"I don't need anyone else to be punished for what I did." Lin Qingwan turned to leave.
Madam Lin immediately ordered someone to stop her, saying, "Send her back to Ningsi Garden, don't keep the Prime Minister waiting."
Lin Qingwan was being held up by two old women. Before she could even struggle, her limbs went weak from the pain, and she broke out in waves of cold sweat.
Madam Lin said sternly, "The inner quarters are not a bandit's den, and you can't be a hero. There's no such thing as one person taking responsibility for their own actions. If you don't act well as a young lady of the Prime Minister's residence and as a mistress, every mistake you make will implicate those around you."
“If you’re still not convinced, I’ll kneel until dawn.”
Lin Qingwan's brows furrowed tightly, her clear, bright eyes reflecting helplessness and anger.
When Rong Ma saw that she was going to kneel for her, the complicated feelings in her heart vanished instantly. She used to think that her young mistress was short-tempered and not good at speaking, but she realized how rare it was when it happened to her.
No wonder Mu Xue dared to fight Chun Yu for her sake, and no wonder Qiu Hong spoke highly of her in front of the Madam.
She smiled at Lin Qingwan, "The Prime Minister is still waiting for you."
"It was my fault for not instructing Miss properly, and I deserve to be punished. However, Madam has been lenient with me out of consideration for our years of service as mistress and servant. I have no complaints."
"If Miss truly cares for this old servant, then please go back."
Lin Qingwan's throat tightened, and even after returning to Ningsi Garden, Rong Ma's pale smile remained in her mind.
Like a tidal wave crashing into her heart, Lin Qingwan had never felt so cold since returning to the Prime Minister's residence, despite the mistreatment and misunderstandings from her parents and younger brother. Her mother's words still echoed in her ears, and for the first time, she felt a sense of fear towards the word "rules."
She repeatedly angered her mother, but could never get the fairness she wanted.
Rong's mother treated her well, and Lin Qingwan just wanted to be nicer to her in return. But would Rong's mother resent her?
*
Jiang Su brought two more boxes of incense and was sitting at his desk reviewing the calligraphy that Lin Qingwan had been practicing these past few days.
When Lin Qingwan entered, he slightly raised his eyelids and said, "The Prince has sent medicine to the Prime Minister's residence. If you can insist, why not write a thank-you note to the Prince yourself?"
"If the pain is too severe, I will write again tomorrow."
Lin Qingwan was in a lot of pain, but Jiang Su's gentle tone eased her pain. "I can write. It's just that I haven't had much education, so I'm not very good at writing thank-you notes..."
She lacked confidence and was afraid of being disliked.
Jiang Su pushed a newly written letter in front of her, saying, "I made a draft while waiting for you. Use it as you see fit."
"Given the prince's noble status, every word and sentence in his letters must be carefully considered."
"It has little to do with whether or not one has read books."
Jiang Su neither showed any disdain nor lectured her. Lin Qingwan thought to herself that her father cared about her feelings.
Filled with gratitude, she gritted her teeth and copied it out stroke by stroke, even though her back was killing her.
After Jiang Su left, Mu Xue and Qiu Hong dared to come in, and the two of them took extra care in helping her wash up.
Upon seeing the bruised and battered back, the two of them gasped in shock, even though they were mentally prepared.
Jiang Yanwan's invitation and the Prime Minister's return gifts were delivered to Prince Jing's residence the following day.
"Your Highness, the messenger specifically said that Miss Qingwan wrote this overnight, enduring great pain." The attendant Changfeng presented the letter, and a fragrant scent of crabapple blossoms wafted through the air.
Zhao Yan held a blood-red cup and watered the flowers. The liquid seeped into the soil and was quickly absorbed. A speck of red on the rim of the cup stained the letter.
The scent of crabapple mixed with the stench of blood, like blooming flowers, made Zhao Yan's eyes narrow, and an indescribable excitement welled up in his heart. He deeply inhaled the scent on the letter, seemingly gaining immense satisfaction.
Zhao Yan opened the letter, and when he saw the handwriting, his eyes darkened. "Jiang Su is a sensible man; he knows what I like."
Zhao Yan thought of Lin Qingwan's clear, cold eyes, and her Adam's apple bobbed twice. "The medicine I sent yesterday was for external application. I'll send some more to replenish qi and blood later."
He stroked the crabapple petals, the soft and delicate touch was captivating. "Raising people is the same as raising flowers. You have to put your heart into it for them to grow well."
The Prime Minister's Residence, Huaguang Courtyard.
Jiang Yanwan's eyes reddened, "What's so good about that bitch that she deserves the prince's repeated care and rewards!"
To make matters worse, Xia Yan told Jiang Yanwan about how Jiang Su had asked Lin Qingwan to write a thank-you note in her own handwriting the day before.
She raised her hand to smash the teacup, but Xia Yan silently took two steps back. After a while, she didn't hear any noise. She squinted and saw that Jiang Yanwan had unusually restrained her temper, and her almond-shaped eyes were dark and unreadable.
"Miss?" Xia Yan called out in fear.
Jiang Yanwan slowly put down her teacup and said in a gloomy voice, "Although Your Highness has always been known for your womanizing ways, even the most beautiful courtesan is only qualified to appear before Your Highness if she is a virgin."
"Go and sound out Caibao, see if Alin's men have found the person who eloped with Lin Qingwan."
"Wait a minute," she added. "Find two people to spread the word that Lin Qingwan is promiscuous and has eloped with someone."
Xia Yan was a little worried, "No matter what, she is still a young lady of the Prime Minister's mansion. If word gets out, you and the Prime Minister's mansion will lose face because of her."
Jiang Yanwan said coldly, "The prince has already protected her like that, why should I care about the reputation of the Prime Minister's Mansion! But you reminded me, which might make me suspicious. It would be better to let my second aunt and Jiang Mingyun know that they have private dealings with the ladies."
“What comes from them is credible, motivated, and has nothing to do with me.”
About half an hour later, Xia Yan returned somewhat disappointed. "Miss, Cai Bao said that the young master asked him to go to the Xiaoji Camp to inquire about news yesterday, but there are many things to do in December, and many people are moving around outside, so there is still no news."
Jiang Yanwan pinched the bridge of her nose. "Since she came back, nothing has gone right for me."
"They always do the opposite of what I say!" she said through gritted teeth.
Xia Yan had a sudden inspiration. "Miss, although this person is hard to find, didn't Madam say that Cheng mentioned in her letter that she has a bad reputation in town and is already engaged to a butcher surnamed Zhang?"
Jiang Yanwan's worries vanished instantly, and she couldn't help but smile, "That's right, this person is easy to find."
"This matter should be carried out in secret. We need to find a suitable opportunity to make it happen. We must make the prince disgust her."
Xia Yan hesitated for a moment, then said, "There's something else I'm not sure if I should say."
Jiang Yanwan raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Although the madam dotes on you, the prime minister seems to have been protecting Miss Qingwan intentionally or unintentionally ever since the prince started to treat her differently, and he has not stopped the prince and Miss Qingwan from getting closer."
This is also what Jiang Yanwan is worried about.
But her father wasn't someone she could change by crying and putting on an act. She took a deep breath. "The only one who can dissuade my father is my mother, but when it comes to important matters, my mother always goes along with my father."
"The marriage between the Jiang family and the prince is inextricably linked to the future of the Jiang family."
Jiang Yanwan clenched her fists tightly. "But I can't go to my mother and cry again. It would be too obvious and would easily annoy my father."
Xia Yan was also anxious, "But there are already rumors circulating outside and inside the manor that the prince values Miss Qingwan more, and it's uncertain who will sit on the throne as the princess consort."
A fierce glint flashed in Jiang Yanwan's eyes. "If Mother heard this, what do you think her reaction would be?"
Xia Yan went straight to the point, "Of course the madam is furious, she'd definitely beat the gossiping person to death..."
Halfway through his speech, Xia Yan realized that Jiang Yanwan was trying to provoke the madam into having an attack by spreading rumors!
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