Qu Qingran truly hated Qu Qingxi. She glanced at He Liufeng sitting next to Qu Qingxi, her eyes darting around, and an idea formed in her mind.
Qu Qingxi just watched Qu Qingran's series of changes in expression without making any comment. After a while, Qu Qingxi noticed that Qu Qingran left the palace with a palace maid.
Qu Qingxi picked up her tea and took a sip, guessing that Qu Qingran was definitely up to something again today, given the opportune moment.
Sure enough, as Qu Qingxi was tasting the first pastry, a palace maid came over and whispered, "Your Highness, the Prince needs to see you. Please come with me."
Qu Qingxi turned her head and glanced at the palace maid, then nodded as if she knew nothing. "Take this princess over there."
Qingdai, who was behind her, had also heard what the palace maid had said. She was about to say that the prince would not be looking for the princess here, but when she saw the princess give her a wink, she fell silent.
However, she was worried about the princess leaving with an unfamiliar palace maid and was about to follow her when Qu Qingxi gestured for her to stay. Qingdai could only watch helplessly as Qu Qingxi left with the palace maid.
Qu Qingxi followed behind the palace maid and walked forward. Qu Qingxi recognized that what was in front of her was the Imperial Garden of the Imperial Palace.
"What's your name?" Qu Qingxi asked abruptly, startling the palace maid.
"My name is Xiaodie," the palace maid replied softly, her head bowed the whole time.
"Xiao Die, where is the Prince?" Qu Qingxi looked around but didn't see anyone.
"Your Highness, the Prince is just ahead; we'll be there soon."
Qu Qingxi nodded and didn't say anything this time, continuing to walk forward with the palace maid named Xiaodie.
After walking about ten meters more, Qu Qingxi suddenly noticed someone behind her, but she didn't turn around and pretended not to know.
Xiao Die led Qu Qingxi around the Imperial Garden and towards the artificial hill.
Xiao Die suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Qu Qingxi, "Your Highness, the Prince was just here." After saying that, she hurriedly turned and left.
Qu Qingxi narrowed her eyes slightly and took two more steps forward. Sure enough, she saw two people standing by the artificial hill in front of her.
He Liufeng and Xu Yanyan.
Qu Qingxi Station was quite far away, so it was hard to hear what they were saying, but it was clear that the two were chatting and both had smiles on their faces.
Qu Qingxi's heart sank slightly. She composed herself and quietly watched the other side.
At this moment, a person suddenly appeared beside Qu Qingxi. Qu Qingxi turned around, and the person was Qu Qingran.
The light was dim, and Qu Qingran couldn't see Qu Qingxi's expression clearly, but she could guess that Qu Qingxi's expression was not good.
"How do you feel seeing this scene? Are you sad? Are you upset?" Qu Qingran snorted and questioned.
"So, you deliberately lured me here?" Qu Qingxi turned to look at Qu Qingran.
"Yes, I felt sorry for you, having been kept in the dark all this time. I thought that since you came from the Prime Minister's residence, I kindly wanted to let you know the truth."
"The truth? What do you mean?" Qu Qingxi asked, feigning confusion.
"Do you see those two people over there? One is the Prince of Nanqing, and the other is the daughter of the Grand Tutor. They are a perfect match, and five years ago, they were the envy of everyone in the capital as childhood sweethearts."
However, it was because of the sudden marriage proposal from the eldest prince of the Zhou Dynasty that the two were separated.
In the years since Xu Yanyan left, the prince has never had a woman by his side, because he can't forget Xu Yanyan.
As for you, if the Emperor hadn't suddenly issued an imperial decree to grant you this marriage, what qualifications do you think you would have to marry into the Prince's mansion? Qu Qingxi, do you understand now?
Everything you have now belongs to Xu Yanyan. Before Xu Yanyan was gone, you could enjoy all of this without any guilt, but now, Xu Yanyan is back.
Do you think the prince will still dote on you like before? They are a match made in heaven, and you are just a girl brought in to bring good luck.
Qu Qingxi, you'd better realize your place, lest you be divorced by the prince without even knowing why.
Upon hearing Qu Qingran's words, Qu Qingxi's face turned grim, and even her voice seemed to carry a hint of sob, "That's not how it is, that's not how it is."
"Hmph, if you don't want to admit it, so be it. After all, the facts are right here." Seeing Qu Qingxi break down, Qu Qingran felt much better.
The reason the prince was unwilling to marry her before must have been because of Qu Qingxi's obstruction. The reason Qu Qingxi dared to do this was simply because she relied on the prince's favor.
Today, she deliberately arranged for Qu Qingxi to witness this scene. Given Qu Qingxi's fragile and insecure nature, she would inevitably question the prince upon returning home, which would anger the prince. Furthermore, with Xu Yanyan's appearance, this would further complicate matters.
Perhaps the prince, in a fit of anger, would divorce Qu Qingxi directly. As for Xu Yanyan, she wasn't worried about her at all. She was just a princess who had been sent back for a political marriage. How could she compare to her?
As long as the prince divorces Qu Qingxi, she will find a way to marry him. Only she is worthy of a man as refined as the prince.
"That's not how it is, Your Highness wouldn't do that." Qu Qingxi said, her voice trembling with tears, and turned to run away.
Seeing Qu Qingxi's heartbroken figure, Qu Qingran was overjoyed.
After running a short distance, Qu Qingxi stopped, turned around and looked towards the artificial hill. There was not a trace of sadness on her face; she was as calm as could be.
"Qu Qingran, is this your purpose?" Qu Qingxi smiled, "Is that all you've got?"
However, since you like He Liufeng so much, then this young lady will grant your wish.
Qu Qingxi turned back and hid in the shadows. He Liufeng and Xu Yanyan, who were on the other side of the rockery, had left at some point. Qu Qingran looked like she was about to walk back.
Qu Qingxi quietly circled around to Qu Qingran's back, grabbed a handful of sleeping pills from her spatial storage, and casually sprinkled them on Qu Qingran.
Qu Qingran didn't even have time to turn around before she fainted instantly.
Staring at the person who had fainted on the ground, Qu Qingxi waved her hand and put the person into her spatial storage.
Qu Qingxi then searched the palace for a long time before finally finding a heavily guarded palace surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids, especially Lai Fu, who was guarding the door.
Qu Qingxi slipped to the window next to her and looked inside. Sure enough, the Emperor was sitting on a small couch with his eyes closed, resting. He must have drunk quite a bit at the banquet and was taking a short break here.
Qu Qingxi glanced around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, took out a sleeping potion from her spatial storage and sprinkled it on the emperor. The incense burning in the hall masked the effects of the potion.
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