In the study, Li Mingjue lowered his eyes to read the letter brought by the Hidden Guard.
The letter detailed everything that had happened to Qi Yu at the Prime Minister Residence over the years, leaving nothing out, no matter how big or small.
The deeper he read, the more tightly his brows furrowed.
The person described in the letter and the Qi Yu he had met since being revived seemed to be two entirely different people.
It wrote that Qi Yu was born to one of Qi Wei's concubines, fell ill as soon as she was born, and became a simpleton.
At the age of ten, following an illness, dark and red spots appeared on her face.
Disgusted by her disgraceful appearance, Qi Wei confined her to the back yard and forbade her from going out.
During her decades at the Prime Minister Residence, Qi Yu had suffered endless bullying, even once being pushed into a river by a Maid, nearly resulting in her death.
If all this were true, how could the events of the past half month be explained?
Nobody would believe that an idiot who had been oppressed in the Prime Minister Residence since childhood could possess such excellent medical skills.
Clearly, Qi Yu was hiding some earth-shattering secrets unknown to others.
His gaze deepening, he threw the sheets of paper into the fire basin one by one and warned in a cold voice, "This matter must not be leaked."
"Yes," the Hidden Guards knelt in unison.
Meanwhile, Qi Yu was unaware that she had been thoroughly investigated; she was lying on a lounge chair in a separate courtyard, leisurely basking in the sun.
Upon seeing that the Princess, since returning from the palace, had not left the separate courtyard except for meals and to treat Li Mingjue's wounds, Shen Nanxing couldn't help but ask, "Princess, haven't you thought about vying for favor?"
Qi Yu had just bitten into a piece of fruit and paused at the question, "Why should I vie for favor?"
Her relationship with Li Mingjue was purely a matter of cooperation. What favors were there to fight for?
Shen Nanxing helplessly held her forehead, lamenting that her Princess was everything one could wish for but too carefree to a fault.
It was just as well—if Qi Yu were like ordinary women, fussing over her husband all day, she wouldn't have earned Shen Nanxing's admiration.
"Princess, people from the Prime Minister Residence have arrived," a Maid suddenly relayed the message from outside the door.
People from the Prime Minister Residence?
Qi Yu frowned slightly, sensing that it couldn't be anything good.
In the front hall, the visitor was none other than her white lotus flower of an elder sister, Qi Anran.
She hadn't expected Qi Anran to have the audacity to seek her out at the Prince Residence after being humiliated by her in the palace.
"Sister, have you been well lately?" Qi Anran immediately greeted her with a gentle voice upon seeing her, her beautiful eyes brimming with water and apparent concern.
Anyone unaware would think they had a close relationship.
Qi Yu merely looked at her with a detached expression, "Sister, what brings you here?"
However, Qi Anran's gaze flitted away from her, looking around the room with a faint hint of disappointment.
"The Prince isn't here?"
Qi Yu inwardly scoffed, guessing the real reason behind her sister's visit to the Prince Residence.
Not wanting to deal with her, she gave Li Bo a meaningful glance.
Li Bo understood and quickly stepped forward, saying, "The Prince is preoccupied with official matters. I will report everything to him in detail."
To bolster Qi Yu's position, he deliberately added, "The Prince just specifically instructed me not to let anyone bully the Princess."
Qi Anran's expression stiffened, but she still smiled gently and said, "Steward, you jest. My sister and I grew up together, how could I possibly bully her?"
Observing the battle from the side, Qi Yu clicked his tongue lightly—the psychological resilience of this white lotus was rather strong.
"But this matter is of great importance. If the Prince is not present, I'm afraid..." Qi Anran continued tenaciously, unwilling to believe that she wouldn't be able to wait for Prince Qiu today.
She had already figured it out—all she needed was to show her gentle and amiable side in front of Prince Qiu, and he would surely take a fancy to her.
Then, once she got rid of the ugly freak, Qi Yu, she could become the rightful Princess Qiu.
Qi Anran thought her reasoning was flawless, but Li Bo refused righteously, "The Prince has instructed that the Princess can make decisions on all matters, big and small, within the Prince Residence."
Pointing incredulously at Qi Yu, Qi Anran asked, "The Prince actually entrusted her with the affairs of the Prince Residence?"
How could such a fool have such good fortune!
Qi Yu silently gave Li Bo a thumbs-up in her heart, although Li Mingjue had never said such a thing.
Moreover, even if she were truly left to manage the Prince Residence, she might be too lazy to bother with it.
Li Bo frowned slightly, clearly disapproving of Qi Anran's disdainful attitude towards Qi Yu.
Even if Qi Yu were really a fool, just for saving their Prince's life, he would firmly stand by her side.
What's more, Qi Anran was clearly targeting their Prince today.
Feigning confusion, Qi Yu looked at Qi Anran and said, "Sister doesn't believe it? The Prince is so good to me, even if I were to blow up the Prince Residence, he would not be angry at me!"
Only a green tea b*tch could beat a white lotus. Qi Yu smiled and thought to herself how she would infuriate Qi Anran today.
Forcing a smile onto her face, Qi Anran contradictorily said, "How could it be? It's a great thing that the Prince is so considerate of my sister."
"Miss, Miss, save me, please!"
Just then, Hong Xing somehow emerged and rushed to kneel before Qi Anran, clinging to her legs as she cried and shouted.
In front of so many people, Qi Anran couldn't just shake her off and could only pretend to help her up, while secretly pushing her away with some force.
But Hong Xing clung to her tenaciously.
Locked in the woodshed these past few days, she had been scolded and starved. She couldn't stand another day of such a life.
Hearing people in the kitchen discussing the visit from the Prime Minister Residence today, she immediately ran out, hoping someone would take her away.
"Miss, you must save me!" Hong Xing wailed loudly, "They all bully me, it's bad enough they don't feed me, but they even locked me in the woodshed!"
Qi Anran was so embarrassed she wished the ground would swallow her, yet she still had to comfort Hong Xing in a warm voice, "How could that be? Yuyu has always been so fond of you, how could the people of the Prince Residence bully you?"
Even though she knew deep down that Hong Xing's plight was orchestrated by Qi Yu, she couldn't afford to offend the entire Prince Qiu Residence for a mere servant.
"You get up first, Yuyu will certainly take up your cause," Qi Anran pulled her away, calmly casting off the trouble.
Hong Xing looked at Qi Yu with a timid gaze; despite the same hideous face, her presence was inexplicably chilling.
A vicious glint flashed in her eyes—no matter what, she had to leave the Prince Residence today!
Li Bo signaled to a few maids, and they immediately stepped forward to pull Hong Xing away.
"Miss, save me!" Hong Xing kept foolishly shouting, her cries so pitiful one might think Prince Qiu Residence was slaughtering a pig today.
Qi Yu actually took great interest in watching Qi Anran struggle between wanting to explode and not daring to get angry due to maintaining appearances, and she couldn't resist fanning the flames, "Since Hong Xing doesn't want to stay at the Prince Qiu Residence, why don't you take her back with you, sister?"
Of course, Qi Anran was unwilling to take over this hot potato. If she took back a maid who was sent as part of her dowry from the Prince Qiu Residence, who knows what rumors would spread tomorrow.
Moreover, sending Hong Xing as a dowry was intended for her to relay messages.
At this point it seemed that this person was already broken.
Before she could refuse, an indifferent voice came from behind, "Who is causing a commotion in the Prince Residence?"