"I told you, this is a gift for the Prince. I'm not here to trade with him."
Chu Qianli finished speaking, turned away from the desk, and sat down to the side.
Her tone was sincere, devoid of any sarcasm.
"Thank you for sending my grandfather back to the Duke's mansion."
She didn't know how he managed to get her grandfather out of the palace without angering the Emperor.
However, she estimated that Feng Yexuan must have reached some sort of agreement with the Emperor.
Ultimately, she felt she should express her gratitude.
Feng Yexuan examined the scroll again before putting it away.
"Did Fulong send Leng Ji to bring you this news?"
"Mm," she nodded, knowing there was no need to hide it.
Of course, she didn't suspect Leng Ji of betraying her by telling Feng Yexuan about her affairs.
While Leng Ji was absolutely loyal to Feng Yexuan, for something as trivial as this, Leng Ji would at least show her a modicum of decency.
Unless, of course, she did something to harm Feng Yexuan.
Chu Qianli had no doubt that if her actions were detrimental to Feng Yexuan, Leng Ji would unhesitatingly stand by Feng Yexuan's side.
Leng Ji was his man, and always had been.
Feng Yexuan placed the scroll back on the desk and looked at her again.
The woman's expression remained serene, as gentle as the breeze. Her eyes, which once held arrogance, now held a sense of calm.
She had grown noticeably thinner and more tranquil in just a few days.
"What do you want?" he suddenly asked.
Chu Qianli looked at him, finding his cautiousness amusing.
However, her mood wasn't particularly good lately, and she couldn't bring herself to smile.
After a moment of thought, she said, "If you truly want me to ask for something to seem normal, then can the Prince allow me to return to the Duke's mansion to see my grandfather?"
... The next morning, Leng Ji personally escorted Chu Qianli back to the Duke's mansion.
"You don't need to follow me. Qing Ming is no longer by the Prince's side, and he needs people around him. You shouldn't leave him."
"Miss..."
"This is the best opportunity for you to gain the Prince's favor. Don't let others take advantage of it."
"Miss Li, this..." Leng Ji blushed.
He had been thinking the same thing.
Everyone strives for advancement.
Now that Qing Ming had become the lowest-ranking guard, he was the Prince's most capable confidant.
The tasks that Qing Ming used to handle were now largely assigned to him.
By working hard to prove himself at this time, he would naturally gain the Prince's trust.
Who wouldn't want to be the Prince's most trusted subordinate?
"But the Prince said..."
"The Prince only said for you to escort me here. He didn't say you had to guard me the entire time."
Chu Qianli looked up at the words "Duke's Mansion" and said faintly, "Grandfather is back. As long as he recovers, they won't dare to bully me."
"Miss Li..." Leng Ji looked at her thin profile and sighed silently.
Suddenly, he felt a sense of melancholy.
"Come pick me up in the evening. I promise I won't run around... Besides, I can't run away, can I?"
She stepped forward and ascended the stairs.
After watching her enter, Leng Ji cupped his hands in a salute and turned to leave.
He had many things to attend to; he was indeed very busy.
He didn't want to harm Qing Ming, nor would he kick him while he was down, given their years of brotherhood.
However, Qing Ming's current disfavor with the Prince was an established fact.
If he didn't make an effort, someone else would inevitably replace Qing Ming's position.
Chu Qianli walked into the Duke's mansion and looked up. Everything before her was still so familiar.
Yet, inexplicably, there was a sense of things being familiar but changed.
All things come to an end.
Alas, even when the tree wishes for stillness, the wind will not cease. Someone always dislikes seeing you too quiet.
Before Chu Qianli could reach the courtyard of the Duke's mansion, Chu Feixue blocked her path.
Behind Chu Feixue stood another person.
Han Zhan.
Han Zhan felt somewhat uneasy when he arrived.
He had met Chu Feixue on the road, and upon learning of Chu Qianli's return, he had rushed over to inquire about Huaiyu's condition.
He hadn't expected to arrive at the same time as Chu Feixue.
Chu Qianli was petty and overbearing. Seeing them together, she would inevitably make some sarcastic remarks.
"Chu Qianli, how is my sister Huaiyu? You actually sent someone to poison her, you damned wretch!"
Chu Feixue was now full of arrogance and even raised her hand to strike.
Han Zhan hadn't expected this at first. Upon seeing it, he thought that given Chu Qianli's martial prowess, Chu Feixue's slap would have no effect on her.
Therefore, he paid no mind.
However, he hadn't anticipated that Chu Qianli today would be so fragile.
Chu Feixue's slap didn't land on Chu Qianli's face because Chu Qianli raised her hand to block it herself.
Yet, the force of the slap sent Chu Qianli tumbling to the ground.
Even Chu Feixue was surprised.
After a moment of stunned silence, Chu Feixue's expression immediately darkened, and she said displeasedly, "Bitch, you dare to put on an act in front of me!"
When Han Zhan saw Chu Qianli fall, he instinctively wanted to help her up.
But upon hearing Chu Feixue's words, his gaze towards Chu Qianli immediately turned colder.
When had Chu Qianli become so weak? It indeed seemed rather fake.
However, her demeanor today seemed... a little different from usual.
There was no hint of sarcasm on her lips, nor arrogance in her eyes.
Why did she seem so much quieter?
Chu Qianli got up from the ground, glanced at Chu Feixue, and then turned to leave.
She had been struck, yet she didn't retaliate and simply left?
It wasn't just Han Zhan who was baffled; even Chu Feixue was confused.
This was nothing like Chu Qianli's usual overbearing and arrogant personality!
In the past, she was foolish, both stupid and wicked!
Later, she seemed to have become less foolish, even considerably smarter. And just recently, she was smart, wicked, and arrogant.
Now, why had she suddenly become so timid and cowardly?
"Bitch! You still haven't answered my question. How is Huaiyu now? Why did you send someone to poison her?"
How could Chu Feixue let her leave?
She quickly caught up and blocked her path, saying, "Will you answer or not? If you don't, don't blame me for being rude. Han Zhan won't let you off either!"
Upon hearing this, Han Zhan felt a sense of aversion.
He didn't want to get involved in such a dispute.
The Xuan Prince's mansion had strict security, and the guards refused him entry, preventing him from obtaining any information.
He had only heard that Huaiyu's life had been saved, but he didn't know the specifics.
Therefore, he had come to ask.
However, he had no intention of making things difficult for Chu Qianli.
He disdained doing such a thing as harassing a woman.
Chu Qianli looked at Chu Feixue, then at Han Zhan, and said faintly, "Chu Huaiyu has woken up, but I'm not clear about her specific condition. I haven't seen her these past few days."
"As for why she was poisoned, I'm also unclear. If you don't believe me, feel free to investigate yourself. I have nothing more to say."