Chapter 111

Chapter 111 A Misunderstanding

Ming Xian’er’s words successfully drew Qu Moying’s interest. “The Crown Princess’s private maid was killed by Princess Ji’s maid?” looking at Ming Xian’er’s nervous face, she asked.

“Yes, it’s true. That maid is not the one who follows Princess Ji around right now. It is the other one. On…on the Crown Prince’s wedding night, I went to take a look and saw the two maids brought to the Eastern Palace by the Crown Princess. But one of them died that night. She…she was pushed off the Linyuan Pavilion by Princess Ji’s maid,” Ming Xian’er stuttered.

Her words didn’t make sense because of her nervousness, hard to understand.

Ming Xian’er had never told anyone about it before.

That night, she heard that assassins broke into the Eastern Palace and went to hide in the Linyuan Pavilion in terror. She saw a woman in red escaping into the Linyuan Pavilion from the spot she was. But many people were wearing red clothes that day, celebrating the Crown Prince’s wedding. What’s more, she was staying far away, so she couldn’t see the woman’s face.

Later, another woman in red ran into the pavilion too.

Ming Xian’er soon heard a woman’s angry voice, screaming and cursing. Then she saw red clothes fluttering in the air – a woman in red fell off the Linyuan Pavilion.

She was too far to hear what they said.

The splash was loud – clearly, something fell clumsily into the water. Ming Xian’er immediately realized she had witnessed a murder. She covered her mouth with her eyes wide open, not daring to utter any sound. If someone noticed her presence, she would never leave this place alive!

“You were there too?” It was indeed a piece of surprising news for Qu Moying. She didn’t expect Ji Youran to be a witness to her death scene. Since Ji Youran planned to kill her in advance, she must have driven everyone away from there. Ji Youran wouldn’t let anyone unrelated have the chance to see her crime.

After all, the person she planned to murder was the Crown Princess, her own cousin, after she accompanied the Crown Princess to the Eastern Palace. If anyone knew it, she would be accused of a severe crime.

“Yes, I was there. After assassins broke into the Eastern Palace, I wanted to run toward the Crown Princess’s yard because I thought it was a safer place with many guards around. However, it was too dark to see the road. After a few turns, I accidentally arrived at the Linyuan Pavilion. I found it a good hiding spot since it was quiet without anyone around. No one was going to find me there.”

“Right after I hid, I saw women running into the pavilion. I was somewhere under the Linyuan Pavilion, but it was too far for me to see their faces clearly. I could only see their red clothes. Both…both of them were in red clothes, maid…maid’s clothes.”

Ming Xian’er’s face turned pale in fear as her body shivered.

She still could feel the terror when she recalled that night.

After she saw a woman in red fall off the Linyuan Pavilion, one of the two maids sneaked out and passed by her. She recognized her face – it was one of the Crown Princess’s private maids, now working for Ji Youran. As for the other maid, she had never seen her walking out again.

The next day, rumors started to spread that one of the Crown Princess’s private maids went missing and might’ve died outside of the Eastern Palace.

With all the clues connecting together, Ming Xian’er felt she figured out the truth. Ji Youran murdered one of the Crown Princess’s maids while the other one was already her pawn.

“You mean on the wedding day, Princess Ji killed one of the Crown Princess’s private maids, and then the Crown Princess was severely injured?” Qu Moying bit her lip hard and asked slowly.

“Yes, it must be the truth. After the Crown Princess was injured, her body condition didn’t get any better, and she even passed away in the end. I suspect Princess Ji was involved in it as well.” Ming Xian’er kept nodding at her. “That night, I heard people talking and screaming in the Linyuan Pavilion. I was too far to hear them clearly, but I’m sure one maid died. She died in the lake under the Linyuan Pavilion.”

Qu Moying clenched the hanky with her trembling hand. Only she knew the truth – it was her, not her maid pushed off the Linyuan Pavilion by Ji Youran and died. Ming Xian’er witnessed the whole thing, but she mistook Ji Hanyue for her maid Wei Yu.

There was not only one path to the Linyuan Pavilion. She and Ji Youran went up to the Linyuan Pavilion from the other side, so Ming Xian’er didn’t see them. To her surprise, both of her private maids were there with her. Wei Yu probably was subdued and couldn’t make any sound.

Since the Crown Prince didn’t announce her death immediately, her missing maid became the most vital clue to fight against him. But was Wei Yu still alive? Qu Moying knew it was almost impossible but couldn’t help hoping.

She took a deep breath to suppress the rage in her heart. “Do you have evidence?”

“Fourth Lady Qu, I don’t have any evidence, but I know Princess Ji was not really taking care of the Crown Princess. After Princess Ji moved into the Eastern Palace, she has occupied herself with handling all the internal affairs here. She probably went to the Crown Princess’s yard once a day, at the most. The Crown Princess’s death was definitely caused by her. What’s more, one of the Crown Princess’s private maids went missing on her wedding day, and the other one is working for Princess Ji now. Fourth Lady Qu, if you don’t believe what I’ve said, you can just ask around.”

Ming Xian’er’s voice was firm, her face pale and flustered. If her words were spread out, she would definitely lose her life. However, she believed in Fourth Lady Qu. She put a big bet on Qu Moying’s willingness to avenge the Crown Princess.

When Ming Xian’er went to the Qu’s Mansion before, Fourth Lady Qu mentioned the Crown Princess in front of her. That encounter made Ming Xian’er realize every rumor about Fourth Lady Qu was false.

“You mean Princess Ji killed the Crown Princess?” Qu Moying calmed herself down and asked sternly.

“It must be. I want to reveal the truth to the public, but I’m just an insignificant concubine. It will only take an order for Princess Ji to get rid of me. I don’t dare to anything,” said Ming Xian’er.

“So, what do you want from me?” Qu Moying’s eyes became calmer. “I’m just a vice minister’s daughter. Even though I know the truth now, what can I do?”

“Fourth Lady Qu, there must be something you can do,” Ming Xian’er sounded agitated. “Princess Ji came to the Eastern Palace as the Crown Princess’s cousin, so can you, Fourth Lady Qu.”

“You mean I can move into the Eastern Palace as the Crown Princess’s cousin and marry the Crown Prince as his second wife?” Qu Moying raised her brow and sneered, figuring out Ming Xian’er’s idea.

“No. Your situation is different, Fourth Lady Qu.” Ming Xian’er shook her head. “Princess Ji moved into the Eastern Palace with the reason of nursing the Crown Princess. She said the Crown Princess wrote her a letter and begged her to come. It must be faked. I heard the Crown Princess had been unconscious after the wedding. How could she write letters in a coma? But Fourth Lady Qu, you don’t need to do these. What Princess Ji did was suspicious enough, let alone using the same reason again.”

“Then what should I do?” Qu Moying squinted her darkened eyes.

“Fourth Lady Qu, if my guess is correct, you are nothing like the dumb, ugly lady in the rumors. If your appearance is ugly, no one else in the world can be described pretty.” Ming Xian’er’s eyes fell on Qu Moying, staring at her sharply.

The long and wide veil covered half of Qu Moying’s face. Her lips had the color of fresh rose and a beautiful shape. Her fair skin looked even smoother than the best ceramic, matching well with her whole temperament. Although Ming Xian’er couldn’t see Qu Moying’s entire face, she was sure Fourth Lady Qu was indeed a beauty.

All the years traveling with the opera group taught Ming Xian’er to read people. The girl standing in front of her was definitely not ugly but a stunning young lady. However, people were all misled by the veil and the rumors. Although they saw Qu Moying’s half face, they still thought she was just good-looking.

Both appearance and temperament could make a beauty. Ming Xian’er believed her own judgment.

Everyone looked down on Fourth Lady Qu, but her beauty was actually peerless.

“Fourth Lady Qu, you were framed by Second Madam Qu before. Although you were treated by an Imperial Doctor, you have not fully recovered yet and can stay here longer. I heard the Crown Prince has some interest in you too. Before you leave, I think you should go to express your gratitude to the Crown Prince. If…” Ming Xian’er cast a glance at Qu Moying and took a pause. Clearly, she was hinting that Qu Moying could seduce the Crown Prince.

Qu Moying could marry into the Eastern Palace but with a different reason. After all, when Ji Youran came, the Crown Princess was still alive, so the reason Ji Youran used made sense. But it would be weird if Qu Moying used the same reason again. Ming Xian’er thought Fourth Lady Qu could surely use another reason.

Fourth Lady Qu was a poor lady who lost her mother in people’s eyes. Moreover, her father didn’t like her and didn’t care about her at all. After losing her engagement, she became all alone, not having anyone’s support. It would make sense if the Crown Prince married Fourth Lady Qu as his second wife to take care of her in the name of the Crown Princess.

Fourth Lady Qu’s situation was truly pitiful, and she couldn’t possibly find another fiance as decent as Young Master Yongning. If the Crown Prince took Fourth Lady Qu in, people wouldn’t have any objections but feel the Crown Prince’s kindness. They might even think the Crown Prince did it because of his love for the Crown Princess.

Of course, not everyone would have the same opinion, so it would still be risky for the Crown Prince. Therefore, the only person who could convince him was Qu Moying herself.

If the Crown Prince was attracted by Qu Moying, nothing would be a problem, same for Ji Youran before.

Ming Xian’er trusted her own judgment. Fourth Lady Qu was an intelligent lady and could surely understand her implication. Ming Xian’er heard that Fourth Lady Qu was having a tough time in the Qu’s Mansion because of her malicious step-mother. For Fourth Lady Qu, her suggestion should be the best way out.

Qu Moying glanced over the curtain on the room’s side door and noticed a slight movement. She looked down and then saw a shoe passing by.

Quietly, her lips curled up. As she expected, Ji Youran’s maid was eavesdropping on them. She had been observing all the time and remembered the maid came when Ming Xian’er hinted her to marry into the Eastern Palace. Ming Xian’er was almost whispering, so the maid had to get closer to hear them clearly.

There was no movement near the curtain before, which meant this maid was discreet. She only approached after Qu Moying and Ming Xian’er started talking.

“You misunderstand it.” Qu Moying curled her lips into a sarcastic smile. She took out a piece of paper from her sleeve and secretly showed it to Ming Xian’er. This note was prepared by her before she came.

Her thought was nothing too different than Ming Xian’er’s, but the one who married into the Eastern Palace wouldn’t be her. She’d rather die again than tie her life with Pei Luo’an’s again. She didn’t care about the position of the Crown Princess. One day, she would tear this label off Ji Hanyue too.

The so-called Crown Princess title was an insult and shame for her in the past life.

But Ji Youran was still daydreaming about becoming the Crown Princess, using her as an excuse. Qu Moying wouldn’t let her plan succeed.

Knowing Pei Luo’an’s personality, she was sure about one thing. Ji Youran had already moved into the Eastern Palace, which meant Pei Luo’an didn’t think she was qualified enough to be the next Crown Princess…