Chapter 66 Apology
"In fact, Cui Shaoqing once told me that Princess Gao's death was a brilliant way to break the impasse..."
"It's true that her death has deprived the Princess's Mansion of its pillar, but it has also opened up a new path of bloodshed." Ling Tianshui showed a rare look of interest. "But with Princess Gao's status, Mingjiu's words alone are unlikely to convince others. We need solid evidence."
"I wonder if that crucial letter was destroyed or hidden..." Qian Deng naturally knew that the best way to verify it was to start from Princess Gao's residence. "But now, openly, the court won't allow us to search the princess's residence. And privately, after Mingjiu's disruption, it will be difficult for us to sneak into the princess's residence again. Besides, if there is no murderer in this case, then how did Shangluo get into trouble? If the person Princess Gao met before her death wasn't the murderer, then he must still be lurking in my backyard as a spy for the princess's residence... Do you think Shangluo has discovered his whereabouts and suffered this unprovoked disaster?"
Ling Tianshui hesitated for a moment and said, "If we delay, things will get worse. I will confirm this as soon as possible."
He was always quick to make decisions and act immediately once he had an idea. But as he hurried to the backyard, surrounded by the tender scene, he slowed down his pace and unconsciously turned to look at her beside him.
Qiandeng felt something was wrong. When she looked up at him, she met his deep eyes.
The inexplicable panic made her breathing disordered, and she hesitated and asked in a daze: "What's wrong?"
"Last night, after I returned home, I thought carefully about what happened during the day. I was not thoughtful enough and was too impatient with the county lady."
It was the first time in his life that he apologized to someone, and his expression was awkward. His usual majestic aura was gone, and at this moment he even looked a little embarrassed.
The frustration and distress that had been accumulating in Qiandeng's chest since he rebuked her suddenly vanished, and an indescribable sense of relief and joy welled up in his heart.
Since her mother passed away, people around her have had accidents one after another. She has been as tense as a bow, carrying the heavy burden forward, making people forget that she is just a girl who just turned seventeen.
At this moment, she looked up at him, the corners of her lips couldn't help but rise: "Oh? Ling Sijie actually has his moments of inconsiderateness, how come I didn't know?"
The most difficult words had already been spoken, and he no longer hesitated, lowering his head to gaze at the girl before him. "Perhaps because I've always been on the sidelines, I haven't been able to clearly perceive the pressure you're under, so I've been too harsh on you. But from now on, I will try my best to stand in your shoes and face it with you from your perspective."
Qian Deng smiled in relief, his crescent-shaped eyes glittering and clear, illuminating her face and the world before him: "Okay, I understand."
They walked slowly along the path. Willow trees in spring were like smoke, a hazy green shrouding them. Peach, plum and crabapple trees blossomed and fell like a brocade. Silent and quiet, the world was so gentle.
"Actually, I know what you said that day was for my own good... Just like my father and mother, whenever I did something wrong, they would blame me, but that was also because they wanted to help me and make me a better child."
As she spoke, she took a deep breath of the scent of spring flowers and grass, then exhaled slowly, her voice becoming lower and slower. "Ling Tianshui, when I was kidnapped by the Singing Vulture, my subconscious thought was to ask Daimao to find you. It's not just because I know you're powerful and that you can definitely subdue the Singing Vulture, but also because... I know you're not really angry with me. Even if you scold me, it's for my own good, so you will definitely come to save me without hesitation."
Ling Tianshui pursed his lips slightly, suppressing the smile that was about to be revealed: "Yeah."
At this moment, Qian Deng really wanted to reach out and poke his cheeks, wanting to see the stunning smile that he caught a glimpse of in the dark night forest again.
Unfortunately, Ling Tianshui was so stingy, and she couldn't help being shy.
Even though the spring flowers bloomed like mist, even though the spring birds sang plaintively, even though they all sensed the turmoil in their hearts—
Even after what happened in the forest last night, the relationship between them seemed to have changed, but the shadows pressed together in the firelight were not real after all.
In the end, they walked silently, one after the other, through the fragrant forest and spring waters bathed in the spring sun. Only their sleeves would occasionally touch gently, and then, like the swaying flowers and trees, they would silently separate in the wind.
It was almost March, and the camellia flowers in Yilan Pavilion had already withered. Large, crimson flowers fell onto the flowing spring. The flowing water and falling flowers were indescribably sad and beautiful.
Through the lush flowers and trees, Qiandeng saw Meng Lanxi watering the newly planted orchids on the grass outside the Yilan Pavilion. Her slender body exuded a gentle grace.
Ling Tianshui, who took the things and told him to leave, was as majestic as a mountain, swift and tall. Even if you only looked at his back as he left, you could feel a sense of awe.
These two people are completely different in appearance and behavior.
One is like a majestic pine or bamboo, the other like a fragrant orchid; one never smiles, the other always has a friendly smile; one is a soldier who walked out of the wind and sand of the northwest, the other is a poor student from Chang'an...
Apart from the fleeting dimples in their cheeks in the dark, they really had no similarities.
However - Qiandeng thought of Mingjiu's new face again. If Ling Tianshui also changed his face, then what did he originally look like?
Apart from those dimples, do he and Meng Lanxi look alike?
Otherwise, why would he care so much about Meng Lanxi? Was it just for Madam Meng's favor? What kind of favor was that...
"County Lady." A gentle voice called out from behind. Even without turning around, she knew that this pleasant voice belonged to no one else but Xue Xiyang.
She turned her head and met those peach blossom eyes with slightly raised corners.
Xue Xiyang looked at her, then glanced at Meng Lanxi beside the orchid path, his eyes suddenly filled with grievance and sourness: "What are you looking at, County Lady?"
"Nothing, just taking a walk." Qiandeng calmed down and turned back to the front yard. "Mr. Xue's Rose Pavilion is quite far from here. Why are you here?"
Xue Xiyang looked around and lowered his voice, "County Lady, someone in the mansion is colluding with Princess Gao's mansion and wants to harm you. Please be careful of them and don't let them succeed!"
Qiandeng stopped and looked back at him.
He said with certainty, "Please believe me, my lady, this is absolutely true."
Qian Deng knew that he had a wide circle of friends and knew all kinds of people, so she winked at him, indicating that he should not speak for the time being, and then went back to the Rose Pavilion with him, leaving the maids waiting outside.
After she stole the pile of scrolls last time, there were only one or two new paintings scattered on the painting vats in the hall.
Xue Xiyang saw her eyes sweep over the scroll, so he took it out and unfolded it for her to see, with a smile on his face: "County Lady, would you like to see my new painting? It's of a Begonia Spring Swallow and a Magnolia Butterfly."
Qian Deng thought about the various forms of herself he had painted, and reluctantly and awkwardly gestured for him to put the painting away. "Mr. Xue's paintings are certainly first-rate, but unfortunately I'm not proficient in this art. I'd rather hear about the trivialities of the backyard."
Xue Xiyang loved to gossip, and he came prepared today, so he immediately started to slander her: "Today, when I was sorting out the music scores at the Imperial Music Bureau, Yu Niang—oh, she's the talented qin player in the music studio—suddenly came to see me, hesitantly saying she wasn't feeling well and asked someone else to go to Princess Gao's residence. Seeing her panic, I knew something was wrong. After helping her get the replacement, I asked her carefully and found out that she had encountered a serious problem at the Princess's residence..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com