It was a case file of Dad’s, a very simple case file, nothing special about it, just like the case files Dad had always been reading, there was nothing special about it.
Qu Moying looked at it, thought about it, and picked up the teacup beside him. There was a little water in it that the servant had forgotten to wipe off after washing it. It was not much, just enough to pour into the inkstone.
The ink stick still kept the same appearance as when his father was here. Qu Moying began to grind the ink skillfully. After a while, the ink became thick. After thinking for a while, he took out a small bottle from his sleeve. There was a light green liquid in the bottle, which was not thick. When it was poured into the ink, there was a very light smell.
It doesn't conflict with the smell of ink, but if you don't smell it carefully, you really can't smell it.
He picked up the ink stick and ground it a few times to mix the juice completely into the ink.
This is a liquid prepared for her by Nanny Miao. It doesn't have much effect, but it has a certain smell. Although the smell is light, it can last for a while. If someone comes into contact with these things during this period of time, they may be smoked.
If this thing comes into contact with her during this period of time, she might be able to smell the scent inside.
But this is also time-limited. Qu Moying had no other choice at this time, so he added the liquid made by Nanny Miao.
I don't ask for any achievement, but I just hope I can't let it go.
The ink had been ground. Qu Moying picked up the pen from the pen holder, dipped it in the ink, and wrote a few words, a few words that seemed to be correct, and then put the pen down. She had been able to imitate her father's handwriting since she was a child, and it was almost indistinguishable from the original. Once, her father even thought that the words were written by him.
After waiting for a while, until the ink had dried, I put the case file back in. Of course, the pen and inkstone on the table could not be kept. There were several inkstones in my father's study, which were placed on the top of the bookcase.
I didn't put it away on purpose.
Qu Moying had changed a set of inkstones, but he did not change this pen. He asked Yuxiu to throw it away later. There were many pens on the desk, and no one would notice if this one was missing.
After tidying up everything here and putting everything back in its original place, Qu Moying turned his head to look at the chaise longue behind him.
Everything on the chaise longue remained the same as it had been when Daddy was here, and it looked tidy, but in reality, everything was in a state of desolation.
The desolation of a declining baronial mansion.
She sat on the edge of the couch in a daze, her eyes feeling sore and a surge of grief. She clenched her fists tightly, but still couldn't hide the pain in her heart. It felt as if a hole was pierced in her heart, and blood was gushing out, as if her heart was going to be torn apart. How beautiful everything was in the past, how painful her heart was now.
She could not care about Pei Luoan and Ji Youran, but she could not ignore her father and sister. She had to repay them for all the suffering they had endured, even if she was torn to pieces.
“Master…” After a long while, Yuxiu’s soft voice came from outside. It must be because she stayed in there for too long.
Qu Moying stood up heavily, looked around, and wiped the sadness from her eyes with a handkerchief. She left the special juice made by Aunt Miao and also left "Daddy's handwriting" here. The handwriting hinted at a place. This place was originally just an ordinary place, but if someone looked more closely, they would definitely notice it.
She didn't know what Pei Luoan was looking for, but one thing was certain, Pei Luoan didn't seem to have gained anything, or he would not go to her yard again later.
In your own yard
Whatever it was, she really didn't think it could catch Pei Luoan's eye.
It can't be because of the dowry list, right
Liu Lanxin went to great lengths to see her dowry list. If Pei Luoan wanted to see it, he could just ask Madam Ji for it directly.
After looking at that one, Qu Moying returned it to Madam Ji.
She just needs a detailed one...
When they got outside, Madam Duan came to greet them, "Princess, how is it?"
"I can't tell anything." Qu Moying shook his head, "I don't know what the Eastern Palace is looking for, let alone whether it's the concubine or the prince."
There were some things she couldn't tell Madam Duan and Ji Yuanhai. The two of them were too weak, and it was good enough that they could protect themselves. She didn't want to drag them into the mud.
"I think it should be Concubine Ji." Mrs. Duan thought for a while and said.
Originally, the prince was deeply in love with the second young lady. Now Madam Duan also knew that the eldest young lady might have had an ambiguous relationship with the prince at that time. But no matter what, the prince must have feelings for the second young lady, otherwise he would not care about her affairs after her death and repeatedly instructed people not to mess up the plants and trees in the second young lady's yard.
Even if it's a very simple thing.
It is even more impossible for her to come here and rummage around. The eldest lady seems more suspicious.
Ji Yuanhai didn't say anything. He was not Madam Duan. Although he was young, he could understand some things. He always felt that this matter was not simple and it was not something that Concubine Ji could do. Moreover, none of the news that Concubine Ji had spread at this time was good, and it was even more impossible for Concubine Ji to do it at this time.
Although he and Ji Youran are biological siblings, when Ji Youran was around, he never really treated him as his younger brother. In the eyes of outsiders, Ji Youran is the eldest daughter of the Earl's family who is generous and decent, but in Ji Yuanhai's heart, this sister is not a good person. On the surface, she looks dignified, gentle and restrained, but in fact, she is a vicious person.
He is a bastard's son and can see a side of Ji Youran that is unknown to others.
The person who cares most about him in this mansion is not Ji Youran, nor his biological father or grandmother, but the third lady of the Ji family, Ji Yanyue, his sister.
Ji Yuanhai pursed his lips and said nothing. He just looked at Qu Moying carefully, wondering whether the British princess believed it or not.
Anyway, he doesn't believe it.
Qu Moying also noticed Ji Yuanhai's behavior. A hint of sadness flashed in her eyes. She echoed Madam Duan's words, "We'll see about this when the time comes. If it's really Concubine Ji, we just happen to go over and take a look. It would be fine if we ask around a little bit."
“Princess, no... This might arouse suspicion!” Ji Yuanhai tried to stop her. He was not afraid of arousing Ji Youran’s suspicion, but was more worried about arousing the suspicion of the Crown Prince.
He just felt that this matter was related to the prince.
Of course, he didn't dare to speak out this guess casually, for fear that the British princess was unaware of the seriousness of the matter.
Qu Moying thought about it, nodded, and his face became more serious: "Don't worry, cousin, I will handle this matter carefully. Madam Duan and cousin also need to be careful about what happened today."
Mrs. Duan and Ji Yuanhai nodded together.
After they calmed down a bit, they left the yard. Ji Yuanhai went outside to read, while Madam Duan took Qu Moying to another yard.
There were gifts prepared by Mrs. Ji for Ji Youran, and some
Medicinal materials for the disease.
After Mrs. Duan took a quick inventory, she took Li and Qu Moying to the Prince's Mansion to visit Ji Youran's family on behalf of her parents.
The carriage stopped at the Prince's Mansion, and Madam Duan and Qu Moying got off.
A maid from the East Palace had already come up to greet them with a smile: "This servant greets the Princess of Ying and Madam Duan."
"Is your Crown Princess here?" Qu Moying raised her eyes and asked. Before the carriage entered the door, she had already sent someone to report. Liu Jingyu's people came really quickly.
Now that I'm here, no matter who I meet, I have to meet the mistress of the East Palace.
"Our Crown Princess is here. She heard that Princess Ying is coming, so our queen asks you to go over and talk to her first." The old woman said with a smile, focusing on Qu Moying. As for Madam Duan, she was just a small lady in the Ling'an Earl's Mansion, and the old woman looked down on her.
Qu Moying nodded slightly and walked inside with Madam Duan.
After walking all the way, they stopped at a flower hall. The maid outside the flower hall immediately came up to them and said, "Princess Ying, our queen wants to see you."
Liu Jingyu has come here to entertain the guests.
Qu Moying walked in first, and Madam Duan followed closely. The two of them walked in, one in front and one behind, with two maids, into the flower hall.
After entering the door, both sides exchanged greetings and sat down as host and guest.
"What brings Princess Ying here today?" Liu Jingyu went straight to the point and asked with a smile. She secretly guessed the reason why Qu Moying came. She didn't think Qu Moying had any reason to come.
"Actually, it's nothing. Madam Ji asked me to accompany Madam Duan to come and see the concubine." Qu Moying pressed the corner of her lips with a handkerchief and smiled calmly.
"Princess Ying and the Ling'an Marquis's Mansion?" Liu Jingyu showed surprise on his face. He looked at Qu Moying, then at Madam Duan who was timidly standing aside. "The relationship between Princess Ying and the Ling'an Marquis's Mansion... is so good?"
"The former Crown Princess is my cousin, and the former Ling Anbo is my uncle. Madam Ji said that we are originally blood relatives, so there is no need to distinguish so clearly. Even now, the Ji family and I are still close relatives. Concubine Ji has such an incident, and Madam Ji asked me to come over to help take a look and ask about the situation."
Qu Moying said lightly.
His expression wasn't very friendly and seemed a little reluctant, but he came after all, and he came under the name of Ji Youran, which made Liu Jingyu feel very uncomfortable.
But she knew she couldn't show it on her face. She pointed to Ji Youran's yard and sighed, "It's a blessing for Concubine Ji that Princess Ying came to visit her. But Concubine Ji's current situation... isn't good."
"Concubine Ji...how is it?" Madam Duan couldn't help but ask anxiously when she heard her say that.
"Concubine Ji... seems to be in a state of dementia." Liu Jingyu did not hide it, and said with a sad face, "The imperial doctors have examined Concubine Ji for a long time, and they all said that her condition is not good. She sits there blankly for a whole day, doing nothing and saying nothing. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is very worried, fearing that something bad will happen to her."
Liu Jingyu wished Ji Youran would die immediately so that she wouldn't have to be on guard against Ji Youran. She didn't believe at all that Ji Youran was suffering from dementia, but the prince believed it, which made Liu Jingyu extremely angry. She wanted to tear the pretentious Ji Youran to pieces.
Seeing Qu Moying, he was moved and stopped trying to stop her. He even said directly, "I can't explain this matter clearly. Princess Ying should go and see it yourself!"