Chapter 319: The Visitor is a Guest
Chapter 319: Chapter 319: The Visitor is a Guest
On this day, a cold wind whipped through the streets and alleys.
Qiulan was on her way back to the Xie Mansion, carrying two bags of fresh bird’s nest.
The air was freezing, and the streets were nearly empty.
Taking a shortcut, Qiulan cut through a secluded alley.
She walked quickly, feeling as if someone was following her.
But every time she looked back, she saw nothing.
Qiulan looked forward again, her heart filled with doubt.
Suddenly!
Several tall, stern-faced guards appeared as if from thin air.
They seized Qiulan by the arm.
She turned pale with fright and shrieked, "Who are you? Why are you grabbing me?"
The lead guard said coldly, "Our master wants to see you. Come with us."
Before Qiulan could struggle, a rag was stuffed into her mouth.
The bird’s nest fell to the ground as Qiulan was dragged away.
The guards threw her into a carriage.
A short while later, the carriage stopped. When Qiulan was pulled out, she looked up to see an imposing gate before her.
Two stone lions stood glaring, and the bright rivets stood out on the great red-lacquered doors.
Stunned, Qiulan looked up and saw the plaque hanging above: Commandery Princess Mansion.
Once inside the estate, she saw elegant, classical pavilions and verandas.
It was only then that Qiulan realized who had captured her—they were Princess Funing’s court guards!
Moments later, the guards threw Qiulan into the main hall.
"Oof!" she grunted in pain as she hit the floor.
A soft, childish laugh came from above.
Qiulan looked up to see Shen Ningning sitting primly in a chair, swinging her small feet.
"Take the rag out of her mouth," the little girl ordered.
Wanchun, who was standing beside her, stepped forward and removed the cloth from Qiulan’s mouth.
Qiulan immediately began to kowtow and beg for mercy. "Commandery Princess, I don’t know anything! I only said those things to Wanchun because Second Madam told me to!"
Shen Ningning’s large eyes widened, and she smiled in surprise.
"You’re clever. You’ve already guessed why I sent for you."
Wanchun snorted. "What are you so scared of? Do you have a guilty conscience because you know you did something wrong?"
She gave Qiulan a shove. "Answer whatever our Commandery Princess asks, or you’ll regret it!"
Qiulan was already scared witless by the whole display Shen Ningning had arranged.
Everyone said Princess Funing was easy to get along with. When she was first granted her title, the Emperor had bestowed over a hundred Palace Attendants upon her.
But Shen Ningning had never actually lived in the Commandery Princess Mansion.
Her thirty court guards were also rarely seen.
But having just witnessed the skill of a few of those guards, Qiulan was now terrified.
’A Commandery Princess is still a Commandery Princess, personally invested by the Emperor. Taking my life would be all too easy for her!’
Qiulan hurriedly explained her predicament. "Commandery Princess, please forgive me! Ask me anything, and I will answer honestly."
"I was only recently transferred to serve Second Madam. It hasn’t been long. I was just following her orders. I would never dare to offend you on my own."
Shen Ningning blinked her long lashes, her large, round eyes sparkling like a pair of black gems.
Her small face, as lovely as white porcelain, tilted as she said, "Hmm, in that case, tell me, did Second Madam Xie really come down with some kind of cold-related illness a while ago?"
Qiulan flinched and nodded.
"About the illness... Second Madam won’t let me speak of it..." She hesitated, afraid.
Wanchun stepped forward and gave her a sharp pinch. "What does Second Madam matter? The Commandery Princess is questioning you. How dare you refuse to answer?"
Qiulan cried out in pain.
"I’ll talk! I’ll talk! Before, Second Madam secretly met with a Divine Woman in the city, and the Divine Woman gave her some kind of medicine."
"After that, it was as if Second Madam had a cold-sickness. She felt chilled all the time and had to drink scalding hot water to feel better. She nearly burned her throat."
Shen Ningning furrowed her little brow. "Really? Then how did she get better?"
Qiulan said quickly, "Second Madam couldn’t stand it anymore, so she went back to the Divine Woman, who gave her an antidote."
’At first, I also thought the Divine Woman was a fraud.’
’But to my surprise, after Second Madam Xie took the antidote the Divine Woman gave her, she made a full recovery. Even her throat was fine.’
Qiulan looked at Shen Ningning, her expression uneasy. "Then, Second Madam told me to intentionally leak this information to Wanchun."
"She said Wanchun would definitely tell you. I think... I think she knew you were worried about the Crown Prince’s illness, and she wanted to offer a solution."
Wanchun scoffed. "If she wanted to offer a solution, why not just say so directly?"
"Making you tell me in such a roundabout way... she just wanted to trick the Commandery Princess into visiting the Divine Woman. That way, the Master would get the wrong idea about her."
Qiulan lowered her head. She clearly thought the same but didn’t dare say it aloud.
Shen Ningning remained silent, deep in thought.
A clear, bright light swirled in her large eyes.
It was as if she had the power to see right through a person’s heart.
’In truth, I had already decided to go and see what tricks this Divine Woman has up her sleeve.’
The little girl didn’t believe the medicine was actually effective.
Rather, she was worried there was something amiss.
She was afraid that someone with ill intentions was targeting the Crown Prince.
And if her Uncle Emperor, desperate for a cure, tried any unproven remedy, these villains could exploit his weakness.
Having thought it through, Shen Ningning spoke in her soft, sweet voice, "Qiulan, when you go back, tell Second Madam Xie this."
"Tell her you heard that I’m secretly asking around about the Divine Woman’s location and that I’ve decided to pay her a visit the day after tomorrow."
Qiulan looked up, her expression one of astonishment. "Commandery Princess, are you really going?"
Shen Ningning swung her little foot, and the white tassels on her boots swayed dazzlingly.
"Yes, of course I’m going. Not only do you have to tell Second Madam that, but you also must not tell her that I met with you beforehand. Understand?"
Qiulan nodded in a daze.
’What is Princess Funing planning?’
’She knows it’s a trap. If she goes, Second Madam Xie will report her to Xie Suzhi. Why is she still going?’
「Two days later.」
Chen Ye drove the carriage to a stop outside an alley.
A small, pale hand lifted the curtain, and Shen Ningning, dressed in a small, lotus-hued jacket, hopped down from the carriage.
"Hup!" As she landed, the bell on the longevity lock around her neck chimed crisply.
Amidst the winter disaster, the surroundings were a bleak, deathly white.
Only the vibrant green she wore was particularly eye-catching, like the last spark of life in the world.
Chen Ye stepped forward and knocked. A cautious voice came from inside, "Who is it?"
Chen Ye gave the password. "A visitor has come."
Only then did the small door creak open.
A woman who looked like a handmaid poked her head out furtively, glancing left and right for a moment.
Chen Ye said, "Our young miss has come to seek the divine for medicine. We sent someone ahead to make arrangements."
The handmaid finally nodded. "Please, come in."
Chen Ye accompanied Shen Ningning into the small courtyard.
Just as the door closed, Xie Ming’an galloped up on his horse.
He arrived just in time to see Shen Ningning’s small figure step inside, the tender green of her clothes disappearing behind the door.
Xie Ming’an pulled his reins tight, his sharp brows furrowing.
His attendant, following behind him, said in surprise, "Second Young Master, it seems Second Madam was right! The Commandery Princess is really mixing with such shady characters!"
Xie Suzhi wasn’t at the mansion today.
So, Second Madam Xie had found him and asked him to keep an eye on Shen Ningning.
She’d said that Ningning had run off to secretly meet with the Divine Woman and that she was worried the girl was up to no good.
At first, Xie Ming’an hadn’t believed her.
’After all, in my eyes, Shen Ningning was a smart child who could think for herself.’
But he never expected to see her enter the Divine Woman’s courtyard with his own eyes.
Xie Ming’an swung himself off his horse, his expression hardening. "Let’s go in and see what she’s really up to."