Chapter 317

Chapter 317 Got the Hairpins Back

Xie Feng looked up in shock. After she entered Eastern Palace, she behaved cautiously for a short period after the ex-Crown Princess died because she was afraid that Princess Ji would deal with her. But later, she found that Princess Ji treated her well, and she soon became cocky. Now that she had become the Crown Prince’s bedroom maid, her complacency could be clearly seen in her eyes.

Even in Eastern Palace, nobody dared to treat her like this, let alone the people in the Ji Family.

She came here to send over some account books for Princess Ji, and she didn’t expect that she would suffer such humiliation. When she looked up at Qu Moying, she found Qu Moying’s aura imposing, which faintly resembled the image of the ex-Crown Princess in her memory. For a moment, she panicked, and her legs went soft.

She was one of the few who knew how the ex-Crown Princess died.

“Is the ex-Crown Princess here to take revenge?” Thinking of this, she trembled all over and looked a little dispirited.

Her reaction was so obvious that many people were looking at her.

Being stared at by people around, Xie Feng suddenly came to her senses and secretly cursed herself for being a coward. “She is just a lady from a Vice Minister’s Mansion. How could she triumph over Crown Prince’s Mansion?”

Thinking of this, she immediately stood up straight and shouted, “Fourth Lady Qu, I am from Crown Prince’s Mansion!”

“So what?” Qu Moying said coldly. She could not stand Crown Prince’s Mansion’s people the most, including Pei Luo’an and Ji Youran.

“You used to be my cousin sister’s maid, but now you are serving Princess Ji. Does that mean you had already been on good terms with Princess Ji when my cousin sister was still alive? Are you two enjoying intimate friendship now?” Qu Moying asked slowly, and every single word smashed into Xie Feng’s heart.

Hearing her words, Xie Feng was immediately deflated, and her forehead was immediately covered in sweat. Although she had been a little carried away these days because of the Crown Prince’s favor, she still knew that she’d better not get involved in such a matter. She had done something with Ji Youran privately back then, and even the Crown Prince did not know about their doing.

On the surface, the Crown Prince had been doting on her these days and spent two consecutive nights with her. However, she was the only one who knew that what the Crown Prince told her the most was about the ex-Crown Princess. In the Crown Prince’s eyes, she was a loyal maid who regarded the ex-Crown Princess as her only master although she was now serving Princess Ji.

Of course, she would not tell Princess Ji about this.

It could be said that this was mostly the reason why the Crown Prince favored her.

Xie Feng snapped, “Fourth Lady Qu, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Looking at her fierce expression, Qu Moying sneered in her heart.

Sure enough, her guess was right. Xie Feng began to collude with Ji Youran a long time ago. After her mother died, she believed in the people around her because they grew up with her, and she regarded them as her confidants. But it turned out that they weren’t loyal as she thought.

“Yu Dong, pull out her hairpins!” Qu Moying said coldly.

Yu Dong took two steps forward and quickly pulled out the pair of hairpins from Xie Feng’s hair under her astonished gaze.

Because of Yu Dong’s great force, Xie Feng’s hair fell down, and it was so messy that she looked as if she had not combed her hair.

“You… What right do you have to pull my hairpins?” Even though Xie Feng was flustered, she was furious at this moment. They were her most presentable hairpins.

Her purpose of coming to the Ji Family today was to show the Ji Family’s people how well she was doing in Crown Prince’s Mansion, so she put on this pair of treasured hairpins. Anyway, the ex-Crown Princess had died. No one would mention her hairpins, and no one would dare to mention them.

However, Xie Feng did not expect that she would meet Qu Moying and that the latter would let someone pull out her hairpins.

“You want the hairpins back? Ask Princess Ji to take them back for you!” Qu Moying said calmly as if she was not dealing with a favored maid of Princess Ji.

Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s maids and old maids exchanged glances. Then, they lowered their heads and gasped. Qu Moying was really tough!

She was tougher than anyone else in Earl Ling’an’s Mansion.

Although Princess Ji was from Earl Ling’an’s Mansion, her current status was higher than anyone in Earl Ling’an’s Mansion. Even if she didn’t personally come, Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s people would treat the people she sent over with much care. They would not dare to do like Qu Moying at all.

After all, Earl Ling’an’s Mansion had declined, and it could only rely on Princess Ji.

Hearing Qu Moying’s words, Yu Dong immediately understood what she meant. He raised his head and said arrogantly, “If you have something to say, just say it. If you don’t have anything to say, just go back!”

“You… you…” Xie Feng was angry and annoyed. She felt the taste of blood in her throat. She pointed at the person in front of her, but she did not dare to rush up.

Madam Duan coughed and asked, “Tell me, what did you come here for?”

“Princess Ji asked me to show you the list.” Xie Feng gritted her teeth so hard that they were about to shatter. However, she knew that she should not fight back at this time. Otherwise, she would be the one to suffer. The maid who pulled out her hairpins looked thin, but she was nervous and scared after taking a few looks at her.

It was obvious that the maid was not someone to be trifled with. The maid looked at Xie Feng as if she was looking at a dead person, which made Xie Feng even more panicked.

She didn’t know what trump card Qu Moying had!

Madam Duan said slowly, “OK. I will report to Princess Ji after reading it!”

An old maid went over and took the account book from the young maid behind Xie Feng.

Xie Feng looked at Madam Duan and then looked at Qu Moying, who was sitting there leisurely drinking tea and didn’t take her seriously at all. She only felt angry. She gritted her teeth and looked at Qu Moying with hatred. Then, she turned and left.

She couldn’t deal with Qu Moying now, but the Crown Prince could. She was going to cry to the Crown Prince in her current look.

She didn’t think of complaining to Princess Ji. She was now in favor, and even Princess Ji had to give in to her sometimes. What was the point of crying to Princess Ji instead of the Crown Prince? She didn’t want Princess Ji to see her in such a sorry state.

Thinking of this, Xie Feng even tore off a belt on her dress to make herself look messier. She sat on the carriage, resentfully heading back to Eastern Palace to find Pei Luo’an…

Seeing Xie Feng leave, Madam Duan waved her hand, and the rest of the servants left.

“Fourth Lady Qu, is there anything wrong?” Madam Duan asked with a face full of worry after all the servants left. Although she got Qu Moying’s meaning just now and said those words in response, she was still very worried. After all, Xie Feng was now Ji Youran’s person whom Earl Ling’an’s Mansion could casually deal with.

Qu Moying shook her hand and smiled. “Nothing!”

Seeing Qu Moying so calm, Madam Duan breathed a sigh of relief. She picked up the account book beside her and smiled bitterly, “Fourth Lady Qu, please take a look. The dowry items that Princess Ji has returned are written on it. They said it is the ex-Crown Princess’ dowry list.”

Noticing that Madam Duan looked strange, Qu Moying took the account book and read it. There were only a few thin pages, but she could tell at a glance that this was not the dowry list she had in the past. At least half of the pages were missing.

As expected, Ji Youran was not reconciled at all.

She only returned the obvious things like shops because she had to. As for the rest, others did not know anything. Even if she kept something for herself, no one would know, and she was sure that Madam Duan would not dare to say anything. Moreover, Qu Moying knew that even if Madam Duan wanted to say something, there was no evidence.

Crown Prince’s Mansion had a copy of the dowry list. Needless to say, it must be in Ji Youran’s hands now. The other copy was left in Earl Ling’an’s Mansion, and it must be in Xiao’s hands now. Ji Youran could distort the truth in collaboration with her mother as they wanted. How could Madam Duan do anything?

“Madam, what are you going to do?” Qu Moying raised her head and asked with a smile. This was something she had expected. She had hinted at Madam Duan before so that the latter could be mentally prepared.

Madam Duan shook her head helplessly. “What else can I do? I want to put it off for a while!”

Madam Duan knew her family’s affairs. She didn’t want to sign on the list for the time being. She wanted to think of a way to ask for the rest of the dowry items after Ji Yuanhai grew up. After all, she had just been promoted to the position of legitimate wife from a concubine. She could rely on nobody except Ji Yuanhai in the mansion. She was weak. If not for Qu Moying’s help, she would have died as a result of Xiao’s scheme.

Qu Moying nodded, “Then don’t sign it for the time being!”

Madam Duan frowned. “It’s the only way now.”

She couldn’t make things too clear because she didn’t want to implicate Qu Moying. These were Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s family matters. Even though Qu Moying was intelligent, she was just a young lady who had been growing up in the village. How could she understand the intricacies behind these matters?

Even if she didn’t sign the list now, she couldn’t put it off for long. Xiao and Ji Youran would not let her delay it for too long.

If she didn’t sign the list, they wouldn’t be at ease. Only when she signed the list on behalf of the first branch could it be considered that she had no objection. In the future, even if someone found something wrong with the dowry list, it would be her responsibility.

Therefore, Madam Duan decided to put it off for the time being. She would wait until she had to sign it. She was also angry. The dowry items belonged to Ji Hanyue. How could Ji Youran keep them for herself? Moreover, she could tell that the second branch had always been hypocritical to the first branch. Now that the first branch had fallen to this extent, the second branch pocketed all the benefits.

Madam Duan thought to herself, “If Second Lady’s husband becomes First Lady’s husband, Second Lady will definitely be sad in the underworld.”

Although Madam Duan did not make it clear to Qu Moying, Qu Moying understood Madam Duan’s concerns. However, she could not make it clear, either. She could only say vaguely, “You can delay this matter for now. Perhaps there will be a turn for the better.” Fortunately, she also knew that Madam Duan would not be reconciled. Most of the dowry items were missing. Ji Youran was too vicious and greedy. Qu Moying regretted treating her as a sister before.

Only now did she know that Ji Youran was an ungrateful, vicious, and greedy person.

Madam Duan was now obedient to Qu Moying. She nodded to show that she would do her best.

“Fourth Lady Qu, I’ve investigated the matter of Third Lady…”