Chapter 518: Night Visit to the Boudoir? Mutual Spying!

See Father?

Changning wanted to know what business the Nangong maiden had with her father, so after returning to the manor she went straight to the study.

Aide: "Sir, you say this matter must be kept from the Princess?"

Could it be that you still have another use for this Nangong maiden?

Zhang Tingyi: "For now it's merely owing her a favor."

After all, back at Ningyuan Temple, without her personally arranging things, the Princess and that Xie Huaiyuan wouldn't have been exposed as quickly as I wished.

Of course I still need to thank her.

But this Nangong maiden knows too many secrets of the Princess's manor; if it weren't for her having so many subordinates and my having seen their strength, actually, as a merchant's daughter, silencing her would be the best outcome.

However, since she proactively came to my door asking for help, this sincerity—why wouldn't I accept it?

We could even be people who hold leverage over each other.

Perhaps later I will actually have a use for her.

Zhang Tingyi played with the jade in his hand, looked at the aide and warned coldly: "Remember, this matter must absolutely be kept from Changning."

Originally she already doubted her own birth; I finally managed to coax her into believing I am her real father.

If she finds out that this Nangong maiden knows the truth, she will surely go inquire.

If she further suspects that this Nangong maiden is the murderer who killed her parents, given Changning's temperament she will surely cause trouble!

I don't want Changning to get hurt, so this matter must absolutely continue to be concealed!

Remember, whoever leaks the wind, this official will certainly not go easy on them!

However, a pink skirt hem had already silently disappeared from the corner of the wall outside the door...

After leaving the Princess's manor, not long after Que'er came forward and said: "Miss, the carriage that just returned seems to be that of Princess Changning."

Li Qingluo's originally closed eyes instantly opened: "I know."

After getting far enough from the Princess's manor, Leng Dian then asked from ahead: "Miss, what should we do next?"

This Zhang Tingyi doesn't look like someone who can be easily manipulated. We've now exposed our identity, which is somewhat risky. I don't know if he'll play some dirty tricks behind the scenes.

Li Qingluo: "At Ningyuan Temple he witnessed our prowess. At least for now, he doesn't dare act rashly."

Whether we can continue to mutually exploit each other will depend on our respective abilities.

Wait and see; I believe he will give me a satisfactory answer.

However, Li Qingluo also did not just wait idly at home.

Taking advantage of the night, she and Leng Dian sneaked over to the Yang residence.

Yang Qilang's wife is also the Seventh Miss of the Jiang family.

This couple is usually plain and low-key, but in fact Yang Qilang has been handling affairs for the Empress and the Crown Prince.

Li Qingluo's night visit to the Yang residence tonight also carries no other motive.

She simply wants to see what attitude Jiang Qiniang has after Yang Qilang's arrest.

The two silently climbed onto the roof, and after successfully finding the courtyard of Jiang Qiniang and Yang Qilang, they soon saw Jiang Qiniang anxiously speaking.

Jiang Qiniang: "What's the word from home?"

Maid: "Miss, the reply says……they went to plead about this, but now the senior master simply isn't seeing anyone."

Jiang Qiniang's face turned ashen as she collapsed into the chair.

Her father's side has an uncle who is a Minister of Rites, and below a third uncle who is doted on by the grandmother. For years in the Jiang family he's been like an invisible person, never receiving importance.

Even our second branch's requests are mostly ignored and slighted. Just like me, among the sisters at home I've always been insignificant.

So, Yang Qilang, being a secondary branch son of the Yang family, is naturally not valued at all by the Jiang family.

This time, Yang Qilang and that merchant's son are likely to truly encounter disaster!

It's all my fault. If it weren't for fearing shared honor and disgrace, and if it weren't for fearing our second branch being implicated so I asked Yang Qilang to investigate the truth, Yang Qilang wouldn't have been implicated either.

Maid and Granny advised: "Young mistress, don't rush; the matter hasn't been settled yet."

Since Seventh Master is innocent, we believe the Ministry of Justice will certainly not arbitrarily wrong someone.

Jiang Qiniang snorted: "The Ministry of Justice…?"

I'm afraid the grandmother will jump out and demand the uncle protect the third uncle's life!

Coincidentally, Yang Qilang was framed and thrown into prison; he is also the Jiang family's least-valued son-in-law, and that day he just happened to bring that merchant's son back to the Jiang family.

If they pin the charge of secretly conspiring on them and let him take the blame, the whole Yang family and our second branch will be ruined!

Maid: "How could that be? After all, this is the Empress's natal family!"

It's just a secondary branch; it doesn't implicate the nine clans. To them it's merely losing an ant as light as a goose feather—who would care about Yang Qilang, this insignificant person?

Having said this, Jiang Qiniang sadly wiped away tears.

Maid: "Then… what if we let Seventh Master push all the blame onto that merchant's son?"

Anyway, no one would care if he died.

Disguise him as a suicide out of fear of crime, die in the Ministry of Justice—then no one would know?

This way at least Seventh Master can temporarily escape disaster, come out first and then talk!

Jiang Qiniang: "Nonsense! If Yang Qilang really did such a thing, he wouldn't be Yang Qilang, nor would he be my husband."

There must be another way.

As long as the uncle doesn't listen to the grandmother, doesn't foolishly wrong Yang Qilang, Yang Qilang's innocence will naturally be vindicated.

Li Qingluo on the roof nodded silently.

I didn't expect Jiang Qiniang's mind to be so clear.

After the maid and granny withdrew, Li Qingluo silently sneaked again into Jiang Qiniang's room.

Jiang Qiniang, do you want to save your husband?

Jiang Qiniang was leaning against the bedside, anxiously rubbing her forehead, when a voice suddenly sounded from the room, frightening her so much that she jumped up instantly.

"You——"

Li Qingluo lifted her hand, pulled aside the gauze curtain and stepped out, then raised her finger and let out a 'shhh——'.

"Don't call out."

"I mean no harm."

Jiang Qiniang got up and hid behind the bed.

She looked wary and asked, "Who exactly are you?"

"Also, how did you appear in my room?"

"What do you intend to do?"

Li Qingluo wore a black night outfit and had a black mask on her face.

Although her voice sounded like a woman's, her unknown background made Jiang Qiniang very afraid.

To show sincerity, Li Qingluo lifted her veil.

"I suppose your husband also mentioned to you that the merchant's son who accompanied him is the live-in husband of the young master of the Huaxia Wine House, right?"

"I am the young lady of the Nangong family."

"I apologize for my abrupt visit; please forgive me."

Jiang Qiniang looked shocked.

She had indeed heard this matter mentioned by Qi Lang.

But she could never have imagined that there existed a woman like the Nangong young lady in this world!

She actually came to her husband's house at night like an assassin!

"How—how did she manage to do that?"

"Could she possibly have martial arts?"

Qi Lang said that Mr. Li possesses formidable martial arts and an extraordinary demeanor beyond ordinary people.

Now Jiang Qiniang sees, this stunningly beautiful, even more shocking in conduct Nangong lady is truly not an ordinary person!!