nycdaug Chapter 310 Taking advantage of the situation (1)
Chapter 310 Taking advantage of the situation (1)
In Ju'an Hall, Qinghe was kneeling at Yu Qingli's feet. She lowered her head and her expression could not be seen clearly, but half of her slightly swollen face was still clearly visible through her hanging hair.
Yu Qingli looked indifferently at the maid assigned to her by Murong Feng, wondering who she was performing for today.
Just now, when Qingjiu suddenly came into Qionglou to tell Murong Yanhui that he had run into Yu Zhenzhen, she knew that things were going to go wrong today. Fortunately, she met Qu Linlang, who happened to be in Qionglou to discuss renting a house. After discussing it, she decided to let Qu Linlang continue to eat with Yu Qingli and Murong Yanhui instead, while she would return to the palace as soon as possible to avoid being caught by Murong Feng and having no words to explain.
Yu Qingli was sure that Yu Zhenzhen would tell Murong Feng, but she didn't expect that the knife Yu Zhenzhen was holding today was Murong Yuan.
Yu Qingli looked at Qinghe, whose cheeks were red and swollen, and said in a deep voice, "Miss Yu is an honored guest in the palace. Qinghe, do you know that what you said today would not be too much for me to beat you to death?"
Qing He shuddered when she heard this. "I beg the Grand Concubine to make the decision for this servant. Everything I say is true."
Yu Qingli lowered her eyes and stared at the little girl, wondering how to deal with it, but she heard Xiluo beside her suddenly cough slightly.
Yu Qingli raised her eyes and immediately saw Murong rushing in. From a distance, she could tell that his face was ashen and he was obviously in a very bad mood.
Yu Qingli changed her mind and pretended not to see Murong Feng and continued, "Qinghe, you are mine. Although she is a distinguished guest, she cannot act so presumptuously in my palace."
Qing He kowtowed repeatedly upon hearing this. She hated Yu Zhenzhen with all her heart, not only because she was about to marry Murong Cheng, becoming an enemy of her legitimate master Murong Feng, but also because of the jealousy one woman harbored towards another. After all, hadn't she even entered the Crown Prince's Mansion yet? Besides, did she think others couldn't see through her filthy thoughts? How ridiculous!
As soon as Murong Feng stepped into the hall, he heard Qing He's constant thanks. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's going on?"
Yu Qingli stood up hurriedly, and said with a look of grievance: "Your Highness, you are back. You must make the decision for the servants in Ju'an Palace."
It was rare for Murong Feng to see Yu Qingli with such a weak expression. For a moment he didn't know how to answer. He just kept looking at Yu Qingli, exploring her.
Yu Qingli seemed oblivious and reached out to help Qinghe up. "Your Highness, look at this! Qinghe was beaten like this just because she didn't answer in time. Not to mention that Qinghe is Qingli's personal maid, even considering that Qinghe was given to Qingli by Your Highness, you shouldn't have been so cruel."
Upon hearing this, Murong Feng looked at Qing He and asked, "Who hit you?"
Qing He immediately knelt on the ground, "Your Highness, it was Miss Yu who hit you."
"Hmm?" There was doubt in Murong Feng's eyes. Yu Zhenzhen's well-behaved and docile face appeared in his mind, and he couldn't help but feel a little unconvinced.
"Early this morning, I was sweeping the yard when Miss Yu came in and had a few words with Young Master Yue. She then took out all her anger on me." When Qinghe said this, Murong Feng was surprised. He had originally come to check whether Yu Qingli was in the palace.
"Murong Yue? She's just a kid, how could she be so angry?"
"Miss Yu said the weather was perfect today, sunny and windy, perfect for a tour outside the palace. Young Master Yue then scolded her for being blind, saying how could it be sunny and windy in such a cloudy day?" Qing He finished speaking, and seeing Murong Feng still hesitated, she couldn't help but kowtow once more. "Your Highness, I have followed you for so many years and never dared to tell a lie."
Murong Feng stretched out his hand and nodded, "Get up first."
He arranged Qinghe to be by Yu Qingli's side, so what she said was naturally trustworthy. So, does that mean Yu Zhenzhen is not as gentle and graceful as she appears?
It is indeed a bit strange that they took action in his place. Could it be Yu Qingli's doing?
Qing He then stood up and looked at Murong Feng with a feeling of grievance. Seeing Murong Feng's gaze fall on half of her swollen cheek, she couldn't help but cover her face with her hands and lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
Murong Feng became increasingly irritated upon seeing this. He looked up at Yu Qingli and asked, "Where did you go today?"
Yu Qingli was visibly stunned, as if she was a little confused. Then she took a step forward, bowed to Murong Feng, and said, "Qingli is in the palace. It's just that Xiluo accompanied her to stroll in the garden for a while this morning. Yue'er insisted on going out of the palace to play, and Qingli felt a little unwell, so she didn't accompany him."
"Really?" Murong Feng asked, but his eyes turned to Qinghe. This was the maid who had been with him for many years, and he still trusted her after all.
Qing He received Murong Feng's questioning look and immediately said, "The Crown Prince's Consort did go out with Master Yue and Miss Xiluo, but she returned moments later. It was only when the Crown Prince's Consort was not in the palace that Miss Yu beat me."
Murong Feng's face changed when he heard this, and he shouted angrily, "Kneel down! How dare you, a lowly slave, deceive me?"
Qing He was startled, her knees weakened and she fell to the ground, crying out, "I dare not lie to Your Highness. Everything I say is true."
"Are you telling the truth?" Murong Feng smiled coldly. "Then I have a question for you. You just said that Miss Yu took her anger out on you because she had an argument with Murong Yue, but you also said that Qingli took Murong Yue and Xiluo out, and that you were beaten when Qingli was not in the palace. You dare to say such contradictory things. Do you think I am an idiot?"
Murong Feng was aggressive, his voice filled with unprecedented anger. His eyes wandered between Qinghe, Yu Qingli and Xiluo, as if trying to figure out who was lying.
Qinghe was so frightened upon hearing this that she fell to the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Seeing this, Xiluo also knelt in front of Murong Feng and said, "Your Highness, Qinghe did lie."
Qing He was startled and turned to look at Xi Luo. Her face was filled with grief and anger, but she hadn't yet erupted when she heard Xi Luo say, "Miss Yu did hit Qing He, and it was indeed when she wasn't in the palace. The only thing Qing He lied about was the origin of Miss Yu's anger. She wasn't angry because of her argument with Young Master Yue, but because she came to the palace to inquire about Miss Yu's whereabouts, and Qing He didn't answer in time."
Xiluo kowtowed and said, "This is absolutely true. If Your Highness doesn't believe it, you can ask all the servants in Ju'an Palace."
Murong Feng frowned, feeling that everything that happened today was strange and full of doubts. He looked at Qing He and asked coldly, "Qing He? Tell me, what exactly is going on?"
Qing He immediately knelt down at Murong Feng's feet and said, "Your Highness, the facts are indeed as Xi Luo said. I didn't dare to say this at first because I was afraid... afraid of being blamed for provoking conflicts between the masters."
Yu Qingli heaved a sigh of relief when she heard that. Qinghe's little trick unexpectedly saved her. Her confusing behavior made Murong Feng's attention no longer focused on her.
Yu Qingli thought in her heart, but sighed, "Qinghe, why do you think so much? I am ashamed of you."
Murong Feng looked at the scene before him and said nothing. Qing He was his confidant who had been planted beside Yu Qingli, so he naturally believed her words. But if Yu Qingli really hadn't left the palace and was just strolling in the garden, then where did Murong Yuan get the information?
Murong Feng's thoughts turned, and he said in a deep voice, "This matter has not been thoroughly investigated yet, so please do not make it public. I will seek justice for you sooner or later."
Qinghe didn't dare to disobey and could only kowtow and thank him.
Murong Feng was upset and turned to walk out of the hall. When he raised his eyes, he saw Mei Hong in the corner of the yard. He gave her a slight signal with his eyes, and Mei Hong immediately slipped out of Ju'an Hall.
Xiluo was well-versed in martial arts and had sharp eyes and ears, so she naturally saw all of this. When she squatted down to help Qinghe up, she nodded slightly to Yu Qingli.
A sneer appeared on Yu Qingli's lips. Mei Hong had ulterior motives. She kept her by her side, and finally she was useful. Fortunately, Qinghe was so angry after being beaten by Yu Zhenzhen that she didn't even notice whether she had left the palace or not.
"Miss, if you are not feeling well, please go into the room and rest. I will take care of Qinghe and come to serve her after I have prepared everything for her." Xiluo said as she helped Qinghe to her side and went to the servants' room.
Yu Qingli stood alone in the palace, looking at the lush plants and trees in the yard, but the coldness in her eyes was as cold as a sword drawn from its sheath.
In the flower path outside the palace, Murong Feng stood with his hands behind his back, his face ashen.
Mei Hong walked carefully and happily to Murong Feng's side, and called out timidly and softly, "Your Highness."
Murong Feng turned around, but his eyes were not as tender as before. The cold gaze made Mei Hong tremble in her heart.
"I'm asking you, what exactly happened when Qinghe was beaten today?"
Mei Hong immediately knelt on the ground and recounted the story. Seeing that Mei Hong and Qing He were both telling the same story, Murong Feng became increasingly confused and asked, "Are you sure that Yu Qingli has never left the palace?"
Mei Hong thought about it carefully before saying, "It only took a few moments for the young lady to come back. If she had left the palace, how could she have returned so quickly?"
Murong Feng was finally relieved. He looked down at Mei Hong's slender white neck and felt desire surging in his heart.
Murong Feng's throat moved slightly, and he said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Come over in the evening."
After Murong Feng finished speaking, he turned around and left without waiting for Mei Hong to answer. In his eyes, Mei Hong was just a tool to satisfy his desires. Why should he care about her thoughts as a tool?
Mei Hong watched Murong Feng's back as he quickly left, but her five fingers were digging fiercely into the cracks in the bricks in front of her knees. She knew in her heart that she was just a dog kept by Murong Feng, who could come when he called and go when he dismissed her. Sometimes, she was even worse than a dog.
However, Mei Hong also knew the truth that only those who endure hardships can become the best. As long as she climbed up the big tree of Murong Feng, sooner or later she would become the master. Even if she was still Murong Feng's dog at that time, she would be a dog of different value.
After Mei Hong comforted herself in this way, she took a deep breath and stood up. She dusted off her body as if nothing had happened and slowly walked back to Ju'an Hall.