Chapter 88: Where Is This Going?

Hearing the sound of the bell, Qiao Qingyun paused, forced out a smile, and her face was full of helplessness.

“All right, let’s go.”

With that, the woman led the others back to the Cloud and Peace Clinic.

By now, she already had the clinic and the Hundred Flowers Courtyard, and the profits from the Hundred Flowers House were still to be shared with him as well.

In this way, even if Qiao Qingyun ate nothing and drank nothing for the rest of her life, she would still be able to live in comfort and ease.

“Miss, you haven’t gone to the Crown Prince’s residence at all these past two days. Could it be that you truly mean to cut all ties with His Highness?”

Qingluo hurried up to Qiao Qingyun, looking troubled. Of course, it was not she who was troubled, but rather she was worried about Qiao Qingyun.

As the crown prince, Yuan Zaichun was the Crown Prince, while Qiao Qingyun was the rightful Crown Princess. It was impossible to justify staying away for so long.

Sure enough, what one feared came to pass.

Before Qiao Qingyun could say anything, Lifu suddenly walked in from outside. When he saw how thin Qiao Qingyun had become, he froze.

“Your Highness, His Highness has sent me to bring you back to the residence.”

As he spoke, Lifu knelt before Qiao Qingyun. The woman was taken aback, frowned, and studied him carefully from head to toe.

“Lifu, do you think I should go back?”

“This... this servant would not dare.”

Lifu was stunned by the question and did not dare answer. They knew all too well what the situation in the Crown Prince’s residence was like now.

If Qiao Qingyun went back and simply ignored everything, that would be one thing. But she was, after all, the legitimate Crown Princess.

Yuan Zaichun openly and without status doted on another woman. Even if a marriage had been bestowed, she would still amount to nothing more than a concubine.

“Your Highness, His Highness said that if you do not return, this servant will not return either.”

“Fine. This place is never short of rooms, so then don’t come back.”

The woman spoke carelessly, crossing one leg over the other and sitting in the chair in a thoroughly languid, good-for-nothing manner. Her eyes, bright as polished obsidian, gazed into the distance.

If she went back this time, then she would no longer be Qiao Qingyun.

“Your Highness, this servant understands. At that time, when the Crown Prince struck you for no reason, but... His Highness is, after all, above ten thousand beneath one man. No one has ever dared speak to him like that.”

“Oh, so now it’s my fault? Was I supposed to stand by and watch all those common people die of illness? Was I supposed to grovel and beg my way into the palace?”

By the time she said this, Qiao Qingyun’s voice had begun to tremble.

So it was true: before power, a human life was worth nothing at all.

The Empress did not like Buxianglian, and so she found every possible way to marry her off to someone else.

Yet, however carefully one guards against theft, it is hard to guard against a thief within the family. No matter how much she wanted to rid herself of Buxianglian, she still could not outmatch her own son.

Meeting Qiao Qingyun’s gaze, Lifu even found himself unable to look her in the eye. This time, indeed, Yuan Zaichun had been in the wrong.

“Your Highness, but if you do not return, then if the Emperor blames you, will you really not care?”

Lifu was only offering a kind reminder, but it suddenly jolted Qiao Qingyun to awareness.

Yes. She might not care about anything else, but if she angered the Emperor, the matter would likely not end well.

After all, the Emperor cared most about saving face. If she truly offended him, then in the end, no one would escape unharmed.

“You didn’t say that and I had forgotten. Very well, go back first. Tonight, I will naturally return.”

Qiao Qingyun glanced at Lifu with obvious reluctance, feeling most displeased inside.

“Yes, this servant will go back and tell His Highness at once.”

Hearing Qiao Qingyun’s answer, Lifu’s whole being brightened up, and even his eyes seemed to sparkle.

After Lifu left, Zhong Shi, who had finally been listening to their conversation from behind the screen, came over.

“Miss...”

The man was like a big, clumsy fellow. His eyes were clearly full of affection, yet he expressed it awkwardly.

How he wished he could remain like this with Qiao Qingyun, so that in the future there would never again be any words such as Crown Princess.

Then Qiao Qingyun could belong to him.

Though he could not keep her by his side forever, it would be enough if he could see her every day.

“I know what you want to say. But just as Lifu said, if we keep staying here and the matter reaches the Emperor’s ears, it will do none of you any good.”

“But...”

The words reached Zhong Shi’s lips, only to be swallowed back down. He looked at Qiao Qingyun pitifully, the unwillingness in his heart growing stronger and stronger.

“All right. Even if it is to protect you, I will not back down. This was a prior agreement to begin with, and I have even less reason to provoke them.”

With that, Qiao Qingyun motioned for Zhong Shi to pack up her things. That very night, she returned directly to the Bamboo Listening Courtyard.

The moment she reached the gate, she discovered that someone seemed to be living there already.

“Greetings to the Crown Princess.”

As they reached the entrance, the maids glanced at one another and then hurried over, greeting her with obvious guilt.

“Someone is living here now?”

The woman could tell as much at a glance; she merely wanted an answer.

So soon she could no longer wait and was moving in openly? How impatient.

“This...”

“Your Highness, this place has already...”

“Greetings to the Crown Princess.”

Just as they were about to explain further to the Crown Princess, a woman who seemed as delicate and swaying as a willow stepped out from inside.

She wore a smile as radiant as blossoms, which only made Qiao Qingyun all the more annoyed.

“Miss Buxiang? You moved in here with His Highness’s consent?”

Qiao Qingyun got straight to the point, simply wanting to know whose arrangement this was. If it was Yuan Zaichun’s, then so be it. If it was her own...

At this, Buxianglian burst out laughing.

“Your Highness is jesting. This place was built by His Highness specifically for this servant to live in.”

“Oh? So then I have taken up your room?”

Qiao Qingyun had not expected Buxianglian to be so adept at retreating in order to advance. Though her words made it sound as if Qiao Qingyun were the one losing out, in truth she was staking her claim to authority.

“But...”

Qingluo wanted to step forward and say a few more words, but Qiao Qingyun gave a cold laugh.

“Let’s go. Back to the clinic.”

“Yes.”

Zhong Shi was startled and hurriedly led the way with Hongying. Just as the group was about to turn back, a long-unseen figure suddenly appeared before them.

Yuan Zaichun.

“Greetings to the Crown Prince.”

The man wore a golden python robe. He seemed to have come in great haste, and there was even a sheen of fine sweat on his face as he arrived before Qiao Qingyun with Lifu.

He had only just learned that Buxianglian had come here, and that Qiao Qingyun had happened to return as well.

“Your Highness.”

The woman could not be bothered to offer greetings; she merely gave a faint wave and a perfunctory bow.

“Where are you going?”

The man asked in a displeased tone. At that moment, Buxianglian noticed Yuan Zaichun and stepped forward with a bright, coquettish smile, taking his arm.