Chapter 524

Li Qingluo finished speaking, and the several maidservants similarly controlled by Que'er's people over there immediately looked at each other in panic.

Li Qingluo noticed that one of them, whose hands were already behind her back, seemed to be busily doing something, her movements very hurried.

She immediately strode over and grabbed the maid's wrist in one swift motion.

"Is it you?"

Changning's face was full of panic, yet she instead bit her lips tightly, rendering her speechless.

After Jingying quickly examined the maid's hand, she immediately discovered a speck of poison powder under the fingernail.

Jingying: "It's her."

Li Qingluo always felt that something was off.

She began searching the maid's sleeves and back.

Soon enough, she actually felt a paper packet wrapped with poison powder.

"It really is her!"

"Changning, what else do you have to say?"

"How dare you poison the princess and even try to drag all of us down with you—what malicious intent do you harbor?"

"Changning, your heart is far too vicious!"

"Changning, I never expected you to be such a person."

"Changning..."

"Changning..."

Though Changning was being reviled by everyone, she merely looked anxiously at one person—Zongzheng Xingyao.

She opened her mouth to explain, but then seemed helpless, not knowing where to begin.

The maid suddenly thumped and fell heavily to the ground with a thud.

"It's the servant's fault, all the servant's fault."

"The servant made a mistake a couple of days ago, was punished severely by the Commandery Princess, and in a moment of narrow-mindedness bore a grudge, intending to poison the Commandery Princess's pastry."

"The servant originally only wanted the Commandery Princess to suffer a stomachache, never expecting the Princess to take that pastry to the princess for consumption, nor that the servant would carelessly add too much poison—it is all the servant's fault deserving death; please, Princess, forgive me!"

The servant cried out, sobbing repeatedly.

Now everyone was stunned.

Especially the Commandery Princess Changning.

"Qingyi, I never thought it would be you!"

"Have I ever mistreated you in my daily conduct as Commandery Princess?"

"We grew up together since childhood, and I have treated you like a real sister. Yet after I punished you once, you actually thought of harming me!"

"Moreover, because of you, the Seventh Princess has been implicated and suffered!"

"If I were not anxious, how could I truly suspect this flower pavilion restaurant?"

"As it turns out, all of this is because of you!"

"Qingyi, how can I ever show my face again after this!"

Having said that, the Commandery Princess Changning looked toward the Seventh Princess with tears in her eyes.

"Xingyao, a thousand mistakes, ten thousand mistakes—all are my fault."

"It was my people who harmed you… which amounts to me harming you."

"Xingyao, since my mother passed away, I had originally improved my temperament greatly; that day, it was only because she knocked over a set of teacups, which my mother had left behind—"

"I punished her by making her kneel all night. Yet she ended up causing me to come to this."

"If only my mother were still here… waa…"

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

Xingyao looked on, unable to bear it.

"Changning, how can this be blamed on you?"

"Come! Hurry and seize this criminal slave!"

"How dare she plot to poison the Commandery Princess and drag the palace into suffering as well—immediately imprison her and give her thirty strokes of the cane!"

Princess's maid: "Yes, I obey!"

That maid was immediately taken away by the princess's people.

She looked at the Commandery Princess Changning with eyes full of terror and pleaded: "Commandery Princess, save me, save me—Your Highness Commandery Princess, save me—"

"Princess, spare my life, princess, spare my life—"

"Thirty strokes of the cane?"

"That doesn't sound like much."

"But it depends on how the executioner chooses to strike."

"He could make her unable to endure even twenty blows."

"Or he could let her survive thirty blows and still be vigorous."

Li Qingluo looked at the Commandery Princess Changning and gave a cold smile.

Others also fixed Changning with meaningful, probing gazes.

Having all grown up in the inner quarters, who wouldn't wonder whether she is truly innocent?

Perhaps she had long ago prepared an escape route for herself.

This maidservant is indeed loyal.

The Second Princess, too, is not completely unaware.

But Changning played the kinship card, perhaps softening her heart.

At this moment, if Li Qingluo again acted clueless and insisted on stepping forward to argue evidence and reason, she might instead provoke the princess's wrath.

Under imperial authority, it has always been that whoever is guilty or innocent is decided solely by those in power.

Chang Ning held her stiff neck, only occasionally wiping her tears, and never met eyes with Li Qingluo and her group.

In this scheme, she hadn't won, but she hadn't lost completely either.

Finally, the princess left the Flower Pavilion Restaurant supported by her maid.

And she announced to the outside that today had merely been a misunderstanding.

The guards and soldiers naturally withdrew as well.

After the bustling crowd outside the Flower Pavilion Restaurant had dispersed, the princess boarded her carriage back to the palace and then summoned Li Qingluo to come forward.

"You saved me today. I am not an ungrateful person. Having said that, do you have any request for me? If I can fulfill it, I will certainly satisfy you."

Li Qingluo: "Saving Your Highness also saved this common woman and the restaurant. As the princess of the world, what I did was naturally my duty. Please, Her Royal Highness, do not worry about it."

She said nothing at all.

This surprised the princess somewhat.

I too have heard—wasn't her husband only arrested and thrown into jail yesterday?

Although I could not handle this matter myself, the princess was waiting for her to speak, so I could politely refuse, and thus the favor would be settled.

I never expected her not to open her mouth at all.

On the contrary, she was being tactful.

Perhaps she knew that this princess of mine simply lacked such ability.

She really is a clever and perceptive person.

Zongzheng Xingyao said: "Then let's consider that I owe you one; we'll talk about it later."

After saying that, she raised her hand, and the maid called out: "All aboard—"

The princess had originally come in secret.

But when returning to the palace, she made a full show of force.

The Flower Pavilion Restaurant became even more famous as a result.

Not only did the princess patronize it, she even exchanged several words with the young female proprietor.

Which nearby restaurant or shop wouldn't be jealous?

From now on, the Flower Pavilion Restaurant is bound to thrive prosperously for a long time; it won't be brought down anytime soon!!

The commandery princess's carriage also followed behind the princess's carriage, while Li Qingluo silently stared at Chang Ning, and Chang Ning lifted the carriage curtain to look at her.

Li Qingluo suddenly smiled: "Your Highness, until we meet again."

Chang Ning hastily let the carriage curtain fall.

This Nangong Qingluo!

She really is quite capable!!

But if Chang Ning were to come to any harm today, I'd be finished as well.

Just thinking about this, Chang Ning's back couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat, a dense layer of perspiration appearing.

She hastily summoned a maid: "Go, tell the torturer that Qingyi is no longer useful!"

Although the maid looked unwell, she still replied: "Yes…"

The noble ladies from all households also dispersed in turn.

Fortunately, quite a few young women from ordinary families also entered the hall.

Everyone had come just to join the fun.

They also wanted to experience what special charm the Flower Pavilion Restaurant had.

All in all, business did not diminish at all for the time being.

Li Qingluo turned and entered the restaurant, returning to her resting room.

Que'er and the proprietor followed her inside.

"Miss, are you really just going to let Chang Ning, the commandery princess, off like that?"