Swayed by his words, Shen Youying went to see the guards: "Can we still find evidence to prove these things?"
"It's been more than ten years since the incident, so it's hard to find evidence. But Xue Shaojun lived in the Taoist temple for many years, which left behind quite a few clues that we can use to catch him."
Shen Youying said, "A Taoist temple is enough. Go and find witnesses and evidence as soon as possible."
The guards acknowledged the order and withdrew. After making the arrangements, Shen Youying still felt uneasy about Xie Qinglan: "Finding evidence will take time, but Qinglan is currently in a den of wolves. Xue Shaojun is a wolf in sheep's clothing; who knows what he might do next."
Xue Shen said, "In that case, we'll bring them to the Prince's residence for a few days."
“But isn’t that against the rules?” Shen Youying hesitated. “Although Qinglan and I are very close friends, there’s no reason for me to bring someone to the Prince’s mansion and keep them there.”
Xue Shen flicked her forehead with his finger and shook his head: "You've already become the Princess Consort of Qin, why do you still remember these rules and etiquette? The Prince of Qin is domineering and willful, so isn't it perfectly reasonable for the Princess Consort to follow his lead?"
Shen Youying suddenly understood, her eyes lighting up as she said, "That makes sense. Then I need to think of a reason to lure them here."
Xue Shen saw her thinking like a little fox about how to deceive people, and he liked her more and more. He couldn't help but hug her and rub her earlobe: "Then I'll give you an idea. You don't need to think of any reason. Just pretend to be sick to invite them over, and then keep them there."
Shen Youying glanced at him, her eyes sparkling, and commented: "Robbery."
Xue Shenyi readily admitted, "Well, I am a bandit. So, will Zhaozhao be the bandit's wife or not?"
Shen Youying nestled in his arms, blinked her eyes, wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him on the corner of his lips, and then mischievously escaped, lifting her skirt and running towards Tingmei Pavilion. Her coquettish voice was carried by the wind: "Of course I have to do it. It's so impressive to borrow the tiger's power."
*
Shen Youying returned to Tingmei Pavilion and first summoned Bailuo and Danzhu to exchange "confessions".
After the three of them, master and servant, had agreed on their lines, Shen Youying sent Danzhu, who was more reliable, to the Prince of Huaiyang's residence.
The people at the Prince of Huaiyang's residence did not recognize Danzhu. When the gatekeeper first heard that he was requesting an audience with the Sixth Young Mistress, he waved his hand dismissively and said, "Please go back. The Sixth Young Mistress is not receiving guests these days."
Danzhu sensed something was amiss upon hearing this, so naturally she couldn't leave. Moreover, the princess had instructed her to bring Miss Xie here today.
She stood up straight, her pretty face stern, and brandished the Qin Prince's mansion's waist token. With her chin raised, she looked down at the gatekeeper and said, "You'd better see this clearly. Our Princess Consort of Qin has urgent business with your Sixth Young Mistress. If you don't lead the way and delay things, angering our Prince and Princess Consort, you'll be in big trouble!"
Having spent a long time in the Qin Prince's residence and witnessed the actions of those around him, she was able to imitate their domineering aura to a great extent.
Upon realizing that she was not someone to be trifled with, and that she was from the Prince of Qin's residence, the gatekeeper immediately dared not be negligent and politely invited her to the reception hall. However, he did not immediately take her to Xie Qinglan's Green Pine Courtyard, but carefully said, "Please have a seat, Miss, I will go and inform her right away."
After saying that, he hurriedly ran off to deliver the message.
The Princess Consort was already in a state of utter distress when she heard a servant report that a maidservant from the Princess Consort of Qin had come to see Xie Qinglan. She immediately felt a headache coming on: "I just visited the Prince of Qin's residence before, why are they coming to invite me again?"
She wanted to ask someone to refuse, but then she remembered that it was the Princess Consort of Qin, and she didn't dare.
Nowadays, everyone knows that Princess Qin is favored by the King of Qin. If someone offends Princess Qin and complains to the King of Qin, given his temperament, the entire Prince's mansion will likely be thrown into turmoil.
She pinched the bridge of her nose with annoyance and asked, "Is the young mistress feeling any better?"
The maidservant attending to him said, "The doctor has already examined him. The injury is not serious; it's just some bruises."
"Where is Liu Lang?"
The maid said cautiously, "Sixth Master is apologizing outside, but the Sixth Young Mistress is probably heartbroken and refuses to see him."
"What a tragedy." The Princess Consort sighed, rose, and walked towards the Green Pine Courtyard. "How could I have given birth to such a wretched child!"
*
Xie Qinglan huddled under the covers, lost in thought. Her eyes were still red and swollen from crying, and dried tear stains remained on her cheeks.
There have been so many things happening one after another these past few days, all piled up at once. Only by emptying her mind and not thinking about anything can she find a moment of peace.
But the Xue family wouldn't even give her a moment's peace.
Xue Shaojun's voice, like a demonic whisper, pierced through her ears. She covered her ears to ignore it, but then her mother-in-law, Zhao Shi's, voice came again: "Qinglan, are you feeling any better?"
Xie Qinglan pulled the blanket over her head, unwilling to listen.
But Zhao then said, "The maidservant from the Princess of Qin's side has arrived. Would you like to see her?"
Xie Qinglan paused, her chaotic mind filled with only one thought. She sat up and asked Lian Qiao to open the door.
The princess left the servants outside and walked in gracefully.
She had a kind and compassionate face, and a graceful demeanor, making her very approachable. When Xie Qinglan first married into the Prince's mansion, she was grateful to have such an easy-going mother-in-law.
But now, when Xie Qinglan looked at her again, she felt that the curve of her lips was too perfect, revealing a strong sense of insincerity.
"Does your injury still hurt?" The Princess Consort sat down by the couch and touched her much thinner cheek with pity. "That wretched boy is really muddle-headed. He was given a little wine by his colleague and couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong. Mother made him kneel at the door to apologize to you. He has to kneel until you calm down!"
The Princess Consort said the same thing when Xie Qinglan was bedridden recovering from her injuries last time.
Xie Qinglan had initially thought the Princess Consort genuinely cared for her and had spoken many heartfelt words to her. But now, hearing similar words again, she lowered her eyes and asked, "Was it Danzhu or Bailuo who came? Did they say what it was for?"
The Princess Consort's smile faltered for a moment, and she said, "They're still having tea in the front hall. They didn't say why they came, only that they wanted to see you. Mother was worried that your injuries hadn't healed yet and that going out of the manor again would be too tiring and not good for your recovery."
Xie Qinglan looked up at her and said softly, "Mother is afraid that the Princess Consort of Qin will see the injuries on my body and know that these injuries were inflicted by Liu Lang when he was drunk, right?"
“You child…” The Princess Consort sighed, looking at her as if she were an unreasonable and brainless junior: “I know you’re wronged, so be it, I won’t say anything more that might annoy people. I’ll have someone invite that girl over right now, and you can talk to her yourself, it will make you feel better.”
She appeared very tolerant and indulgent: "It's normal for you to be angry, and you do have reason to feel wronged. But as someone who's been through it all, I have to say a few things to you. You and Liulang married because you loved each other. If you still cherish that love and want to live happily with Liulang, then these matters of the bedroom shouldn't be discussed with others. The Princess Consort of Qin is different from others. If word gets out from her, it will not only affect Liulang's reputation and career, but your relationship as a couple may never be the same again."
Xie Qinglan remained silent. Seeing that she was unyielding, the Princess Consort was anxious but helpless.
After all, she was the legitimate daughter of the Xie family and had a good relationship with the Princess Consort of Qin; she couldn't afford to offend either of them.
Once outside, she saw her handsome youngest son kneeling at the door. Annoyed, she whispered, "I can't persuade you anymore. You'll have to figure something out yourself. If I'd known you were so hard to change, I shouldn't have arranged this marriage for you in the first place!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
