Eldest Sis, my mother is framed. Please spare her from death. I will be your slave... "
Hua Mengshi's eyes was flooding with tears. She looked so pitiful. Unfortunately, Hua Qiyue stared at her with indifferent eyes. "Second Sis, this is an Imperial Edict. Sorry, I have no way to reverse it."
Hua Mengshi wept even more piteously. She blacked out and fainted.
Surou and the others quickly helped her away. They did not want to spoil the Changlong Emperor's improved mood.
"Take that bandit burglar Wang Zhong to the dungeon as well. Behead him tomorrow!" The Changlong Emperor bellowed coldly. Then, he said gently to Hua Qiyue, "I'm sorry to have subjected Princess Jinghua to a shock. If it weren't for your intelligence and wits, I would have really wronged you."
It was rare for the Changlong Emperor to be so equable and calm. Hua Qiyue did not really fuss. She stared indifferently at the Empress and smiled. "You flatter me, Your Majesty. Ten Thousand Horses Galloping Ahead is a painting by the Painting Sage. It is priceless. I can only keep it carefully. But if it stays with me, I will not be able to take good care of it all the time. So... I have decided to donate it to the state treasury!"
The Changlong Emperor heard her and was quietly delighted. He loved that painting so much. Hua Qiyue's tone was neither overbearing nor submissive. She had donated it to the state treasury and it would come under the state's safekeeping.
But the Emperor would still hold the painting. In other words, she was simply returning it back to the Emperor.
The Empress said hypocritically, "Your Majesty, Princess Jinghua is right. Such a priceless painting is not safe in private homes. If Princess Jinghua cannot guard it safely, it will be easily burgled. Much better to leave it in our state treasury."
The Changlong Emperor smiled, stoking his beard. "Since Princess Jinghua has such fine thoughts, I will accept her offer."
The tense atmosphere had alleviated somewhat. But Old Madame Hua and Hua Mengshi had to be helped to a nearby pavilion to be treated by imperial physicians.
The banquet continued. When Hua Qiyue rushed over to the pavilion, Old Madame Hua had regained consciousness. She stared quietly at Hua Qiyue, giving a faint sigh. "Ah, Qiyue, I didn't know... I was such a letdown. I hadn't even noticed Second Madame framing you so viciously... "
"Grandma, it's over. Don't need to brood. Am I not doing fine?" Hua Qiyue walked over and started hammering her back lightly to console her.
"Yes, Old Madame. It's all over now. Second Madame has gotten her just deserts... "
Youshui by her side also quickly consoled her.
"Oh, but... when Liting returns, I don't know how to explain it to him." The Old Madame's face was full of worries. Hua Liting's favorite wives were his first and his second, Madame Cheng.
Had Hua Qiyue not seized power in the past few years, Second Madame would become the one in charge. Hua Liting had valued her so highly.
Now that something like this had happened, even his own mother, the Old Madame, would find it difficult to open her mouth.
"Grandma, you don't need to feel guilty. Second Mum ought to be the one feeling guilty. She has let down our father's love and expectations," Hua Qiyue said quietly.
Old Madame Hua heard her and said nothing more. Hua Qiyue continued to console her and helped her back to the banquet. When the banquet ended, a bright moon was in the sky. Tianci had not called Yun Shimo Dad even once during the banquet.
Hua Qiyue breathed a sigh of relief. The wheels of the carriage creaked as she parted the curtains. She saw a horse leaving the palace, heading for Hua's mansion.
"Princess Jinghua!" Someone called out softly to her. Hua Qiyue paused. Wasn't this Huangfu Xuan's voice?
A fiery red horse had blocked the path of her horse carriage. Hua Qiyue lifted up the curtains. She saw Huangfu Xuan on that fiery horse, eyeing her with raised eyebrows.
"Young Master Huangfu, what is the matter?" Hua Qiyue stared indifferently at the conceited man and asked quietly.
Tianci sat by her side, happily eating grapes.
Another carriage came up and halted by the side.
Hua Qiyue glanced at it from the corner of her eyes. The carriage bore the emblem of the Yun mansion. The curtains parted, revealing the cold, handsome face of Yun Shimo.
The Old Madame was traveling on Hua Qiyue's carriage because she wasn't feeling well.
When Tianci saw Yun Shimo, he swallowed the grapes in his mouth immediately and cried out, "Dad!"
All of a sudden, there was a total hush.
Old Madame Hua, Nanny Zhou and the others stared with wide eyes at Tianci and Hua Qiyue. His call left everyone's jaws on the ground.
Huangfu on the fiery-red horse opened his mouth even wider. One could almost stuff a large egg into it.
Horse carriages halted behind theirs. Since Yun Shimo and Hua Qiyue's carriages were blocking the way, that cry was heard by many others.
Yun Shimo smiled gently and quietly at Tianci. "Good boy, Tianci!"
The others heard him and all kinds of expressions could be seen on their faces. They were all crying and raging inside.
"No way. Did I hear wrong?"
"You didn't. The boy that Hua Qiyue adopted called Prince Nan his dad!"
"Her adopted son called Prince Nan his dad... Does that makes Hua Qiyue the mum?"
"Good heavens, and Prince Nan answered!"
"Impossible! Is Prince Nan having an affair... with Hua Qiyue?"
All kinds of speculations arose in their hearts. The faces of the younger women all turned terribly ghastly. Hua Qiyue had not only stolen the limelight tonight, she had earned the favor of the Emperor. After all, she had donated the Ten Thousand Horses Galloping Ahead to the state treasury. That was no different from gifting it to the Emperor himself.
And now, she had won the favor of Prince Nan. What was the world coming to?
The corner of Old Madame Hua's mouth twitched. She stared at Tianci and then at Hua Qiyue and finally, at Yun Shimo.
"Grandma, Tianci has simply acknowledged Prince Nan as his godfather. No need for such fuss." Hua Qiyue spoke loudly, letting many hear her.
Huangfu Xuan heard her and for some reason, heaved a sigh of relief.
"I see. Tianci has earned the approval of Prince Nan. This is our common honor." Old Madame Hua nodded satisfactorily. Prince Nan was a favored subordinate of the Changlong Emperor and a highly popular alchemist. If Tianci earned his protection, his future would be dazzling bright. Hua's Mansion would also benefit as a result.
Hua Qiyue ignored Yun Shimo and stared indifferently to the front. "Young Master Huangfu, please speak quickly. We need to rush back to our mansion."
Huangfu Xuan recovered and his star-like pupils sparkled with an odd glimmer. He could not find the right topic to broach for the moment.
He had blocked Hua Qiyue's way out of impulse. He badly wanted to know how Hua Qiyue knew someone was framing her. How did she know the eyes of those eight horses in the painting could move?
But asking her before so many people would make him look ignorant. Huangfu Xuan's knitted his brows and they resembled a caterpillar. He finally snorted. "Nothing. It's just my horse being cheeky. It has come in your way itself. Beast, turn away!"
Huangfu Xuan pulled the reins forcefully. His long, shapely legs clipped the horse's belly. His beloved horse gave a neigh and turned to gallop wildly in the direction of his mansion.
Yun Shimo looked on indifferently. "Is Old Madame Hua feeling alright?"
Old Madame Hua smiled gently. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am feeling fine."
"That's good. Tianci, remember to come to Prince Nan's mansion tomorrow. Dad has something nice for you. Old Madame Hua and Princess Jinghua, I shall make a move." Prince Nan said nonchalantly. He let down his curtains and his carriage streaked ahead toward his mansion.
Old Madame Hua's gaze turned profound. She looked at Hua Qiyue and smiled. "Qiyue, although the events tonight make me very sad, but... Prince Nan seems very concerned about Tianci. It comforts me."
The corner of Hua Qiyue's twitched as she looked disheartened. "Grandma, even without Prince Nan, we can lead a very comfortable life."
Old Madame Hua had to smile quietly. Her heart was weighed by all sorts of worries. She was partly responsible for this scandal of the Huas. If she had detected Madame Cheng's schemes and sounded her a warning, things would not come to such a state.
To comfort herself, she thought that Madame Cheng was not stupid. Hua Qiyue wasn't simple either. Surely, Madame Cheng would have acted otherwise had she weighed the pros and the cons?
But since it had happened, that was no regretting it. Old Madame Hua adjusted her emotions. Hua Liting would be back in two days' time. She did not know how to speak to her son when the day arrived.
Back at Hua's Mansion, Hua Qiyue and Tianci had just sat down when they heard plaintive sobs from outside the courtyard.
"First Miss, Second Miss begs an audience." Qiuyun entered the room and announced quietly.
Hua Qiyue frowned. She knew Hua Mengshi had not given up. She was begging her to save Second Madame. Right now, Hua Qiyue was the only one who could say pleasing words to the Emperor.
Surely, Old Madame Hua would not speak for Second Madame again.
"I'm going out to take a look. Tianci, you stay here." It was late. Hua Qiyue did not want Tianci to waste his time outside with her.
Tianci nodded obediently, his dark grape-like irises sparkling with a bright glimmer. He rubbed his little face against Hua Qiyue's elbow and left with Youshui for the bathtub. After his bath, he lay on the couch, waiting for Hua Qiyue.
Hua Qiyue left the courtyard. She saw a bright moon in the sky, giving off refreshing silver rays. They lit up Long Red in the courtyard, making it look even more dazzling and enchanting.
Hua Mengshi, her face streaked with tears, was kneeling in the yard. When she saw Hua Qiyue, she immediately cried out in a mournful voice, "Elder Sis, remember that we are sisters. I beg you to say a few words to save Second Madame. I will be your slave... and thank you for not killing her! Elder Sis... I beg you... Mother isn't the... "
Hua Mengshi suddenly stopped, looking at Hua Qiyue in fright. She had broken off abruptly.
Hua Qiyue stared indifferently at Hua Mengshi, sly as a fox. Did she think her a fool? She was trying such an inferior trick?
Of course, Hua Qiyue knew that the real culprit was the Empress. Second Madame was just a scapegoat. But still, both Second Madame and Hua Mengshi had wanted her dead. That was why they had acted so willingly as the Empress's pawns!
Hua Qiyue had to advance carefully, sending Youshui and the other maids to keep an eye on Second Madame and her minions. When they acted, she would analyze their thoughts carefully from their perspectives.
Besides, she had secretly bought Surou over. She had learned beforehand that Second Madame and Hua Mengshi was hatching a plot on the painting, Ten Thousand Horses Galloping Ahead. So Hua Qiyue made a counterfeit and hung it conspicuously in the hall.
She did not expect Second Madame and her team to fall for the trick. So she turned the schemers' plot against them, accusing them instead.
Caining and Caiqing stood nearby, staring coldly at Hua Qiyue. In their eyes, Hua Qiyue was a despicable person. The beautiful Hua Mengshi was kneeling nearby. Their hearts ached badly for her but they could do nothing to help.