"Miss, we've arrived."
Xiao Huan glanced at the imposing plaque of Prince Pingyang's mansion and spoke to Qin Linglong inside the carriage.
Qin Linglong bit her lip, feeling a little nervous.
This was the first time she had done something like this.
"Alright." Qin Linglong got out of the carriage.
She handed the food box in her hand to Xiao Huan.
After taking the food box, Xiao Huan went to the gate. The gatekeepers had seen them before, as they had visited a few days ago.
However…
Green Qiao hadn't informed him that Miss Qin had been invited today?
"Our young lady wishes to see Princess Ningde. Please help us report it." Xiao Huan said politely.
Wish to see?
The gatekeeper immediately understood that she wasn't invited.
However, everyone in the capital now knew that Miss Qin was the concubine personally chosen by His Highness Prince Jin, so he had to show some respect. "Please wait a moment."
Qin Linglong and Xiao Huan waited at the gate.
Qin Linglong looked at the grandeur of Prince Pingyang's mansion and then down at her clothes. These were her best clothes, but they still seemed somewhat lacking in luxury and elegance. Compared to Princess Ningde, she would undoubtedly appear like a mere maidservant.
At this moment, the gate opened, and a woman emerged.
The woman walked quickly. Upon seeing people standing at the gate, she glanced at them.
Just then, another person walked out from inside the main gate.
It was Princess Ningde herself.
Princess Ningde initially didn't see Qin Linglong but instead saw Qin Yiqing. "Miss Xiao Qing, where are you going?"
Qin Yiqing turned around upon hearing her and looked at Princess Ningde. "Hahaha, it's Your Highness. I'm always restless. Yesterday, I mentioned it to my master a few times, and today my master told me to go out for a stroll and buy whatever I wanted to eat."
She was actually quite curious. It hadn't been long since she finished breakfast, so why was Princess Ningde out so early?
Where was she going?
Princess Ningde smiled and replied, "So that's how it is."
After speaking, Princess Ningde saw Qin Linglong and Xiao Huan standing to the side. She was slightly surprised. What was Qin Linglong doing here?
The next moment, the gatekeeper ran out. "Your Highness, Miss Qin wishes to see you."
"Alright, I see Miss Qin." Princess Ningde finished speaking and then strode a few steps forward to Qin Linglong. Her eyes subtly appraised Qin Linglong.
She was indeed a bit surprised. His Highness Prince Jin had visited Prince Pingyang's mansion just yesterday, and Qin Linglong was here to see her first thing this morning. Was she in a hurry?
She had always wondered what it was about Qin Linglong that Prince Jin fancied.
"Your Highness." Qin Linglong also took two steps forward and stopped in front of Princess Ningde.
"Miss Qin." Princess Ningde nodded lightly, her gaze subtly falling on the food box held by the maidservant beside Qin Linglong.
It seemed Qin Linglong had indeed put in some effort by bringing something. However, a hint of coldness appeared in Princess Ningde's eyes.
A restless heart meant Qin Linglong wanted more and wanted to control more.
She didn't want Prince Jin's heart to be with anyone else.
Because Princess Ningde's thoughts were deeply hidden, Qin Linglong didn't notice the change in her expression. "Your Highness, I have visited uninvited today because I personally made osmanthus cakes this morning, so I wanted to bring them over for you and have a chat."
These words came out a bit awkwardly.
She always felt a sense of inferiority in front of Princess Ningde and dared not meet her eyes directly.
However, for what she wanted and what she intended to do, she was willing to do things she wasn't good at now.
"Homemade? Thank you, but I have to go to the palace today and cannot taste Miss Qin's culinary skills for now. Let's do it another day. I'll invite Miss Qin to my mansion another time. I must be going now." Princess Ningde replied in a rather cold and perfunctory tone.
Then, she directly got into her carriage.
She gave Qin Linglong no further opportunity to speak.
Qin Yiqing, who had already walked some distance away, became curious after hearing Princess Ningde address her as "Miss Qin."
So that woman was Qin Linglong.
The one who had impersonated Yun Shu for a day and entered the palace.
On that day, she was chosen as a concubine by Prince Ye on the spot. If one didn't say Prince Ye was formidable, Yun Shu, wearing another person's face and identity, entered the palace. Before she could even speak a few words, he, despite his amnesia, knew to tightly grasp Yun Shu.
However, this situation had become complicated.
From a brief glance just now, she could tell Qin Linglong seemed to have some intentions.
This was not a good thing!
Although she didn't engage in constant scheming with people, she had witnessed all sorts of strange and unusual events daily with Ji Rong. She could tell that Qin Linglong's visit to Prince Pingyang's mansion today must have had some motive.
Otherwise, Prince Ye had just visited Prince Pingyang's mansion yesterday, and Qin Linglong came today. It was obvious why Qin Linglong had come with some intention.
She would have to tell Yun Shu about this later upon her return!
Meanwhile, Qin Linglong hadn't reacted at all. By the time she did, she had taken two steps towards Princess Ningde's carriage, but then stopped.
The carriage was moving too fast; there was no way she could catch up.
Qin Linglong's face turned slightly pale as she tightly clutched her handkerchief.
"Miss, shall we return to the mansion now? What bad timing, Princess Ningde is going to the palace today," Xiao Huan said.
Upon hearing this, Qin Linglong's expression worsened. She bit her lip and said, "She's going to the palace today. Was it arranged with His Highness Prince Jin yesterday? Did Prince Jin invite her to the palace?"
"Ah? This... Princess Ningde didn't say what the matter was. Perhaps it wasn't an invitation from His Highness Prince Jin?" Xiao Huan stammered, her expression changing.
Were the relationship between His Highness Prince Jin and Princess Ningde progressing so quickly?
What about Miss?
Prince Jin hadn't sent any news for the past few days. He hadn't forgotten Miss, had he? Moreover, Prince Jin hadn't even glanced at Princess Ningde at the palace banquet. Why was he suddenly showing interest in Princess Ningde now?
Qin Linglong trembled violently.
She seemed to see herself, having lost everything.
Herself in such a pathetic state.
They were in harmony, moving closer to each other. What about her?
Had His Highness Prince Jin truly forgotten her?
"Don't say another word," Qin Linglong gritted her teeth, her eyes red, and almost growled at Xiao Huan to shut up.
Xiao Huan was startled.
She looked at Qin Linglong in utter shock. "Miss..."
Qin Linglong was flustered. She hurried towards her carriage. Only after getting into the carriage did tears begin to stream down her face.
She looked down again and saw that the handkerchief she was clutching had been deformed.
She couldn't just wait for her doom!
...
An hour later.
Qin Yiqing returned.
Upon her return, she mysteriously approached Yun Shu. "When I went out, I saw someone. It was Qin Linglong."