“Who is it?” Ling Mingyan questioned angrily.
“It was Nanny Wang. It was Nanny Wang who asked us to receive guests there. She only said that when respected guests come in, we must take good care of them. She asked us to wait on the guests by the side, and there should be no mistakes. Later, Sister Yuyan who was guarding the door also saw Consort Xuan came over and asked us to follow behind Consort Xuan to wait on her. But Her Lady didn’t want us to follow. We waited in a corner and saw the Sixth Princess hurriedly heading down the path. And then Nanny Wang came and told us to say that Her Lady asked the Sixth Princess to go down the path.”
The short maidservant only hoped to live at this moment, so she didn’t dare to hide it, and told all the story of the matter. Now she didn’t want any glory and wealth, but only wanted her whole family to survive.
As she said, she kept kowtowing. Blood came out on her forehead, but she didn’t care to wipe it off.
“Somebody, call Nanny Wang here,” Ling Mingyan ordered to the old maidservants who did rough work. Then the two old maidservants left after a respond.
“Sixth sister, you knew the way! I was scared a lot,” the Seventh Princess smiled leisurely, as if she was just mentioning it casually.
“She hurriedly headed down the path.” This was what the maidservant just said, but it sounded weird. The maidservant beside the Sixth Princess clearly said that Consort Xuan pointed the way to them. Now the two maidservants had confessed. It had nothing to do with them at all, and they didn’t even know that Consort Xuan had already left, so why did the palace maid next to the Sixth Princess say those words.
“Did that the palace maid beside the Sixth Princess know the road?” Mo Xuetong asked just right. “It is normal for the Sixth Princess to enjoy the scenery and go down the path. It is said that the places with wonderful scenery are often off the beaten track!”
“Sixth sister, your palace maid is so evil. She wanted to ruin your fame!” the Seventh Princess added timely, her eyes widened, her face full of surprise, as she looked at the Sixth Princess with extreme disbelief. “According to your words, she is your personal palace maid. How could she come up with such a disgusting way to harm Sixth sister? Sixth sister, you must not be soft-hearted. You must punish her severely.”
The Sixth Princess did not think that things would change suddenly and unexpectedly. Before she had figured out how to solve it, she was suspected. Although the Seventh Princess didn’t direct at her, the palace maid beside her had been exposed. A hint of sharpness flashed across her eyes as she turned her head and fiercely slapped the palace maid standing beside her.
Then she snapped, “Tell me, did you want to harm me? I trusted you so much and buy back your family’s freedom. I never thought you were doing this to me. You, you, how can you do this to me!”
In the end, she swallowed and couldn’t continue, looking sad!
The palace maid standing next to the Sixth Princess did not expect that such a big thing would eventually fall on her. She looked at the Sixth Princess who was fierce both in look and voice and repeatedly reminded her that her whole family was in her hand. If she did not bear the charge this time, there was no way for her whole family to survive.
Even if she was unwilling to accept it, the palace maid had to plop and kneel down. “It’s me. I asked Nanny Wang to order the maidservants in that way. One of my younger sisters was beaten to death last time. I heard that it was because of Consort Xuan’s slanderous talk. I harbor resentment towards Consort Xuan, so I did it.”
This was originally a trap set by the Sixth Princess, but in the end she had to take the fall for the crime. How could she be able to bear such a charge as a little palace maid? Thinking of her family, the palace maid could only hold on. For the sake of her family, she could only take it even if she had to die. If she had known this result, she would not have helped the Sixth Princess set a trap to harm others.
The Sixth Princess was a little relieved when she saw that the palace maid had confessed to the crime. With a distressed and sad expression on her face, she said, “How, how could you do such a thing? That’s Consort Xuan!”
Then she turned her head to look at Mo Xuetong with a look of guilt. “Eighth sister-in-law, I didn’t know people clearly, making you wronged. I, I, I really…” the Sixth Princess said, crying.
Mo Xuetong’s gaze was filled with a faint smile, landing on the Sixth Princess’s delicate face. She said with concern, “Sixth Princess, you’re so polite. I’m fine. At most I was framed and scolded. But you must trace the person who deliberately brought you here. Ruining the reputation of the royal family’s princess is a great sin that could kill the criminal’s family of nine generations.”
Duchess Ding’s gaze glided across the faces of Duchess Mingguo, You Yuecheng, and the Sixth Princess, with a bit of irritation in her eyes!
A little palace maid really dared to deal with Consort Xuan? Duchess Ding would not believe it anyway. As Mo Xuetong talked about this subject again, the uncomfortable look crept over the corner of the Sixth Princess’s eyes and she felt gloomy. However, it was not proper to publicize this matter. What if it was the Sixth Princess who planned it? What was more, the Empress didn’t get the Emperor’s favor now, and even Ding General Manor had to be very cautious.
If someone accidentally provoked the Emperor, no one could afford it!
Ding General Manor was no longer as powerful as it was a few years ago. It couldn’t withstand the trouble. Even if she was sulking in her heart, she had to cover the anger in her chest at this time. Now the palace maid had taken the fall for the crime, it was better than facing the Sixth Princess directly.
Duchess Mingguo had her own plans in her heart. The matter had reached this point. Fortunately, she had also arranged the latter so that she would not be involved. She also spoke today, which had already aroused the anger of Ding General Manor. If she intervened again, Ding General Manor and Mingguo Manor might confront each other directly.
Duchess Mingguo’s background was not as good as that of Duchess Ding. Of course she dare not go head-to-head. It was the best to get things done vaguely. Originally she wanted to use the princess’s power, but now it seemed that it was not so easy to use it. She should save herself first.
You Yuecheng had been watching coldly. In this case, the only thing he did was to come back to rest after drinking. This was normal and there was not the slightest doubt about it. No matter how the investigation was done, it was impossible to find fault in him. His pretty and cold eyes slowly landed on Mo Xuetong’s smiley and angry face. After he looked at her quietly for a while, a deep and inquiring look flashed in his eyes.
What kind of experience it was that made her be so shrewd and vigilant at a young age? As soon as she found something was wrong, she took her people away from the side door. She did it neatly. The two maidservants didn’t even know that they had left. The failure of the Sixth Princess’s plan was largely due to the departure of Mo Xuetong.
What was more, she left early, so early, even arriving at the place where Ling Mingyan was before the Seven Princess did. She directly denied all the words the maidservants made up—she said something when she saw the Sixth Princess enter the door. The delicate beautiful girl was supposed to be indulging in romance, but why did she act like a hedgehog covered with spikes!
As soon as she encountered a situation, she spread the spikes all over her body!
As he saw her quietly standing aside, like a beautiful orchid blooming in the quiet night, the corners of his hard mouth were slightly relaxed. There was no annoyance in his heart because of the failure of the Sixth Princess’s plan!
“Young Madam, bad news. Nanny Wang is dead. She hanged!” The two old maidservants who did rough work ran in, and when they were at the door, they stumbled heavily.
“Dead?” Unlike the two ladies, Ling Mingyan expressed her anger. When she heard that Nanny Wang had been dead in advance, her face turned pale in anger.
“Yes, when we went there, Nanny Wang had been dead for a while, and the body had turned cold.” The old maidservants were in a panic, and their faces turned pale with fright. Who would expect that when they went to take her here, they found that she was hanging on the beam?
“Investigate it, investigate it, turn her room upside down. I don’t believe that there is no clue.” Ling Mingyan stared at the two old maidservants, as if they killed Nanny Wang. The two old maidservants were so scared that they couldn’t even speak, trembling all over. Everyone in the manor knew that when the Marquise became angry, someone might die.
You Yuecheng cast a glance at Ling Mingyan, with a little madness in his eyes. How could a dignified Marquise act so cruel in front of others? However, he could not say anything as he was involved in this matter. Then he cupped his hands towards Duchess Mingguo and Duchess Ding and turned to leave.
Up to now, Mingguo Manor was not involved, and he could maintain personal integrity. As for what would happen to the Sixth Princess, it had nothing to do with him! He didn’t have the interest to stay here to watch Ling Mingyan fiercely beating and killing people. He didn’t intend to intervene in the battle between women, leaving the Sixth Princess and Ling Mingyan to fight on their own.
You Yuecheng turned and strode away without a word or an explanation. Ling Mingyan stomped angrily. She was defending him, but he didn’t say a word. How could Ling Mingyan not be angry?
“Mingyan, this matter seems to have to be investigated slowly. Now let the Sixth Princess change clothes first. Fortunately, all the people here are noble ladies. As long as we keep it a secret, the Sixth Princess’s reputation won’t be ruined.” Duchess Ding smiled slightly and withdrew the anger on her face. She had soothed Ling Mingyan, and said how to solve the matter by the way.
She wanted to minimize big scandals and overlook minor ones!
How could the Sixth Princess be willing to accept it? She spent so much effort to achieve her goal. But now they wanted to minimize big scandals and overlook minor ones. She motioned to the palace maid standing on the other side, who was also her confidant. The palace maid shot a glance at the one kneeling on the ground and hesitated for a while, but immediately shrank under the Sixth Princess’s sharp gaze.
Then she took a step forward. “Madam, your idea is really good, but with so many people now, it’s impossible to keep it a secret. As it’s such a big deal, we’d better ask His Majesty to decide.”
Now that she mentioned the Emperor, who would dare to bear the crime of deceiving him. Duchess Ding became dumb.
“What do you mean, Sixth Princess? Please tell us.” Unlike Duchess Ding who had so many scruples, Ling Mingyan directly confronted the Sixth Princess. She didn’t believe that the Sixth Princess would be so shameless and said that she wanted to marry You Yuecheng!
“I, I will stay with an oil lamp before the statue of Buddha from now on.” Being forced by Ling Mingyan, the Sixth Princess had to say something. Her face was filled with sadness and helplessness, her eyes filled with tears. She looked heartbroken and discouraged. After that, she walked outside with her palace maids, as if she didn’t want to care about anything.
The palace maid and the two maidservants who were left behind would naturally take the fall for the crime and be beaten to death. When such a big incident happened, which also involved in the fame of the princess who might marry into another country, they only took a few servants to bear the crime. The irony in the smile on Mo Xuetong’s raised mouth was more obvious. This was the truth!
But the truth was sometimes unbelievable!
Except for Ling Mingyan, everyone present was savvy, but they all regarded what they saw as the truth. It was really something for thought!
