The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Follow-up

When Xiao Huaijin returned to the Eastern Palace with wounds all over his body, the moon was already high in the sky.

The moon hung high in the sky, illuminating the path ahead.

Mo Chi supported him, and seeing the Crown Prince in such a state, he felt so heartbroken that tears were about to flow out of his eyes.

He couldn’t help but complain, “The Empress was too harsh this time. How can the Crown Prince, as the heir to the throne, be treated like this?”

“The matter of the Gentleman’s Gathering was Miss Li’s fault, what does it have to do with Your Highness? Moreover, you haven’t truly punished her, just shed a few tears, and the Empress is already so angry. It’s really unfair.”

“Shh, although we’ve returned to the Eastern Palace, this conversation can’t be repeated in the future. If the Empress finds out, I’m afraid I won’t be able to protect you.”

Xiao Huaijin’s face was pale, and his voice was weak. However, he was still thinking about him. Mo Chi felt indignant but helpless, so he had to keep quiet.

Carefully supporting the man back to the hall, Mo Chi finally felt relieved and quickly fetched the medicine box. He had been following the Crown Prince since he was young, even before he became the Crown Prince, when Imperial Concubine Hui was still alive.
He was just a young servant then.

Looking at the dense wounds on the man’s back, Mo Chi felt pain in his heart, regretting that he couldn’t take these injuries for him.

“Ah…” The intense pain on his back caused Xiao Huaijin’s jaw to loosen, and he couldn’t help but groan in pain.

Hearing the man’s muffled groan, Mo Chi’s eyes were filled with tears. However, he couldn’t cry, as the Crown Prince had said that men shouldn’t show their tears easily. His hands moved gently as he treated the wounds.

It seemed that he had sensed the emotions of the person behind him, and Xiao Huaijin struggled to turn his head, a gentle smile on his lips. “Don’t be afraid, it just looks painful. Your Crown Prince has gone through much worse,” he said in a low, raspy voice, still comforting others like a spring breeze whispering in their ears.

“I’m fine.”

Mo Chi was still just a half-grown boy, and seeing such a bloody scene would certainly be hard for him to accept at first. Xiao Huaijin didn’t need to think to know how bad his back looked.

“Waaah… Your Highness, please don’t be the Crown Prince anymore, okay? If being the Crown Prince means going through things like this, I’d rather you be the Second Prince, like when Imperial Concubine Hui was still alive,” Mo Chi said, his voice childish.

Listening to Mo Chi’s childish words, even Xiao Huaijin couldn’t help but smile. Being the Crown Prince for so long had made him forget what it was like to be the Second Prince.

Alas, everything was destined, and no one could control their fate. At this time last night, when he scolded Li Miaozhu, he had already anticipated the current situation.

However, he didn’t regret it. He had not expected Li Miaozhu to be so ruthless. When he knelt before the Empress, it wasn’t because he truly submitted to her. It was just that if she weren’t like this, he was afraid she would end up like the previous women.

Although she was a daughter of the Prime Minister’s mansion, being gentle and weak, how could she be a match for the Empress who had lived in the palace for so long?

The man’s fingertips trembled slightly, his knuckles turned white from gripping too hard, but his eyes were brighter than ever, as if he had made some kind of decision.

Jiaojiao, I will definitely not let you get hurt.

The events in the palace were naturally unknown to Pei Lingyi. If she knew, she would probably smile innocently and harmlessly.

The Gentleman’s Gathering had finally come to an end, and the girl could finally relax and rest for a few days.

The weather was good today, with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze.

Pei Lingyi set up a purple sandalwood tea table in the courtyard, under the shade of the trees. The sunlight cast mottled shadows on the black tiles and gray walls.

“Miss, the water is almost boiling,” Layan said softly, carrying a copper kettle.

Snow Ball had recovered quite well in the past two days. Although her wound wasn’t fully healed, she could move around freely now. Currently, she was lying on the tea table, looking at the rising steam, her little paws unconsciously reaching out to touch it.

Until the scalding heat touched her tender paw pads, she suddenly pulled her hand back, meowing “meow, meow” and extending the paw that had just been burned again.

The little cat held its paw in front of the girl, pitifully blinking its big eyes, indicating that it had been scalded.

Pei Lingyi saw everything and couldn’t help but smile in her heart. However, she still picked up the little cat, which looked wronged, and comforted it gently. “Good baby, good baby, you got scalded just now, didn’t you? Let me blow on it for you.”

The girl’s voice became softer and softer, making one feel like melting into the warmth of spring.

Pei Lingyi lifted the snow-white cat’s little paw and really blew on it.

Xiao Huaice felt the warmth from his hand and couldn’t help but blush again. He buried his face, which looked like a cat’s, in the girl’s waist. The weather was too comfortable, and maybe it was because the girl’s embrace was too warm. Before he knew it, he fell asleep.

Pei Lingyi looked at her cat’s silly behavior and found it more adorable the longer she looked.

Layan had watched the whole process and couldn’t help but comment, “Snow Ball has become more clingy since it came back from the other courtyard. Now it even knows how to pretend to be pitiful and gain your sympathy. It’s really a scheming cat.”

“It was seriously injured before, so it’s probably scared. It’s okay for it to be clingy to me now. I don’t mind at all; in fact, I’d love it if it stuck to me every day.”

Pei Lingyi looked at the cat in her arms with gentle eyes, her slender fingers occasionally stroking its fur.

She wished that time could stand still at this moment, without disputes or troubles. Unfortunately, this brief moment of leisure couldn’t stop her ambition.

It was still far from the time of success.

Luoxu hurried back from outside the courtyard and said to Pei Lingyi, “Miss, the verdict for Second Miss Xue has been made.”

“The poetry collection submitted by the second miss, although no second copy could be found, the content on it was indeed genuine. Now Second Miss Xue has returned to the Xue mansion from the Ministry of Justice.”

“The court’s verdict has been posted all over the streets and alleys, and now everyone in the capital knows that Second Miss Xue plagiarized someone else’s poetry.”

“Her reputation is completely ruined, and she has indirectly made enemies with many scholars in the capital. Although she has returned home, Minister Xue probably won’t treat her well anymore.”

The tea fragrance wafted through the air, and the tea leaves that had just been added were now fragrant. Pei Lingyi picked up the tea cup, took a light sip, and the aroma filled her lips and teeth.

“The tea is really well-cooked today. As for Xue Yiran, she won’t be defeated by this little setback. We still need to make more effort.”

“Otherwise, this hibiscus flower will only bloom more luxuriantly.”

She whispered softly, her smile deepening, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Instead, it revealed a hint of coldness.

The weather was getting cooler, and this warm sunshine wouldn’t last for many days.