was sent by County Lady Jingyu.

County Lady Jingyu had a close relationship with Prefectural Princess Xiangrong, so they didn’t dare to offend County Lady Jingyu. As for Qu Moying, it was said that she was not favored by her parents. She had been disengaged before, and she must have offended County Jingyu, so County Jingyu wanted to make a fool of her.

The gathering today was held by the lake. In case an accident might occur, a few old maid and maids from Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion were arranged to wait by the lake.

Moreover, it was summer now. It would not be a big deal even if someone really fell into the water in this kind of weather.

With so many conditions and the checks sent by the old maid, how could the two maids not agree? Even if something really happened, there would be Liu Jingyu. The two maids would be alright.

Moreover, the old maid repeatedly said that nothing would happen. Qu Moying was just the daughter of a Vice Minister. She was really nobody compared with other ladies who were present today. In the past, accidents happened to some other ladies, but these accidents were finally solved because no one died and no man was involved. The parties involved were willing to make concessions to avoid trouble.

However, the two maids did not expect something to really happen, and they could not find that old maid. They had asked the maids beside County Lady Jingyu, but they all said they had never seen this old maid. They said that County Lady Jingyu did not bring an old maid with her to Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion today.

There were quite many ladies present today, and many old maids were brought over. Now that an old maid was missing, no one could tell who was her master.

It was impossible for Prefectural Princess Changyu to investigate it thoroughly. If the matter escalated, it would be even worse for Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion. An old maid actually sneaked in and caused such a thing. How could people feel safe in Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion?

Now that the old maid could not be found, these two maids from Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion became the ones to be blamed.

Thinking of this, Prefectural Princess Xiangrong was almost about to go mad.

“Pull these two despicable maids down and beat them ten times!” Said Prefectural Princess Xiangrong, gnashing her teeth. She couldn’t find out anything else for now. The two maids said that an old maid ordered them to do so, and the old maid worked for County Lady Jingyu. However, County Lady Jingyu’s maids said that they didn’t bring any old maid here today.

Two lowly old maids came over and dragged the two maids away. After this matter, the two maids would definitely be sold. It was impossible for the mansion to keep such servants who betrayed their masters. Even if the two maids agreed to help because the old maid said that Liu Jingyu was Prefectural Princess Xiangrong’s friend, Liu Jingyu was not Prefectural Princess Xiangrong after all. These two maids trusted the wrong person and landed Grand Princess Changyu’s mansion in an awkward position.

A maid hurried over and whispered to Prefectural Princess Xiangrong, “Your Highness, County Lady Jingyu wants to see you.”

Prefectural Princess Xiangrong’s face darkened. She sneered, “I won’t see her!”

The old maid sent by Grand Princess Changyu behind Prefectural Princess Xiangrong advised in a low voice, “Prefectural Princess, you’d better see her. After all, she appears to be innocent!”

“I don’t believe she didn’t play a part in it.” Prefectural Princess Xiangrong said grumpily. How could she believe that an old maid did this for no reason?

Although there were many guests today, there were only a few who were really familiar with each other. Moreover, Liu Jingyu happened to bring tea and wanted everyone to try it, which was really strange. Although Liu Jingyu and Prefectural Princess Xiangrong were quite familiar with each other, Liu Jingyu had always observed the rules. She had never done such a thing that was lacking in etiquette.

“Prefectural Princess, even if she is wrong, you have no evidence that proves her guilty. So, she is still the same County Lady Jingyu who follows etiquette.” The old maid smiled and advised, “You had better act like before. It is not a good idea to alienate County Lady Jingyu for the daughter of a Vice Minister.”

Prefectural Princess Xiangrong asked, “Is she just the daughter of a Vice Minister?”

The old maid continued to persuade her, “Even if she’s more than that, you can only take her as nothing more than the daughter of a Vice Minister for the time being. You should treat County Lady Jingyu in the same way. Even if you find something, you can only pretend that you haven’t found anything.”

These words made Prefectural Princess Xiangrong silent. She understood what the old maid said, but she was unhappy in her heart. She was a Prefectural Princess, and Grand Princess Changyu had always doted on her. How could she let go of the matter of Liu Jingyu secretly plotting against her? If Liu Jingyu was just a County Lady, Prefectural Princess Xiangrong could directly reprimand her for this matter.

Even if there was no evidence, so what?

But now, she couldn’t. Liu Jingyu was about to marry the Crown Prince, and Prefectural Princess Xiangrong could only give in because of this.

Thinking of this, Prefectural Princess Xiangrong was angry and hateful, but she had to compromise. She gritted her teeth and suppressed her anger. “Go and invite County Lady Jingyu in!”