Aunt Liu had also told her that when she married Leng Jinyu as a concubine, she had no dowry, and these money were saved up slowly after she entered the Leng General's Mansion.
To put it nicely, they were savings; to put it crudely, she had embezzled money from the Leng General's Mansion.
"Whether you've stolen anything from our Leng General's Mansion will be known if you open the box for us to check."
As Leng Ruoli spoke, a cold smile curved her red lips.
"No, you can't do this. I'm carrying Prince Qing's child now. If you dare to bully me, Prince Qing will absolutely not let you off if he finds out." Leng Ruoshuang brought up Prince Qing to pressure Leng Jinyu and his daughter.
"Oh, really? However, even if Prince Qing were here, I would still have to inspect the box you're holding."
Leng Ruoli was not intimidated by her at all. After all, she, Leng Ruoli, was the legitimate consort of the Cold King. Prince Qing would have to call her Second Imperial Sister-in-law if he saw her.
"No, you absolutely cannot inspect my belongings!"
With that, Leng Ruoshuang tried to use her pregnancy to her advantage and rushed out of the outer hall. However, she was immediately stopped by Leng Jinyu's guards, Xiao Cheng, and Steward Qi, after taking just a few steps. But because she was pregnant, the two of them maintained some distance from her.
As a result, she was still slandered by Leng Ruoshuang.
Leng Ruoshuang glanced at the two men, her eyes darting around. She immediately put on a pained expression, clutching her several-month-pregnant belly, and cried out, "Ah—my stomach hurts so much! It really hurts! Help!"
Then, she slowly squatted down and sat on the ground, continuing to wail. Even so, she didn't forget to cradle the jewelry box in her arms, guarding against Leng Ruoli trying to snatch it.
Leng Ruoshuang's pretense instantly panicked Xiao Cheng and Steward Qi, who quickly explained themselves to Leng Jinyu and Leng Ruoli.
"General, Your Highness, we didn't touch her," Xiao Cheng and Steward Qi said in unison.
Hearing this, Leng Jinyu immediately frowned. He didn't understand medicine and couldn't tell if Leng Ruoshuang's stomach pain was real or fake.
Only Leng Ruoli, sitting beside them, watched Leng Ruoshuang's act with great composure.
"Leng Ruoshuang, Leng Ruoshuang, your acting isn't bad, is it? But you can scare my father and them, yet you can't scare me, Leng Ruoli. Have you forgotten I'm a physician?" Leng Ruoli teased with a laugh.
Leng Ruoshuang didn't respond to Leng Ruoli's words, continuing to wail on the ground.
Leng Ruoli suddenly stood up and walked towards Leng Ruoshuang. As she passed by Leng Jinyu, he reached out and patted her hand, reminding her not to act impulsively. Although Prince Qing and Leng Ruoshuang were not favored by the Emperor, Leng Ruoshuang was carrying the Emperor's first grandchild (or granddaughter). If anything happened to her, the Emperor would be very concerned.
"Father, don't worry, your daughter knows what she's doing," Leng Ruoli comforted with a smile.
Hearing this, Leng Jinyu nodded. He actually believed that Li'er would handle the matter properly, but as a father, he still had to remind her of his responsibilities.
Leng Ruoli stood beside Leng Ruoshuang, looking down at the actress sitting on the ground.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you're quite convincing with your act. No wonder you managed to scare Xiao Cheng and Steward Qi?" Leng Ruoli mocked with icy eyes.
"What do you want?"
Seeing Leng Ruoli approach her, Leng Ruoshuang looked alarmed and defensive. This woman, Leng Ruoli, was too cunning. If she hadn't been here today, she would have already swindled the items in her hand away.
But Leng Ruoshuang overlooked one thing: if Leng Ruoli hadn't been present today, Leng Jinyu wouldn't have allowed her to enter the inner courtyard.
"Didn't you say your stomach hurt? Let me examine you." Leng Ruoli stared at her with wide, almond-shaped eyes.
"No! You have ill intentions, and I won't let you examine me," Leng Ruoshuang said guiltily. Leng Ruoli knew medicine, and she wasn't really in pain. What if Leng Ruoli saw through her act?
"It's fine if you don't let me examine you, but I must remind you that it's winter, and the floor is cold. If you sit on the floor for a while longer, your child might absorb the cold, and you might really have a stomachache later."
As soon as Leng Ruoli finished speaking, Leng Ruoshuang immediately stopped wailing. She got up from the ground, clutching her jewelry box. After all, she didn't want anything to happen to her child, as her future wealth and status depended on the child in her belly. If her child were lost, all her future prosperity would vanish like smoke.
Seeing Leng Ruoshuang get up, Leng Ruoli sneered, "Oh, your stomach got better so quickly! It seems you really don't need my help."
"Hmph! Leng Ruoli, you can forget about touching this jewelry box of mine." At this point, Leng Ruoshuang no longer bothered to pretend.
"Fine, then you can take it." Leng Ruoli suddenly changed her tone.
"What?"
Hearing this, Leng Ruoshuang thought she had misheard.
Leng Jinyu, Xiao Cheng, and Steward Qi also looked astonished, all knowing what trick Leng Ruoli was up to.
Leng Ruoli glanced at the stunned Leng Ruoshuang and prompted, "Aren't you going to leave?"
Upon hearing Leng Ruoli's voice, Leng Ruoshuang snapped back to reality and bolted towards the main gate.
At this moment, Leng Ruoli shouted in the direction she was fleeing, "Father, there are so many mice over there!"
In an instant, Leng Ruoshuang was startled, the jewelry box in her hand flew out, and the jewelry within scattered onto the ground. She almost fell.
The things Leng Ruoshuang feared most in her life were mice and snakes. The original owner knew this weakness of hers since childhood.
At this moment, Leng Ruoshuang finally understood why Leng Ruoli had been so kind as to let her leave. It was for this very reason.
After regaining her balance, she immediately turned around and pointed at Leng Ruoli, shouting, "Leng Ruoli, you bitch! I actually thought you were so kind, but I didn't expect you to plot against me like this."
At this point, Leng Ruoshuang was so furious that she forgot to pick up her scattered jewelry.
Hearing this, Leng Ruoli indifferently let her curse. She walked up to her, crouched down, picked up a gold bracelet, and examined it carefully.
However, when Leng Jinyu heard Leng Ruoshuang insulting his daughter like that, he immediately became enraged. He grabbed the teapot lid from the nearby table and flung it at Leng Ruoshuang's mouth, injuring her mouth on the spot.
Leng Ruoshuang looked at Leng Jinyu in horror, her face filled with disbelief. Normally, no matter how much Leng Jinyu disliked her, he wouldn't lay a hand on her. Today, he actually hit her with a teapot lid. At this moment, she realized that Leng Jinyu wasn't without temper; he simply didn't care about her until she crossed his bottom line.
At this time, a bloody taste instantly surged into Leng Ruoshuang's mouth. Her upper lip hurt terribly. She mumbled a couple of times with her mouth and spat out two front teeth into her hand.