"Perhaps the Crown Prince thinks our young lady has some use, so he did this," Tridacna said casually as she stepped forward and poured tea.
Upon hearing this, Zihe immediately wanted to say something, but Xie Lingqin stopped her by raising her hand.
“Tridacna’s words make sense. Let’s leave that aside for now and talk about something else. Was anything unusual at Qing Shui Pavilion this night?”
Upon hearing this, Zihe and Tridacna exchanged a glance, and then Zihe spoke first, "Miss, just as you predicted, there is indeed something amiss."
Xie Lingqin frowned slightly as she looked at their expressions. "Xie Lingyu."
It wasn't a question, but a certainty; it was clearly expected.
Zihe nodded and stepped forward, "Miss's prediction is correct."
Xie Lingqin picked up her teacup, took a sip of water, and tapped her finger. "Tell me in detail."
"Yes, before, when you were missing, we were worried, but we didn't let anyone notice. Then, a maid from the Second Miss's courtyard came to call me and Chequ, saying that we were going to the treasury to get some jewelry that the young lady would wear when she went to the palace the next day. Chequ and I discussed it and decided that just in case, we sent Chequ, while I stayed in the courtyard."
Xie Lingqin looked at her, "And then?"
"Then, not long after, the young master actually came with some pastries, saying they were for you, Miss. I was very puzzled because the young master and Miss had never been very close before. However, after the young master left, I looked at the food box for a long time and there was nothing wrong with it. The pastries were indeed fine. I was wondering about it when I was lucky that there was a giant clam shell."
As Zihe spoke, she looked at the giant clam.
Tridacna then said somewhat embarrassedly, "This servant also saw such a thing by chance before." As she spoke, she took out a small red insect corpse wrapped in white cloth from her sleeve and showed it to Xie Lingqin.
Upon seeing this, Xie Lingqin frowned, "Bloodsucking worms."
Tridacna nodded. "That's right, Miss. This is indeed a bloodsucking worm. Unlike ordinary bloodsucking worms, I discovered that this worm has been coated with venom."
Where did you find it?
“It’s on your bed, Miss,” Tridacna said, a sigh escaping her lips. “Luckily, my sister Zihe and I searched inside and out. Otherwise, if you had been stung by this insect, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Second Miss, you are truly heartless.”
Xie Lingqin sneered, "She simply doesn't want me to enter the palace."
Xie Lingyu, it seems that it's finally time for us to make a clean break.
"Miss, about this matter, young master..."
Before Zihe could finish speaking, Xie Lingqin waved her hand and shook her head, "Xie Danling doesn't have that kind of brain; she must have been used by Xie Lingyu."
Zihe and Tridacna thought so too; no matter what, the young master would not do such a cruel thing to the young lady.
"Get some rest early, there's a lot to do tomorrow."
A cold glint flashed in Xie Lingqin's eyes before she headed towards the inner room.
...
The next day, early in the morning, General Xie sent someone to summon Xie Lingqin.
Xie Lingqin had already stood up; she couldn't afford to be criticized today.
Today she wore a lotus-root-colored dress with a light gauze overlay, tied at the waist with a matching silk thread, her black hair casually tied up, and a jade hairpin with a flying moon design inserted in her hair. She was simple and elegant, yet dignified and beautiful.
With three thousand beauties in the palace, this is not the time for her to compete in beauty.
However, when she arrived at the front yard, she saw Xie Lingyu dressed in full regalia. Xie Lingqin smiled faintly, her brows furrowed, and remained silent.
Her hair was styled in a lily bun, with a gilded and kingfisher feather hairpin tucked diagonally into her hair. She wore a lake-blue satin brocade robe woven with colorful flowers and butterflies, and phoenix-patterned embroidered shoes. The skirt was layered and folded, truly a sight to behold, both emerald green and delicate red.
"Xie Lingqin, what's with that expression?" Xie Lingyu noticed the obvious displeasure on Xie Lingqin's face.
Of course, I was even angrier inside.
Yesterday, she went to great lengths to have her cousin find the bloodsucking worms, intending to release them herself. However, the two maids in Xie Lingqin's courtyard were so vigilant that she had no chance to do so. In the end, she had no choice but to use the excuse of having Xie Danling deliver pastries to Xie Lingqin to ease the tension between the two to put the bloodsucking worms in the food box.
Just in case, she also coated the bloodsucking worms with venom. Even if Xie Lingqin wasn't bitten by the worms, the venom would still cause her skin to ulcerate, which is why she hasn't been able to leave the house to this day.
Unexpectedly, she was not only unharmed, but also perfectly fine, without any problems whatsoever.
Taking in all of Xie Lingyu's resentment and anger, Xie Lingqin smiled and said, "I don't have any expression. It's just that today when we entered the palace, we were told that the Emperor summoned us and we couldn't be disrespectful to imperial authority. But, after all, there are still the Empress, Consort Lan, and Consort Shu in the palace. With this outfit, I'm not afraid of overshadowing anyone." Xie Lingqin spoke each word carefully, without any mockery or sarcasm, as if she were genuinely thinking of Xie Lingyu's best interests.
Xie Lingyu bit her lip. She had thought about it when she left home this morning, but she was young and beautiful, and dressing plainly would not stand out. Today she was going to the palace to meet the Emperor, and if she were to meet Consort Lan, the mother of Prince Xian, she certainly wouldn't want to make any mistakes in front of her. That's why she dressed up so beautifully. Now, after Xie Lingqin said that...
Looking at my own layers upon layers of smoky sand, it really was a bit too eye-catching.
But why should she listen to Xie Lingqin? Without a discerning eye or a beautiful face, how could she be worthy of being a royal wife?
Thinking of this, Xie Lingyu immediately raised her head, looked at Xie Lingqin, and sneered, "Xie Lingqin, you'd better mind your own business."
Xie Lingqin remained calm and walked out first.
At this moment, two carriages were already prepared outside the General's Mansion.
Xie Lingqin guarded the courtyard with a giant clam shell, only bringing Zihe with her.
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