Chapter 235 Alliance
The people were so excited, as if they had seen a legendary figure, that no one paid any attention to the drunkard. Some of the small vendors even rushed forward excitedly, saying they wanted to give her the lanterns they were carrying.
"Princess Chang Le! These are lanterns from our stall, please accept them!"
"Princess Chang Le! This is a rabbit lantern I made myself, a gift for you..."
"Princess Chang Le..."
If the Qilin Guards hadn't arrived in time, the enthusiastic crowds would have almost overwhelmed Qi Yuxuan and her group. Even though they did arrive, they only helped carry a bunch of gaudy lanterns and stood there blankly to the side.
Bai Mingluan was so shocked by the situation that she couldn't control her expression. She couldn't understand why these people weren't paying attention to Qi Yuxuan's tolerance of her subordinates hurting people, but instead were flocking to deliver lanterns.
"Hmph, I bet you just don't know!"
Qi Wenyue, who was also squeezed into a corner, crossed her arms and sneered.
Bai Mingluan glanced sideways.
"Last year, she helped the people of the capital overcome the epidemic. She was out and about all day, so naturally many people recognized her. Your shout just now might have helped her."
When she met Qi Wenyue's gaze, which seemed to look at her like she was an idiot, she felt a lump in her throat.
How could she have known that Qi Yuxuan was so highly praised and trusted by the people? Her aunt only told her to try her best to please the Crown Prince. The Fourth Prince did mention the epidemic, but he only mentioned it briefly, saying that Qi Yuxuan had gained fame and merit by taking advantage of the epidemic and was thus granted the title of Princess...
She clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand, looking at Qi Yuxuan among the crowd, who had refused her repeated requests with a troubled expression. Her dissatisfaction grew steadily.
Those two drunkards were useless. They were told to find an opportunity to cause trouble for Qi Yuxuan, but all they managed to do was cause this mess. They tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead. Bai Mingluan was so angry that her cheeks turned red.
Qi Wenyue saw this and a sneer curled at the corner of her lips.
"What's wrong? What did Qi Yuxuan do to offend you?"
She wasn't familiar with Bai Mingluan. The Bai family, the Empress's maternal family, had long since fallen out of the ranks of third-rate families. Those who held official positions in the capital were all from collateral branches, while the direct descendants had all moved to Sichuan. Qi Wenyue had been in the capital for a long time, and even though she had heard of Bai Mingluan's name, she had never had any private dealings with her.
However, it now seems that there is a need for communication.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Even if Bai Mingluan's family background is not enough for Qi Wenyue to befriend, since she also harbors malice towards those she dislikes, they can naturally become allies.
Bai Mingluan forced a stiff smile:
"Where? I've only met Princess Chang Le twice, how could I have offended her? I was just too surprised just now. After all, Princess Chang Le seems so refined and gentle, she doesn't seem like the kind of person who would condone a wicked servant harming someone..."
Qi Wenyue, of course, did not believe this explanation.
She shrugged.
"Stop pretending. Can't you see it? She has many friends in the capital now. You're new here. If you plan to fight alone, you'll definitely be at a disadvantage."
Qi Wenyue's hint was too obvious, and Bai Mingluan bit her lower lip without responding.
She roughly guessed that there was some friction between the two of them, but the other party also said that he was new to the capital and didn't even know the intricate power struggles there. If his aunt found out he was taking sides so quickly, she might not be happy...
She had not forgotten her purpose in coming to the capital, or rather, to the palace. From a young age, she had been raised by the Bai family to be a Crown Princess. She was proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and her etiquette and manners were impeccable. Even now that the Bai family had declined, she could probably only win the title of Crown Prince's concubine. But if she made a mistake and ruined the family's plans, she dared not imagine what would happen to her.
“Princess Wenyue, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Bai Mingluan shook her head with a wry smile, her eyes still innocent and harmless.
Qi Wenyue suddenly felt extremely bored.
Seeing that something was wrong, the two drunkards quietly let go of the constables and tried to run away. However, not only were the Qilin Guards watching them, but Ren Shun, who was lurking in the shadows, would never let them escape. So, they were caught red-handed before they could take two steps.
"Oh dear, Your Honor, I was wrong. I mistook someone for someone else. It wasn't Princess Chang Le who ordered it, it wasn't..."
"Sir, please be gentle, my hands hurt!"
The two burly men were pinned to the ground and bound hand and foot. Before they could say anything more, the constables gagged them, and they could only stammer out some cries of pain.
Bai Mingluan saw the person being arrested from afar and her breath caught in her throat.
Qi Wenyue noticed the expression on the person next to her and looked over. It turned out to be the two drunkards who were about to cause trouble.
After a moment's thought, she realized that Bai Mingluan might have done something, otherwise her panicked and somewhat uneasy appearance didn't seem like the joy of seeing a troublemaker arrested.
"What, so Miss Bai has been itching to make a move all along? I underestimated you. I thought you were just all talk. I never imagined that you, with your seemingly virtuous appearance, were actually..."
"Princess Wen Yue!"
Bai Mingluan hurriedly interrupted the even harsher words that followed, her beautiful face turning deathly pale.
"I have no grudge against the princess, so why would she say such embarrassing things to me?"
Qi Wenyue raised an eyebrow: "If you don't want anyone to know, then don't do it in the first place. You didn't expect to be discovered before you took action, so who are you trying to impress with this pitiful, defeated look?"
"I'm not saying this to be mean, but someone like you is no match for Qi Yuxuan."
"Just you wait, as soon as she glances at you, she'll notice something's wrong with you, and after a little investigation... tsk tsk, forget about becoming the Crown Princess, you might not even be able to leave the capital alive."
Bai Mingluan's body trembled involuntarily.
She admitted that she had acted impulsively, but... she only wanted to teach Qi Yuxuan a small lesson so that she would stop trying so hard to attract the Crown Prince's attention. She had no intention of actually hurting anyone.
Those two drunkards, it's probably because she didn't give them enough money, they didn't get the job done, and their hands were broken, that's why they deviated from the original plan and came out to make a scene demanding compensation.
She bit her lower lip repeatedly, but it remained bloodless.
Qi Yuxuan didn't seem like the type to suffer in silence. What if she found out that I had bribed someone to harm her? Would she really kill me as Princess Wenyue said...?
Qi Wenyue was not in a hurry and watched her quietly.
This girl from a humble family is so easily flustered. She only said a few words and she panicked, almost bursting into tears.
Rather than letting Qi Yuxuan deal with such a person in the end, it would be better for him to make one last contribution before he dies, so that he can die a worthy death.
Bai Mingluan hesitated for a moment, then heard Qi Wenyue say softly:
"Haven't you made up your mind yet? Those people are all leaving."
Bai Mingluan suddenly looked up and saw that the people surrounding Qi Yuxuan were indeed reluctantly leaving under the evacuation of the Qilin Guards, and they were about to turn their heads to look at her.
Her mind was in turmoil, and she asked in a low voice, "What does Princess Wenyue want?"
Qi Wenyue slowly revealed a kind and understanding smile.
"Miss Bai is incredibly intelligent; how could she not guess what I want you to do?"
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