PNB Chapter 69 Wild Child
Chapter 69 Wild Child
"Your Majesty, how dare I be disrespectful in your presence?"
Consort Ning was quite frightened upon hearing this. She bent over to maintain her curtsy posture and explained.
"Then what are you doing here?"
"I just heard about what happened in the Phoenix Palace and was worried about Your Majesty, so I came to visit you without permission."
Wei Yiqiu's gaze swept lightly across Consort Ning's face. Seeing that she didn't seem to be lying, she finally spoke: "You're very kind. Get up."
"Yes." Consort Ning breathed a sigh of relief and sat down beside her.
"That slut Qiao Qingyin caused me to suffer such a huge setback. I will definitely settle this score with her in the future."
As Wei Yiqiu spoke, she looked up at Consort Ning, her dark eyes containing a hint of threat.
Consort Ning was startled by the cold, sharp gaze and quickly pledged her loyalty: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will naturally follow your lead and will certainly not refuse to help if I can."
"Very good, it has not been in vain that I have taken care of you all this time."
Wei Yi smiled with satisfaction, then her gaze fell into the distance, her eyes filled with coldness. "Don't worry, I already have a plan in mind. This time, I will make sure she never has a chance to recover."
Consort Ning couldn't help but look at Wei Yiqiu and tentatively asked, "Your Highness, have you come up with an idea?"
“Of course.” A smug look appeared in Wei Yiqiu’s eyes as she beckoned to Consort Ning: “Come closer.”
Consort Ning immediately obeyed and stepped forward.
**
Mingyue Pavilion was also not at peace.
Since returning from the Phoenix Palace, Lu Mingzhu has been lying on the bed and crying several times.
Her eyes were red and swollen, making her look completely different from her usual charming and lovely self. She looked pitiful.
Standing to the side, Qinglan felt no pity for her whatsoever. She simply watched her quietly, her delicate face devoid of any emotion.
Did you actually deliver the letter I wrote to my mother?
Lu Mingzhu cried until she was exhausted, then looked up and questioned him with red eyes.
Qinglan lowered her eyes, concealing her impatience. This was the eighth time Lu Mingzhu had asked since she returned from delivering the letter.
Even though the letter was delivered to the mansion by fast horse, Madam Lu only had time to open it. How could she have taken action so quickly?
"I have delivered the letter to Madam as you instructed," she replied respectfully.
"Then why haven't my parents come to my aid? And what's wrong with Lu Zhiheng? His cousin, me, has been bullied like this, and he hasn't done anything about it?"
Lu Mingzhu, harboring resentment, began to speak recklessly: "Just as my mother said, he is indeed a good-for-nothing who cannot be brought to the table. If the Lu family had not devoted all their efforts to supporting his studies all these years, how could he have gained the emperor's favor and climbed to his current position as prime minister?"
Her words became increasingly outrageous, and Qinglan couldn't help but remind her, "Your Majesty, please be careful with your words."
No sooner had she finished speaking than she received a solid slap across the face.
Lu Mingzhu's dark eyes widened: "Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like that?"
Qinglan gently wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth before looking up at Lu Mingzhu.
The chill that she couldn't quite conceal caught Lu Mingzhu's eye, causing her to flinch. But she quickly regained her composure; what was there to fear from a lowly servant?
She raised her hand and pinched Qinglan's chin, her gaze lingering on her face: "Let me tell you, I know exactly what you've been up to behind my back."
Qinglan's expression changed slightly. Had Lu Mingzhu discovered something?
But she was no ordinary maid; she was a well-trained assassin. Even if Lu Mingzhu discovered something, she couldn't afford to lose her composure.
Moreover, she felt she hadn't given herself away.
"Your Majesty has misunderstood, this servant did not," Qinglan explained, lowering her eyes.
Lu Mingzhu snorted coldly: "Still trying to hide it from me? You came here to monitor me on my mother's orders, do you think I don't know?"
"I see," Qinglan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Remember this, I am now your master. If you offend me, I can kill you as easily as crushing an ant. My mother is far away in the palace, so even if I do something wrong, she will at most punish me a few words."
Lu Mingzhu threatened, word by word, "So you'd better watch out and don't stalk me!"
Qinglan knew that she was just trying to get attention and vent her frustration at being wronged, so she didn't argue with her.
"This servant understands," she said respectfully.
Lu Mingzhu sized her up before saying coldly, "You'd better keep your word."
After saying that, she waved her hand.
Qinglan acknowledged and took her leave. As she turned around, a chill instantly reached her eyes.
If it weren't for her master's needs, she would have long ago crushed Lu Mingzhu's neck and sent her to meet the King of Hell.
"Everything is for the greater good," Qinglan thought to herself, then turned and left.
**
The next morning, at Feixue Palace.
When Chu Qingyin opened her eyes and woke up, Pei Yuanling had already gone to the morning court.
As soon as she looked up, she saw the small celadon carved jade bottle on the table next to her, and her heart warmed.
Unexpectedly, last night, when she casually mentioned Xianglan's burns, Pei Yuanling actually sent someone to the Imperial Hospital to get the best burn ointment.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved, but there were too many grudges between them. This small favor might move her for a moment, but it would be hard for it to touch her for a lifetime.
After changing her clothes with the help of palace maids, Chu Qingyin ate a little food and then went to Xianglan's room.
"This servant greets Your Majesty—"
"You don't need to get up, just lie there comfortably."
Chu Qingyin stopped Xianglan from struggling to get up and said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, are you alright? I heard that Qiuzhu tried to slander you yesterday amidst the chaos!"
As Xianglan spoke, she looked guilty. If she hadn't been injured, Qiuzhu wouldn't have had the opportunity to take advantage of her.
Seeing her self-blame, Chu Qingyin smiled and comforted her, "Don't worry, Qiu Zhu has been dealt with."
"That's good."
Xianglan nodded repeatedly, fearing that her daughter would be bullied.
"This is the imperial wound medicine I obtained from His Majesty. I'll apply it to you later, Yu Yan, and I guarantee it won't leave a scar," Chu Qingyin said, taking out a delicate little porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handing it to her.
Upon seeing this, Xianglan's eyes welled up with tears: "Your Majesty, you are too kind to me. My body is ruined, so be it. How could I trouble Your Majesty to find such good medicine?"
"Alright, let's not talk about these things between us, master and servant."
Chu Qingyin smiled and said, "Take good care of yourself. No one else is as considerate as you. I'm still waiting for you to take care of me."
"Yes, Your Highness, I will do my best to recover quickly so as not to worry you."
Hearing Xianglan's assurance, Chu Qingyin smiled and chatted with her for a couple more minutes before getting up to leave.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhiheng had just returned home from court when he was caught red-handed by Madam Lu, who had been waiting at the gate all morning.
The pageboy guarding the study looked at Lu Zhiheng with a troubled expression: "My lord, I explained to the Third Madam that you were too busy to see her, but she insisted on waiting for you here, and I really couldn't stop her..."
Lu Zhiheng immediately understood. He raised a finger slightly, signaling the page to leave, and then looked at the elegantly dressed noblewoman in front of him, his tone indifferent: "I am powerless to help Fifth Sister."
The Lu family is ranked by age, and Lu Mingzhu is the fifth in line.
"Aheng, she's your cousin. Even if you don't like her, can't you help her out of respect for the old master?"
Madam Lu couldn't help but tear up. The hearts of parents are all the same. If it weren't for her daughter Lu Mingzhu, why would she have to be so humble?
Upon hearing the name of Old Master Lu, a barely perceptible glint of darkness flashed in Lu Zhiheng's narrow eyes.
If it weren't for Old Master Lu's sake, he would have separated from the Lu family long ago, so why would he need to clean up the messes of these good-for-nothing members of the Lu family?
Moreover, he had already advised them not to send Lu Mingzhu to the palace. He had also repeatedly told her not to misbehave in the palace, but who in this family listened to even a fraction of his words?
Thinking of this, Lu Zhiheng pursed his thin lips, his expression becoming increasingly stern and cold.
"Good advice is hard to persuade a dying person. Besides, she has only been demoted and is still alive. It's not to the point that I need to take action."
Having said that, he strode past Madam Lu and headed straight for the study.
His attitude is quite clear: he will not get involved in this matter.
Looking at that cold and tall figure, Madam Lu clenched her fists in her sleeves, seemingly on the verge of emotional collapse, and shouted at him, "If I had known you were so cold-blooded, the old master should never have brought you back in the first place!"