097. You're Jealous

Chapter 97

At this moment, Le Linglong immediately retorted, “Wretched maid! Who has been inciting you? How dare you slander me like this!”

The maid glanced at Le Linglong, her lips moving as if to speak, but she dared not say a word.

Le Yongcheng narrowed his eyes. What a misfortune for the family to have such a rebellious daughter like Le Linglong!

He said, “Linglong, shut up. You are not allowed to speak!”

Le Linglong knew she was about to lose, yet she clung to her last hope, crying out, “Father, someone is definitely framing me this time. Why would you rather believe a maid than your own daughter? How could your daughter ruin her own purity?”

Madam Xu hurriedly tugged on Le Yongcheng’s sleeve, her eyes red. “Yes, sir, why don’t you believe Linglong? Now that she’s in this state, why won’t you seek justice for her?”

The mother and daughter were still protesting their innocence, but Consort Xian had grown impatient.

Now that it was proven that Yu Nanfeng was innocent, yet this mother and daughter still refused to see their mistake—what justice were they asking for? It was her son who deserved justice!

Consort Xian stepped forward, “You! Are the things you’re saying true?!”

The maid, already trembling with fear, lowered her head under Consort Xian’s interrogation and said, “Everything I said is true. It was indeed the Second Miss’s people who sent me to buy the incense. I don’t know anything else; that’s all I know.”

At this moment, the Minister of Justice said coldly, “It’s a pity that Cuiling, Second Miss Le’s personal maid, accidentally drowned a few days ago. How convenient.”

Le Linglong’s face turned pale again.

She had clearly sent Cuiling to buy the incense and then killed her, so the blame would not fall on her.

But now, unexpectedly, there was a third-ranking maid causing trouble!

Consort Xian smiled coldly, “What a coincidence! Your Majesty, the truth must be clear by now. Feng’er will not suffer this injustice! As for Le Linglong, daring to frame a prince of the realm, her crime is unforgivable!”

Madam Xu immediately knelt down. The truth had been exposed, and it was difficult to reverse the situation.

She could only say, “Your Majesty, this was the doing of a villain! It has nothing to do with Linglong!”

Everyone watched coldly, as it seemed she was reaping what she had sown.

Le Qianxue glanced over, feeling that Madam Xu still had some conscience left. Yet, scheming against Yu Nanfeng for wealth and glory was indeed unjustifiable.

The emperor’s face darkened. He looked at Le Yongcheng, then at Yu Nanfeng, and finally said, “Guards! Take Le Linglong and Madam Xu to the imperial prison!”

Consort Xian was somewhat shocked. “Your Majesty, shouldn’t Le Linglong be severely punished?”

The emperor’s mood seemed sour as he replied, “I will deal with it as I see fit.”

Consort Xian pursed her lips and only responded with a nod, saying nothing further.

She then approached Yu Nanfeng, helping him up with a motherly air. At this moment, Empress Yang spoke sourly, “Though he was framed, I wonder if the Fourth Prince truly harbored such intentions.”

Yu Nanfeng had by now seen through Empress Yang’s true nature and only coldly frowned.

Everyone saw that the matter was settled, and the emperor, visibly weary, waved his hand and departed.

But as he passed by Le Qianxue, he admonished, “Snow, you shouldn’t have come to the palace today to trouble yourself.”

Le Qianxue replied, “I will not trouble anyone, Your Majesty.”

After the emperor left, the crowd dispersed, tired of the farce.

---

Zhan Lianjing had intended to find Le Qianxue but saw that she ignored him and instead approached Yu Nanfeng.

“The Fourth Prince is slightly injured. Consort Xian, please have Master Yuan Tianci examine him,” Le Qianxue said.

Yuan Tianci added, “But I do charge a consultation fee.”

Consort Xian smiled, “I will certainly pay. Thank you, Master Yuan.”

Zhan Lianjing’s face darkened, but Le Qianxue seemed oblivious as she followed Consort Xian’s group.

His hands gripped the wheelchair’s armrests tightly. Haoyue sensed that he was ready to kill.

Yu Zhiyang was more perceptive and smiled slightly before following them.

Le Qianxue walked slowly, feigning weakness; the act had to be convincing.

Yu Zhiyang kept pace, smiling softly. “Thank you for your help just now.”

Le Qianxue’s voice was faint. “You threw the ball to me. How could I not catch it?”

“I only want to save my fourth brother. He is innocent. Doesn’t he deserve justice?” Yu Zhiyang said.

Le Qianxue pondered briefly before replying, “But the world often works like this. This time, I happened to be there to help him. What about next time? Not everyone is so lucky to have help. Besides, the Third Prince is too merciful—helping even his enemies among his brothers.”

Yu Zhiyang said, “I’m not the type to pit family against family. Anyway, this time I owe you.”

Le Qianxue smiled. “Then I only ask one thing: don’t reveal my identity.”

He paused but then smiled again. “Alright. Actually, I promised you when you treated Yan Luoyu.”

“That time was a trap. It doesn’t count,” Le Qianxue said.

Yu Zhiyang remained gentle and refined. “There won’t be a next time.”

Le Qianxue nodded but did not take it too seriously; promises are often unreliable.

At the Fourth Prince’s palace, Yuan Tianci examined him and prescribed medicine.

Le Qianxue, bored, casually glanced around.

Yu Zhiyang noticed her calligraphy and paintings, then quietly asked, “Where is Yuan Feng? When do you plan to hand him over?”

This was what Yu Zhiyang had been investigating. Because of this matter, their friendship could never return to what it once was.

Le Qianxue kept looking at the wall scrolls and said, “It’s not that I want to deal with him, but the real heir of the Yuan family wants to. I have no choice.”

Yu Zhiyang was stunned. The main branch of the Yuan family had been wiped out. How could there still be an heir?

He stared at Le Qianxue, full of doubt. She then turned and said, “Yuan Feng isn’t very capable. You’d better try to win over the real heir.”

Yu Zhiyang guessed that Yuan Feng’s life was in danger. “Who is this person?”

Le Qianxue smiled. “I’m not telling you. You’ll have to find out yourself.”

Yu Zhiyang smiled faintly. “Playing hide and seek with me? Did Prince Zhan teach you that?”

Le Qianxue frowned; she disliked hearing Zhan Lianjing’s name.

She said, “I have nothing to do with him. He’s his own person; I’m mine.”

Just then, Yuan Tianci called out, “Qianxue, let’s go.”

Le Qianxue responded with a hum and walked toward him.

Yu Zhiyang stayed behind, narrowing his eyes, then smiled. No wonder Zhan Lianjing looked so grim earlier—they had fallen out.

This would be interesting.

---

Consort Xian rewarded Yuan Tianci generously as thanks, and Le Qianxue also received some jewelry.

Yu Nanfeng, still injured, chased after Le Qianxue.

“Qianxue!” he called out, “Thank you for believing in me today and helping me…”

No one else believed him. He was grateful to those who did.

Le Qianxue nodded slightly. Yu Nanfeng had been stabbed by Le Linglong before and framed this time as well—he had suffered enough.

She said, “I’m not trusting you. I only speak according to the evidence.”

Yu Nanfeng smiled softly. “Then thanks to you and Master Yuan.”

Yuan Tianci, ever the money-minded doctor, said, “No need to thank me. You’ve already paid.”

Le Qianxue laughed. “Master Yuan, you’re shameless.”

The two bantered as they left the palace. The general’s mansion was in disgrace, shrouded in gloom. Le Yongcheng locked himself away upon returning.

Le Qianxue felt helpless—what could she do? It was all because Le Linglong had caused this mess.

Yuan Tianci counted coins without looking up. “Qianxue, I think you shouldn’t have exposed Le Linglong. She only wanted to marry into the royal family. The Fourth Prince’s actions won’t affect him much—it’s just another woman. But for Le Linglong, it’s different. The emperor will surely have her head.”

Le Qianxue wiped off her makeup, revealing a rosy complexion and a spirited look.

She said, “Wrong is wrong. She is malicious. The Fourth Prince is stubborn; didn’t you see he nearly wanted to die? If she wanted a good husband, she should have used her true abilities—not these illegitimate means.”

Yuan Tianci pondered and nodded. “That’s true. It’s just that she has ill intent. My father taught me that medicine is to save lives, not to harm. As a doctor, one must distinguish right from wrong.”

Le Qianxue acknowledged this quietly. She wondered how Yin Susu was doing and missed her somewhat.

Just then, Hua Tao entered with a message. “Miss, it’s from Prince Zhan’s residence.”

Le Qianxue opened it. The handwriting looked like Zhan Lianjing’s.

“Dinner at Prince Zhan’s tonight.” Yuan Tianci peeked and smiled, “Oh, Prince Zhan invited you to dinner!”

Le Qianxue casually set the note aside. “I refuse. I’m dining with my father at the general’s mansion tonight.”

Yuan Tianci looked at her. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Le Qianxue raised an eyebrow. “Yuan Tianci, why don’t you go treat that girl, Yu Yao?”

“You’re not going?” Yuan Tianci said with a knowing tone, “I see—you’re jealous!”