Elsewhere, inside the palace where the noble ladies were gathered.
Princess Hualian seemed absent-minded and clearly showed no interest in her surroundings, her mind entirely occupied by something else.
She clutched her wine cup tightly, a look of tension on her face.
She had sent her maid away quite a while ago, and was now wondering anxiously whether the deed had been done.
At this thought, her eyes turned icy and piercing. She gripped her wine cup even tighter, almost crushing it in her hand.
Jiang Ning...
This woman was supposed to be nothing more than an unremarkable daughter of a marquess's household, yet time and time again she managed to steal the spotlight! Who did she think she was? She would never allow anyone else to outshine her!
As long as this plan succeeds, Jiang Ning will suffer a humiliating disgrace. When that happens, we'll see if the Crown Princess and the Empress still look at her with such high regard.
Princess Hualian let out a cold scoff, tilted her head back, and downed the fruit wine in her cup in a single gulp.
Not far away, a faint, lingering gaze fell upon Princess Hualian. The corners of lips curled up slightly in a cold, aloof smirk.
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!"
"The Crown Princess has arrived!"
At the two announcements, the noble ladies all raised their heads and looked over.
The Empress and the Crown Princess walked over, offering everyone a faint smile. "Let us all proceed to the banquet hall now,"
Hearing the announcement, Princess Hualian looked up and scanned her surroundings. Not seeing Jiang Ning anywhere in sight, a triumphant expression crossed her face.
Jiang Ning wasn't walking alongside the Empress and the Crown Princess—that could only mean one thing... the maid she sent had pulled it off!
Hehe.
Jiang Ning, your time has finally come! Let's see how you ever show your face again after this!
As everyone prepared to proceed to the banquet hall for the celebration banquet, Princess Hualian stepped forward and walked over to the Crown Princess. "Your Highness," she asked, :have you happened to see Miss Jiang?"
The Crown Princess froze for a fraction of a second, her expression turning puzzled. "Jiang Ning?"
"That's right," she replied. "Miss Jiang didn't come back with Your Highness..."
Puzzled, the Crown Princess looked over at the Empress beside her. The Empress glanced around herself, and upon failing to spot Jiang Ning anywhere, she couldn't help but frown.
I had Miss Jiang return early," the Empress replied, her brow furrowing. "What is it? Hasn't she come back yet?"
"That's right, we haven't caught sight of Miss Jiang at all," Princess Hualian chimed in.
"What's going on? She should have been here ages ago. Could she have gotten lost...?" the Crown Princess asked with a hint of concern. The palace grounds were a maze of winding paths, and without a palace maid to guide her, it was entirely possible she'd lost her way.
"Your Majesty, why don't we send someone to go look for Miss Jiang?"
The Empress nodded. "Send someone to look for her."
Acknowledging the command, the Crown Princess immediately ordered the palace maids to go search for Jiang Ning.
With everyone's trip to the banquet hall put on hold, neither the Empress nor the Crown Princess made a move, and the rest didn't dare to move about without authorization either.
After a short while, the palace maid walked back to report.
The Crown Princess looked startled. "What? You couldn't find Miss Jiang anywhere along the way? Did you search thoroughly?"
"We've searched everywhere, Your Highness, but there was no sign of Miss Jiang whatsoever..."
The Crown Princess knitted her brows in a frown.
Just then, another palace maid chimed in. "This servant heard someone mention seeing a figure heading toward the west side. Could that person have been Miss Jiang?"
"The west side?"
The noble ladies were currently gathered on the east side, while the west was in the exact opposite direction. Naturally, the Crown Princess never imagined Jiang Ning would have gone over there. Yet, with no one to be found, they had no choice but to broaden the search area.
Then go search the west side," the Crown Princess instructed. "You must find her!"
"Understood," the palace maid acknowledged, turning away.
Standing nearby and overhearing the conversation between the Crown Princess and the maid, Princess Hualian curved her lips in a triumphant smirk.
Jiang Ning had walked toward the west side. It seemed the maid she had sent over had succeeded in leading her there... Now, she just had to wait for everyone to find Jiang Ning and watch her make a fool of herself!
Princess Hualian could already picture Jiang Ning looking completely mortified and making a fool of herself, and her mood instantly lifted.
"What is going on here?"
"Word is that Miss Jiang has gotten lost..." the noble ladies murmured among themselves in low voices.
"Where on earth could Miss Jiang have gone? Making all of us wait here forever, and even keeping Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Princess waiting as well..."
Growing impatient from the long wait, the crowd began to murmur complaints.
Just then, the palace maid returned to report once more. Whatever she whispered caused the Crown Princess's expression to shift slightly.
The Crown Princess hurried over to brief the Empress, whose expression immediately turned grim. "Go look for her at once," the Empress instructed. "Don't go inside any buildings—just search the surrounding grounds. Jiang Ning knows better than to wander into palace halls at will."
Princess Hualian felt a flicker of puzzlement. How was it possible they still hadn't found her?
That's impossible...
The spot she had her maid lead Jiang Ning to was actually one of the easiest places to find. After all, only if everyone gathered around to gawk could Jiang Ning be truly and thoroughly humiliated.
Yet she still hadn't been found, and judging by the grim expressions on the Empress and the Crown Princess, something felt distinctly wrong.
The Crown Princess lowered her voice and said to the Empress, "Mother, if Miss Jiang has truly wandered into that place..."
"She wouldn't," the Empress shook her head, denying the thought.
She had only herself to blame. Had she known it would turn out like this, she should have just had Jinglan escort her back, and none of these complications would have arisen.
If by any chance she really did wander into that place...
The consequences would be unthinkable.
Inwardly, the Empress clenched her fists tightly, praying that they would be able to find Jiang Ning and bring her back safely.
"Reporting to Your Majesty... we couldn't find Miss Jiang anywhere..." the palace maid stammered, her heart racing with anxiety.
The Empress's expression shifted slightly. If that was the case, had Jiang Ning actually wandered into that place? If they didn't track her down and bring her back immediately, not even the Empress herself would be able to protect her.
"Quick—," the Empress was just about to issue the command.
Just then, a voice rang out: "Your Majesty Empress, Crown Princess."
Hearing the voice, the Empress turned around. Catching sight of Jiang Ning walking leisurely toward them, she let out an immediate sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, nothing happened to Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning walked over, accompanied by the Fourth Prince, Li Hexuan, and a palace maid whose hands were tightly bound.
At the sight of the Fourth Prince, the young noble ladies froze in surprise. "It's... His Highness the Fourth Prince..."
"Why is His Highness here?" At the sight of the dashing Fourth Prince, the young noble ladies all grew bashful, while also wondering in puzzlement why he was with Jiang Ning.
Among them, Princess Hualian was utterly shocked to see Jiang Ning appear safe and sound, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"How is this possible...?"
At the same time, upon seeing the maid with bound hands being dragged along toward them, she trembled violently all over, a sudden chill gripping her heart.
Looking at Jiang Ning, the Empress asked with deep concern, "Where on earth did you go?"
Setting down the hemp rope she had been holding, Jiang Ning dropped to her knees before the Empress. "I beg Your Majesty to dispense justice for this humble subject!"
Puzzled, the Empress said, "Get up quickly. Whatever has happened, tell me, and I will certainly see justice done for you."
Only then did Jiang Ning rise to her feet. "That," she said, "is something we will have to ask this maid—why she disguised herself as a palace attendant and led me to Plum Blossom Palace." With that, her gaze swept across the crowd, finally coming to rest on Princess Hualian.
Pinned by that gaze, Princess Hualian trembled slightly.
Upon hearing the mention of Plum Blossom Palace, the Empress's expression turned icy. "What is the meaning of this?"
"After leaving the Empress's palace, I ran into this maid halfway. She disguised herself as a palace attendant and tried to lead me to Plum Blossom Palace. Fortunately, I crossed paths with His Highness the Fourth Prince, who exposed her true colors and false identity. Otherwise, I would have been fooled and dragged right into Plum Blossom Palace by now."
🐇♡🐇♡🐇♡🐇
Jiang Ning: (dragging a tied-up maid right into the banquet) "Your Majesty, I found a lovely little tour guide trying to trap me in the execution zone."
Princess Hualian: (sweating through her silk robes) "Oh look, a sudden, urgent medical emergency requires me to faint right now."
Li Hexuan: (leaning against a pillar, arms crossed) "I was just there for the landscaping, but honestly, her truth serum performance was ten out of ten."
The Empress: (sipping tea with a terrifying smile) "Hualian, dear... explain why your maid is moonlighting as a saboteur."
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