Chapter 383: Luo'er, are you worried about me?

As the sound arrived, Pei Zixuan stiffened all over, her face full of disbelief as she turned her head to look behind.

It, it's really true?

This time, it's really true!

Only saw a group of people slowly riding out from the forest on horseback.

Princess Xiyue, looking down from above, tilted her head.

And following at her side were none other than the Crown Prince, Prince Su, and the Crown Princess, right?

Behind them followed a mighty throng of slave servants and guards, carrying plenty of game in their hands.

With so many people, when exactly did they appear?

How come just now, she didn't hear any movement from them at all?

Have they heard the full story?

Pei Zixuan's expression changed slightly, then she heard Princess Xiyue say happily, "Yo."

"Take a look, I've still seen a good show today."

"Noble Lady Jing, you wouldn't do something so vile as snatching someone's game just for the Empress's vermilion hairpin, would you?"

"When the Pei family's Fourth Miss was still in her chambers, wasn't she famous for being gentle and virtuous, with the grace of orchids?"

"Such petty conduct is truly unbefitting of you."

They heard it!

They'd heard it ever since she tried to seize that hunted deer!

Pei Zixuan's face turned completely white.

She looked toward the Crown Princess.

Then she anxiously looked toward the Crown Prince.

At this moment, she felt like a rat in a sewer, caught and fully exposed under the scorching sun.

That shameful secret deep in her heart……

The longing of a maiden's heart, once cherished, was now laid bare before everyone.

What embarrassed her most was that the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess were actually here too!

How would they view her?

Would the Pei family be implicated because of her mistake?

Pei Zixuan couldn't help but look at the servants, seeing their gazes fixed on her.

Disdain.

Disgust.

Revulsion……

Hatred……

Those gazes, like nails, drove her hard onto the pillar of shame.

"Princess Xiyue, it's a misunderstanding."

"I, I was just joking with them; how could I really do such a thing?"

"With so many people and all the gossip, I don't have the power to silence them all."

She laughed weakly as she explained.

But her pale words and expression convinced hardly anyone present.

Princess Xiyue even more bluntly exposed her pretense: "Noble Lady Jing, could it be that you still can't forget the Crown Prince?"

"Otherwise, why would you keep targeting the Eldest Miss Pan?"

"Could it be… that you're jealous of her?"

Princess Xiyue stared at Pei Zixuan with a half-smile.

"Back when you delayed marriage, your Pei family's plan… was actually never to let you enter the palace as the Emperor's consort, was it?"

Pei Zixuan trembled all over, her whole body swaying on the verge of collapse.

Although she struggled to hold herself up, her panicked face still gave her away.

"I… I didn't…"

Crown Prince Duan Rongyin frowned and said, "Elder sister, this is no joking matter."

Although he had long understood that the Pei family kept this Fourth Miss Pei originally to present her to him.

But now she is a person in the Emperor's harem, and the Crown Prince harbors no designs on her whatsoever.

Moreover, if this matter were brought before the Emperor, it would surely create a rift between father and son.

Such a loss-making affair, the Crown Prince fears it beyond avoidance, wanting only to brush it over quickly.

Merely looking at Pei Zixuan, his gaze inevitably carried a hint of disgust.

Nanping's eyes were sharp; she suddenly pointed at something on the ground and asked, "Huh? What is this?"

She shot forward like an arrow, picking up the item that had fallen beside Pei Zixuan's foot.

A pure-white hollowed-out crescent-moon jade pendant.

The Crown Princess's face changed on the spot.

"Your Highness, you……"

Others might not recognize it, but the Crown Princess and Prince Su absolutely know what this is!

This is a token bestowed by Emperor Yan years ago at a family banquet to the Crown Prince, something only those close to him could receive!

Yet, being such a personal token, how could it be in Pei Zixuan's hands?

The Crown Princess immediately concluded that the Crown Prince and Noble Lady Jing truly had an affair.

The confusion and disappointment in her eyes made the crown prince feel suddenly suffocated.

"I have no idea what's going on! Crown Princess, you must believe me!"

The crown prince's explanation only earned him the crown princess's continual disappointed headshake.

And Pei Zixuan, upon seeing this object, was also filled with terror on her face.

"No…… impossible……"

She also didn't understand how this thing could be on her person.

Cui Shiniang: "This…… this isn't the object that Pan Li and Princess Qin Yu were fighting over by the lake that night, is it?"

"How could it be……"

Cui Jiuniang clapped a hand tightly over Cui Shiniang's mouth.

In an instant, everyone who heard those words turned completely pale.

Including the crown prince.

The crown princess, the Eldest Princess Xiyue.

Only Prince Su, his eyes sweeping through the crowd, landed on Li Qingluo, who was still kneeling on the ground without rising.

As for the jade pendant they were fighting over, he seemed utterly uninterested.

But the crown prince's heart was in utter turmoil at this moment.

This object was indeed the love token he had given to Qin Yu.

Had Qin Yu lost this object?

That would be bad enough, but how could it possibly be found on the Emperor's woman?

The crown prince was naturally furious.

If this continues, I and this Noble Consort Jing will never be able to clear things up.

To prevent the misunderstanding from spreading further, the crown prince's face fell right then.

His tone harsh, eyes filled with disgust, he barked: "Come! Noble Consort Jing, as a concubine of the inner palace, how can you run about wildly in the hunting grounds?"

"Hurry and send her away, to be instructed by the Empress!"

The guards stepped forward: "Yes!"

Pei Zixuan cried out: "Crown Prince, I am innocent…… I am innocent!"

"Impudent, release this palace! This palace is the mistress of a palace, this palace is His Majesty's Noble Consort Jing——"

"Mmm, mmm——"

Pei Zixuan had her mouth forcibly covered, then was dragged away in a most sorry state.

The farcical spectacle seemed to have drawn its curtain.

But the crown prince felt a faint unease in his heart.

The real hidden secret lay between Zong Zheng Yuer and him.

Hopefully, Cui Shiniang's words just now did not arouse suspicion among these people.

"Miss Pan, Cui Shiniang."

"At that palace night banquet, I was still at the Southern Mountain Villa; how could your ladies' quarrel be dragged onto me?"

"I truly have suffered an undeserved calamity."

"I hope you can clear my name and give me justice; do you understand?"

Cui Shiniang and Pan Li both lowered their heads tightly.

"Your Highness is naturally innocent."

"It was we, your subjects, who caused the disturbance; please forgive us, Your Highness."

Crown Prince Duan Rongyin's cold eyes flickered with a hint of killing intent.

If they dare to spout nonsense, he wouldn't mind silencing them all……

"Get up."

Duan Rongshi swept past the crowd, his gaze landing on Li Qingluo, and suddenly spoke lightly.

Their statuses were both low, so no one paid them any heed, and they remained kneeling on the ground.

Li Qingluo pulled Pan Li to first thank Prince Su, then slowly rose.

Duan Rongshi looked at Zhui Yu: "Go, bring their horses over."

Princess Xiyue felt remorse: "Oh no, I didn't notice that Li Qingluo was still kneeling on the ground."

"I hope her petty fifth brother hasn't taken this to heart……"

"Miss Li, I didn't know you had such remarkable archery!"

"Unfortunately, I've searched everywhere and still haven't found the bear I wished to present to Father Emperor."

"But I did hunt some decent game—though it was thanks to the Crown Princess's archery help. I never expected you to bring down a deer all by yourself; truly impressive skill!"

"Haha……"

Xiyue thought: "Little Five, Little Five, Elder Sister praised your beloved; you mustn't be angry, okay?"

Li Qingluo: "Thank you, Princess, for the praise, but it was merely good luck to encounter this deer."

"If it were you who met this deer, Your Highness would surely take it down easily."

"This deer, I, a common girl, hereby present to Your Highness, wishing you all things go as you desire, and every wish fulfilled."

Princess Xiyue was astonished and delighted beyond measure.

"You…… you really intend to present this to me?"

Li Qingluo: "Yes, just as thanks—for the Princess's grace in upholding justice for us today."

Hardly had she finished when a bear's roar echoed from afar.

There were still people's terrified screams.

Then someone covered in blood ran out from the woods on the opposite bank of the river.

"Bear! Bear—"

"Run—"

Xiyue was overjoyed: "Great! This is exactly the bear I've been looking for!"

"Quick, everyone, hurry and follow me to kill this bear! Offer it to Father Emperor!"

Princess Xiyue raised her arm and shouted, but first she nodded at Li Qingluo: "Since Miss Li has this sincerity, I won't stand on ceremony."

"This deer, I'll take it as well."

Their eyes met, and everything was conveyed in silence.

After saying that, she didn't linger, had her people bring the deer over, then led everyone away in a grand, urgent departure once more.

Before the Crown Prince hurriedly left, he also gave Li Qingluo a deep look.

Only when he noticed his fifth younger brother hadn't caught up, but instead slowly rode his horse to that young lady's side, did he turn his head back.

Pei Zixuan was just taken away like that.

Sha wu and Cui Qilang each returned to their own people's side.

Of the three Cui family members, aside from Cui Shiyiang who was still shaken, the other two were completely expressionless.

Cui Shiyiang: "Ninth Sister, what are we going to do when we go back?"

"If Father finds out, it's because I spoke carelessly and harmed the Tranquil Noble Person... I, I'm afraid I won't survive!"

"Ninth Sister, I'm scared… mmm…"

The honest and straightforward Cui Shiyiang was truly frightened this time.

Cui Jiuniang: "You didn't say anything."

"It's her own fault for not staying calm."

"Because her selfish designs on the Crown Prince were exposed, the Elder Princess, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess saw her impropriety and petty thoughts."

"What does this have to do with you?"

"No matter the outcome, today she has brought this on herself and cannot live."

"Remember that?"

Cui Shiyiang kept nodding, silent as a cicada in winter.

Cui Qilang looked at the Princess of Nanping, wanting to speak but hesitating.

However, Nanping no longer paid him any attention.

She simply turned her face away coldly.

Cui Qilang couldn't hide a hint of despondency in his eyes.

Li Qingluo nodded at Cui Jiuniang, and the two exchanged a faint smile.

Cui Jiuniang: "Let's go. We should head out."

After bidding farewell, the three hurriedly left.

Duan Rongshi: "Want to go see how they're hunting the bear?"

Duan Rongshi asked Li Qingluo in a low voice.

The Princess of Nanping, oblivious, eagerly replied first: "Yes! Fifth Uncle, let's hurry and catch up with Mother!"

"If we don't go now, we'll miss the excitement!"

Pan Li pulled the Princess of Nanping forward, hurrying: "Quick, let's go ahead."

The Princess of Nanping: "Why? Hey—don't rush—"

"Go slow—"

Nanping, being pulled by Pan Li onto her horse, took off first.

Li Qingluo: ……

Que'er and the others all felt they had walked far enough.

In an instant, only Li Qingluo and Duan Rongshi remained around them.

Li Qingluo then slowly climbed onto her horse, and the two rode side by side, leisurely heading toward the place with the Stone Pier Bridge.

"Your Highness, I heard you suppressed the water bandits. You're not hurt, are you?"

Duan Rongshi: "Who could hurt me?"

Having said that, he suddenly smiled again: "Luo'er, are you worried about me?"

Li Qingluo blushed.

She frankly admitted: "……Yes."

Duan Rongshi's heart stirred at once.

He reached out and grabbed her wrist, gently pulling her with just a bit of skill.

Li Qingluo then sat on the horse in front of him.