Chapter 17
Qiu Chi and Yun Jing did not stay in the imperial palace for long before leaving.
Once they were in the carriage, Yun Jing’s brows furrowed tightly. “Didn’t I tell you not to be so arrogant in the palace? If this king hadn’t cut you off, do you know what the consequences would have been?”
“Even if you are highly skilled in martial arts, the imperial palace is not a place where you can act so brazenly. You can’t possibly take on an entire army by yourself.”
Yun Jing’s words would have been perfectly reasonable for anyone else, but they were useless when applied to Qiu Chi.
However, Yun Jing’s attitude did surprise her a little. “I’m surprised. You actually know how to show concern for me? That’s quite a change from yesterday. Is it because I’m not Cui Yueyue? But Cui Yueyue has no grievances with you, so what are you after? Was it just to use her to humiliate the Prime Minister’s Manor?”
Yun Jing’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he did not answer Qiu Chi’s question.
Bored, Qiu Chi decided to gossip. “You like Cui Mingyu, right? After seeing her act like that just now, it should have been enough for you to see her true colors, no? Or did you already know what she was really like but remain hopelessly devoted anyway?”
Cui Mingyu was, after all, the woman in Yun Jing’s heart. He couldn’t stand to hear her spoken of like this for more than a few sentences and retorted, “Mingyu wasn’t like this before. She used to be serene and gentle, exceedingly kind and generous. She’s only this way now because the Prime Minister is ambitious and forced her into the palace against her will.”
“Having to deal with the palace intrigue and feign civility with a man she doesn’t love—it’s not her fault.”
Qiu Chi looked at Yun Jing as if he were an idiot. “So you think she was acting that way just now because she was jealous, that she’s still in love with you?”
Yun Jing fell silent, and Qiu Chi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Meeting Yun Jing’s displeased gaze, Qiu Chi’s laughter grew louder. “So you think Cui Yueyue is truly favored? And you really don’t know how the imperial edict for your marriage to Cui Yueyue came about? It was your beloved Mingyu who personally requested it.”
Yun Jing clearly saw Cui Mingyu through a thick filter. Even after hearing all this, he still found a way to defend her. “Regarding that matter, Mingyu explained it to me…”
Before Yun Jing could continue, Qiu Chi interrupted him, finishing his sentence for him. “Did Cui Mingyu tell you that Cui Yueyue had been in love with you for a long time and begged her tearfully, just wanting to be with you? And that even though her own heart was breaking, for her sister’s sake, she endured the pain and agreed to her request, which is why she asked the Emperor to grant the marriage?”
Yun Jing fell silent once again.
Qiu Chi couldn’t help but sneer, “Is there a hole in your brain?”
Yun Jing frowned at her, displeased. Qiu Chi continued, “You’re a king, yet you just take Cui Mingyu’s one-sided story at face value without investigating. If that’s not having a hole in your brain, what is?”
“Not only do you have a hole in your brain, you’re also incredibly narcissistic. Do you really think everyone has to like you? If you had just investigated a little, tsk.”
Qiu Chi recalled a summary she had seen on the internet in the last world: The male leads in abuse novels are all blind and heartless. Despite possessing immense power, they insist on believing the words of the vicious female supporting character. Everything the villainess says is true, everything she does is right, all so they can cruelly abuse the female lead.
Qiu Chi felt this description fit Yun Jing perfectly.
Perhaps provoked by Qiu Chi, Yun Jing remained silent for the rest of the journey.
The carriage stopped at the entrance of King Jing’s Manor. Qiu Chi jumped down and, ignoring Yun Jing, walked directly away from the main gate.
Yun Jing got out of the carriage behind her and couldn’t help but frown. “Where are you going?”
“Just for a walk. Stop being so nosy.”
Qiu Chi was not just going for a walk. Cui Mingyu’s words today had thoroughly annoyed her. Since Yun Jing hadn’t directly retorted, it didn’t stop her from settling the score afterward.
She didn’t hit women, but she could have other women deal with her.
That’s right, she was going to send a woman to the Emperor.
And it would be the very woman whom Cui Yueyue had saved, only for her to turn around and seduce Yun Jing.
Yun Jing had only kept himself pure for Cui Mingyu in the beginning. After his first time with Cui Yueyue, he became thoroughly tainted.
Qiu Chi wandered the streets for a while and, sure enough, saw a woman of such pitiable beauty that she would stir anyone’s heart. She was kneeling on the ground, and on a piece of paper in front of her were four large characters: Selling myself to bury my father.
Burying her father was true, but so was taking the opportunity to latch onto a rich man. Cui Yueyue hadn’t met her today, but on the day she returned to her maiden home. She had stopped a dandy who was trying to force a transaction and brought the woman back to King Jing’s Manor.
Unfortunately, this person was an ungrateful wolf. Not only did she turn around and seduce Yun Jing, but she also told him about Cui Yueyue’s secret lover, completely ruining the man’s bright future and forcing him to leave the capital, never to be heard from again.
Qiu Chi walked up, lifted the woman’s chin to carefully examine her features, and smiled. “You’re quite beautiful. I have a path to wealth and glory here. Do you want it?”
Lian'er’s eyes trembled, and her voice was soft. “You jest, Madam. Lian'er only wishes to give her father a proper burial. If you are willing to help, Madam, Lian'er’s life is yours.”
A married woman’s hairstyle was different from an unmarried woman’s. Qiu Chi pursed her lips but ultimately didn’t correct the form of address.
She stood up and looked down at her. “I don’t want your life. Come with me.”
Because she had to enter the palace today, Qiu Chi was dressed in magnificent attire. Even if Lian'er was un discerning, she could tell that Qiu Chi was either rich or noble. She obediently stood up and followed behind Qiu Chi.
After burying Lian'er’s father, Qiu Chi didn’t take her back to the manor. Instead, she found an inn and said, “You’ll stay here for now. Tonight, I will send you into the palace. Once you’re inside, I don’t need to teach you what to do, do I?”
Lian'er adopted a gentle and submissive appearance, her eyes downcast. “Lian'er will certainly not disappoint you, Madam.”
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