Chapter 66: 66. Chapter 66: Internal strife broke out!

66. Chapter 66: Internal strife broke out!

At the teahouse.

Lu Qingfan's eyes were filled with jealous hatred and venom, she stared fixedly at the approaching troop. But when she spoke to the person beside her, her gaze became calm.

She had always thought that she was the only woman capable of marrying into the Xie Family.

For this, she was proficient in all four arts: qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Even her family helped her build a reputation, earning her the title of Jingcheng's number one talented lady. Occasionally, when she met the Xie family's matriarch and eldest lady at banquets, she conducted herself appropriately and gained their favor.

Who could have imagined that a perfectly good marriage alliance would be snatched away!

Shen Yunyao, a girl from a small clan in a local town—what gives her the right?

"Senior Sister Fan, look, is that Princess Huanxi's Treading Snow?"

The big-eyed Miss Li Shanni of the An Guo Marquis Manor immediately spotted the distinctive horse in the troop—it was indeed Princess Huanxi's mount.

"That's right, it really is Treading Snow!"

Chu Yingying, the beloved granddaughter of the Duke of Chu, called out as well.

"How dare this country bumpkin girl steal the princess's Treading Snow!"

"Oh dear, the princess's Treading Snow is here, but where is the princess herself? Could she have been harmed?"

Chu Yingying's words seemed offhand, but in fact she was fanning the flames.

"How could that be!"

"Shen Yunyao is just a country bumpkin; even with ten times the courage, she wouldn't dare lay a hand on Princess Huanxi."

"She doesn't know the princess, but those palace guards would certainly recognize her!"

Lu Qingfan gave Chu Yingying a meaningful look.

Although she usually acted like close sisters with Chu Yingying, how could Lu Qingfan possibly look up to her?

Her pig-like body, seen daily, was nothing short of an eyesore to her.

Were it not for the need to maintain her reputation, Lu Qingfan would never say another word to Chu Yingying.

"Exactly, those guards should know the princess—so where has the princess gone?"

"Wasn't she going to cause trouble for Shen Yunyao?"

People sometimes, after telling lies too often, end up believing them themselves.

Princess Huanxi's affection for Xie Zian was originally just a rumor they spread.

But over time, even the three of them could no longer tell what was true and what was false.

"Yingying, say a little less, will you?"

Perhaps noticing Lu Qingfan's bad mood, Li Shanni spoke softly, interrupting Chu Yingying.

Chu Yingying glanced at her and said, "What did I say?"

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Yes, yes, you didn't say anything wrong."

Li Shanni was also quite speechless toward this fake friend who loved to play dumb.

But she is the Duke of Chu's most beloved granddaughter; even though she's fat and ugly, the Duke insists she's the spitting image of his granddaughter.

By comparison, the An Guo Marquis Manor is already a step below the Chu Duke's mansion, and she is merely the daughter of a concubine.

Although as a concubine's daughter she is still considered a legitimate daughter, compared to the children of the principal wife, she is always a step behind.

Moreover, Li Shanni isn't particularly favored by her father, the Marquis of An Guo, making her position in the manor rather awkward.

"Just, Lu Qingfan's mood is off—you, say a little less and let her have some peace."

"Tch, I think it's you who's in a bad mood!"

Chu Yingying snorted, "I know you two look down on me, thinking I'm a stupid, fat ugly freak!"

Hearing Chu Yingying speak so rudely, both Lu Qingfan and Li Shanni's faces changed.

Some things, once seen through, are better left unsaid.

Now that Chu Yingying has laid all this out, doesn't it mean that from now on, whenever they meet, they can only be strangers?

Now that Chu Yingying has laid it all bare, doesn't that mean that from now on, whenever we meet, we can only be strangers?

"We never even thought of that!"

Li Shanni's voice even stuttered a bit.

Chu Yingying chuckled and said, "Is it fun to deceive fools?"

"Actually, you treat me as a fool, and I treat you as fools too!"

"Seeing you force smiles despite your disgust and treat me as a good sister amuses me greatly!"

"It's impressive that you can keep up the act for so long!"

"You're no different!"

Lu Qingfan suddenly interrupted, cutting off Chu Yingying's words: "Do you really think you're the only smart one?"

Lu Qingfan suddenly spoke, cutting off Chu Yingying's words, "Do you really think you're the only smart one?"

"From the start, I knew you never regarded us as real sisters. The warmth in your eyes is exactly the same as that toward my own concubine-born sisters."

"I only keep playing with you because I need you to make my magnanimity look better, boosting my reputation."

"So, who exactly are you calling the fool?"

After Lu Qingfan finished her speech, Chu Yingying was left dazed.

She had always thought she was the one fooling Lu Qingfan and Li Shanni, never imagining that the fool was actually herself!

"Lu Qingfan, what kind of thing are you?"

Lü Qingfan, what the hell are you?

"How dare you look down on this young lady!"

"Go die!"

Furious Chu Yingying violently crashed into Lü Qingfan.

The three had been standing by the teahouse window, but Chu Yingying's collision, given her weight, made the impact extremely fierce.

Lü Qingfan, a truly delicate lady who doesn't touch spring water with her ten fingers and lacks the strength to truss a chicken, was sent flying by this huge force.

Lü Qingfan, like a flying immortal, flew out of the teahouse.

"Holy crap!"

Shen Yunyao, seeing this from the carriage, was momentarily excited and couldn't help but spit out profanity.

The next moment, she covered her mouth.

Sorry, sorry; ever since I became a young lady of the Shen Family, I've always been proper, but now I've let my guard down.

Fortunately, the Joyful Princess didn't notice this; she too was stunned by what just happened.

No accident!

No hero rescuing the beauty!

Lü Qingfan fell from the second floor of the teahouse.

She landed directly on the street.

She didn't die!

But Lü Qingfan probably wished she had died outright.

Although she didn't land face-first, she still scraped her left cheek badly on the ground, causing a burning pain.

"Miss!"

"Sister Qingfan!"

On the teahouse, Lü Qingfan's maid and Li Shan Ni all shouted loudly, rushing down from the second floor.

"This is internal strife!"

The Joyful Princess then quietly said.

Shen Yunyao wore a bitter expression and asked, "Does this count as my fault?"

"Qi Jiejie, what are you saying?"

"What does this have to do with you?"

The Joyful Princess said she could testify.

Shen Yunyao gave a wry smile and said, "They only came to the teahouse to see me; perhaps the cause of this internal strife is also because of me. Do you think their families will bear a grudge against me because of this?"

"They dare!"

The Joyful Princess immediately patted her chest, "Qi Jiejie, rest assured; when I return to the palace, I'll find you a powerful backer!"

"Then, thank you, sister!"

"Qi Jiejie, you're being so polite; we are sworn sisters bound by gold and orchid!"

"Hmph, if these people dare to make things difficult for you, they're making things difficult for me!"

After saying that, the Joyful Princess suddenly clapped her hands and said, "Exactly, we've sworn sisterhood; I'll go spread the word now and see who dares not to give this princess face!"