Chapter 231

Chapter 231 I Have Already Got the Letter

“Fourth Lady Qu, do you dare to talk to me in the Water Pavilion?” Yan Yujiao frowned as she tried her best to suppress her anger.

“I dare not!” Qu Moying looked at the Water Pavilion not far away and shook her head. She did not want to act on impulse.

The Water Pavilion was built near the water. Where they were standing now happened to be an entrance. It was quiet and beautiful there, and it was indeed a good place to talk.

However, Qu Moying did not want to go!

Yan Yujiao did not expect her to refuse so decisively. She felt stuffy in her chest and sneered, “You are so timid, yet you dared to contradict County Lady Jingyu just now.”

“I’m indeed timid, but I do dare to contradict County Lady Jingyu! As for you, Miss Yan, I wonder how you dared to stand up for County Lady Jingyu and blaspheme the ex-Crown Princess.” The corners of Qu Moying’s lips curled up slightly. She didn’t care who instigated Yan Yujiao to say so. Since Yan Yujiao had said those words, she had to take the consequence.

“What… What nonsense are you talking about? County Lady Jingyu… didn’t blaspheme against the ex-Crown Princess.” Yan Yujiao’s face turned pale. Things about the ex-Crown Princess shouldn’t be rumored randomly. She couldn’t afford such a crime, and even Earl Fengyang’s Mansion couldn’t afford it.

“Everyone could tell whether she blasphemed the ex-Crown Princess or not. I heard that County Lady Jingyu wanted to marry the Crown Prince. That’s why she said such words. What about you? What do you mean?”

Qu Moying looked calm as if she didn’t notice the panic in Yan Yujiao’s eyes.

Since Yan Yujiao dared to say those words, she should bear the consequences.

Qu Moying was Ji Hanyue’s cousin, so even if someone heard her words, they would at most blame her for being rude and ignorant, which was much less than the crime of blaspheming the ex-Crown Princess.

“You… you’re talking nonsense…” Yan Yujiao was really panicking. She stuttered and looked around anxiously. She tried to explain, but Qu Moying interrupted her.

“Miss Yan, don’t you believe it? Let’s wait and see. I heard that Lord Jing has taken a fancy to the Guardian General’s daughter.” Qu Moying said slowly. Then, she turned around and left with Yu Dong. As for Yan Yujiao, who was stunned in place, Qu Moying didn’t care.

Qu Moying didn’t think Yan Yujiao was stupid before. But now, Yan Yujiao was so hostile towards her, and she even came forward to deal with her. Qu Moying didn’t believe that it was just because of Qu Qiuyan’s instigation.

Although Qu Qiuyan had a good relationship with Yan Yujiao, she wouldn’t try to fawn over Yan Yujiao like this.

Qu Moying continued to ponder. “Is it because of Liu Jingyu? What kind of grudge do I have against her? I’ve thought about everything in my previous life and this life, but there is no possibility of any grudge…”

Qu Moying knew she needed to be more careful when dealing with her!

The most lethal enemies were not those who could be seen at a glance but those who hid in the dark, just like Ji Youran back then…

Qu Moying looked up at the Water Pavilion. It had several entrances, and it was said that some male guests were in the front yard. Qu Moying couldn’t imagine what would happen if she bumped into them, especially after clarifying the previous rumor that she went to the outer yard.

It would be hard to explain if the same incident happened again. She couldn’t be lucky enough to meet someone like Qi Xiuran again, who took the initiative to explain for her. It might even ruin her own reputation. After all, her engagement had just been canceled, so others would think she was eager to find a good husband.

Qu Mansion’s reputation had been tainted because of Qu Caiyue.

If others linked everything together, they might doubt Qu Moying’s intention and character. After this banquet, Qu Moying’s reputation would be ruined.

A noble lady paid the most attention to her reputation. The person who tried to scheme her knew this well.

Qu Qiuyan was not so scheming, so it couldn’t be her…

Watching Qu Moying leave, Yan Yujiao gritted her teeth, and her face alternated between pale and blue with annoyance, but she did not chase after Qu Moying again.

Qu Moying’s words just now shocked her and made her a little flustered.

Yan Yujiao was Liu Jingyu’s bestie, and she grew up with Liu Jingyu. Their relationship was special, so she knew Liu Jingyu took a fancy to Lord Jing, and Lord Jing was also interested in Liu Jingyu. She heard that Lord Jing’s mother, Noble Consort He, also liked Liu Jingyu. According to Liu Jingyu’s previous account, the two families seemed to be ready to settle this marriage.

But what was the situation now? What did it mean that Liu Jingyu wanted to be the Crown Princess and Lord Jing took a fancy to someone else?

Did Liu Jingyu’s words to her just now have some other meaning?

She had been too angry to think clearly before, but now she could not help but think about the cause and effect of the matter. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that it was strange!

When Yan Yujiao saw Qu Moying today, she was indeed a little angry, but that was all. Besides, she was angry just because of what happened to her Second Brother.

However, this kind of thing was a family matter, and she thought it was a scandal. Her Second Brother was disappointing, and she could do nothing about it. Her father beat her Second Brother up. She did not know what would happen next.

However, Qu Qiuyan pulled her over and talked about Qu Moying, saying Qu Moying blamed the cancellation of her engagement with Xu Lipeng on Yan Yujiao’s Second Brother and that Qu Moying wanted to scold her Second Brother face to face.

Yan Yujiao believed that her Second Brother had nothing to do with Qu Moying. If Qu Moying wanted to meet her Second Brother in private, she must have ulterior motives other than scolding him. If someone saw Qu Moying with her Second Brother, he would have to shoulder the responsibility.

The point was that her Second Brother seemed to be glad to take the responsibility.

Yan Yujiao got angry at that time. She finally knew why her Second Brother was so stubborn. It turned out that he was seduced by Qu Moying. She didn’t expect Qu Moying, a blind woman, to be able to seduce her Second Brother to such an extent. Yan Yujiao couldn’t bear it. She and Yan Yu were biological siblings, and she couldn’t let him be punished because of a blind woman.

After Yan Yujiao left Qu Qiuyan angrily, she met Liu Jingyu, who tried to persuade her and spoke quite sincerely. However, the more Liu Jingyu said, the angrier Yan Yujiao became. Before she came out, Liu Jingyu asked her to have a good talk with Qu Moying, saying that the Water Pavilion was a quiet place and even if Yan Yujiao argued with Qu Moying, no one would see them.

Yan Yujiao thought Liu Jingyu was right at that time. However, she now thought otherwise. Shouldn’t Liu Jingyu persuade her not to argue with Qu Moying at that time?

“Miss!” Seeing Yan Yujiao in a daze, her maid called her softly.

Yan Yujiao had a strange expression on her face. A trace of anger flashed in the corner of her eyes, but she slowly calmed down. She did not think too much about it before because she had never doubted Liu Jingyu. But she now wanted to know whether Liu Jingyu did it on purpose or if she was really distracted by the busy work today and was not meticulous as usual.

“Yujiao!” Liu Jingyu’s anxious voice came from behind.

Yan Yujiao suppressed her anger again and turned around. As expected, she saw Liu Jingyu coming over in a panic. Seeing that Yan Yujiao was standing at the intersection and no one else was beside her, Liu Jingyu heaved a sigh of relief. She hurriedly took two steps forward, grabbed Liu Jingyu’s hand, and asked with concern, “Are you alright?”

“Why am I not alright?” Yan Yujiao asked.

“Just now, my cousin told me about the Water Pavilion. She said that some men were coming from the Water Pavilion. I was afraid that you would bump into them, so I hurriedly came here to inform you.” Liu Jingyu said.

It could be seen that Liu Jingyu was indeed very anxious. She was slightly panting, which was completely different from her usual graceful appearance.

Looking at Liu Jingyu, Yan Yujiao couldn’t tell whether she was acting or not.

“I heard that you are going to marry the Crown Prince?” Yan Yujiao couldn’t help but blurt out.

“Who said that?” Liu Jingyu’s eyes widened in shock.

“I heard it from someone.” Yan Yujiao said.

“I have never heard that. Neither my father nor my mother has ever mentioned this.” Liu Jingyu shook her head and said sincerely. She reached out and pulled Yan Yujiao out. “Let’s find a place to rest. You’ll be going back soon. I don’t know when we’ll have the chance to meet again. It’s rare for us to have such a chance to talk.”

It was not so easy for the two of them to meet.

As she spoke, Liu Jingyu held Yan Yujiao’s hand intimately. At first, Yan Yujiao was still unhappy, but seeing that Liu Jingyu was so sincere, Yan Yujiao couldn’t help but soften her attitude. They left hand in hand.

The road quieted down and Qu Moying and Yu Dong reappeared at the intersection. Looking in the direction in which Yan Yujiao left, Qu Moying was lost in thought.

Just now, Yu Dong told her that someone had come over when Duke Qi was speaking with Qu Moying, but no one actually showed up. It turned out that Liu Jingyu had come over, and she appeared as if she had not heard anything after Qu Moying left. Yu Dong said that Liu Jingyu should have been able to faintly hear something from a distance at that time, but Liu Jingyu did not say anything.

In fact, not only Liu Jingyu’s inexplicable scheme but also the whole Duke Qi’s Mansion gave Qu Moying a strange feeling. Even Duke Qi made her feel weird. She felt as if everything was covered in a fog…

Qu Moying returned to the reception hall. There were not many people in the reception hall now. Many people had gone out for a walk after finishing their lunch.

Not long after Qu Moying sat down, she saw Qu Qiuyan return. When Qu Qiuyan saw Qu Moying, she called out, “Moying.”

“Third Sister!” Qu Moying nodded politely. Then, she lowered her head and played with the handkerchief in her hand, continuing to listen to the conversation of others quietly.

Qu Qiuyan sat down on the chair beside her and said in a low voice, “Moying, someone came and looked for you just now.”

“Who?” Qu Moying asked.

“I don’t know. It’s just someone… Actually, it’s from Duke Qi’s Mansion. She brought you a letter and is still waiting outside the door. Moying, go and take a look.”

Qu Qiuyan said with a warm smile.

Qu Moying glanced at Qu Qiuyan. The panic on Qu Qiuyan’s face had disappeared, and she looked as calm as usual.

“No, thanks. I have already got the letter just now.”

Qu Moying said indifferently, sitting still.

How could her letter be sent to Duke Qi’s Mansion?

“When did you get it?” Qu Qiuyan was stunned. Her eyes flashed. She brought the maid here just now, and she was indeed waiting outside the door. How could Qu Moying have received the letter? And where did her letter come from? Was it the same as what she thought?

How could this be? Qu Qiuyan knew about the letter best.

“I got it after from a maid here finishing the meal.” Qu Moying reached out and pressed on the corner of her sleeve. Qu Qiuyan faintly saw a piece of paper. There really was a letter. Her expression immediately changed, and she suddenly stood up. “I’ll go and see whose letter this maid is delivering!”