Qin Ma immediately beckoned, and the maid who came with her stepped forward with a set of dresses and jewelry.
Lin Qingwan felt as if her bones were being pierced by needles, her face turning blue and then white, then white and then blue again, with fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead.
Qin Ma clearly noticed that her expression was off, but said, "This servant will help Miss Qingwan with her makeup."
"Please remember what I'm about to tell you."
Lin Qingwan suddenly realized that her mother knew Prince Jing wanted to see her, which was why she had Qin Ma come and say those words. If it weren't for Prince Jing, he probably wouldn't have paid any attention to her.
She clenched her fist and clutched her chest. She had thought it through clearly and had given up all hope, but the truth always seemed to strike her heart precisely time and time again.
She gave a bitter smile and said with difficulty, "Muxue is enough to serve me."
Qin Ma frowned. "Miss Qingwan, you can't act recklessly now. If you make a mistake in front of the Prince, not only will your life be in danger, but the entire Prime Minister's residence will be implicated."
Lin Qingwan gritted her teeth. The people in the Prime Minister's residence were really good at framing her. Just because she didn't want to be served by unfamiliar people while changing clothes, she was being willful?
"Mu Xue helped me change my clothes and then gave me some more instructions."
"But..." Qin Ma insisted, but when she met Lin Qingwan's gaze, it was icy and sinister, like an iceberg that had been piled up for thousands of years, making people afraid.
That's terrifying.
Back in her room, Lin Qingwan asked Muxue to find the medicine powder she had brought. She dissolved two packets in warm water and swallowed it. Her hands trembled from the pain, and she broke out in a cold sweat before the pain subsided a little.
This was her first attack of the poison, and she could still endure it; what would happen later...?
Even though she was strong-willed, she didn't dare to think too much about it.
"Miss, painkiller powder alone won't do. I'll go and fetch the royal physician to take a look." Mu Xue's tone was practically pleading.
She observed carefully; the last time Lin Qingwan was kicked by the young master and vomited blood, she was also sweating profusely and pale-faced.
It's only been a few days, and he's been kneeling for several hours again. How can this be allowed!
Lin Qingwan took a deep breath and remained calm. "It's not because I've been kneeling for too long that it hurts."
"Help me change my clothes, someone's waiting for me outside."
After Lin Qingwan came out, she drank ginger soup in front of Qin Ma. Her bright red rouge could not hide the weariness in her expression. "Please thank my mother for me."
Qin Ma had witnessed her questioning the madam that afternoon, and now that she suddenly understood the rules, the fake smile on Qin Ma's lips froze.
Lin Qingwan walked down the steps and then turned back, asking, "Weren't you going to remind me of the rules?"
Aunt Qin followed up with an embarrassed look, "Yes, that's right. Prince Jing is the seventh son of His Majesty and Consort Ning. The Ning family is now the most powerful family. His Majesty has favored Consort Ning for decades. Although Prince Jing is a seven-bead prince, his treatment is no different from that of the current crown prince."
As they talked all the way, Lin Qingwan understood that Prince Jing was unwilling to be subordinate to the Crown Prince, and that the Jiang family had long stood by Prince Jing's side, even sending their son to be his study companion to show their loyalty.
But three years ago, when Prince Jing went to his fiefdom, the Prime Minister did not allow Jiang Zhenlin to go with him, which displeased Prince Jing.
Now that she has returned and is visiting immediately, Madam Lin has asked Qin Ma to remind Lin Qingwan to be careful with her words and actions.
When Lin Qingwan arrived at the front hall, the pain in her body lessened considerably. Looking up, she saw that not only was Jiang Zhenlin there, but Jiang Yanwan was also there.
She wasn't afraid of Prince Jing; these two golden boys and jade girls... were specifically designed to ward her off.
As soon as I entered, several pairs of eyes turned to me.
Lin Qingwan lowered her head and looked down, her posture was dignified, her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, but her figure was thin. Wearing a bright yellow plum blossom fitted dress, she did not look desolate, but rather had a kind of cold feeling like a sickly beauty. At first glance, she was out of place with the prosperity of the Prime Minister's mansion, but there was also a kind of illusion that the prosperity was overshadowed by her.
"Qingwan greets Your Highness Prince Jing."
"Greetings, Father."
Her voice was as clear and melodious as a mountain stream. After hearing so many sweet and melodious voices like Jiang Yanwan's, Prince Jing found it refreshing.
"Prime Minister, you are truly blessed. This hidden daughter is even more beautiful than Miss Jiang." Prince Jing stared intently at Lin Qingwan, showering her with praise.
Jiang Yanwan's pupils trembled slightly, and she had no choice but to pretend that nothing had happened.
Jiang Su hadn't expected Lin Qingwan to look so different after a little tidying up compared to when they first met. "Your Highness is too kind. Qingwan is raised outside the home, unlike Yanwan who is well-behaved and follows the rules."
Prince Jing looked at Lin Qingwan with interest. "Miss Qingwan, are you feeling unwell? You look so pale."
Lin Qingwan felt a dry heat emanating from Prince Jing. Her lowered eyelashes trembled slightly. Just as she was about to speak, Jiang Zhenlin interrupted, "That's how she looks, skinny as a beet."
After saying that, she added, "I've only been back for a few days. With more rest, I might be as beautiful as my older sister."
Prince Jing chuckled, “That’s true. The outside world is naturally not as good as the capital.”
Jiang Zhenlin's heart skipped a beat.
"Such a beautiful girl, how could the Prime Minister bear to leave her out here? And after the New Year, he's going to send her back to the Bodhisattva Temple?"
Prince Jing looked at Lin Qingwan, but asked about Jiang Su.
Jiang Su knew there was a hidden meaning in his words, "She was born at an inauspicious time, and her fate was cursed, so she had to be raised under the care of a Bodhisattva for fifteen years. Now that she has returned, she should cultivate herself properly and not go back to the temple."
Prince Jing smiled as he looked at Lin Qingwan's hands peeking out from her sleeves. "I brought back some rare items from Linzhou, as well as a few bottles of excellent wound medicine, for Miss Qingwan's occasional needs."
Jiang Su's expression darkened, and Jiang Zhenlin hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
What does Your Highness mean by this? What kind of ointment does Lin Qingwan need at the Prime Minister's residence?
Lin Qingwan was also surprised. What unexpected need did she have?
Then she felt disappointed; if only it were silver. But she remembered Qin Ma's instructions and respectfully kowtowed, "Thank you for your reward, Your Highness."
Prince Jing nodded, and seeing that her back was really thin and that she hadn't been wearing a fox fur coat when she came over, he said, "Shunzi, give her my cloak too."
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