Free Web NovelChapter 167: Chapter 166: Provocation (Monthly Ticket 330+)
"She dared! She really dared!" Princess Yunhua stamped her feet repeatedly.
Suiyu was frightened, worried she might step on the broken porcelain pieces. If her foot got cut, the servants would all suffer since the princess was of noble birth.
Suiyu quickly stepped forward to support Princess Yunhua, saying, "Princess, I just went to Miss Du’s room where a chessboard was set up on the table. The black and white pieces didn’t seem randomly placed; the County Princess and Miss Du seemed to be playing chess for a while. I also asked the servants, and they said the County Princess went over when it started raining."
"Hmph!" Upon hearing these words, Princess Yunhua’s attention shifted from venting her anger. Allowing Suiyu to help her to the bedside, she sat down and said, "Why would she go to Yunluo? If she got schemed against, shouldn’t she come to me? Wouldn’t I protect her?"
Suiyu had no idea what the County Princess Nanyan was thinking, but she had to comfort Princess Yunhua, "Princess, you have many servants here. If the County Princess had knocked on your door, it would have been too conspicuous. You see, the County Princess only appeared when the courtyard was already in an uproar, obviously waiting to see who was causing trouble. If she’d come to see you and someone noticed the change earlier, how could the play go on?"
"That makes some sense," Princess Yunhua leaned back and lay on the bed, "Clean up the room; it’s about time to get up."
Suiyu breathed a sigh of relief and agreed.
The lights were bright in Du Yunluo’s chamber.
Around the chessboard, the two continued exchanging moves.
"Miss Du, what do you think?" Princess Nanyan asked in a low voice.
Du Yunluo rested her chin on her hand and placed a piece, asking, "Which point do you mean?"
"What do you want to discuss?"
Du Yunluo pursed her lips.
Tonight’s events were mostly clear, although some details were still confusing, but overall, it was essentially understood.
Mu Lianhui had bribed Ah Bi and Lan Qiao; as for the so-called man, there probably wasn’t one. With one more person the risk of exposure increases, and since he wasn’t necessary, mere talk suffices.
If the County Princess Nanyan were in her own room, she’d be bewildered and suspect anyone of being the perpetrator.
Trying to have Princess Nanyan accompany her for her lifetime, Princess Yunhua, who had been strongly pulling Du Yunluo close, Mu Lianhui, who sparred with Nanyan in Taiji in the grand hall—all had suspicions. County Princess Nanyan would certainly trust no one fully, and the princess would harbor doubts about Du Yunluo and Mu Lianhui, perhaps even thinking this was Nanyan’s desperate resistance.
But now, with Nanyan having avoided the situation, it’s much clearer.
Even in the eyes of unrelated people, there are countless possibilities, but for the parties involved, it’s much clearer.
Mu Lianhui plotted many things but overlooked the fact that County Princess Nanyan could escape amidst the rainy night. If it hadn’t been for the storm hiding noises, Mu Lianhui would have noticed Nanyan leaving the chamber.
Still, knowing these things won’t suffice to counter Mu Lianhui.
The man doesn’t exist, and the incense in the silver ball has certainly been disposed of; relying on the words of Lan Qiao and Ah Bi isn’t sufficient. Besides, the two wouldn’t dare implicate Mu Lianhui.
Now, with County Princess Nanyan unharmed, Lan Qiao can simply claim she was mistaken, and the matter ends.
Regardless of whether Lan Qiao admits or not, she can’t escape the consequences.
"I don’t quite understand," Du Yunluo cautiously chose her words, "You told her not to pick the sesame and lose the watermelon. Although I didn’t see her expression, she immediately left, obviously touched by it. Why did she suddenly make a move again then?"
County Princess Nanyan dropped a piece. Her fingertip lingered on the piece without moving.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, casting a curved shadow below her eyes. After a long silence, she sighed and said, "Probably hit by some stimulus again."
Stimulus?
Du Yunluo carefully recalled.
After Mu Lianhui left the Heavenly King Hall, she must have quickly reached where the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort were when Du Yunluo entered and they were discussing children.
Princess Yunhua impatiently called Mu Lianhui over to talk, and at that time, Mu Lianhui’s expression seemed off, whether confused or distracted.
Moving pieces back and forth again, with the time growing late, they lost focus on the chessboard.
Washing up and changing clothes, as dawn broke, Du Yunluo and County Princess Nanyan exited the chamber.
Princess Yunhua had also tidied up, standing at the veranda. She beckoned County Princess Nanyan, frowning as she approached, saying, "Didn’t sleep all night? You’ve got bags under your eyes not even covered by powder."
County Princess Nanyan curtsied, "It’s alright. The Buddhist rituals are more important."
Princess Yunhua said no more, yawning into her palm, Suiyu supporting her as she walked ahead.
County Princess Nanyan followed at a moderate distance, and Du Yunluo also stepped forward as Mu Lianhui came out.
The four of them headed to the Empress Dowager’s courtyard.
They weren’t early or late.
The Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort drank a few sips of ginseng tea to soothe their throats.
With such a commotion last night, the Empress Dowager had already heard, but this wasn’t the time for reprimands. Once everyone was gathered, they marched grandly to the Guanyin Hall.
The temple was brightly lit.
The abbot and monks solemnly welcomed the group.
Du Yunluo watched as Li Luan, Li Yu, and Mu Lianxiao approached to offer greetings.
Li Luan was not as serious as he had been when meeting in the hall yesterday, his peach blossom eyes concealed a hint of a smile, reminding Du Yunluo of the gentle Prince Rui who had accompanied Mu Lianhui back to Dingyuan Marquis Mansion; Li Yu wore a relaxed smile, speaking with the Imperial Consort in a way that even she couldn’t help but laugh despite her weariness.
Du Yunluo also looked at Mu Lianxiao. Amidst these people, even if she could put on a thick face, it wouldn’t be appropriate to continue staring, so she focused on the jade pendant at Mu Lianxiao’s waist.
The pendant she had spent yesterday braiding with a cord.
Du Yunluo couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile.
Mu Lianhui also noticed the new cord. Seeing Du Yunluo’s smile, she had a realization. It seemed after Du Yunluo left Li Luan and County Princess Nanyan, she really went looking for Mu Lianxiao.
As long as the two didn’t meet at the Heavenly King Hall, any place to speak was fine.
The rituals started on time, finishing when the day had fully brightened.
The Empress Dowager was quite exhausted, letting the palace maids help her back to rest, recovering only in the afternoon when she summoned County Princess Nanyan.
A trip that took two quarters of an hour.
Du Yunluo accompanied Princess Yunhua in casual chat.
When County Princess Nanyan returned, Princess Yunhua tossed the Nine Linked Rings she was playing with onto the table, looking up to ask, "What did the Grand Empress Dowager say to you?"
County Princess Nanyan replied, "She asked about last night’s matters. I said I was playing chess with Miss Du the whole time and didn’t know about anything else."
"Is that all?" Princess Yunhua pressed further.
County Princess Nanyan was about to nod when Suiyu hurried in and whispered in the princess’s ear.
Princess Yunhua’s face instantly paled.
