Chapter 168 - 67: Suspicion
Princess Yunhua bit her lower lip tightly. Du Yunluo, with her sharp eyes, noticed a bead of red blood on the Princess’s lip, yet the Princess seemed completely oblivious.
The blue porcelain tea cup in her hand was gripped tightly, and Princess Yunhua’s knuckles turned white. If her strength were any greater, she might have shattered the cup.
Suiyu, seeing her like this, hung her head, afraid to speak, her heart fluttering, wondering whom the Princess might hurl the cup at.
Princess Yunhua glanced at Du Yunluo before looking at Princess Nanyan. Astonishment, anger, unwillingness, and doubt swirled in her eyes, her body trembling slightly. After a long while, she said, "I’m tired, you should leave first. It’s about time to prepare to return to the palace."
Her tone was steady, and if not for the blood on Princess Yunhua’s teeth, no one would have guessed how much rage she was stifling.
Du Yunluo rose to take her leave, and Princess Nanyan also left. Just as the two stepped out of the room, they heard the crisp sound of porcelain shattering inside.
It seemed Princess Yunhua had indeed smashed the tea cup. Du Yunluo sighed quietly.
Princess Nanyan went to Du Yunluo’s room.
The two had not slept all night, and apart from a bit of fatigue, they didn’t feel much drowsiness.
Du Yunluo asked softly, "Do you know what Suiyu reported?"
Princess Nanyan smiled faintly, "I left the Empress Dowager’s place, and soon after, someone went to fetch Prince Rui. It’s likely the Empress Dowager said something to Prince Rui that made the Princess so furious."
Du Yunluo arched an eyebrow and glanced at Princess Nanyan.
Could it be that Prince Rui spoke in favor of Princess Nanyan, causing Princess Yunhua to lose her temper?
The Empress Dowager had chosen Nanyan, and if Prince Rui nodded his agreement, then the matter was pretty much decided. Princess Yunhua’s plans had fallen through, so it was no surprise she was angry.
Du Yunluo recalled the gaze Princess Yunhua had given her and felt a chill run through her heart.
Princess Nanyan gazed out the window and said softly, "The Princess is someone with a very meticulous mind."
Though seemingly unrelated, Du Yunluo understood. She and Princess Nanyan had reached the same conclusion.
Following last night’s events, while Princess Yunhua would certainly suspect Mu Lianhui, the changes today would also lead her to cast doubt on Princess Nanyan once more.
Princess Nanyan hadn’t suffered at all; as long as she and Du Yunluo were playing chess, nothing Lan Qiao or Ah Bi said could harm her interests. Moreover, the Empress Dowager had summoned Nanyan and Li Luan one after the other; if the marriage were settled, Princess Nanyan would be the one to gain.
In the Princess’s eyes, it might even seem like a drama self-directed by Princess Nanyan.
Once the seed of doubt is planted, everything looks suspicious.
The Princess would still suspect Mu Lianhui. She had no idea about Mu Lianhui and Nanyan’s conversation in the Heavenly King Hall and would believe the two were in cahoots, staging last night’s play together.
She would also suspect Du Yunluo; in this drama, was Du Yunluo being used, or was she one of the orchestrators?
Nobody seemed trustworthy, everyone appeared suspect—enough thoughts to keep the Princess fuming for a while.
Princess Nanyan turned her head to look at Du Yunluo, asking, "And you? Do you think I orchestrated this? Did I seek your help or consider you a pawn in my game?"
Such a candid question left Du Yunluo momentarily taken aback, but she quickly collected herself and smiled lightly.
"Who can say?" Du Yunluo chuckled, tapping her finger idly on the table. "Knowing the road ahead is fraught with obstacles, if you don’t fight now, will you wait to be pushed to the brink and then destroy everything? Who doesn’t like seizing the initiative? Whether you’ve been set up, went along with it, or struck proactively, it’s all the same to me."
Princess Nanyan widened her eyes, staring directly at Du Yunluo for a long time before curling her lips into a smile. "See, we truly are of the same kind, thinking alike."
Du Yunluo smiled faintly, not denying it.
Palace maids entered to gather things. The Empress Dowager had already instructed that they would depart for the palace in half an hour.
Everything was arranged in an orderly manner without any delay.
By sedan chair to mid-mountain, the carriage awaited them.
Princess Yunhua stood by the carriage, holding a hand warmer, and when Princess Nanyan stepped off the sedan, she said with pursed lips, "Nanyan, get in the carriage. After a sleepless night and another bumpy ride, you’re bound to fall seriously ill when we return."
Princess Nanyan agreed and, with the help of a palace maid, got into the Princess’s carriage.
Princess Yunhua beckoned Du Yunluo over, and when she approached, the Princess whispered in her ear, "Did you play chess with Nanyan intentionally or by coincidence?"
Du Yunluo lowered her eyes; indeed, the Princess was suspicious.
It seemed Princess Yunhua asked offhandedly; she didn’t truly want an answer. Before Du Yunluo could respond, she boarded the carriage, her expression stern.
Du Yunluo wouldn’t chase after to explain. Such matters are only muddled when discussed too much.
With Princess Nanyan in the Princess’s carriage, Du Yunluo had to travel with Mu Lianhui.
Mu Lianhui leaned in the carriage, resting with her eyes closed. When Du Yunluo boarded, she didn’t even open her eyes.
After traveling halfway, Du Yunluo, starting to feel drowsy, suddenly heard Mu Lianhui call her name.
"Yunluo, it’s really something. The Princess and the County Princess have been friends since childhood. No matter how mad the Princess is, she won’t abandon the County Princess. But you? Just for playing chess with the County Princess, you aroused the Princess’s suspicion—was it worth it?" Mu Lianhui said.
Du Yunluo pressed her lips together. She had no interest in Mu Lianhui’s words, so she simply turned her head onto the pillow and pretended to sleep.
She knew Mu Lianhui’s nature too well. These words seemed to express indignation on her behalf, but in truth, aimed to make Du Yunluo resent Princess Nanyan.
After all, she had shielded Princess Nanyan from disaster, only to get implicated herself. In the past, Du Yunluo would certainly have been displeased.
But she was no longer the Du Yunluo she once was.
In front of Princess Nanyan, Du Yunluo hadn’t spelled it out, but she had her own judgment.
Princess Nanyan had no need to pull such stunts. Her real threat was Princess Yunhua, who she would have to watch out for from engagement to marriage, at the Princess’s side for at least three months, half a year at a minimum. To show her fangs now and infuriate the Princess would make those days anxious and uneasy.
Until yesterday, the Empress Dowager was still favoring Nanyan; there was no need for Nanyan to take such risks.
The one behind it all could only be Mu Lianhui.
After all, once back at the palace, it would be much harder for Mu Lianhui to scheme against Nanyan.
Bribing Lan Qiao and Ah Bi wasn’t something done overnight. Mu Lianhui likely intended to seize this opportunity for some time, but yesterday, Princess Nanyan’s words shook her resolve. Who knows what provoked her into action in the end?
Unfortunately for her, Princess Nanyan escaped unscathed.
Mu Lianhui’s frustration was probably as great as the Princess’s. The Princess had vented, but Mu Lianhui had to hold it in, unable to give any hint of her feelings.
Her heart must be bleeding.
With that thought, Du Yunluo felt a bit more at ease.