Did Princess Ningde come to deliver some incredibly good news?
She found it hard to believe.
Princess Ningde had looked like she was guarding against a thief that day.
How could she possibly come to deliver a piece of incredibly good news to Yun Shu in the evening of the same day?
"It just doesn't seem possible. Oh, just tell me directly, okay?"
Yun Shu poured a cup of lukewarm tea and said with a slow smile, "She wants me to be a concubine to His Highness Prince Jin."
"What?!" Qin Yiqing, who had also just taken a sip of tea, spat it out. "She actually wants you to be a concubine to Ye... His Highness Prince Jin? She's that generous?"
And more importantly, she wanted Yun Shu to be a concubine?
Yun Shu was already going to marry Prince Ye, and they even had three children!
Besides, Prince Ye wasn't someone who could be easily manipulated!
She suddenly became curious about Yun Shu's answer, "Then what did you say?"
"I said I was already engaged." Yun Shu recalled the expression on Princess Ningde's face when she heard the words "already engaged."
It should have dispelled some of her suspicions.
Qin Yiqing raised her thumb, "As expected of Yun Shu, you can handle such an unexpected situation with such ease. But Princess Ningde is too sharp; she must have sensed something, or she wouldn't have come to find you."
"It seems we need to be cautious for the remaining few days at Prince Pingyang's mansion. Yun Shu, to be honest, I've always felt that Princess Ningde is a bit strange." Qin Yiqing voiced her doubts.
Yun Shu nodded, "She is indeed a bit strange."
"I'll find an opportunity to go out tomorrow and have Qiu Lu and the others investigate," Qin Yiqing said in a low voice.
"Yes, investigate her and Yueran Teahouse," Yun Shu said.
"Okay!"
...
In the quiet night, there was still someone who couldn't sleep.
Ever since His Highness Prince Jin entered Prince Pingyang's mansion, all sorts of news had spread throughout the capital.
Upon hearing the news, Qin Lingyue ran to Qin Linglong and told her that Qin Linglong would soon lose His Highness Prince Jin's favor, and that Prince Jin might not marry her.
Although Qin Linglong pretended to be indifferent when facing Qin Lingyue, she knew very well that she cared.
And that day, Qin Lingyue only dared to utter some harsh words, but did nothing, and finally left in a huff.
However, Qin Lingyue's words had pierced her heart like nails, leaving a mark.
She knew that if she didn't remove this thorn, she would be thinking about it all the time.
Lying in bed in the dead of night, she kept thinking about it. She told herself not to think about it, that those things weren't real, but she still couldn't help but think about them.
Unconsciously, images of His Highness Prince Jin and Princess Ningde together appeared before her eyes.
They looked so harmonious and happy.
They were such a perfect match.
And she could only stand in a corner, watching them silently, like those who hid in the dark and could only envy them. Her heart was filled with envy. How she wished the person standing beside him was her!
He chose her among so many people and made her his secondary consort, wasn't it because he fell in love with her at first sight?
But why on that day when they met in the palace...
She couldn't help but think of that day, the way he looked at her, and the questions he asked her. These days, she almost couldn't control herself from thinking about it.
"Qin Lingyue knows nothing, which is why she says His Highness Prince Jin only has Princess Ningde in his heart. I admit that Princess Ningde is talented and beautiful, and I can't compare to her in any aspect, but His Highness Prince Jin certainly doesn't just look at appearances."
Qin Linglong mumbled in a voice only she could hear from under the covers.
Before her eyes, for some reason, the woman who had impersonated her that day reappeared.
She could no longer remember what that woman looked like.
When His Highness Prince Jin asked, "Who are you?" was he asking for her name, or the name of that woman?
This question had been asked countless times since she realized it.
She was going mad.
"Your Highness Prince Jin..."
She had to see His Highness Prince Jin again as soon as possible, otherwise, waiting endlessly like this, she didn't know when she would be able to enter the palace and truly stay by his side.
"What should I do? What kind of opportunity can I find to see His Highness Prince Jin? Should I go see Princess Ningde again? Princess Ningde saw me that day, so I can also bring a gift to see Princess Ningde. Perhaps I can see His Highness Prince Jin through Princess Ningde." Qin Linglong tightly clenched her fist.
The idea in her heart became stronger and stronger.
She knew what she had to do next!
"Yes! Let's go see Princess Ningde!" Qin Linglong bit her lip.
She had finally found a glimmer of hope to break free from everything, and for this hope, she could do anything and give up anything, whether it was her pride or anything else, she could give it up.
She would seize this opportunity.
This thought grew stronger and clearer with each passing day.
Suddenly, a voice from outside the door asked, "Miss, do you have any instructions?"
"No, just wake me up early tomorrow. I'll get up early tomorrow and make osmanthus cake myself, then take it to Prince Pingyang's mansion," Qin Linglong commanded in a deep voice.
Since she had made up her mind, she couldn't give herself a chance to regret it!
Xiao Huan was surprised, "Go to Prince Pingyang's mansion? Miss, are you going to see Princess Ningde?"
It seemed that Princess Ningde hadn't sent an invitation today, so was Miss proactively going to see Princess Ningde?
Miss had really changed a lot these past two days, actually going out to socialize with people!
She should support Miss, but she just felt something was strange.
His Highness Prince Jin had just visited Prince Pingyang's mansion today, and tomorrow Miss was going to see Princess Ningde. This...
It was easy to make people overthink.
"Mm."
A faint "Mm" came from inside the room, from Qin Linglong.
Xiao Huan didn't think much of it. Miss must have her own considerations. She just needed to follow Miss's instructions.
Moreover, Miss had been acting differently in the mansion these past two days.
The people in the mansion had also become very respectful and fawning towards Miss.
Even Madam no longer appeared before Miss, fearing she might anger her. Master occasionally came to see Miss. They all knew that this was because Miss was about to become Prince Jin's secondary consort.
"It's getting late, Miss should rest early," Xiao Huan reminded her softly. xxs壹贰
Listening to Xiao Huan's reminder outside the door, Qin Linglong could only purse her lips tightly and let out a few cold laughs under the covers.
Her voice was suppressed very low.
Tonight, she would probably be unable to sleep again!
She desperately wanted a definitive answer, and then she absolutely could not speak of what happened at the palace banquet.
Did His Highness Prince Jin know that woman?
Another round of questioning.
Still a question without an answer.
The next day.
A carriage stopped in front of Prince Pingyang's mansion.