Upon hearing this, Princess Min Si took a closer look at the other party before smiling and saying, "No rush. I never imagined that Your Highness would do such a thing as keeping a mistress in a golden house when I have only been away for two months."
Qiu Lanxi felt that the other party's attitude seemed a bit strange. After all, she didn't think that the other party had only suddenly learned about such a sensational matter, but she still said it like that.
She became more cautious. It would be too impolite to talk to the other person while sitting on the swing. Although it would be inappropriate for someone of her status to greet her in any way, she couldn't completely ignore it.
But the swing couldn't be stopped at will. Just as Qiu Lanxi was about to help Chun Su down, Princess Min Si reached out her hand first.
Qiu Lanxi thought for a moment, then placed one hand on each person's hand before getting down and said, "Thank you, Princess Minsi."
"What are you doing?"
Hearing Yan Qingli's voice, Qiu Lanxi looked at her hand that was on Princess Minsi's hand and had a strange feeling that she had been caught in an affair.
Before she could speak, Princess Min Si's voice, slightly choked with emotion, rang out: "Shao Guang."
This voice, so melodious and sweet, carries a hint of hidden affection, a touch of longing, and the rest is the overwhelming excitement of finally seeing the person she has been yearning for day and night. It's easy to imagine how difficult it must have been for her during the days they couldn't meet, so that she couldn't control her emotions upon hearing his voice.
Qiu Lanxi couldn't help but smile, feeling that she herself seemed to have gained some insight. Previously, the Princess Danxiang seemed to have some feelings for Yan Qingli that she herself hadn't even realized, but this one was probably well aware of it.
She glanced at Yan Qingli and couldn't help but click her tongue softly.
“Minsi,” Yan Qingli said calmly, “why didn’t you come back to the manor and instead came here? Your mother will scold you for not being home again if she finds out.”
She was clearly unmoved by the other person's affectionate call, calmly shifting her gaze. "What brings you out today, Qingqing?"
As she spoke, she walked over and reached out to adjust the hairpin that was slipping slightly outwards from her temple.
Qiu Lanxi smiled and said, "Perhaps this is fate."
"Hmm?" Yan Qingli didn't understand what she meant and inexplicably felt that it was probably not a good thing. She didn't think much of it and just said, "Today - I will go back for dinner later. Min Si and I have some important matters to discuss. If you are hungry, you can eat first."
"Then I won't wait for Your Highness." Qiu Lanxi completely ignored what she had said before. There was no way she would go hungry waiting for Yan Qingli. She herself said it was late, so it must be very late. That's why she wouldn't wait for her.
Yan Qingli smiled upon hearing this, not taking it to heart, and then looked at Princess Minsi: "Let's go."
Once outside the garden, Yan Qingli's smile faded slightly. Princess Minsi glanced back before saying, "I remember that golden hairpin with a phoenix and pearl in its beaded ornament was a gift from the Emperor when you came of age, wasn't it? You yourself wouldn't even wear it, yet you let her wear it to play with?"
Unaware that her tone was off, Yan Qingli calmly said, "You have plenty of more exquisite hairpins in your collection, and you've taken a liking to this one?"
“I have a peacock-shaped gold hairpin with a pearl in its beak; you may take it if you like.”
"It was just a casual remark." Princess Min Si's smile froze for a moment. If she wore a phoenix while he wore a peacock, wouldn't that make him look inferior?
Princess Minsi glanced at Yan Qingli with a gloomy look in her eyes, thinking that Yan Qingli probably hadn't thought of these things.
Qiu Lanxi was unaware that the hairpin she had rejected because she thought it was too vulgar had been used by Yan Qingli to present to the emperor. After returning to the inner courtyard, she immediately ordered the kitchen to serve the meal before asking with great interest, "Is Princess Minsi on good terms with His Highness?"
If the relationship is bad, would someone go to the inner courtyard without notifying you?
Chun Su stood before Qiu Lanxi with her eyes lowered. Upon hearing this, she glanced at Qiu Lanxi before saying, "Princess Min Si was the companion chosen by His Majesty for His Highness. She is quite quick-witted."
Qiu Lanxi rested her chin on her hand, gave a thoughtful "oh," and thought with a hint of gossip, "Is this the legendary childhood sweetheart?"
Actually, if you think about it carefully, if you were to say who Yan Qingli would end up with in the future, it would probably be someone like Princess Minsi. She would be someone who shares common interests with Yan Qingli in their careers, can share her burdens, and be an excellent and virtuous wife. On the other hand, someone like her, a "pretty face," would probably be more suitable as cannon fodder to increase the feelings between the two of them and make the other person jealous.
Unfortunately, Yan Qingli clearly had no feelings for Princess Minsi beyond friendship, and might not even know that she had a crush on him.
No, maybe I know now.
After all, she hadn't figured it out before, but now she's completely gay, unlike Princess Danxiang who was completely unaware of it and chose to marry into the royal palace as a concubine in order to secure a future.
Chun Su had already told her when she was bored that the events of the Lantern Festival soon reached the ears of Emperor Qinghe. Not only was Prince Fu reprimanded, but Prince Jin was also ordered to bring back the disgraced Princess Danxiang to his residence as a concubine. It is said that she was not very popular with Prince Jin.
Seeing Qiu Lanxi lost in thought, Chun Su lowered her head even further. Chun Su had never paid attention to the rumors outside, but now she felt that the other party was probably a little uncomfortable with the existence of Princess Min Si, and she just hoped that she would not do anything foolish because of it.
After all, His Highness intended to bestow her upon Qiu Lanxi, so their fates were intertwined; if he failed to dissuade her, he himself would also suffer the consequences.
Unaware that her gossipy nature had been misunderstood, Qiu Lanxi even ate an extra half bowl of rice with a great appetite, showing no concern whatsoever about discovering that she might have a rival in love. Moreover, if Yan Qingli really wanted to cheat, could she possibly stop him?
No, perhaps in the other person's eyes, this doesn't count as cheating at all. After all, there are strict rules between men and women, but not between women.
Qiu Lanxi had a big dream: if that day ever came, she could use Yan Qingli's guilt and pity to choose a good place to retire.
Chapter 25
As she had predicted, Yan Qingli arrived much later than usual, but not too late. At least she returned just as Qiu Lanxi finished eating and was about to clear the table.
To be honest, Qiu Lanxi thought she was going to eat with that Princess Minsi. After all, she came to see her as soon as she returned to the capital, so she should stay for a meal. So she was a little surprised to see Yan Qingli return so early.
Yan Qingli glanced at the food and was surprised that the other party hadn't actually waited for her.
Qiu Lanxi greeted him without changing her expression: "Didn't Your Highness say you would be back later?" As she spoke, she glanced at the leftover food on the table, "What should we do now? Should I have it removed and served again?"
Yan Qingli said nonchalantly, "That's fine."
After speaking, she sat down casually, adhering to the rule of not speaking while eating or sleeping, so the atmosphere did not feel heavy even though no one was talking.
Qiu Lanxi smiled and served her some food, saying, "Your Highness, please eat more."
Yan Qingli glanced at the table and saw that the vegetables she had picked up hadn't been touched much. She didn't eat them herself, but that didn't stop her from picking them up for others. She wondered where she had developed such a picky eating habit.
Qiu Lanxi smiled and rested her chin on her hand, watching without feeling that there was anything wrong with her behavior. After all, only she understood the meaning behind it.
To be honest, Qiu Lanxi was indeed a little upset. It wasn't that she had fallen for Yan Qingli, but rather that she felt uncomfortable. After all, Yan Qingli was getting close to the other person, and she couldn't even bring herself to tell them to be mindful of social distancing.
Given Qiu Lanxi's values developed in modern times, she would naturally be disgusted by all of this.
In modern times, even if Qiu Lanxi were gay, she would still have various requirements for a partner. She would only date someone who met her psychological expectations. But only independent people who are loved have the right to be picky. Now, she is not only not independent, but she can only pursue love. She has to consider whether the other person will be dissatisfied if she reveals even a trace of emotion. So what else can she say?
So, despite her displeasure, Qiu Lanxi knew there was nothing she could do. Moreover, given their respective statuses, even if they wanted to do something, they couldn't. Therefore, Qiu Lanxi could still endure it.
Yan Qingli never expected that the mere arrival of a friend from the manor would make Qiu Lanxi think so much. She was completely unaware that something was amiss. When she saw the other woman looking at her, she subconsciously smiled and thought that this was what it meant to be "a feast for the eyes."
For this reason, she even ate half a bowl more rice. Qiu Lanxi thought strangely, "The other party didn't even stay to eat with her, yet she's in such a good mood?"
After finishing her meal, Yan Qingli washed her hands before getting up to pick up a book.
Qiu Lanxi sat down next to her and asked curiously, "Your Highness, has Princess Minsi left?"
Yan Qingli hummed in agreement. Princess Minsi didn't actually want to leave, but Yan Qingli persuaded her to come back. After all, it was one thing not to go home immediately to welcome her back after a long journey, but to eat and stay at someone else's place was really inappropriate and would inevitably lead to gossip.
Although it wasn't the first time she had done something like this, Yan Qingli had always assumed that she simply didn't like going home. After all, her stepmother was unkind and her biological father didn't love her, so there was really no need for her to go back.
This time, Yan Qingli clearly sensed something, so she couldn't let him stay. Men and women should avoid suspicion after they grow up because of their future marriage. Since she had no interest in men, she felt she should avoid suspicion among women to avoid misunderstandings.
Yan Qingli knew very well that after she had taken Qiu Lanxi away, she would have to keep her distance from her former close friends. Otherwise, even if her friends didn't think much of it, their parents would have sleepless nights because of it.
After all, given her status, they could only pretend not to know what she really wanted to do in private.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Lanxi blinked and asked, "Does Your Highness have many close friends like Princess Minsi?"
Although Qiu Lanxi felt that Yan Qingli was not the kind of person who would use other people's feelings to do things for her, the fact that the two women she had met so far both seemed to have some affection for her made Qiu Lanxi a little uneasy.
The proportion of homosexuals in the population is very small, but Yan Qingli seems to have found one right around her, which makes Qiu Lanxi wonder if she did it on purpose.
After all, once these women get married, they will inevitably reminisce about the past whenever their lives are not going well. At that time, it would be easy for Yan Qingli to do whatever he wants with them.
These women, barring any unforeseen circumstances, would all marry into the main family and hold significant power. If they were to side with outsiders even slightly, Yan Qingli could use this to find incriminating evidence against those officials or find ways to cooperate with them. At the very least, by having these women whisper in his ear, he could at least reduce some of their hostility towards Yan Qingli.
In this process, Yan Qingli didn't need to put in much effort at all; she simply used emotions. This kind of fast track, comparable to using back doors, makes it difficult for many to uphold principles and resist temptation.
Yan Qingli finally noticed something was wrong, feeling that the other person's gaze was strange.
She rolled up the book, a little annoyed, and tapped Qiu Lanxi on the ground: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Qiu Lanxi covered her head and pouted, "I was the one who offended you."
Her eyelashes were lowered, obscuring the expression in her eyes. She didn't seem convinced. Yan Qingli calmly explained, "There are indeed people in the capital who are involved with shamans. If I really had something going on with them, why would there have been no word of it before you?"
For the people of the capital, no one knows for sure which young master went to a brothel in his youth, which young lady frequented a brothel, or which brother had homosexual tendencies. But in private, everyone knows the truth, and it's impossible to keep it a secret.
Especially for someone like Yan Qingli, who is highly regarded in the capital, countless eyes are watching her. Even if she tries to hide, she will inevitably reveal her flaws. Therefore, Qiu Lanxi's guess was completely unfounded.
She was never a womanizer.
Qiu Lanxi said innocently, "I didn't say that Your Highness was a womanizer."
Yan Qingli thought with amusement, "They even talked about flirting, and they still call that not having any impure thoughts?"
"Of course I believe Your Highness," Qiu Lanxi said, regardless of what she thought in her heart. She always stood by Qiu Lanxi's side. She always left room for maneuver in her words, and she was not ashamed to argue now. "But how does Your Highness know that they don't have such intentions?"
Qiu Lanxi felt that if Yan Qingli had always been straight, those people probably wouldn't even be able to be friends with her. Perhaps she could keep it a secret for a lifetime, but now, many of them might be starting to get restless.
If Qiu Lanxi can do it, why can't they?
Even Yan Qingli's past closeness to them could be interpreted in her own mind, completely disbelieving that their friendship was purely platonic.
Yan Qingli: "…………" She frowned in confusion, "What do their thoughts have to do with me?"
Apart from Qiu Lanxi, she has never revealed any such intentions to anyone else, nor has she led them into this path. If they are also involved in mirror polishing, then it is their own choice. Just because they were once close, does that mean she has to take responsibility for it?
"Because Your Highness is too good. I'm afraid they might not be able to control themselves." Qiu Lanxi's gaze fell on her fiery eyebrows and eyes, but she didn't feel struck by them. Perhaps it was because she wasn't very lesbian, so she didn't understand at all how Yan Qingli attracted them.
But in her previous life, Qiu Lanxi had treated a straight woman. For some reason, that unfortunate girl was particularly attracted to lesbians. Every woman who wanted to be friends with her wanted to be with her, which caused the straight woman to develop psychological trauma. Even after she was cured, she would still complain to her every now and then. It was true that from wealthy women in their forties and fifties to young girls who had just come of age, there was no one who didn't want to get close to her.
In her past life, Qiu Lanxi, who ran a clinic, often marveled at the wonders of the world. However, none of her friends had such examples. Now, she discovered that Yan Qingli seemed to be showing a similar trend, which troubled Qiu Lanxi.
What if someone gets jealous of her existence and secretly plots to harm her?
Qiu Lanxi was filled with worry. She had thought she was almost at peace, but now she felt that things were in great danger again.
Seeing her so worried, Yan Qingli couldn't help but smile. She wanted to say that there weren't many people in the world who shared her interests, but such words would obviously not soothe the other person's unease.
She reached out and touched Qiu Lanxi's cheek, saying gently, "Don't worry, my dear. Even if they have designs on me, as long as I have no designs on them, how could they possibly take me away from you?"
Yan Qingli had seen many women in the capital who hated the 'vixens' who stole their husbands, but in her opinion, if the husbands were not interested, how could they possibly 'lose control of their feelings'?
Therefore, in her opinion, Qiu Lanxi has absolutely no need to worry about these things. Unless she changes her mind, no one will have a chance.
Yan Qingli's assurance made Qiu Lanxi pause for a moment. She glanced at him again before lowering her eyes and smiling, "With Your Highness's words, I am relieved."
However, she didn't take it seriously. She didn't think it was a guarantee, but rather that Yan Qingli was giving her a heads-up. After all, whether she meant it or not was up to her. It wouldn't be easy for Yan Qingli to deceive the world, but it would be easy for her to deceive Yan Qingli.
Qiu Lanxi doesn't believe that someone who is willing to push her out as a tool has any deep affection or regret for her. People can like cats, dogs, and minks at the same time. Who says you can only like one kind of thing?
Yan Qingli thought she was truly relieved, so she said no more. She might not have liked Qiu Lanxi that much, but she certainly did like her. As for the others, she had no interest in them.
Yan Qingli reached out and stroked her hair before saying, "You're much better now. Father Emperor asked me to personally investigate Qiu Shi's disappearance, so it's really inconvenient to take you out. Also, I can't always take care of things at the mansion. From now on, you'll be in charge of managing this princess's mansion."
Qiu Lanxi's eyes widened in surprise: "Me?"
Yan Qingli hummed in agreement.
"But I've never learned any of this," Qiu Lanxi said, somewhat embarrassed.