Chapter 97 Seeking Justice for My Sister
Xi Qingmian's fingers gripped the curtains so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
She widened her eyes, unable to believe what she saw - the girl holding her mother's arm and talking and laughing was clearly Sister Qingtong who should be far away in the palace!
If Shanshan needs close contact to distinguish the two twin sisters, then Xi Qingmian doesn't need to, there is no way she would make a mistake!
Xi Qingmian was all too familiar with Xi Qingtong's expression. She had endured countless taunts from her since she was little. Besides, who else could be so close to their mother besides Sister Qingtong? Sister Qingwu was absolutely impossible!
"This...how could this happen..." Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, but it was filled with unspeakable horror.
Chun Tao noticed that she looked uneasy, so she came over to take a peek. After taking a closer look, she also felt something was wrong and stammered, "This doesn't seem to be the Second Lady..."
She had followed Xi Qingmian since she was a child. When Xi Qingmian and Qingwu played, she watched from the side, so she was naturally familiar with Qingwu.
At the other end of the alley, Xi Qingtong was tugging at Madam Zheng's sleeve coquettishly: "Mother, next time you come, you must tell me in advance. I will prepare a table of your favorite dishes..."
Madam Zheng patted her daughter's hand lovingly. "Okay, okay, I'll remember that. Go back now. Don't see me off. It's only a few steps away. I'll come back in a few days."
Watching this intimate scene between mother and daughter, Xi Qingmian felt a chill running down her spine. She suddenly remembered how her mother had stopped her recently from visiting Sister Qingwu, using various excuses.
"So that's how it is..." She murmured to herself, her voice trembling, "It turns out that the one in the Song family is not Sister Qingwu at all..."
Where is Sister Qingwu?
In just a moment, Xi Qingmian thought of where Qingwu might be - the palace.
She is a member of the Xi family, and she saw everything that happened after Sister Qingwu came back. She knew that her mother was very strict with Sister Qingwu, and how much she favored Sister Qingtong. Now that the prince was deposed, how could her mother be willing to let Sister Qingtong suffer?
Chun Tao turned pale with fear after hearing this: "Third Madam, please don't say anything nonsense... What if Madam Tong is here too?"
"How is that possible? Sister Qingtong is in her current situation. The first place she should go is her family. Why would she go to the Song family? Everyone knows that her sisters married into the Song family. It wouldn't cover up anything."
As she expected, Madam Zheng got on the carriage and left, but Xi Qingtong took the maid into the Song family's door and closed it - the host's attitude left Chuntao speechless.
Xi Qingmian suppressed the turmoil in her heart and pinched her palm tightly with her fingertips.
She wanted to drive straight to the palace and see for herself who was inside. But reason told her that any rash action would only alert the enemy and make it difficult for her to move forward.
"Chun Tao, take a shortcut back home." Her voice was tense. "It's best to get there before mother."
The carriage sped through the alleys, and Xi Qingmian's heart beat faster than the wheels. She had to pretend nothing had happened and endure it.
If it was really as she expected, Sister Qingwu was suffering in the palace at this moment... This thought made her feel uncomfortable, and she felt sad for Sister Qingwu.
Why can Xi Qingtong enjoy the good life with peace of mind while Sister Qingwu has to suffer for her?
At this point, Xi Qingmian no longer wanted to hide her dislike for Xi Qingtong.
From childhood to adulthood, Xi Qingtong never looked down on her. When she was bullied outside, she never said a word to help her. Sister Qingwu had suffered for so many years outside, but she still bullied Sister Qingwu. Now even Sister Qingwu has to bear this kind of thing for her!
Xi Qingmian recalled the intimate times she spent sleeping in the same bed with Sister Qingwu a few years ago, and thought about how every time she was sick in the past three years, it was Sister Qingwu who treated her with acupuncture and prescribed medicine; she remembered how every time Xi Qingtong mocked her, it was Sister Qingwu who spoke up for her.
"Chun Tao, tell me..." Xi Qingmian's voice choked with sobs, "How wronged must Sister Qingwu have felt at that time?"
Chuntao's eyes also turned red. Just as she was about to answer, the carriage had already arrived at the gate of Xi's mansion.
Xi Qingmian quickly wiped away the tears and straightened her clothes - she couldn't be discovered by the lady now, she had to endure it and seek justice for Sister Qingwu!
My wife is partial, is my father partial too?
My father certainly doesn't know about this!
After all, they had to take a detour and change carriages. Even if they whipped their horses at full speed, they were still a step too late. When Xi Qingmian's carriage stopped in front of the Xi Mansion, Madam Zheng's carriage had already stopped.
Madam Zheng lifted the curtain and saw the concubine's daughter. Her brows immediately knitted together: "Where have you been?"
Xi Qingmian lowered her head and honestly admitted her mistake, using the same excuse as before: "I... I went to Guanyin Temple to pray for my aunt..."
Madam Zheng scolded him harshly, "Who allowed you to leave the house without permission?"
Xi Qingmian's tears, which she had been holding back, flowed down because of this scolding, but this just dispelled Mrs. Zheng's suspicion.
"My aunt wrote to me saying she was ill some time ago, and I was worried..."
Mrs. Zheng frowned after hearing this, but she didn't scold him anymore. She just said, "Go back to your room and stay home for three days." She waved her hand tiredly, "Next time you go out, you must let me know first."
"Yes, yes."
Back in the boudoir, Xi Qingmian immediately pulled Chuntao into the inner room. Her hands were cold, and her voice was very low: "Tomorrow morning, you will go to the palace for me."
Chun Tao was so frightened that she waved her hands: "This is unacceptable! If my wife knew..."
"How could the lady notice you? She just won't let me go out."
Seeing that she was still afraid, Xi Qingmian took out a purse from the bottom of the dressing box and stuffed it into her hand. "Here are five taels of silver, all for you. You just need to confirm who is in the palace."
"How can I accept your words? I will leave now."
Seeing Chuntao agree, Xi Qingmian breathed a sigh of relief.
She couldn't help but think that if the palace maid was really Sister Qingwu, then she would definitely write a letter to her father and ask him to seek justice for her sister!
My father will never show partiality to anyone!
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