Consort Jin had not expected to encounter Chu Qianli here.
She had just returned from the palace and had rushed to inquire about Chu Qianli's situation. After all, having done what she did, she wished this woman were already dead. Then she could claim it was a miscarriage and her own death, leaving no evidence. The abortifacient was not poison; miscarriages could be fatal. Who would be able to trace what she had given this wretch to consume?
However, after so many days with no news, she heard today that Chu Qianli had returned to the Duke's mansion. Consort Jin's information was a bit delayed, but upon hearing this news, she immediately returned. It was opportune, a chance encounter!
The little palace maid beside her saw Chu Qianli appear alive and well before her. Although she had prepared herself mentally beforehand, seeing her still made her legs tremble. The last time she saw Chu Qianli, she was covered in blood, lying on the ground. She had lost so much blood that she looked like she wouldn't survive. Yet, not only had she survived, but she was now so spirited. Only her complexion was slightly pale!
Chu Qianli also hadn't expected that on the very first day of her release from Qianyun Pavilion, she would run into this woman. Her sharp fingernails, from clenching her fists, almost dug into the flesh of her palm. But after a moment of stinging pain, the hatred in her eyes completely vanished. She even smiled at Consort Jin.
Consort Jin stumbled back a step. The little palace maid's heart lurched, her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground with a thud. "Your... Your Highness, she... she... has she gone mad?" They had caused Chu Qianli to miscarry, and yet, upon seeing them, Chu Qianli hadn't gone mad; instead, she had smiled at them? What did this mean? It was as if... as if they had seen a ghost!
"What... what do you want?" Consort Jin forced herself to stand steady, finally finding her voice. "Chu Qianli, I'm telling you, don't think you can threaten me with this! You sent Qian'er to poison Huaiyu, making you an accomplice!" "You are a murderer; Xuan'er will not believe a single word you say!"
"What?" Chu Qianli suddenly took a step forward. Consort Jin was so startled she almost screamed! Chu Qianli had done nothing, yet why was the smile on her lips so terrifying? "Stop! You, you don't come any closer! If you come any closer, I will... I will order your capture!"
Chu Qianli did indeed stop, not moving further. She merely looked at Consort Jin, her smile not mocking, not even cold. Her smile was somewhat gentle. Such a gentle smile, however, made Consort Jin and the little palace maid tremble with fear, feeling a terrifying sense of unease! What was this woman thinking? Her child was gone, yet why was her reaction so calm?
"Consort Jin, why are you so flustered? I haven't touched you, not even a finger. Don't falsely accuse me." Chu Qianli's words were light and casual, devoid of any emotion. There was no hatred, no anger, and no sarcasm. It was as if she genuinely didn't know what she had done to scare them so much.
Consort Jin retorted, "You know perfectly well what you've done!" "It's all your own doing. Don't think you can scare me; I won't be afraid of you!" Yes, she had no reason to fear her! How could Prince Xuan believe the words of an accomplice? Moreover, words were not evidence. She could also claim that Chu Qianli had a miscarriage on her own, and it had nothing to do with her. As for her visit to Chu Qianli that night, she had nothing in her hands when she entered. Those guards had not seen her carrying an abortifacient. If she didn't go to Prince Xuan to complain then, after so many days, what evidence could Chu Qianli possibly produce? Thinking this, Consort Jin's heart finally settled a little. She subconsciously patted her chest and looked at Chu Qianli again, having managed to calm herself.
"Don't think that Xuan'er releasing you now is out of pity; Xuan'er is merely kind-hearted!" "Is that so?" Chu Qianli continued to smile. She smiled softly, like a gentle breeze, without any aggression. However, she suddenly took another step forward.
"Ah!" The little palace maid, terrified, fell to the ground for the second time! Consort Jin was so angry she wanted to rush over and slap her! "How dare you scare me, I..."
"Mother Consort, what are you doing?" Feng Yexuan's clear voice came from the path not far behind Consort Jin. Consort Jin's heart lurched, and she almost knelt before him! How long had he been here? Had he heard what they had said? No, that, just now, what had they all said? In her panic and confusion, Consort Jin couldn't remember what she had actually said. She almost fainted. As for the little palace maid, she was trembling uncontrollably on the ground, unable to get up.
"What does this mean?" Feng Yexuan walked up to them, glancing at the maid lying on the ground, his brow furrowed. "Perhaps I used my powers again and knocked them down." Chu Qianli's words were not overly sarcastic, but the implication was indeed sarcastic. Feng Yexuan's expression immediately darkened. "If I recall correctly, her pressure points were sealed by me personally and have not been unblocked!" He hadn't expected that the same tactic would be used by different women! Facing Consort Jin now, he felt a surge of annoyance!
Consort Jin knew he had misunderstood and immediately explained, "No, Xuan'er, this consort did not say she attacked me; this consort did not mean that." "Then what about this palace maid who is lying on the ground for no reason?" Framing her? This maid was too audacious! Didn't she know whose territory this was! "Guards!" Feng Yexuan commanded, and two guards immediately arrived. "Your Highness!" "Take this maid..."
"Forget it." Chu Qianli looked at Feng Yexuan and said lightly, "She was just afraid of me. She didn't really intend to frame me, so why the heavy bloodshed?" Her gaze fell on Consort Jin. "Every wrong has its source, and every debt has its debtor. What can a little palace maid do?" "Your Highness, I am not feeling well. I bid you farewell." She walked past everyone, stepping away, indifferent to everything here. So calm, one might even say so dispirited, completely unlike her previous assertiveness. Had Qian'er's death truly impacted her so greatly? Why did she seem so listless in everything she did now? Looking again at the still trembling little palace maid and the clearly guilty and uneasy Consort Jin, a wave of irritation suddenly washed over Feng Yexuan. A very irritating wave!
"Mother Consort, if you still wish to move freely within my estate, please refrain from causing further trouble!" "Xuan'er, this consort truly did not..." But he had already left. Consort Jin was both angry and upset! This damned Chu Qianli, pretending to be detached from worldly affairs. Without doing anything, she had caused her impression in Xuan'er's heart to plummet once again! Every wrong has its source, and every debt has its debtor... these words were clearly a warning to her! Consort Jin remained very uneasy. What other tricks did she have up her sleeve?