At this moment, Leng Ruo Li had just finished bandaging the wound on Xing'er's back when she heard footsteps in the courtyard.
She quickly put the medical supplies in her hand into her system space.
Afterward, the voice of Aunt Liu reached her ears…
"Lier, you're finally back. Where have you been these past few days? Auntie was so worried. If something happened to you, how would I explain it to your father?" Aunt Liu asked with feigned blame.
"Mother, why are you so worried? She's been missing for so many days, she must have been fooling around with a man."
"Shuang'er, she is your sister. You cannot speak to her like that."
"Hmph, if she did something shameful, aren't you afraid of what others will say? If Prince Qing knew she was with other men, he would immediately break off the engagement. At that time, it would be good enough if we didn't implicate our General's Mansion."
The mother and daughter, in cahoots, slowly walked into the main bedroom of Qingfeng Courtyard.
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Li sneered in her heart. Breaking off the engagement with that scumbag Prince Qing would be exactly what I want. Who cares about him!
Still acting in front of me? Who can't do that?
She was a modern woman who grew up watching palace intrigue dramas. Couldn't she handle two ancient people?
"Auntie, it's all my fault for being too playful. A few days ago, I went to play on the mountain by myself and got lost. I wandered in the mountains for days and couldn't find my way out."
"Wuwu—"
"Auntie, please don't blame me, okay? Lier knows she was wrong."
Liu Shi and her daughter listened to her words, their faces filled with confusion.
"Mother, she's lying. She was clearly lured by someone you sent to..."
"Shuang'er, stop talking!"
Aunt Liu interrupted Leng Ruo Shuang before she could finish her sentence.
Leng Ruo Shuang pouted aggrievedly.
"Lier, don't be afraid. Auntie was just worried about you. It's good that you're alright."
"Mhm, Lier is not afraid now."
Leng Ruo Li nodded obediently on the surface, while sneering in her heart.
At this moment, Aunt Liu scrutinized her with sharp eyes.
Finally, her gaze landed on the poisoned mark on Leng Ruo Li's face. She even raised her hand to gently stroke the poisoned mark, carefully discerning its authenticity.
At the same time, Aunt Liu also took a serious look at the unique red plum blossom birthmark next to Leng Ruo Li's ear. Seeing that it was still there, she felt a bit disappointed.
In fact, just like Leng Ruo Shuang, Aunt Liu was also full of questions just now.
The man she sent to kill Leng Ruo Li had not sent her any news after several days. It seemed that he was likely doomed.
She now deeply regretted why she hadn't let that man kill Leng Ruo Li in the mansion.
However, since Leng Ruo Li managed to return alive, Aunt Liu wouldn't have to worry about how to explain Leng Ruo Li's disappearance to Leng Jin Yu when he returned. The burden on her heart had finally been lifted.
At this moment, Aunt Liu also figured it out. To get rid of this little slut, Leng Ruo Li, it was best to use a borrowed knife to kill.
As long as it wasn't her who personally took action, no matter what happened to Leng Ruo Li, she could give Leng Jin Yu a good explanation.
After she had touched the poisoned mark on Leng Ruo Li's face, she glanced at the unique plum blossom birthmark next to Leng Ruo Li's ear. She was certain that the person in front of her was the real Leng Ruo Li.
Suddenly, Aunt Liu said with feigned concern, "Lier, you haven't been drinking the medicinal soup prepared for you by the kitchen these past few days, have you? Look, the dark spots on your face have grown a bit larger. It seems you still need to continue drinking the medicinal soup. Otherwise, if the dark spots on your face continue to grow, it will affect your appearance in the future."
After she finished speaking, Leng Ruo Li suppressed her nausea and played along with Liu Shi and her daughter.
If the original owner had heard Aunt Liu's words, she would have definitely thought Aunt Liu was showing concern for her.
But the reborn Leng Ruo Li would not be fooled by Aunt Liu's hypocritical words.
Aunt Liu was unhappy that she was alive and well.
But to find the source of the poison, Leng Ruo Li chose to play along with the scheme.
She quickly covered the dark spots on her face with her hand and looked at Aunt Liu with a face full of anxiety and fear.
"Auntie, Lier begs you, please find a good doctor to cure the dark spots on my face. Otherwise, if I marry Prince Qing with an ugly face, he will despise me."
After saying that, she naturally grabbed Aunt Liu's arm and embedded her incomparably sharp fingernails into Aunt Liu's flesh without mercy, while shaking her hand. To outsiders, it looked like Leng Ruo Li was acting spoiled towards Aunt Liu.
"Ah—it hurts so much! Lier, let go quickly! I promise you."
Aunt Liu was in great pain from Leng Ruo Li's grip, and even her voice changed.
She was puzzled. How could the frail Leng Ruo Li have such great strength?
Leng Ruo Shuang noticed that something was wrong with Aunt Liu, so she quickly came over to pry Leng Ruo Li's hand away and yelled at her.
"Leng Ruo Li, you hurt my mother's hand."
At this moment, Leng Ruo Li again appeared innocent, released Aunt Liu's hand, and quickly apologized to Aunt Liu.
"Auntie, I'm sorry. Lier didn't mean to hurt you, I was just too afraid that the dark spots on my face couldn't be cured, and that Prince Qing would despise me."
"It's alright, it's alright. Auntie doesn't blame you."
Aunt Liu waved her hand, pretending to be indifferent.
In reality, she had already cursed Leng Ruo Li a million times in her heart.
Hearing this, Leng Ruo Li wore a sly smile on her lips.
She enthusiastically helped Aunt Liu to sit on a nearby stool.
However, as soon as Aunt Liu's buttocks touched the stool, the stool immediately fell apart, causing her to sit on the floor without any warning.
"Ah—it hurts so much!"
"Mother—"
Leng Ruo Shuang's eyes widened as she watched the scene unfold, and she was stunned for a moment before reacting. She bent down and tried to help Aunt Liu up.
Leng Ruo Li also made a move to help, but Aunt Liu refused.
When Leng Ruo Shuang helped Aunt Liu up, she carefully looked at the stool that had fallen apart on the ground.
Instantly, her anger surged. Wasn't this the stool she used to smash Leng Ruo Li's dressing table this morning?
"Leng Ruo Li, you did it on purpose. You knew this stool was broken and still made my mother sit on it."
"Second Sister, you've misunderstood me. I really don't know when this stool broke. The maid who helped me tidy the room didn't tell me anything."
"You—"
Leng Ruo Shuang was almost driven mad by her.
"Leng Ruo Li, let me ask you, where did you hide the twin phoenix pattern gilded silver hairpin that the Empress gifted to you and Prince Qing back then?"
"Second Sister, what gilded silver hairpin are you talking about? I don't have it here."
Leng Ruo Li wasn't lying this time. She genuinely didn't know where the twin phoenix pattern gilded silver hairpin was.
According to the original owner's memory, she had only learned about this hairpin from Prince Qing.
Although it wasn't a particularly valuable piece of jewelry, it was the love token that the current emperor had given to the Empress when he was young.
Seventeen years ago, due to an assassination, the original owner's birth mother took a sword for the current Empress.
To repay the life-saving grace of the original owner's birth mother and to win over the forces of General Leng's Mansion, the Empress...
Knowing that the original owner's birth mother had given birth to a daughter, she immediately requested the Emperor to issue a decree to betroth the six-year-old Prince Qing to Leng Ruo Li as a child bride.
To show her sincerity, the Empress also took out the emperor's love token from that year as a love token for Leng Ruo Li.
Leng Ruo Shuang, unable to get the answer she wanted, was filled with anger.
"Impossible, that's your and Prince Qing's love token. How could you not know where it's hidden?"
"Second Sister, I really don't have that gilded silver hairpin."
Leng Ruo Li said seriously, blinking her bright and clear eyes.
Even Aunt Liu believed her words.
"Shuang'er, she probably really doesn't know."
"Mother—"
"Shuang'er, you should go back to your own courtyard first."
Aunt Liu gave Leng Ruo Shuang a look.
Leng Ruo Shuang immediately understood Aunt Liu's intention.
Before leaving, she glared fiercely at Leng Ruo Li and swept away with her sleeves.
After Leng Ruo Shuang left, Aunt Liu asked her with a gentle smile.
"Lier, you really don't know where the twin phoenix pattern gilded silver hairpin is?"
"Auntie, I really don't know."
Leng Ruo Li cursed inwardly. This pair of mother and daughter were indeed not simple, knowing how to use both soft and hard tactics.
"Oh, oh, is that so? Then Auntie won't press you further. Shuang'er was a bit excessive in her words just now. As an elder sister, don't hold it against her."
"It's alright, Lier won't blame her."
Leng Ruo Li suddenly looked at the dramatic Aunt Liu with a sinister smile.
This momentarily stunned Aunt Liu, but upon closer inspection, Leng Ruo Li had returned to her former silly and foolish appearance.
"Lier, what's wrong with you?"
"Auntie, do you believe in karma?"
Leng Ruo Li asked abruptly.
Hearing this, Aunt Liu was stunned, not understanding why she would suddenly ask that.
"Auntie, do you want to know how I found my way down the mountain?"
"Auntie wants to ask you too?" Aunt Liu retorted.
"Those days I stayed on the mountain, I was cold and hungry. It was the ghost of a woman who led me down the mountain... That woman claimed to be my birth mother... and told me she was killed by someone..."
Hearing this, Aunt Liu's expression changed slightly.
"Lier, you must have been having a nightmare. Your mother died from difficult childbirth when she gave birth to you. Sixteen years have passed, and her soul must have long gone to reincarnation."
"Auntie, why are you so nervous?"
"No... no... that Lier! Auntie came this time to tell you that Xing'er the maid cannot be used. Auntie will arrange two new maids for you to serve you."
"No, I like Xing'er to serve me."
"She didn't even realize her own mistress was missing. What's the use of keeping her by your side? She should be beaten to death with sticks."
"Auntie, Xing'er is just a small maid. How can she defend against those ruthless and unscrupulous people?"
Leng Ruo Li looked coldly at Aunt Liu as she said this, implying something.
Later, Aunt Liu left in dejection.