Hearing Xue Yan say this, Hua Yun Jin replied, "I thought she was awake, but it turns out it's nothing."
Xue Zi Ning slowly put down his teacup. "It is said that he who knows he has gone astray and returns is not necessarily unaware of being awake now."
Hua Yun Jin shook his head. Xue Jing Yun was so stunningly talented that any woman who saw him would be mesmerized and would not see any other man. The answer was definitely no.
The carriage stopped at the Prime Minister Li's residence. Li Si Nian directly got out of the carriage. Unlike his usual self, he didn't pay attention to the people behind him. Today, he didn't, and went straight into the mansion.
Suo Xin, who got out of the carriage behind him, looked a little guilty. On the way back, not only did the master not say a word to her, but he didn't even give her a glance.
She was a little uneasy. All her arrogance came from the master's favor. Once the favor was gone, she would be the most miserable.
"Aunt Xin, stop where you are and take care of yourself." Li Yao Qin walked past her and dropped this sentence.
"Stop where I am?" Suo Xin looked up and laughed at Li Yao Qin's retreating back. "Since the eldest young lady pushed this concubine in front of the master, do I have a choice? What else can I do but constantly vie for favor?"
Li Yao Qin turned back to look at her and said slowly, "Have you ever thought about what would happen if Father didn't like you anymore?"
Suo Xin laughed heartily, "What would happen? This concubine has never admitted defeat."
With that, she slowly walked past Li Yao Qin. After so many years of careful planning, how could she admit defeat so easily?
That was not her character.
Arriving at the study door, she dismissed Rong'er and Qing'er who were by her side, took a deep breath, and walked towards the study.
Stepping over the threshold, she slowly knelt on the ground, and then walked inside step by step on her knees.
Li Si Nian was sitting inside. She said softly, "Master."
Li Si Nian didn't give her a glance and continued to look at the book in his hand. She slowly came to his side, placed her hand on his knee, and said softly, "Master, don't ignore this concubine. This concubine knows she was wrong."
Li Si Nian looked up at the pitiful woman in front of him, her face streaked with tears, and his hardened heart seemed to soften a little. Suo Xin continued, "Master, this concubine's status is humble. In the past, she was just a maid and knew many things. Today, this concubine has made you lose face. This concubine apologizes to you."
Li Si Nian said nothing. She turned around and said, "Master, please don't show mercy and punish this maidservant."
As she spoke, she took off her outer clothes, revealing her fair back.
Li Si Nian was stunned. After a long while, he said, "Do you know you were wrong?"
"Yes, this concubine knows. This concubine will study more in the future and not make things difficult for you."
"Get up!" Li Si Nian said.
Suo Xin stood up and suddenly stumbled into his arms. "Master, don't be angry."
Lian Xin walked in in a hurry. Li Yao Qin saw her and asked with a smile, "What's making you so angry?"
"Eldest Young Lady, the master is not angry, but rather..." Lian Xin couldn't continue speaking.
Li Yao Qin's gaze deepened. "Suo Xin is quite capable to make Father change his mind."
"Eldest Young Lady, this Suo Xin really has many tricks. I thought she would surely not be able to turn things around this time, but I didn't expect her to turn misfortune into fortune." Lian Xin said unwillingly.
"What's the big deal? When she was by my side, didn't we also not know she had another face?" Li Yao Qin said.
Lian Xin fell silent, because what the eldest young lady said was not wrong.
"Eldest Young Lady, are we just going to let her be so arrogant?" Lian Xin asked angrily and unwillingly.
"Lian Xin, send someone to secretly investigate the whereabouts of the Flower King."
Lian Xin was startled and asked Li Yao Qin uncomprehendingly, "Why is the eldest young lady investigating the whereabouts of the Flower King?"
"Since I can't bring Suo Xin down, I can use external forces." Li Yao Qin said.
"Eldest Young Lady, why choose the Flower King among so many people?" Lian Xin, who had not been in the capital for a long time and didn't know much about it, heard that the Flower King was also a follower of the Empress. The eldest young lady had once disrespected the Empress, and Lian Xin thought the eldest young lady was crazy to seek help from anyone.
"Just because he is willing to speak up for me." Li Yao Qin said.
She felt that the Flower King could be an ally.
"Eldest Young Lady..."
"Listen to me and prepare." Li Yao Qin said.
Lian Xin had no choice but to prepare.
The next day
At dinner, Li Yao Qin saw that her father and Suo Xin had reconciled again. After the meal, Li Si Nian left early for some reason.
Li Yao Qin, Suo Xin, and Liu Yi Niang, who had been silent all along, remained.
Suo Xin got up and said, "This concubine has finished eating. Eldest Young Lady, Aunt Liu, please help yourselves."
Then she walked towards the door. As she passed Li Yao Qin, she said, "Eldest Young Lady, this concubine has never been someone who admits defeat easily. This is also what the Eldest Young Lady taught this concubine. This concubine is putting what she learned into practice. Speaking of which, I should thank the Eldest Young Lady."
"No need for thanks, otherwise I would regret it." Li Yao Qin looked up at Suo Xin.
Suo Xin chuckled softly and left with the help of a maid.
Li Yao Qin no longer had the appetite to continue eating. She put down her bowl and chopsticks and noticed that Liu Yi Niang had been unusually quiet lately.
Seeing Li Yao Qin's gaze, Liu Yi Niang smiled bitterly, "This concubine has already decided to fend for herself."
Li Yao Qin got up and left.
Liu Yi Niang put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked Ping'er behind her, "Has there been any news from that side recently?"
Ping'er shook her head, "Not yet."
"Once there is news, tell me immediately," Liu Yi Niang said as she got up and walked outside.
"Yes, Aunt Liu." Ping'er replied without delay.
Li Yao Qin, who had just returned to her room, heard Yan Xin mention Liu Yi Niang's abnormality and frowned.
Lian Xin said, "Eldest Young Lady, this Liu Yi Niang is somewhat mysterious."
Hearing Lian Xin say this, Li Yao Qin recalled Liu Yi Niang's actions, and indeed, she was a bit mysterious.
Thinking of this, she said, "Yan Xin, pay attention to observing Liu Yi Niang. Report any news to me promptly."
Yan Xin nodded, "Eldest Young Lady, don't worry, this servant will keep an eye on Liu Yi Niang."
Li Yao Qin gazed into the distance. It seemed that this household was full of hidden talents; an aunt was not just an aunt, and a maid was not just a maid.
Hua Yun Jin did not stay in the palace last night. With Han Xi Xia around, he stayed in a residence outside the capital. This morning, he got up and prepared to take a carriage to the palace.
Halfway there, Hua Li suddenly said, "Your Highness, someone is secretly following you."
"This Prince knows. They have been following us all the way," Hua Yun Jin said.
"Does Your Highness want your subordinate to apprehend him?" Hua Li asked.
"No, let's see what he wants to do," Hua Yun Jin said.
The person only left when they reached the palace.
Hua Yun Jin ordered, "Go and see where he went."
He got out of the carriage and entered the palace.
He arrived at Chang Ning Palace and saw a person standing in the courtyard, dressed in plain white, adorned only with ink bamboo, looking like a fairy.