After a long talk with Ling Jingshu, all of Princess Changping’s gloom was swept away, and she left with a face full of smiles.
Before leaving, Princess Changping affectionately took Ling Jingshu’s hand and said with a smile, “There may be many people in this palace, but few of them are worth my notice — you and I are unusually compatible. From now on, whenever I come to pay my respects to Mother, I’ll stop by to talk with you.”
Ling Jingshu pressed her lips together and smiled. “Thank you for Your Highness’s favor.” Then, lowering her voice, she added quietly, “On the day Your Highness’s wish comes true, this servant will certainly trouble you for the chance to come and drink a cup of wedding wine.”
This last remark left Princess Changping positively glowing with delight.
After seeing Princess Changping off partway, Ling Jingshu returned to the Peony Room.
There was clean water in the Peony Room. She scrubbed her hands repeatedly with it, not stopping until her fair, delicate hands had been rubbed red.
Her pretty face showed nothing but cold indifference, faint chills flickering through her eyes.
Princess Changping! Lu Hong!
“Miss, what’s wrong?” a familiar voice sounded by her ear.
At some point, Qiao Yun had arrived silently at her side.
Around Bai Yu, Ling Jingshu could relax completely, but with Qiao Yun, she would naturally conceal a little, without changing her expression. “It’s nothing — my hands got dirty just now, so I’m washing them clean.”
A flicker passed through Qiao Yun’s eyes, and she said, testing the waters, “This servant came by once before, but was stopped by the maids accompanying Princess Changping.”
This was a roundabout way of asking how Princess Changping had come to be here.
Ling Jingshu did not hide anything. “Princess Changping had a dispute with Her Majesty the Empress today and was in a poor mood. She just came to the Peony Room to chat with me to pass the time.”
She paused, then continued, “Princess Changping intends to divorce her Prince Consort and summon Lu Ping’s nephew, Lu Hong, as her new one! It’s possible that Princess Changping will soon take some unusual ‘action.’ Pass this news on to His Highness the Crown Grandson. If His Highness has someone keep close watch on Princess Changping’s movements, there may well be an unexpected gain!”
Watch Princess Changping’s actions, secretly gather evidence of her intent to take Prince Consort Xu’s life, and then bring that evidence before the Emperor.
Only the Crown Grandson could accomplish such things.
Princess Changping’s reputation being utterly ruined would undoubtedly be a powerful blow to Empress Xu and Prince Yan. The Crown Grandson would never let such a good opportunity pass him by!
Qiao Yun’s spirits lifted at hearing this, and she quickly replied, “Yes, such important news — this servant will pass it on as quickly as possible.”
Ever since entering Jiaofang Hall, Ling Jingshu and Qiao Yun had each gathered no small amount of information concerning Empress Xu. Unfortunately, none of it had been especially crucial. If today’s news truly proved useful, it would amount to a great achievement!
Ling Jingshu’s lips curved slightly, and she said nothing more.
Qiao Yun stood in place for a moment, seeming to want to say something, then holding back.
Ling Jingshu turned her head sharply to glance at her. “What is it? Do you have something else important to say?”
Qiao Yun hesitated briefly before saying quietly, “Miss has been in the palace for four months now. Every time there’s news, it’s always this servant who passes it along. If Miss ever has anything she wishes to say privately to His Highness, you could write a letter. This servant would quietly deliver it to His Highness — no one would ever know.”
Ling Jingshu: “…”
Ling Jingshu turned her head, looking at Qiao Yun with an expression that was almost, but not quite, a smile. “Is this His Highness the Crown Grandson’s idea? Or is it your own? Just recently, rumors about His Highness and me have already been spreading wildly through the palace. If I were to privately write him letters now, wouldn’t that only confirm everyone’s gossip? If someone were to discover it, how would I ever explain myself?”
“And even setting that aside, suppose no one found out — what would His Highness think upon receiving a letter from me? I’m afraid he would believe I truly harbored ambitions of climbing into favor through him.”
“Qiao Yun, you have been by my side for over half a year now. I have, by my own reckoning, never treated you poorly, and never regarded you as an outsider. Is this how you treat your own mistress?”
Qiao Yun’s heart lurched, and without a second thought she dropped to her knees to beg forgiveness. “This servant spoke out of turn — please forgive me, Miss. This servant never meant to incite Miss to anything, I only…”
“You only thought that, given His Highness the Crown Grandson’s exalted status, his showing favor toward me was something I should be grateful for — and that by not accepting it, I was being ungrateful and failing to recognize my own good fortune!”
Ling Jingshu’s voice turned cold, her gaze even more distant. “You also think that, given my own standing, being able to attach myself to His Highness the Crown Grandson is good fortune earned over several lifetimes — that I ought to gratefully accept His Highness’s affections, rather than remain so indifferent. Isn’t that right?”
Qiao Yun was struck speechless by this interrogation, fine beads of cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.
She did not dare admit it, but that was indeed exactly what she had thought.
Ever since the day she had been assigned to Ling Jingshu’s side, she had understood her mission clearly. Surveillance and passing messages were only part of it — the more important task was to protect Ling Jingshu. As for the Crown Grandson’s feelings toward Ling Jingshu, being clever, she had naturally been able to guess at them on her own.
On the very day of the Crown Grandson’s grand wedding, he had still made a point of having word sent into the palace. His wholehearted devotion to Ling Jingshu was plain for all to see.
Such favor and deep affection would leave any other woman flattered, grateful, and moved beyond words. Yet Ling Jingshu’s reaction was nothing like what anyone would have expected.
Attending Ling Jingshu’s side every day, she had naturally seen all of this with perfect clarity, and in her heart she felt both puzzled and indignant on the Crown Grandson’s behalf. That was what had led to today’s overstepping…
Ling Jingshu did not tell Qiao Yun to rise, letting her continue kneeling. “Qiao Yun, you have ordinarily behaved yourself and been careful in your work, and I have always been satisfied with you. I have never kept my affairs hidden from you, either. But you must also remember your place — don’t speak out of turn on matters that are not yours to question.”
A cold sweat broke out across Qiao Yun’s back. “Yes, this servant will never speak out of turn again.”
Only then did Ling Jingshu say evenly, “All right, get up. No need to keep kneeling.”
After rising, Qiao Yun quickly withdrew.
Bai Yu happened to walk in just then, passing Qiao Yun on her way out. Seeing Qiao Yun’s clouded expression and the sweat covering her forehead, Bai Yu was quite startled. “Qiao Yun, what’s wrong with you?”
Qiao Yun forced out a smile and answered hastily, “It’s nothing.”
With that, she hurried away.
Bai Yu, utterly puzzled, walked over to Ling Jingshu and murmured quietly, “What’s gotten into Qiao Yun today — she looks as though she’s lost her wits.”
Ling Jingshu’s lips curved slightly, and in a low voice she recounted what had just happened.
Bai Yu was stunned for a moment, then said angrily, “She really has gone too far! How could she suggest something so absurd. In the end, she belongs to His Highness the Crown Grandson — her heart was never truly with you, Miss!”
No matter how good the Crown Grandson might be, if Miss did not care for him, there was nothing to be done about it.
Ling Jingshu’s mood, however, had settled considerably. She said evenly, “I’ve already scolded her just now. I expect she won’t dare speak out of turn again. You should treat this as though it never happened — say nothing about it when you see her from now on.”
Bai Yu let out a long breath, nodding firmly. “Yes, this servant understands.”