A troop emerged from the Xuan Prince’s manor, swiftly surrounding Chu Qianli and Qian’er.
“Your Highness…” Qian’er clutched Chu Qianli’s sleeve, her face wary.
Qingming dismounted, scoffing coldly, “She is merely a concubine of the Prince. Call her ‘Your Highness’ again, and don’t blame me for being impolite!”
Qian’er, terrified, gritted her teeth, her grip tightening on Chu Qianli’s sleeve as she trembled.
“You only know how to bully young girls like her.”
Chu Qianli eyed Qingming, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. “You’re taking out your frustrations on Qian’er because you’re upset with me? Lord Qingming, you truly are… a coward.”
“You!” Qingming’s fists clenched instantly, his knuckles cracking.
“If you have the guts, hit me then!” Chu Qianli even leaned her face closer.
“If you’re incapable, then stop lingering in front of me and doing such disgusting things!”
Qingming hadn’t been this detestable before.
She wondered when his heart had completely fallen for Chu Huaiyu, leading him to harbor such deep hatred for her.
It was like a sickness!
Qingming’s fists tightened even more.
Qian’er, frightened, tugged at Chu Qianli, whispering, “Your… Highness, please stop talking…”
“What are you afraid of? He doesn’t dare to touch this young lady.”
Qingming indeed didn’t dare to touch her.
He had brought his men out merely to “escort” her back to the Duke’s manor.
Of course, this so-called escort, as she well knew, was in fact surveillance.
Were they afraid she would run away halfway?
They finally arrived at the Duke’s manor, but Qian’er was “invited” back to the Xuan Prince’s manor by Qingming, not allowed to accompany her.
Chu Qianli immediately headed for Chu Buqu’s chambers. However, in the courtyard, she encountered Chu Feixue, who was being blocked from entering.
The courtyard was swarming with imperial guards disguised as escorts.
With them present, Chu Buqu’s personal safety was, at least, not in question.
The current problem was, who had been consistently poisoning Chu Buqu?
Chu Qianli pondered the question as she walked into the courtyard.
Chu Feixue, seeing this, immediately stepped forward and blocked her path.
“Bitch, you dare to plant your people in Grandfather’s courtyard! You’re so brazenly holding Grandfather hostage, aren’t you afraid Father will report you to the Emperor?”
Chu Feixue had only wanted to see her grandfather but had been kept outside.
Yet, Chu Qianli could enter so openly!
Why?
She hadn’t forgotten being beaten at the Xuan Prince’s manor and lying in bed for over ten days. She hadn’t avenged that yet!
Seeing Chu Qianli now, she wished she could tear her apart.
Chu Qianli glanced at her indifferently, her expression blank.
“If Chu Hongtao had the guts to make a fuss, he would have reported to the Emperor long ago. Would he leave it to you to screech here?”
“You!”
“Move aside, I don’t have time to argue with you.” Chu Qianli gave her a push.
Chu Feixue sidestepped, infuriated, and raised her hand to slap Chu Qianli’s face.
“You are barbaric and domineering! You want to harm Grandfather and everyone in our Duke’s manor! I won’t let you off!”
She was truly furious.
Qingming was present, and Chu Feixue knew that the Xuan Prince’s men would never allow her to harm this bitch.
But to her surprise, as she raised her hand to slap Chu Qianli, Qingming, standing nearby, remained unmoved!
As expected, Qingming sided with Chu Huaiyu, and he must have been displeased with Chu Qianli as well!
Seeing this, Chu Feixue’s spirits lifted.
She didn’t hold back her slap at all, instead increasing the force mid-way.
But unfortunately, her martial arts were still far inferior to Chu Qianli’s.
Chu Qianli didn’t even bat an eyelid. As Chu Feixue was about to hit her, she lightly lifted her leg.
Chu Feixue felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.
Her stomach took a kick, and with a thud, she was sent sprawling onto the ground.
“Ah…” Chu Feixue clutched her stomach, and as she looked up, she inadvertently saw Qingming’s furrowed brow.
It was clear that Qingming also disliked Chu Qianli’s character.
Seeing Chu Qianli about to enter the courtyard, Chu Feixue, without a second thought, lunged forward and grabbed her leg.
“Fifth Sister! Fifth Sister, I was wrong, please let me see Grandfather! I just want to see Grandfather!”
Chu Qianli looked down and said coldly, “Let go!”
“I’m truly just worried about Grandfather’s condition, Fifth Sister, please, please don’t treat us like this! I am Grandfather’s granddaughter too!”
She cried mournfully.
However, Chu Qianli’s eyes remained unmoved.
She didn’t trust anyone in this family!
“Let go!” Chu Qianli lifted her leg, intending to kick her away.
Qingming’s expression darkened, and he finally couldn’t help but get angry, “Miss Li, I advise you to be kind!”
He stepped forward and, as Chu Qianli raised her leg, gently pushed her.
Chu Qianli hadn’t expected him to actually dare to lay a hand on her, and instinctively raised her hand to block.
But she forgot that she had raised the arm on her injured shoulder blade.
With just a gentle push, Chu Qianli’s face turned pale from the pain, and she instinctively recoiled.
But Chu Feixue was still clinging to her leg. With this movement, her balance shifted, and she fell backward.
Chu Feixue seized the opportunity, pulling hard on her leg.
With a crack, this time she fell heavily!
Qingming was startled and immediately moved to help her up.
Although he found Chu Qianli disagreeable, the Prince’s orders were not to be disobeyed; he could not let Chu Qianli get hurt.
However, before he could reach her, he heard Chu Feixue crying, “Fifth Sister, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, it’s all my fault!”
“I can’t compensate you enough.” With a thud, she knelt down and actually kowtowed.
Qingming changed direction and helped her up. “What is your fault? You only wanted to see the Duke!”
Such a filial daughter, as kind as Miss Huaiyu!
Last time, it was all because of Chu Qianli that she was punished by the Prince!
It was all the fault of that vixen!
Qingming turned back, coldly watching Chu Qianli get up, his eyes no longer showing any unease.
What was a little suffering for someone like her?
It was all her own doing!
Chu Qianli got up from the ground, brushed the dust off her clothes, endured the pain, and without another glance at the two, walked straight into the courtyard.
“Fifth Sister, let me go see Grandfather, please!”
Chu Feixue chased after her, and as before, two guards emerged from somewhere and blocked her.
Chu Feixue now saw clearly that these guards had clear duties, only protecting this courtyard.
They had no intention of protecting Chu Qianli.
Heh, this was interesting. These guards didn’t seem to be Chu Qianli’s people.
She wondered which influential figure she knew behind the scenes, who could lend her such powerful experts.
But, it was at most just a loan.
“Lord Qingming, I apologize, it’s all my fault for causing you trouble.”
Chu Feixue hid the smile in her eyes and, looking back at Qingming, immediately put on a worried expression.
“It’s all my fault.”
“It has nothing to do with you.” Qingming narrowed his eyes as he looked at the hidden experts in the courtyard.
“This woman is insidious and cunning. One day, the Prince will see through her true colors! And then, the Prince will no longer want her!”
Chu Feixue remembered something and immediately probed, “I heard the Emperor issued a secret decree, forbidding mention of the Prince’s three days of unconsciousness here? Then…”
She bit her lip and then asked softly, “Does the Prince know who was treating him during those three days?”