"Even if you do nothing and say nothing, there will always be people stabbing you in the back and saying bad things about you."

***

As soon as Jin Suting returned to Funing City, she learned that the concubine was ill. As her nominal imperial aunt, she had to visit the palace in person.

When the Queen comes to the palace, even if the concubine has told her not to see any guests, she still has to come out to greet her.

Jin Suting naturally didn't want to act like a queen, but in Yu Qinglan's eyes, it was different.

She hadn't had any food or drink for the past few days, and her body was indeed much weaker.

Jin Suting hurried to help her up, but was avoided. She said indifferently: "Don't bother the Queen to come in person."

Jin Suting remembered that she was still suffering from amnesia, but she did not lose her composure and asked Qin'er beside her to help Yu Qinglan. In this huge palace, there was not a single servant to serve.

"I heard that the imperial aunt was ill. I just returned to Funing and I was worried about your health, so I came to visit you without telling you." She tried to speak more cordially, hoping that Yu Qinglan would not feel so distant.

But she herself didn't think so. Every word she said seemed to be mocking her, "I'm not worthy of being called the Imperial Aunt. How can I be worthy of you, such a noble person."

Jin Suting naturally understood that it was a sarcasm. She glanced into the room and wondered why there was a light in such a dark place.

"Won't you let me come in and sit down?"

Qin'er knew the relationship between the two of them, so she didn't stop Yu Qinglan's unfriendly attitude. She knew that Jin Suting didn't like it.

Yu Qinglan stepped aside, and Jin Suting and Qin'er walked in.

She leaned over to light the candle, and the room instantly became brighter and more lively.

Jin Suting noticed that the window paper had been completely pasted black, and then looked at her haggard face. She thought that it was not her body that was ill, but her heart that was ill.

In her memory, she and Yu Qinglan had a very good relationship, but she didn't know why Yu Qinglan was so hostile now.

"Let's go to the palace some other day. The winter hunt is about to begin."

Yu Qinglan sat down, not looking at her. "The imperial physician said that my illness will be difficult to recover from in a short time."

"Besides, the winter hunt isn't held in the palace. Your Majesty's excuse is still as lame as ever."

Jin Suting was stunned for a moment. She remembered that she had never hidden anything from Yu Qinglan, but why did she feel so nervous when she met her eyes, as if she owed her something?

Yu Qinglan continued, "Do you think I know nothing?"

Jin Suting pretended to be calm: "I don't know why the Queen Aunt suddenly said this, what's going on..."

"You don't have any amnesia at all, do you?"

Yu Qinglan spoke so quickly that Qin Er, who was listening nearby, almost jumped in surprise. Jin Suting looked back at her, sent Qin Er away, and resumed her flawless smile.

She said: "I have forgotten some things, but I still remember some things."

Yu Qinglan quickly responded, this time looking at her: "What you remember and what you don't remember depends on how you act, doesn't it?"

"You can fool them, but you can't fool me."

"If you didn't remember me, you wouldn't have come to see me. It's funny, a daughter-in-law and a brother-in-law should avoid suspicion the most. You clearly have lost your memory, and we have no connection at all. So why would you come to the palace to see me when you need to avoid suspicion?"

Seeing that she was a little panicked, Yu Qinglan felt a flash of pleasure in his heart: "You think I can see it, but Helan Ruizhe can't see it?"