"Lord Father?" Qingle stumbled back in shock. She grabbed the letter which was fluttering down after being thrown and read it.
"Impossible…" Qingle's fingers trembled as she processed what she had just read.
The letter was the one that Qingle had written to the men who ambushed Qingli and killed her. The letter states that she has impersonated the Crown Prince's handwriting and wrote a letter to lure Qingli out to their agreed location. She also told the thugs to enjoy themselves to the fullest and that it doesn't matter if she dies. Qingle figured out that Qingli will end up dead anyway, either under the hands of those men or when she wakes up and commits suicide after she found out that she had lost her virginity.
All in all, it was a crude letter that had exposed Qingle's evil scheme and the irony of it was that she handed it over to her Lord Father herself.
"I was being framed, Father!" Qingle immediately kneeled down.
"This is your handwriting! How can you say that you have been framed?" Duke Qian fumed. Does this daughter of his thinks he is stupid? Qingle had so confidently handed over the letter, saying that he should be able to recognize Qingli's handwriting since he had personally taught her from young. But Qingle had forgotten that her essays were marked by him as well which means that he is also familiar with Qingle's handwriting.
"Lord Father, please believe Qingle. I-"
"How could I believe you? From the start, it was you who bought the Crown Prince to our Qian palace to search for your elder sister. You were the one who led all of us to intrude onto your sister's courtyard to confirm her absence. You were the one who said you have evidence of your sister's intention to sneak out. All you had against Qingli was your word but this letter is solid evidence of your malicious intentions!" Duke Qian roared in anger.
He was beyond furious. Duke Qian had never thought that his younger daughter would be such an evil creature. Qingli had never wronged her, why would she do this? It seems like the apple does indeed not fall far from the tree. With a mother like the Duchess who could even kill a maid to secure her position, what's more with killing off her sister?
Duke Qian took a few steps towards Qingle and raised his hand. Just before he swung his hand down, Duchess Qian shielded her daughter behind her.
"This is your daughter!" Duchess Qian screamed in tears.
However, Duke Qian still swung his hand down. Duchess Qian was flung to the side from the impact and she laid on the ground with her hair in disarray.
"Mother!" Qingle crawled towards her Mother and helped her sit up. Duchess Qian's cheek was dyed an angry red but that was not the most appalling. Her lower jaw seemed to be dislocated and she cannot close her mouth properly. It was truly a hideous sight. Instead of calling for a physician immediately, Duke Qian turned towards the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, it seems like this is all a huge misunderstanding. I hope that your Highness would allow this old man to clean up this mess properly before giving you an answer." Duke Qian saluted.
The Crown Prince understood the meaning hidden behind his uncle's words and he took a step back and returned the salute. "I trust Uncle's judgment."
This incident, although angered both the Duke and the Crown Prince, can only be considered a family matter. In the end, no lives were lost and Qingle's plans were foiled. The Duke can only reprimand and punish Qingle at most. It's not like they can bother the Emperor for such a small family matter.
"Li er, tonight must have been traumatic for you. I'll make sure Qingle is properly punished so that you do not suffer any grievances." Duke Qian comforted Qingli. Hopefully, his daughter did not suffer too much of a shock. He knows how much Qingli cherishes her sister. It was such a shame that her sister only held vicious thoughts about her. This is truly repaying kindness with evil.
"Lord Father, please do not worry about Qingli. Qingli will be fine," Qinli reassured her Lord Father before turning to her fiance.
"Your Highness, Qingli apologize for causing you to worry," Qingli bent her knees to kneel down but the Crown Prince held her up by her arms.
"We are engaged and you will be this Prince's Princess Consort in a few year's time. Between us, there is no need for such pleasantries," the Crown Prince gave Qingli a gentle smile.
"Your Highness..." Qingli bashfully hid her face behind her sleeves to hide her blushing cheeks. She truly looked like a shy maiden in front of her lover. If not for that scar on her face, she would have looked beautiful. It truly is such a shame. However, the Crown Prince did not mind her scar one bit. What he loved was her kind personality and not just her appearance which is why her disfigured face did not waver his love for her at all.
Qingle gashed her teeth as she watched her elder sister flirt with the Crown Prince. Now that her plans have been foiled and her Lord Father detests her, her chances of getting her revenge would be slimmer. She will need to act faster and more decisive the next time. Unknown to her, Qingli will not allow a "next time" to happen.
"Qingli, go ahead and rest for the night. Crown Prince, let me escort you out." Duke Qian patted Qingli's back softly.
Qingli nodded at her Lord Father's words. She bowed towards the Crown prince before heading back to her inner chambers with the help of her maidservant.
The Crown Prince, however, declined to be escorted. "Uncle, nephew shall walk himself out. I believe Uncle still has some unfinished business so nephew shall not take any more of Uncle's time."The Crown Prince cupped his fist as a sign of respect before he left but not before throwing a few distasteful glances at the Duchess and Qingle. He hopes that from this incident, his fiancee would distance herself from her sister who has intentions of harming her.
"Second young miss Qingle shall be confined in her courtyard. She is not to take one step out of her courtyard and nobody is to visit her without my permission. Since her heart is filled with vicious thoughts, she shall copy the Three Obediences and Four Virtues a hundred times. If she shall be confined in her courtyard until she finishes this task." Duke Qian declared.
The maidservants that Qingle bought along bowed in response before they went to escort their master back.
One of the braver maidservants asked timidly, "what about the Duchess?"
"Call a physician to tend to her. She is also not allowed to step outside her courtyard as punishment for not educating her daughter well." Duke Qian said dismissively. He did not care for whether the Duchess lived or died. Ever since the love of his life was killed by that woman, his heart had died.
The other servants in the courtyard were confused. Duke Qian's words mean that the Duchess did not educate Qingle well. But he had clearly said her daughter. Does this mean the eldest miss Qingli was not the Duchess's daughter? Although the servants were confused, they did not question it and carried on with their tasks. Which noble family did not have one or two secrets? If they were to talk about this carelessly, their heads might roll for gossiping about their masters.