Feng Jiangduo had no idea what was happening, and seeing Zhenzhu glare at her, she became even more bewildered.
Wang Qingyao smiled and said to Zhenzhu, "Don't be like that. It has nothing to do with the County Princess. Someone was deliberately putting on a show for us just now."
Zhenzhu didn't understand. She saw Wang Qingyao's expression change rapidly. She had been so sad moments ago, but now, as soon as they were outside, she seemed like a different person, showing no resentment towards the Nan Ge County Princess.
"But clearly..."
She clearly heard the voices of the Prince and the County Princess! Could it be that the Princess Consort was deliberately trying to lull the Nan Ge County Princess into a false sense of security, and then planned to kill her when she was caught off guard?
Zhenzhu had a vivid imagination. Once the thought arose, all sorts of scenes flashed through her mind.
However, the Nan Ge County Princess was highly skilled in martial arts; even she couldn't defeat her. What if Her Majesty harmed the child?
Zhenzhu was terrified and desperately wanted to persuade Wang Qingyao to give birth first before settling scores with the Nan Ge County Princess.
While she was going through a thousand twists and turns in her mind, Wang Qingyao had already pulled Feng Jiangduo into the carriage and then poked her head out to call, "Come on up!"
Feng Jiangduo had been on the battlefield and was very sensitive to hostility and killing intent. In that brief moment, she felt Zhenzhu's murderous aura.
Seeing Zhenzhu glare at her with a stern face as she got into the carriage, Feng Jiangduo couldn't help but ask, "What happened? What did the Princess Consort mean just now when she said someone was deliberately putting on a show for you?"
Wang Qingyao replied, "We'll talk about it when everyone is here."
Zhenzhu asked, "Nan Ge County Princess, where did you go for so long just now?"
Feng Jiangduo said, "A young lady wanted me to spar with her, so I played a few rounds."
Zhenzhu scoffed.
Feng Jiangduo was speechless.
Wang Qingyao had already sent someone to inform Xiao Yun that she was returning first and asked him to come back early. She didn't mention anything specific, so Xiao Yun thought she was feeling unwell and left the banquet halfway through.
Xiao Mo had left even earlier, claiming he had business at his shop. Xiao Yun found it strange. No one was bothering him, so why was he leaving so early, and looking quite displeased?
Upon returning to the Prince's mansion, Xiao Yun discovered that Wang Qingyao was perfectly fine and had summoned Xiao Mo and Feng Jiangduo to Kangping Courtyard. Only he was missing.
The atmosphere was somewhat strange, though he couldn't quite pinpoint why.
After he sat down, Wang Qingyao slowly recounted the day's events.
Xiao Mo's expression changed, and he looked at Wang Qingyao, "Did Eldest Sister-in-law hear it too?"
Wang Qingyao nodded, "You heard it too, didn't you?"
Xiao Mo realized something was amiss at this point and nodded.
Xiao Yun and Feng Jiangduo looked shocked and bewildered. Seeing the situation, Xiao Yun guessed there was more to it. Moreover, his Princess Consort had an incredibly strong sense of intuition; she must have already sensed it wasn't him.
He wasn't worried.
Feng Jiangduo, however, didn't know. She looked at Xiao Mo, then at Wang Qingyao, and said, "I didn't."
She slammed her hand on the table, filled with anger, "Who is playing these tricks? I must find out!"
"Calm down, calm down," Wang Qingyao soothed her. "I know it wasn't you. Actually, there was a dog hole in the wall at that time. I crawled on the ground and saw that there was only one man in the courtyard, role-playing and imitating Feng Jiangduo's and Xiao Mo's voices."
Zhenzhu, who was serving nearby, heard this and her eyes widened. When had the Princess Consort crawled through a dog hole to watch? Was there a dog hole in that wall? How did she not know?
Zhenzhu fell into self-doubt.
Xiao Mo visibly relaxed, "There are people with such vocal talents who can imitate various voices with uncanny accuracy."
Wang Qingyao glanced at him, "The imitation was very good. If I hadn't seen it through the dog hole, I would have believed it was real!"
A blush crept onto Xiao Mo's stern face, and he coughed a few times, feeling guilty.
"Did you... see the person's appearance?" Xiao Yun asked.
Wang Qingyao nodded. She was holding a piece of paper underneath her hand. She flipped it over and showed it to them.
"I drew it earlier."
The drawing depicted a middle-aged man in his thirties, lean, with ordinary features, not particularly striking.
Xiao Yun took a glance, folded the drawing, and tucked it into his sleeve. "I'll have someone investigate."
"There are some clues," Wang Qingyao said. "Investigate Wei Yu and the people from Xia Kingdom."
Feng Jiangduo looked up at her. Wang Qingyao smiled, "I only have a few enemies, so it's either one of them. And they brought up marital relationships, something only a woman would do."
Looking at it this way, Princess Yin Yue seemed more suspicious.
"Alright, I'll go out and investigate," Xiao Yun said.
"Xiao Mo," Feng Jiangduo suddenly spoke, "Don't you trust me?"
"I..."
"Hmph."
As soon as Xiao Mo uttered one word, Feng Jiangduo snorted coldly and walked away. Xiao Mo quickly chased after her to explain.
Not long after they left, the table that Feng Jiangduo had just slammed let out a creak, and then, to everyone's horrified gaze, it fell apart...