Gan Qiongying was pulled out of the carriage, and the horse had already stood up from the water. She stepped onto the carriage shaft, supported by several people, but she first looked at Wen Xueling's carriage.
Her car overturned after being hit by Gan Qiongying's car frame. Wen Xueling had probably choked on water and was completely dazed when she was pulled out of the car.
Terrified, her face turned pale. After spitting out several mouthfuls of water, she wiped her face and looked up, only to meet Gan Qiongying's condescending gaze.
Gan Qiongying got through the plot, her chest pain subsided, and after soaking in water, the alcohol fumes dissipated, leaving her feeling refreshed.
She smiled at Wen Xueling and, mimicking the lines from the drama where "Princess Duanrong" pushes Wen Xueling into the water, said casually, "You think you can compete with me?"
In the original story, Duan Rong spoke these words with a sinister and malicious tone, making one feel as if snakes and worms were crawling down one's spine.
But when Gan Qiongying spoke these words, her voice even carried a hint of amusement.
But it was precisely this nonchalant and aloof relaxed attitude that sent a chill down Wen Xueling's spine. Her soaked thin dress was blown by the night wind, and she went completely mad.
"You did it on purpose...you did it on purpose!"
Wen Xueling opened her mouth, then spat out a mouthful of dirty river water with an indescribable fishy smell.
She was indeed raised in a pampered manner. Although outsiders say she has a very good temperament, a dignified demeanor, and an appearance that is the most admired in Nanzhao, she is elegant and beautiful.
On this dark and stormy night of murder, Wen Xueling disregarded all decorum and decorum. Pointing at Gan Qiongying, and after being helped onto the carriage shaft by the servants, she jumped up and shouted at Gan Qiongying, "You did this on purpose! You vicious woman!"
Gan Qiongying raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself, "Little white flower heroine, have you broken your character?"
Gan Qiongying herself did not realize that she had a very magical quality: it was difficult for anyone to hide their true colors in front of her.
Just as the imperial son-in-law Li Hua was like this, so was Wen Xueling.
However, Gan Qiongying had no interest in continuing to argue with the female lead. After finishing the scene and reciting her lines, her attitude immediately changed.
She directed her people to lead the carriage up the slope of the river, and even directed Wen Xueling's carriage to follow behind hers.
Wen Xueling couldn't help but say again, "You clearly want to kill me, stop pretending to be merciful, you're a madman!"
Her pale face flushed red with anger, because she truly felt her life was threatened tonight, and therefore believed that Gan Qiongying wanted to kill her.
Gan Qiongying had used various vicious methods before, but Wen Xueling, as the Princess of Jingxi, had people around her who were not to be trifled with. Eight out of ten times, she managed to make Gan Qiongying lose more than she gained.
The other two times, she played along and pretended to be pitiful.
Could a precious daughter raised by someone like the King of Jingxi, who "rules the land and is a king," really be a delicate, innocent little flower?
However, she had always been in control, but she had never felt threatened by Princess Duanrong as much as she did tonight, because this madwoman was willing to use her own life as bait in order to kill her!
Thus, the true nature behind the innocent facade, which had never been revealed throughout the book, was exposed by Gan Qiongying's car accident.
The servants around Wen Xueling couldn't hold her back; she kept jumping up and down and cursing Gan Qiongying.
Once both carriages were ashore, Gan Qiongying's expression changed drastically, and she denied making any threatening remarks in the water.
She simply said, "Princess Xue'e, please calm down. I did not expect the horses to be startled, which has caused you distress. I will send someone to apologize in person another day."
"Someone, bring the princess a cloak. It's chilly at night, and she'll easily catch a cold after falling into the water and losing body temperature."
Gan Qiongying had someone place her personal belongings, especially those that couldn't get wet, on the bridge beforehand. Now that she's changed into dry clothes, nothing's wrong with her.
Moreover, she not only got back a jade ring worth a thousand gold pieces tonight, but also tested whether the plot could be fooled. Her whole being was elevated, so she treated the female lead, Wen Xueling, with exceptional kindness.
However, in Wen Xueling's eyes, this "goodness" meant that Princess Duanrong had not only lost her mind, but also changed her face as easily as turning the pages of a book, shamelessly refusing to admit the evil deeds she had committed, and insisting that the car accident was an accident!
"If it really was an accident, I wonder where Princess Duanrong got all these dry clothes in advance!"
Wen Xueling looked like a stressed little rabbit, her eyes red, and she refused Gan Qiongying's cloak, throwing it to the ground and questioning Gan Qiongying.
Gan Qiongying: "...I had just stopped on the bridge when I was scolding my maid for being so ignorant as to bring me such a plain cloak. I then threw all my clothes onto the bridge."
Gan Qiongying told the lie as if it were the truth, shaking her head and saying, "Who knew... Oh, the horse was startled, and Princess Xue'e was implicated."
Wen Xueling laughed in anger; no one would believe such an absurd claim!
However, if she really insists on this matter, she can't find any other strong reasons. After all, Princess Duanrong has learned her lesson this time and is no longer willing to risk her life. She herself ended up falling into the river as well.
Wen Xueling could no longer make Duanrong suffer the consequences as she had done many times before.
Her chest heaved with anger. She didn't even feel cold after being soaked in cold water. She felt wronged and scared, but she still glared at Gan Qiongying defiantly, hoping that Gan Qiongying would lose her temper again or do something excessive so that Gan Qiongying could have something to hold against her.
Unfortunately, Duanrong had already silently transformed into Niohuru Duanrong.
Her main principle is to avoid deviating from the plot if possible, and to proceed perfunctorily if necessary. Apart from that, she cuts off all extraneous details.
She had felt guilty for having to put Wen Xueling in a difficult position because of the plot, so she prepared a cloak for her as well.
Seeing that she didn't appreciate it, he let it go.
So she withdrew her kindness, her face darkened, and she was once again the aloof and arrogant Princess Durong.
She reached out and took Yinyue's wrist, smoothed her temples, counted the gold hairpins that had fallen into the water and were still there, and then said lazily, "Since Princess Xue'e is alright, let's go back."
She boarded the wet carriage and quickly drove away, leaving Wen Xueling, who was so angry she was practically deformed, jumping up and down in place.
After Gan Qiongying left, Song Ci, the subordinate sent by Zhongli Zhengzhen to monitor her, did not follow the princess's carriage. Instead, he went back to report to Zhongli Zhengzhen, mentioning the "accident" that had just occurred between Princess Duanrong and Princess Xue'e.
Zhongli was just about to rest when he heard Song Ci's words. He pondered for a moment and then let out a soft scoff.
All of her previous worries vanished, and she said, "I thought she had really changed her nature, and I thought it would be difficult to deal with her in the future. But it turns out she has just become smarter and has even learned to play hard to get."
"Having failed to harm Princess Xue'e multiple times, this time he's even willing to sacrifice himself..."
Zhongli Zhengzhen's eyebrows were arrogant, and he was satisfied with her dignified appearance. He was certain that she still loved him terribly. After all, the words she said while standing on the carriage shaft had been relayed word for word by Song Ci.
Therefore, Zhongli Zhengzhen instructed Song Ci to send someone to reply to Sanjiu the next day, saying that the trouble they were worried about had been resolved.
Then he went to sleep contentedly.
Little did they know that Zhongli was full of confidence, believing that he had already grasped the variable that was Gan Qiongying.
However, Gan Qiongying hadn't gone far in the carriage when she deviated from the route back to the princess's residence and headed straight for the residence of the imperial son-in-law, Li Hua.
She learned from the report sent back from the manor that the prince consort had not yet returned to the princess's residence at this hour.
In Nanzhao Yindu, there is no curfew, but it's already past midnight and the prince consort still hasn't gone home. He must be throwing a tantrum and refusing to go back.
That won't do.
You can't let go of the wealth you've already got.
Moreover, the results of tonight's test prove that Gan Qiongying desperately needs a perfect "excuse" to help her avoid the twisted series of events to come.
At the same time, she could also try to reverse the tragic ending between her and Li Hua through these methods.
So, at the fourth watch of the night, the princess's carriage arrived at the prince consort's residence for the first time since their marriage.
The maids in the prince consort's inner courtyard were caught off guard and in complete chaos. They couldn't chase them away, but they dared not neglect them either. A moment later, the entire silent prince consort's mansion was brightly lit.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com