Honestly speaking, Qin Yining wouldnât have doubted Pang Xiao even if he hadnât explained himself. Since she knew what Li Qitian was after, how could she not see the oddities of this situation from beginning to end?
It was just mystifying what exactly Li Helan had been thinking this time to do all this. Did she really not care what her husband thought anymore?
Or was she already tired of her marriage?
It was mind-boggling for Qin Yining to fathom a woman who would go hunting for an affair so quickly after the wedding. She clung to one man while having another hang off her arm. Doesnât that woman ever get tired?
âMiss?â Bingtang started fretting again when she saw Qin Yining fall into deep thought while clenching the note.
Coming back to herself, the fourth miss smiled. âNo worries, itâs nothing.â She turned to Jingzhe. âThank you for your troubles.â
The guard quickly raised a cupped fist salute. âThis is just what this subordinate should be doing. If you have no further orders, miss, I will take my leave.â
When the former Silver Mask left, Bingtang pressed on, âIs it a letter from His Highness?â
âMmhmm. With how the rumors are outside, he purposefully wrote a note to explain.â
Qin Yining put the letter back into the envelope and was about to burn it, but then thought of how her father had already tacitly approved of their relationship. Itâd be a pity to not keep such a funny letter as a souvenir.
So instead, she handed the letter to Bingtang. âPut it away for me. Letâs keep it with the jewelry we just stored.â
The maid found it funny. âMiss, arenât you afraid of people saying that you have scandalous, secret relations with the prince if they found out?â
The Qin fourth miss arched an innocent brow. âThere are even uglier whispers outside. Perhaps someoneâs even written a book out of what happened when I was carried off. What do I care about secret relations?â
âThe miss is saying to heck with it all.â
âNo, the miss is being dashingly carefree.â Some of the other maids piped in, their jokes teasing laughter out of their mistress.
Seeing that Qin Yining thought nothing of the happenings, both Jiyun and Xianyun relaxed inwardly. Their thoughts veered to distaste when they thought of Li Helan.
That one was a right and proper princess, the purest of royalty and peak of nobility. Married to such an outstanding character, she still didnât know to be satisfied! She spent her days making eyes at others and now coveted even the prince! She was just looking to make trouble!
Having been cultivated by Pang Xiao, Jiyun and Xianyun naturally hoped for a happy ending between their miss and former master. Both of them were equally irate at the appearance of someone like Li Helan.
Jiyun even fantasized several ways of teaching Li Helan a good lesson.
......
Currently in front of Prince Consort Jiâs manor, Li Helan was locked in a staring contest with the doorkeeper who stood in her way. Outfitted in a magenta, padded jacket with flaring sleeves and buttons down the front, sheâd paired it with a downy-yellow eight panel skirt. A scarlet brocade cape with a white fur collar rounded out the look.
âOpen your eyes and see who this seat is! This seat is the eldest princess! How dare you block my way! Do you want to keep on living?!â
âPlease quell your anger, Your Highness.â The doorkeeper was a tall and burly man. Standing ramrod straight, his short robes didnât give off the air of someone keeping an eye on the door. He rather looked like a soldier, and his words were equally blunt. âThe marquis gave orders for no visitors today. Why donât you go back first, Your Highness. His Grace will naturally come find you when heâs free.â
Li Helanâs eyes reddened with fury.
The hell is this?! What the hell is this??
âThis seat is THE ELDEST PRINCESS. Am I to be refused entrance to my own prince consortâs manor and need to wait until heâs free?! Have your brains been stomped by a donkey?! HAS THERE EVER BEEN A RULE LIKE THIS!?â
Li Helan reached out a hand to push open the door.
The man deftly skipped backwards and remained firmly in her way. He looked down. âPlease donât fault us, Your Highness. This humble one is the marquisâ servant and naturally needs to listen to his orders. His Grace said that heâs not seeing anyone, so he wonât be seeing anyone. Please go home, Your Highness.â
Li Helan finally heard things properly at this junction.
The servant called Ji Zeyu âmarquisâ and not âprince consortâ, which meant that he really was Ji Zeyuâs trusted subordinate. He might even be from the barracks!
Ji Zeyu had set a soldier at the door just to refuse her entry?
Tears welled in the princessâ eyes and she burst out sobbing.
The doorkeeper kept his head down, oblivious to the crying woman in front of him. He was a wooden dummy, motionless where he stood.
The doors to the manor flung open at this time.
Adorned in a white, tightly-cuffed sleeve brocade robe, Ji Zeyu looked back over the gray, squirrel-fur collar of his cloak with a faint smile. He was responding to something with upturned lips.
Behind him followed a flawless Pang Xiao, sporting a purple python-patterned robe and a small jade crown in this hair.
Not anticipating that Li Helan would be lying in wait for them, the princeâs steps paused before he walked up to make his bow.
âGreetings to the eldest princess.â
Ji Zeyuâs faint smile from moments ago had vanished. Twin pools wholly without emotion looked at the princess. His exquisite face was scrubbed of all emotion and he made the same bow as Pang Xiao.
âGreetings to the eldest princess.â
Li Helan had hastened here to explain herself to her husband, concerned as she was that Ji Zeyu would think wild thoughts because the flurry of rumors outside. But Pang Xiao had been faster than her!