Lin Wangshu bypassed the maids blocking her way, gave a small, feigned gasp of surprise, and hurried forward.
“Wanru, why are you kneeling here? Get up quickly, the ground is cold.”
A maid behind her immediately stepped forward and swiftly helped Liu Wanru to her feet.
Lin Wangshu took Liu Wanru’s hand, patted it with a face full of apology, then turned to Zhao Qihuang, her tone carrying a hint of reproach mixed with helplessness.
“Qihuang, did you bully Miss Liu again?”
She looked at Liu Wanru with a troubled expression.
“Alas, this child has simply been spoiled rotten by the Marquis and me. Her temper is a bit willful. Please, don’t take offense at her behavior.”
Liu Wanru shook her head magnanimously: “Don’t worry, Madam, I won’t hold a grudge against the Commandery Princess.”
Zhao Qihuang watched their theatrical performance, a hint of mockery hooking her lips.
“Truly the daughter of a criminal official, your spine is soft.”
“The dignified Madam of the Yongan Marquis Manor, you haven’t even clarified the sequence of events, yet you are so eager to apologize on behalf of this Commandery Princess? Are you afraid others won’t know how easily you can be bullied, or do you think the prestige of my Yongan Marquis Manor is so worthless?”
Lin Wangshu’s face turned pale, stung by her barbed remarks, and her eyes instantly reddened.
Clutching her handkerchief, her voice trembled slightly: “Qihuang, that’s not what I meant…”
Before Lin Wangshu could continue, Liu Wanru beside her was already furious.
“Commandery Princess!” Liu Wanru shook off the maid’s support, stepped forward, and glared at Zhao Qihuang: “If you have any grievances, direct them at me! The Marchioness is your elder, the mistress of the Manor. How can you be so disrespectful to her?”
Zhao Qiyun’s hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly, and her gaze toward Zhao Qihuang was filled with rage.
Lin Wangshu gently pulled Liu Wanru’s sleeve and said, enduring the humiliation: “Wanru, forget it. The Commandery Princess has always been like this. I’m fine.”
Watching Lin Wangshu endure and concede so much, Liu Wanru felt that this Marchioness was far too mild-tempered.
Lin Wangshu slightly lowered her gaze, appearing submissive: “Let the Commandery Princess say whatever she wishes, as long as it makes her feel better.”
Hearing this, Liu Wanru couldn’t help but advise: “Marchioness, no matter how noble the Commandery Princess’s status is, you are still her mother and her elder. How can she be so…”
“My mother?” Zhao Qihuang sounded as if she had heard a tremendous joke. “Liu Wanru, I think you truly aren’t thinking straight. Guards!”
Outside, Xiao Cheng and Xiao Lu, who had been waiting quietly, immediately walked in.
Zhao Qihuang raised her eyes: “Throw this Miss Liu out for this Commandery Princess.”
Xiao Cheng and Xiao Lu were expressionless as they stepped forward, one on each side, seizing Liu Wanru’s arms and starting to drag her out.
“Let go of me!” Liu Wanru was shocked and furious, struggling desperately: “I am the Grand Tutor’s granddaughter! How dare you be so rude?”
Seeing this, Lin Wangshu also grew anxious, stepping forward quickly and pleading tearfully: “Qihuang, you mustn’t do this. Wanru meant well.”
Zhao Qihuang didn’t spare her even a glance.
Liu Wanru was dragged out without mercy.
Standing in the middle of the street, watching the surrounding people whispering, she stomped her foot in shame: “Zhao Qihuang, I won’t let you get away with this.”
With that, she covered her face and fled the area.
Having dealt with Liu Wanru, Zhao Qihuang walked unhurriedly toward Lin Wangshu.
Lin Wangshu’s heart pounded under her gaze. She subconsciously took a small step back, twisting the handkerchief in her hand tightly.
Zhao Qihuang stopped in front of her, her red lips parting slightly: “That sanctimonious, utterly hypocritical facade of yours is truly sickening.”
Lin Wangshu’s body trembled slightly, her face deathly pale. She clutched the silk handkerchief so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Seeing her mother humiliated, Zhao Qiyun trembled with fury, her almond eyes wide open. She pointed at Zhao Qihuang and burst out cursing: “Zhao Qihuang, don’t push your luck!”
“Yun’er!”
Lin Wangshu raised her hand and forcefully grabbed her arm.
Zhao Qiyun winced in pain and fell silent.
Lin Wangshu forced out a stiff smile and said softly: “I will take your sister and leave now. We won’t disturb the Commandery Princess’s studies.”
Zhao Qihuang acted as if she hadn’t heard anything.
“Let’s go.” Lin Wangshu pulled Zhao Qiyun away forcefully.
The unnecessary people withdrew.
Zhao Qihuang sat back down in the armchair, rubbing her temples in annoyance. This Lady Lin truly possessed deep cunning.
She had provoked her so intensely, yet she could still endure it.
No wonder, in the dream, she had been ruthlessly plotted against and ruined time after time.
***
Outside the Splendid Pavilion.
Zhao Qiyun shook off her mother Lin Wangshu’s hand, stomped her foot, and shouted exasperatedly: “Mother, are we just going to keep enduring her like this? She’s practically wiping her feet all over us!”
The gentleness on Lin Wangshu’s face vanished completely.
At this moment, her expression was so dark it could drip water.
“It’s all because of that trash Wang Quan. He failed to do his job and let that little bitch return alive.”
Hearing this, Zhao Qiyun gritted her teeth even harder: “Mother, why is that slut so lucky? She happens to have her Fate linked to our Imperial Aunt, and that connection protects her. None of us can touch her.”
Malicious light flickered in Lin Wangshu’s eyes. “The higher she climbs, the harder she will fall.”
“Let her be smug, let her be arrogant.”
“Sooner or later, that so-called Fate of hers won’t be able to save her either.”
Zhao Qiyun was still unwilling to accept this.
Lin Wangshu looked at her daughter, the gloom on her face softening slightly, and asked: “How has your relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince been lately?”
When the Crown Prince was mentioned, Zhao Qiyun showed a mix of smugness and shyness.
She slightly lifted her chin, her tone boastful: “Crown Prince Brother naturally favors me. A few days ago, he personally sent someone to say that he wants me to attend the Spring Flower Banquet with him this year.”
Saying this, Zhao Qiyun glanced toward the Splendid Pavilion and curled her lip disdainfully.
“In his heart, I am far more gentle and considerate than Zhao Qihuang, that arrogant and unruly simpleton.”
Hearing this, a hint of satisfied smile finally appeared on Lin Wangshu’s face.
She gently patted Zhao Qiyun’s hand, speaking earnestly: “That’s right, my good daughter. As long as you can capture the Crown Prince’s heart, once you enter the Central Palace in the future, Zhao Qihuang will become a useless pawn.”
Once her daughter became the Empress, Zhao Qihuang’s Fate wouldn’t matter so much anymore.
Zhao Qiyun linked arms with her mother and said playfully: “Once I become Empress, Mother will call all the shots in the Yongan Marquis Manor. We can marry that Zhao Qihuang off to the ugliest, most incompetent man in the capital.”
Lin Wangshu’s eyes crinkled with laughter, and she praised her repeatedly: “Truly my daughter, you have ambition.”
The mother and daughter exchanged a smile, seemingly completely confident in their future.
***
Inside the Splendid Pavilion.
After Lady Lin and her daughter left, Xiao Hong also returned from the palace.
She stood before the desk and whispered: “This servant has inquired. The Duke of Zhenguo’s Estate committed the grave crime of colluding with the enemy and betraying the nation. Unless there is an unexpected change, they should be wiped out to the last member.”
Zhao Qihuang’s brows knitted tightly once more.
If the Wei family was wiped out to the last member, then who was ‘Jiming,’ the strategist who helped the Fourth Prince ascend the throne and plotted to have her used as a Sacrifice to the Flag in the dream?