The Crown Prince was confined, and the Duke’s Mansion family was mocked and ostracized by the nobles of the capital.
Although this was far from enough to vent her hatred!
But Ming Yueni deeply understood the principle of not rushing things.
She would take it step by step, making sure they were doomed beyond redemption!
On the surface, Ming Yueni obediently ran errands in the Imperial Study, and with Bei Chenyuan’s permission, she used the imperial brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to copy books and practice her calligraphy.
With Bei Chenyuan’s guidance and corrections, Ming Yueni progressed very quickly! Over the span of two or three days, her handwriting became increasingly beautiful.
“You have talent. Very good, not bad at all!” Bei Chenyuan did not skimp on his praise, a hint of gentleness in his tone.
Ming Yueni tilted her head up and smiled with sweet, docile charm. “It is all because Your Majesty teaches so well! To receive Your Majesty’s guidance is this servant’s greatest fortune in three lifetimes.”
“Being sweet-mouthed won’t earn you a reward.” Bei Chenyuan pointed from afar at the ink smudges on her face. “Little calico cat, go wash yourself clean.”
“This servant obeys.” Feigning shy embarrassment, Ming Yueni covered her face and ran off.
In reality, she did it on purpose!
She had discovered that Bei Chenyuan was a neat freak who couldn’t stand dirt. She did it intentionally, wanting Bei Chenyuan to wipe it off for her, thereby drawing them closer.
But for some unknown reason? Lately, Bei Chenyuan wouldn’t even touch her!
Like a true gentleman, unaffected by temptation and unfallen into the web of desire.
Ming “Demoness” Yueni was a little troubled.
“Sister Ming! Sister Ming, please wait!”
A little maid ran up, stopping Ming Yueni and handing her a package. “Sister, this is something someone sent in through the palace gates. They said it’s a letter from home for you.”
“For me? A letter from home?”
Suspicion and caution arose in Ming Yueni’s heart. But it did not show on her face; she gave a faint smile, thanked the maid, and took the package.
Ming Yueni didn’t open it until she returned to her room.
Inside the wooden box, there was a letter. The envelope read: For Sister’s Eyes Only.
Ming Yueni’s eyes flashed, her breathing suddenly quickened, and she impatiently tore open the letter to read: “Sister, it’s Xiao Chang.”
“Mother and I have moved into a big house. We have many people serving us, and we don’t have to worry about food or clothes.”
“We are doing very well. Sister, Mother and I miss you, miss you so much!”
The childish, crooked handwriting was what Ming Yueni had taught him hand over hand. Her handwriting used to be unattractive, and since Ming Yuechang hadn’t had a single day of formal schooling, his writing—taking after hers—was even uglier.
Tears welled up in Ming Yueni’s eyes. She pressed the letter against her heart.
Two seconds later, Ming Yueni took a deep breath and flipped to the next page…
Sweeping her gaze over it, the warmth instantly cooled, leaving only a sharp, ice-cold chill. Reading ten lines at a glance, Ming Yueni quickly skimmed through the “letter from home” written to her by the Duchess.
In the letter, the Duchess sought reconciliation, putting on the air of a benevolent matriarch. She claimed to be treating Ming Yueni’s mother and brother well and urged her to serve His Majesty diligently in the Imperial presence.
A weasel paying respects to a hen—harboring ill intentions, just as expected!
The final few sentences of the letter mentioned a “good thing” the Duchess had found among the common folk.
Ming Yueni’s gaze landed on the ointment. It was a tiny box sitting in the corner. Picking it up and opening it, a cloyingly sweet, powdery scent hit her face.
The Duchess’s letter stated that rubbing it on her neck would guarantee a man would go crazy upon smelling it, unable to leave the hem of her skirt by even a foot. She also added—as long as Ming Yueni gained favor and became a concubine, she would be merciful enough to elevate her mother from a lowly concubine to an official secondary wife and enter her into the family genealogy. Her younger brother could also go to school to study.
Ming Yueni let out a cold laugh. Her slender jade-like fingers tore the letter into pieces in a few swift motions, and then she hid the ointment in her sleeve. She tidied herself up in front of the mirror, turned around, and quietly slipped out of the Chen Palace.
“Momo, could you make an exception and let me go in to see my sister?”
The older female servant guarding the door looked hesitant.
Clever and quick-witted, Ming Yueni immediately took action, pressing a handful of pearls she had plucked from her dress into the Momo’s palm.
“Momo, I’ll just go in to say a few words. Once I’m done, I’ll return to the Chen Palace, I absolutely won’t cause you any trouble!”
The moment the words “Chen Palace” reached her ears, the Momo quickly pocketed the pearls and smilingly stepped aside.
Ming Yueni walked into the room.
The windows were tightly shut, making the room as dim as twilight. Ming Yuelan was lying face down on a chaise longue, sobbing convulsively.
“Sister,” Ming Yueni called out coldly, devoid of emotion.
Ming Yuelan instantly revived. She abruptly sat up, glaring at Ming Yueni with red, resentful, and shocked eyes. “You bitch! You still dare to come here!”
“I’ll beat you to death!”
Ming Yuelan lunged at her, baring her fangs and brandishing her claws. But having not eaten properly for days and weakened from crying, Ming Yueni dodged her effortlessly. She lunged into thin air, crashing to the ground with a miserable shriek.
“Ah! It hurts! Ming Yueni, you bitch—”
“Sister, Madam has something for you.”
Hearing this, Ming Yuelan was stunned. She couldn’t believe it: “Nonsense! Why would my mother let you bring me something!”
“Since Sister is locked in the palace learning etiquette, Madam cannot enter, so she had to entrust me to pass it on. I didn’t want to come either, but my mother and brother…” Ming Yueni indignantly ground her teeth, her expression aggrieved and resentful, and threw down the torn letter—
“If Sister doesn’t believe me, look for yourself!”
Half-doubting, Ming Yuelan picked up the letter. Looking closely, it really was her mother’s handwriting!
The contents of the letter made Ming Yuelan widen her eyes.
“The ointment is here.” Ming Yueni took out the small box and placed it on the table.
Ming Yuelan’s breathing quickened. She rushed over and snatched the box, crying and laughing in excitement: “Mother truly understands me best!”
“With this, His Highness the Crown Prince will change his mind! He will fall in love with me again!”
“Hmph! That bitch Liu Yingwu can forget about stealing my Crown Prince!”
Ming Yueni looked at her with cold, beautiful eyes.
Truly worthy of being mother and daughter!
“Why is the letter torn? What else did my mother write?” Ming Yuelan wasn’t entirely stupid and knew to question it.
Ming Yueni deliberately feigned disgust and reluctance, angrily saying: “I tore it! If it weren’t for my mother and brother, I wouldn’t have come at all!”
“The item has been delivered, I’m leaving!” Ming Yueni left right after saying that.
Ming Yuelan spat at her retreating back. “So what if she’s clinging to His Majesty’s thigh? She still has to obediently listen to my mother.”
“A bitch is just stupid! Following His Majesty is only a temporary triumph.”
“Marrying the Crown Prince is the path to a lifetime of glory!”
Stroking the ointment box as if she had found an invaluable treasure, Ming Yuelan’s internal abacus was clicking away—she had to find a way to see the Crown Prince! Conceive a child! Once her status rose because of her child, that bitch Ming Yueni would only be able to stare in envy!
Ignorant of Ming Yuelan’s thoughts, Ming Yueni had successfully diverted the disaster. Feeling smug, her footsteps grew light and brisk.
Using a drug on His Majesty—the Duchess truly thought her life was too long!
Trying to harm her? Dream on!
Let Ming Yuelan gladly accept this “gift” from the Duchess! She seemed to like it quite a bit anyway.
“Your Majesty!”
Walking back to the door of her own room, Ming Yueni gasped in surprise. Why was the Emperor in her room?!
“Where did you go?” Bei Chenyuan set down his teacup, his dark eyes heavily fixed on this naughty kitten who had run off to play after saying she’d wash her face.
Ming Yueni abruptly lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze. She walked into the room and pulled up the torn spot on her sleeve. “This servant accidentally ruined my clothes and a pearl fell off; I was just looking for it.”
Bei Chenyuan asked coldly, “Did you find it?”
Ming Yueni guiltily shook her head.
Her new clothes had been made on Bei Chenyuan’s orders; the embroidery and beadwork were all of high quality. Ming Yueni had just improvised and used the pearls as currency. He wasn’t going to make her pay for it, was he?
“Truly in need of discipline.” Bei Chenyuan stared at Ming Yueni’s guiltily reddened earlobes, his voice deep and stern.
“Lying. Disobedient.”
Pausing between each word, Bei Chenyuan commanded, “Lie down on your stomach.”
Ming Yueni stiffened, panicking as she frantically covered her bottom…