Qu Ling directly refused, “If Father has something to say, why not wait until we return home? Your daughter is weary from the long journey and somewhat tired.”
After speaking, she directly boarded the carriage.
She certainly knew what Qu Cheng intended to do.
It was nothing more than changing his expression to lecture her about not relying on the Princess’s influence to be so arrogant.
Or perhaps, looking at her with pained eyes, telling her, “How sad your mother would be to see you like this.”
How utterly impatient.
Qu Ling felt a suffocating pressure in her chest.
She had never met her mother and yearned for her father’s care.
In her previous life, all her outrageous behavior was meant to make Qu Cheng notice her more.
But in the end, she received no sympathy, instead driving herself to a dead end.
Never again would she seek those illusory things.
Qu Ling thought, she would send everyone in the Hou Manor to their doom.
“Young lady is tired, close your eyes and rest for a while.”
A gentle voice sounded as Li Momo looked at Qu Ling with affection. “Don’t worry, young lady. With this servant by your side, no one will have the chance to harm you again.”
Back when Zhao Yuanrong was just one year old, Xu Zhaoyue, who was pregnant at the time, went to the Princess Manor to keep the Princess company.
A bowl of steamed egg custard was served.
It was meant for Zhao Yuanrong.
Coincidentally, Xu Zhaoyue was hungry, so the Princess asked her to eat the custard first.
Thus, Xu Zhaoyue was poisoned.
The usually composed and calm Princess panicked.
She knew someone was trying to harm her daughter, but feared her friend would die with her unborn child.
Qu Ling was born in the Princess Manor.
When she was born, Xu Zhaoyue breathed her last.
The Princess understood clearly that this was taking the disaster meant for Zhao Yuanrong.
That night, the Princess Manor ran with blood.
Yet ultimately, they couldn’t save Xu Zhaoyue’s life.
Li Momo treated Zhao Yuanrong as her own and showed the same maternal affection to Qu Ling.
“Momo, after I return to the manor, I’ll be living in Nuanshan Residence. Our courtyard will be entrusted to your care from now on.” Qu Ling leaned against Li Momo.
In her previous life, whenever Li Momo saw her, she would gently persuade her, “Young lady, go visit Her Highness the Princess. She always speaks of you.”
Qu Ling, having been manipulated by Mama Zhou into losing her rationality, wouldn’t listen.
Instead, she would retort, “If she truly thinks of me, why doesn’t she request a noble title of Princess of the Commandery for me? Why doesn’t she kill Song Shi?”
At that time, she had no understanding of the Princess’s difficulties.
She only firmly remembered Mama Zhou’s words: “Your mother died for the Princess’s daughter. The Princess owes you, yet her daughter is honored as a Princess of the Commandery while you are nothing. When summoning you to the Princess Manor, you still have to bow and scrape before the Jiaping Commandery Princess who caused your mother’s death.”
Moreover, every time the Princess rewarded her or met with her, her grandmother and father would treat her even colder, while Song Shi would find new ways to torment her.
Thus, she no longer wished to be close to the Princess.
Until she killed everyone in the Hou Manor and was imprisoned in the Court of Revision.
Li Momo came to visit her every other day.
Wiping her tears while sharing news from outside.
“Young lady, don’t be afraid. Her Highness the Princess will rescue you.”
“The Crown Prince insists on executing you. The Princess of the Commandery goes to the Eastern Palace daily. The Crown Prince might relent for her sake.”
The poison that finally ended her life was also delivered by Li Momo.
“The Princess has fallen ill. The Princess of the Commandery watches over her day and night. Assassins constantly threaten the Princess Manor. The Crown Prince presses forward step by step, determined to have you executed by slow slicing.”
Qu Ling didn’t cry when she killed people, nor when she was imprisoned in the Court of Revision.
But at that moment, she broke down in loud sobs.
It wasn’t fear of her own death.
She feared that the Princess was being forced by the Crown Prince to relinquish her authority because of her.
The late emperor had originally intended to pass the throne to the Princess.
It was Empress Dowager Song who risked her life, even going so far as to deceive the Princess into drinking drugged soup and sending her a thousand miles away to Liangzhou, allowing the current emperor to ascend the throne.
Qu Ling did not know whether the Princess had reclaimed the throne after her death.
She only hoped that in this lifetime, she could witness the Princess ascending the throne with her own eyes.
“Young lady, we’ve arrived at Hou Manor.”
Tingqin’s voice came from outside the carriage.
Qu Ling and Li Momo alighted from the carriage.
Song Shi was also helped down, her face as pale as snow, her clothes stained with blood.
“Mother, how did you get injured like this?”
Someone had already returned to Hou Manor to deliver the news.
Qu Lianzhi lifted her skirt and hurried out to greet them.
“Quickly, send for the Imperial Physician from the palace,” she said, stepping forward to examine Song Shi’s wounds.
“How could the Princess do such a vicious thing to Mother!” she exclaimed angrily.
“I’m going to the palace to tell my aunt!”
“Do not summon the Imperial Physician,” Qu Cheng interjected. “This matter must not be known in the palace.”
If the poisoning incident were to leak out, the Princess would use the Censorate to make a big issue of it.
“Father!”
Qu Lianzhi stamped her foot in frustration.
“Listen to your father,” Song Shi said, though disheartened by Qu Cheng’s attitude, she knew it was unwise to escalate the matter. “Family shame should not be publicized. Your sister… she injured me unintentionally.”
Qu Lianzhi widened her eyes. “What? Qu Ling injured you?”
Song Shi glanced at Qu Cheng, noticing the anger in his eyes, and smiled inwardly.
Indeed, the palace must not know.
But that wretched girl would surely suffer today.
She had originally thought it would take some effort to make the Marquis despise her.
Now, she had saved the trouble.
Once inside Hou Manor, with the doors closed, even the Princess couldn’t protect her.
“Let’s go inside first,” Qu Cheng said sternly.
Qu Lianzhi didn’t dare say more but shot a fierce glare at Qu Ling.
She prided herself on her beauty, but Qu Ling, whom she hadn’t seen in six years, surpassed her.
This made her even more displeased.
Once inside the manor, Song Shi was taken back to the main courtyard to have her wounds dressed.
Qu Cheng brought the two sisters to the Old Madam’s courtyard.
“Has Sister moved all her belongings out?” Qu Ling initiated the conversation, a warm smile on her face.
“What?” Qu Lianzhi was momentarily confused.
Qu Ling said, “I will be moving into Nuanshan Residence.”
“Enough!” Qu Cheng turned and scolded. “You haven’t even paid respects to your grandmother yet, and you’re already thinking about fighting over a residence. Where are your manners?”
He had been simmering with anger all day.
It was as if the person before him wasn’t the daughter he hadn’t seen in six years, but an enemy.
“Fighting?” Qu Ling smiled faintly. “Didn’t Father promise me in front of the Princess? Does that no longer count?”
In her previous life, she would have been hurt by Qu Cheng’s attitude, but now, her heart remained unruffled.
Qu Lianzhi finally caught on.
“Father, are you really going to make me give up Nuanshan Residence to her?”
Qu Cheng, thoroughly irritated, snapped, “Both of you, be quiet! You are sisters. If you don’t get along, it brings shame to Hou Manor.”
They walked in silence until they reached the Old Madam’s courtyard.
Qu Cheng still had to return to his office. After leading Qu Ling inside to pay her respects, he left.
The Old Madam beckoned kindly to Qu Ling. “A-Ling, come here and let your grandmother take a look at you.”
But Qu Ling could only recall her previous life, when the Old Madam had allowed an unrelated man into the inner courtyard, intending to ruin her chastity.
In the end, Tingqin had protected her with her life.
But though her chastity was preserved, her reputation was still tarnished.
They forced her to marry, and it was the final straw that broke her.
“Greetings, Grandmother.” Qu Ling stepped forward, lifting her face with an obedient smile.
Qu Lianzhi rushed into Old Madam’s arms with reddened eyes, “Grandmother, Father wants me to give up Nuanshan Residence to my sister.”
Throughout the entire mansion, Old Madam doted on her the most.
“I’ve grown accustomed to living in Nuanshan Residence,” she coquettishly shook Old Madam’s hand, “Could you talk to Father and find another courtyard for my sister?”
Contrary to her usual demeanor, Old Madam pushed her away and spoke indifferently, “Just because you’re used to it, does that make it yours?”