These simple words almost brought Xiao Jin to tears. She could only dig her nail guards deeper into her palms, silently trying to compose herself, slowly exhaling and revealing a faint smile. "You did very well."
Wang, who had been secretly observing Xiao Jin, felt a little relieved.
Looking at Wang Shi's eager eyes and Chu Muyan's expectant face, Xiao Jin was afraid she might say something inappropriate the moment she opened her mouth. It was better to say some things upfront, before she revealed any weakness…
Xiao Jin waved his hand, signaling the servants to leave.
After Qiancao, Lanyue, and the others filed out, Xiao Jin gently touched Chu Muyan's face. She looked at Wang Shi and said, "Mother, I still call you Mother now because I am grateful for your care for me. Although I hate Chu Tianshu, I have no resentment towards you."
Upon hearing Xiao Jin's words, Madam Wang was initially delighted, but then immediately sensed something amiss. She wisely refrained from asking any further questions and simply listened silently to Xiao Jin's words.
“I don’t want to take my anger out on others.” Xiao Jin’s eyes flickered, making it impossible to discern her emotions. “Chu Tianshu’s current situation is entirely his own fault. If he is innocent, the Emperor will naturally give him justice.”
Wang's words lingered on her lips, but she ultimately swallowed them back.
She sensed something was amiss with Xiao Jin, something that seemed different from the rampant rumors circulating in the capital. Moreover, Xiao Jin's words seemed to be hinting at something. Wang Shi immediately thought of the possibility she had always hoped for: Xiao Jin wasn't willingly staying in the palace, but had been threatened!
But this reason is rather far-fetched. How could Xiao Jin possibly restrain the Chu family? Moreover, the Emperor has bestowed upon her the title of Princess, an honor that even the Emperor's cousin, Princess Mingyang, who contributed greatly to his ascension to the throne, has never received! She is just a woman. Even if the Emperor wants to convict Chu Tianshu of treason, it seems to have nothing to do with her!
In the end, only one reasonable explanation seemed to remain: the Emperor had taken a liking to Xiao Jin.
The Duke of Dingguo's mansion had never been in such a passive position before, and they dared not make a move. If they made a single wrong step, not only would they fail to rescue Chu Tianshu, but the entire Duke of Dingguo's mansion might also be implicated. It was even more likely to backfire, deepening the Emperor's suspicions about Chu Tianshu.
The family could only wait anxiously, like oil boiling, to hear every little thing happening in the palace.
But Chu Muyan didn't understand the sudden tension between his grandmother and his third aunt.
He stared longingly at Xiao Jin, then threw himself into her arms. He couldn't hold back his tears, which streamed down his face like an unstoppable dam. "Third Aunt, I... I miss you so much! When will you and Third Uncle be able to come home?"
Upon hearing Chu Muyan's words, Madam Wang's expression immediately changed. She said in a stern voice, "Yan-ge'er, come here! How dare you speak to the Princess like that!"
In the end, Lady Wang decided to trust Xiao Jin. She couldn't have been wrong. Xiao Jin's sincerity and enthusiasm towards others, and the strong heart beneath her seemingly gentle exterior, meant she wouldn't do something so treacherous. She probably had a hard time in the palace.
Even the people serving her were not her former colleagues.
The more Wang thought about it, the more likely it seemed. It appeared that the two women who looked like palace maids were not only respectful to Xiao Jin, but also seemed to be monitoring him.
"It's alright." Xiao Jin hardened her heart and refused to look at Chu Muyan. She said to him in a slightly cold tone, "Yan-ge'er, go over to Grandmother's side."
Chu Muyan looked hurt, his little face scrunched up pitifully. Xiao Jin had never spoken to him so harshly before. He pouted, reluctantly pulled away from Xiao Jin's embrace, and walked sadly to Wang Shi's side.
"I won't see you off." The warmth that had remained on Xiao Jin's face vanished completely, replaced by cold indifference. She called out, "Lan Yue, come in."
Lan Yue and Bi Xi were already waiting by the door, and upon hearing Xiao Jin's voice, they immediately came to wait. Xiao Jin's expression was somewhat unpleasant, and the impatience in his tone was obvious. "See the Duchess of Dingguo out."
Originally, Lan Yue and Bi Xi shouldn't have done this, but since they had come in first and received Xiao Jin's instructions, they couldn't refuse. So they went to Madam Wang and respectfully said, "Madam, please."
Wang gave Xiao Jin a deep look, her gaze falling on the jade bracelet on her wrist, and her eyes flickered slightly.
"This humble woman takes her leave."
Watching Wang Shi and Chu Muyan leave, Xiao Jin immediately covered her mouth, rushed to the inner room, and vomited violently into the spittoon. Qian Cao hurriedly comforted her, while Mo Ju brought warm water to help Xiao Jin rinse her mouth.
Xiao Jin dared not make a sound, enduring the burning pain in her throat, and quickly rinsed her mouth. Qiancao hurriedly disposed of the spittoon, and Xiao Jin gestured to Moju to open the window, then rekindled the light fragrance of lily incense in the incense burner.
After doing all this, Xiao Jin lazily leaned back on the soft couch.
She felt increasingly powerless, and her reaction was growing stronger. She had to leave this dangerous place in the palace before she was completely exposed!
But what should she do...? Xiao Jin unconsciously turned the bracelet on her wrist, lost in thought.
******
"Brother, you've arrived!" Xiao Jin greeted Yun Xu with a smile and led him to the main seat.
Not long after Wang left, Yun Xu arrived at Huangxi Palace.
Fortunately, Xiao Jin had already tidied herself up. Her slightly pale face was covered with high-quality cosmetics, and with her bright and lively phoenix eyes, she looked very energetic and showed no signs of being haggard.
It seems Yun Xu was merely trying to gauge her reaction and see if she would waver after meeting the people from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion.
"Your Majesty, I was thinking of letting them off the hook, considering how well the Duke and Duchess of Dingguo had treated me in the past," Xiao Jin said, frowning, speaking before Yun Xu could ask. "I did want to give them some face, but they've come to plot against me!"
Yun Xu showed a hint of surprise. He seemed like a true older brother who cared about his younger sister, and asked softly, "Qin'er, what's wrong?"
"They certainly have a good plan!" Xiao Jin pursed his lips, his expression somewhat disdainful. "Back then, Chu Tianshu was cold to my sister, and she was in a very awkward position in the manor. Coincidentally, the Duchess of Dingguo sent Yan Ge'er to my sister's side to be raised." Seeing Yun Xu's puzzled expression, Xiao Jin explained, "He is Chu Tianze's illegitimate son."
"Perhaps my sister and he are the two people in the household with the most awkward status!" Xiao Jin's words were sincere, and the situation at the time was indeed like that. "So my sister doted on him more. Who knew that the Duchess of Dingguo would bring him here? My sister naturally understands the meaning behind it!"
Yun Xu pondered for a moment, then slowly asked, "What are your plans?"
"Trying to scheme against me? Not so easy!" Xiao Jin pouted, feigning indignation. "I won't let them have their way. One day, I'll definitely torment them!"
"By the way, Your Majesty, about that matter—" Xiao Jin seemed unwilling to continue the topic, and she lowered her voice to ask, "Is it going smoothly?"
Yun Xu readily agreed and didn't ask any further questions. He followed Xiao Jin's words and said, "I have already sent people to find opium in the capital." Seeing Xiao Jin's curiosity, he put on a mysterious expression and said, "Don't worry, it's been spiked."
Xiao Jin's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers almost trembled involuntarily. Forcing a look of delight, she rose to her feet, her gaze intense, and asked, "May I be so bold as to ask, is this opium... reliable?"
"Don't worry," Yun Xu said confidently. "Although it comes from the common people, it is a top-quality product that I sent people to find."
Xiao Jin smiled. "Your Majesty avenged me, and I have no more worries!" Her voice trembled slightly to Yun Xu, carrying an eerie lightness. "I have one more request!"
"Speak," Yun Xu said, his expression becoming increasingly kind and gentle.
"Your Majesty, I want to see him, to see how he grovels before me, begging for mercy!" Xiao Jin's expression was contorted with agitation. "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will certainly not jeopardize your important plans!"
Yun Xu glanced at Xiao Jin with complicated emotions, only to find that Xiao Jin was already immersed in her own world and completely unaware of her scrutiny.