Two people popped out from behind the rockery in the back garden after she left.
One was waving a fragrant fan, the other held a saber.
"I told you, this method would work. Look, wasn't your prince pushed back by your princess? Judging by the situation, tonight, these two will definitely..." At this point, Nangong Li hooked Bai Qi's neck: "Hahaha, you know what I mean."
Bai Qi was half a head taller than Nangong Li. As Nangong Li hooked his neck, Bai Qi only needed to cooperate by crouching slightly.
"But my master, he cannot..."
Nangong Li released Bai Qi and tapped him on the head with his fan: "Cannot what? You don't understand anything. If you want to have fun, you don't need to go too deep. Just imitate it a little. Besides, my Ninth Imperial Uncle said that as long as the princess is happy and joyful, he is willing to do anything. So tonight, as long as your princess is happy, understand?"
Bai Qi scratched his head, still not understanding: "I don't understand, but this servant knows that my master is indeed drunk by your Sixth Prince."
"..."
Nangong Li fanned himself vigorously, his head aching from Bai Qi's bluntness: "If he wasn't drunk, how could I hear his true feelings? Do you understand that people speak their minds when they're drunk?"
"Oh!" Bai Qi replied and walked forward alone, heading towards the main hall in the front courtyard.
Nangong Li quickly chased after him and stopped him: "What are you doing?"
Bai Qi answered truthfully: "Serving the prince. The prince has never been drunk before. This servant is afraid he might vomit."
"Where are you going? Hurry back with me. Aren't you silly? With your princess there, do you still need to be here?" Nangong Li hooked Bai Qi's neck and walked in another direction.
Just then, a pair of eyes hiding in the corner disappeared as they left.
Lanxi Pavilion.
Side Hall.
"Shameless, how can that woman Gu Qianying be so shameless? It makes me so angry." Lan Qingqing, who was recuperating in the room, leaned against the bed, clenching the handkerchief in her hand tightly. The moment she thought of what she had seen in the back garden earlier, her heart was filled with rage.
To this day, she still felt that a woman as dissolute and shameless as Gu Qianying did not deserve her prince!
She touched her nearly disfigured face and, in her anger, picked up the jade pillow beside her, intending to throw it out. Just then, a voice sounded from outside the door.
"Qingqing, are you awake?"
Du Chun stood outside the door, holding the medicinal soup he had personally brewed for Lan Qingqing, and knocked.
Lan Qingqing turned her gaze, quickly put down the jade pillow, got out of bed barefoot, pulled aside the bed curtain, and draped it over the roof beam. She then brought a small stool, stepped onto it, grabbed the bed curtain with both hands, and cried, "Qingqing has no face to live in this world, wuwu."
Du Chun, standing outside the door, heard her soft cries.
"Qingqing!"
Du Chun pushed the door open and walked in. The moment he saw Lan Qingqing about to hang herself, his body trembled violently. The medicinal soup in his hands dropped to the ground, spilling its contents.
He exclaimed and rushed forward, pulling Lan Qingqing down.
The wounds on his back from being whipped had split open slightly due to the large movement. He endured the pain and held Lan Qingqing in his arms: "Qingqing, what are you doing?"
Lan Qingqing sobbed heartbrokenly in Du Chun's arms: "Brother Du, Qingqing cannot live anymore. Qingqing's face... wuwu, Qingqing doesn't want to live anymore. Brother Du, just let Qingqing die, wuwu."
As she spoke, she broke free from Du Chun and stood up to run towards a pillar.
Du Chun quickly grabbed her, stopping her: "Qingqing, don't do this. Your face will get better, believe me."
Lan Qingqing looked at Du Chun with tears in her eyes: "Brother Du, don't lie to Qingqing. Qingqing's face is already disfigured and cannot be healed anymore, wuwu."
Lan Qingqing put on a heartbroken expression.
As she cried in Du Chun's arms, her clothes were wrinkled, and her shoulders were exposed.
Du Chun's body tensed, and his cheeks flushed slightly.
"Qingqing, I have some Jade Fuhui ointment that can lighten the wounds on your face."
Du Chun averted his eyes, no longer looking at her.
A woman adorns herself for those who please her. He truly didn't know how to comfort her.
"Thank you, Brother Du, but... even with medicine, Qingqing's face will still have scars. Qingqing has become so ugly now, and everyone dislikes Qingqing. Qingqing doesn't want to live anymore, wuwu."
Lan Qingqing's words made Du Chun even more at a loss for how to persuade her.
"Qingqing, think positively. No matter what others think of you, you are the most beautiful in my eyes."
Du Chun steeled himself, thinking that perhaps Lan Qingqing would be happier if he said these words.
Alas, Lan Qingqing cried even harder.
Du Chun was at a loss for what to do. He wanted to reach out to wipe her tears, but his hand stopped midway, and he withdrew it.
Seeing this, Lan Qingqing thought the time was right. She looked up at Du Chun with tears in her eyes and said softly, "Brother Du, you can heal Qingqing's face, right? You definitely can. Qingqing knows you definitely can."
Lan Qingqing's words had a hidden meaning, but Du Chun couldn't understand: "Qingqing, don't worry, I will do my best."
"No, Brother Du, not do my best, but definitely can. Brother Du, have you forgotten? Years ago, you tried to help others with face transplants, and although it failed, Qingqing knows that one day, you will definitely succeed."
Du Chun was surprised: "Qingqing, you don't mean you want to have a face transplant? But... my medical skills are not yet..."
Lan Qingqing suddenly looked up and kissed him.
Du Chun was stunned, his pupils dilated, and his body trembled violently.
In her panic, Lan Qingqing let go of him and lowered her head, looking shy: "Brother Du, from now on, Qingqing is yours. You must not fail Qingqing."
"Okay."
Du Chun, who hadn't fully processed what was happening, replied as if possessed.
"Then can Brother Du help Qingqing with a face transplant? Qingqing doesn't want to be this ugly anymore. Qingqing wants to become beautiful, to become as beautiful as Gu Qianying."
Lan Qingqing's words implied her true intention.
"Okay."
Du Chun didn't understand. At this moment, his mind was blank, and all he saw was the image of Lan Qingqing kissing him.
"That's great. So, Brother Du has agreed to help Qingqing with a face transplant with Gu Qianying? That's wonderful, Brother Du, you are so good. Qingqing knew you were the best to Qingqing."
Lan Qingqing leaned into Du Chun's arms, her voice possessing a deadly allure that made it impossible for Du Chun to refuse.
A moment later, Du Chun walked out. As he left, his eyes were somewhat dazed. Holding his sword, he walked towards the main hall in the front courtyard.
Watching his retreating figure, Lan Qingqing's lips curved into a sinister smile.
Gu Qianying, you are dead!
Years ago, Du Chun researched the art of face transplantation. At that time, he thought the person had not died, but only she knew that person had been dead for a long time. This art of face transplantation was one of the forbidden arts, and misuse would lead to death.
These were also told to her by that mysterious person.
If she could make Du Chun kill Gu Qianying for her, then the position of Ninth Princess would be hers.
A moment later,
Lan Qingqing walked over to the desk, picked up her brush, and wrote a letter. She hid the letter under her sleeve, turned around, and secretly went to a deserted spot near a dry well in the back garden.
This was where she met Steward Qi.
Last night, she and Steward Qi had made an appointment.
A couple of days ago, Steward Qi told her that the reason he failed to transfer and kill Gu Qianying after she fainted was that he was seen by a young guard. Although he killed the young guard, he missed the opportunity. After that, it was the scene where she pushed Nangong Mo into the room and saw it.
Thus, she understood why Steward Qi had not taken action against Gu Qianying.
"Miss Qingqing," Steward Qi arrived as promised.
"Steward Qin, you've come." Lan Qingqing's voice was soft and her eyes were moist when she saw Steward Qi, as if she had suffered great injustice.
Seeing her like this, Steward Qi immediately pulled her into his arms: "Miss Lan, don't be sad. The wounds on your face will be fine. Even if you are truly disfigured, I will still treat you as before."
Steward Qi was affectionate, but only he knew that at this moment, he desperately wanted to know what Lan Qingqing's purpose was in calling him here.
Only by understanding Lan Qingqing's true intentions in meeting him could he quickly report the current situation to the princess and earn her trust.
After a round of comfort, Lan Qingqing handed the letter she was carrying to Steward Qi.
"Brother Qi, this time, you must help Qingqing. Qingqing is truly at her wit's end, wuwu."
Lan Qingqing wiped her tears with a handkerchief, crying very sadly.
"Okay, don't worry, I will handle this properly this time. But Miss Qingqing, if what you ask me to do is exposed in the future, I will lose my head."
Steward Qi's words had a hidden meaning.
How could Lan Qingqing not know?
She leaned into Steward Qi's arms shyly, her voice still soft: "Brother Qi, actually, Qingqing for you..."
Her words were suddenly interrupted by someone lowering their head and kissing her.
Lan Qingqing's hand holding the handkerchief tightened.
As they kissed, Steward Qi held her tightly.
On the dark and secluded grass, two figures entwined madly.
After a long while, they dressed and got up.
"Brother Qi, hurry up." Lan Qingqing tidied her clothes, urging Steward Qi, but in her heart, she hated Steward Qi to death!
"Yes, I'm going now. You go back quickly," he replied casually, tucking the letter into his chest and leaving.
Watching him leave, Lan Qingqing's fingers dug fiercely into her palm, and a cold glint appeared in the corner of her eyes.
Damn bastard man!
When she ascended to the position of Ninth Princess, the first person she would execute would be this Steward Qi, Qi Zhenhong!