Chapter 294: Disgraced and Dishonored
Chapter 294: Disgraced and Dishonored
10-22
Princess Wanping was furious, her anger directed not at Meng Qianqian but at two shameless and morally bankrupt individuals.
Wei Mingxuan's reputation was already tarnished, and she had long known about his shamelessness.
However, she never expected that Xun Yu would be of the same ilk!
"What should I do? What should I do? I'm not clean anymore... I'm going to get a stye..."
Li Xiaojie covered her eyes tightly, on the verge of tears.
Princess Wanping spoke sternly, "Escort these ladies out!"
Changkuan signaled to his men, who naturally split into two groups. One group formed a human wall, blocking the unsightly sight of Wei Mingxuan and Xun Yu, while the other group escorted Li Xiaojie and Hao Xiaojie out of the cave and guarded them outside.
Tao Shiyou didn't move.
Meng Qianqian raised her eyebrows and asked, "Miss Tao, why aren't you leaving? As an unmarried lady, don't you feel ashamed seeing two men in disarray?"
"I..."
Tao Shiyou was still in a state of shock, her mind in turmoil.
She couldn't understand how things had turned out this way.
Everything had gone according to plan, and Prince Xun had promised her that if she could make this happen, she would marry into the Xun family and become Chen Long's wife.
But now, everything was over... over...
Instinctively, she looked at Princess Wanping, wondering if she had noticed any flaws.
Meng Qianqian seized the opportunity and said, "You mean Princess Wanping isn't married either? Who are you to compare yourself to Princess Wanping? Her Highness is a virtuous lady!"
Princess Wanping: "Stop flattering me."
Meng Qianqian: "Wayward Disciple!"
Princess Wanping gritted her teeth and said, "Pour water on them to wake them up."
"Yes."
Changkuan responded and called someone to fetch water from the stream.
Meng Qianqian spoke softly, "Princess, let's talk outside. Don't sully your noble eyes."
Princess Wanping took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and left the cave with Meng Qianqian.
Meng Qianqian turned back and smiled, "Miss Tao, you've been standing there the whole time. Are you planning to join them?"
Princess Wanping frowned, "What are you saying?"
Meng Qianqian: "I'm speaking with my mouth."
Princess Wanping: "..."
Tao Shiyou emerged, her face pale, as if she had suffered a severe blow.
After Meng Qianqian seated Princess Wanping on a stone, she looked at Tao Shiyou with surprise and said, "Oh, Miss Tao, your face looks terrible. This isn't your fault, why are you so scared?"
Princess Wanping was furious with Xun Yu and Wei Mingxuan, and she hadn't paid much attention to Tao Shiyou. Hearing Meng Qianqian's words, she turned to look at Tao Shiyou and noticed that her reaction was indeed different from the others.
Meng Qianqian's expression was filled with schadenfreude towards the Xun family.
Hao Xiaojie and Li Xiaojie were embarrassed and flushed red, deeply regretting their decision to enter the cave.
Tao Shiyou, on the other hand, was more shocked and afraid.
The shock was understandable, but what was the reason for her fear?
"Tao Shiyou."
Even Princess Wanping's address had changed.
Tao Shiyou shivered, "Princess..."
Princess Wanping asked sternly, "Did you know Wei Mingxuan was here beforehand?"
Tao Shiyou quickly denied, "Princess, that's unfair! If I had known there was such a... disgraceful thing happening in the cave, I would never have brought you here."
Li Xiaojie spoke angrily, "Weren't you the one leading us here all along?"
Tao Shiyou stammered, "I... I just found Lady Lu's lost items... Oh, Lady Lu... Why are your things nearby?"
Meng Qianqian replied nonchalantly, "I didn't lose anything!"
Tao Shiyou took out a handkerchief and a small sachet, "Aren't these yours?"
Meng Qianqian shook her head decisively, "My handkerchief and sachet, I carry them with me. I'm not the type to misplace things!"
If you have the guts, admit that you took them from me!
Do you dare? Meng Qianqian smiled. "Neither the handkerchief nor the sachet has my name embroidered on it. How can you be sure they're mine?"
Tao Shiyou broke out in a cold sweat and said, "I thought they were yours..."
Meng Qianqian raised her eyebrows, "Oh."
Wanping Princess was raised in the palace and had seen all sorts of intrigue, but Tao Shiyou's reaction was too abnormal.
Could it be that Tao Shiyou originally intended to bring them here to catch Meng Qianqian in an act of self-torture, but somehow stumbled upon Wei Mingxuan and Xun Yu's affair?
Even though Meng Qianqian was her romantic rival, Wanping Princess didn't believe she would do something to harm Lu Yuan.
"Could it be you?" Wanping Princess asked Meng Qianqian.
"Me?" Meng Qianqian pointed at herself.
Wanping Princess furrowed her brows, "Could it be that the one who was supposed to be inside was you, but you switched places with Xun Yu?"
Meng Qianqian and Wanping Princess sat on the rocks, while Tao Shiyou, Li Xiaojie, and Hao Xiaojie stood under a big tree. There was some distance between the two groups, and Wanping Princess lowered her voice so that the three of them couldn't hear.
Meng Qianqian thought to herself, Disciple, you're so smart! As long as Lu Yuan isn't involved, she's truly a wise princess.
Meng Qianqian sighed and said, "Princess, you're giving me too much credit. I do have some martial arts skills, but it's hard to fight against multiple opponents. Xun Yu has several experts by his side. If I wanted to plot against him, I'd have to ask his dogs if they'd agree."
This was the plain truth.
Xun Liu alone, one of Xun Yu's guards, was an expert capable of taking on multiple opponents.
Wanping Princess frowned, "But how could Xun Yu..."
Meng Qianqian patted her shoulder, "You can't judge a book by its cover."
Wanping Princess glared at her hand, "What are you doing, Meng Xiaojiu?"
Meng Qianqian raised her eyebrows and said calmly, "Oh, I'm just dusting off the princess's clothes."
Changkuan came out, his expression unreadable. "Your Highness..."
Wanping Princess said, "Speak."
Changkuan replied, "The person... is awake..."
Wanping Princess closed her eyes and said coldly, "Then let them put on their clothes and get out here!"
Changkuan forced himself to say, "Prince Wei... seems to have drunk too much... he told his subordinates to mind their own business... and scared his little beauty... he wants their lives..."
Wanping Princess: "..."
Li Xiaojie immediately covered her ears, "Oh, my ears are dirty now too!"
After a pause, she asked hesitantly, "Is Prince Xun the one down there?"
Changkuan was startled.
Li Xiaojie exclaimed, "Ahhh! My heart is dirty too!"
Hao Xiaojie took a deep breath.
If this incident had happened to any young master or young lady in the capital, they could suspect that Wei Mingxuan had forced them. But Xun Yu was the legitimate son of the Prime Minister, his cousin, and even if Wei Mingxuan had a million times the courage, he wouldn't dare to be impudent towards Xun Yu.
Unless... Xun Yu had done it willingly.
What a juicy scandal!
Meng Qianqian squinted comfortably, sitting on a tall rock, her calves swinging back and forth.
Wanping Princess said sternly, "Behave yourself."
Meng Qianqian shook her head, "I won't."
Wanping Princess was so angry she could burst.
"Your Highness, what should we do?" Changkuan asked.
Wanping Princess said coldly, "The royal autumn hunt, with the mobilization of the three armies, is a demonstration to the world. This is a matter of state! These two have behaved so improperly at such a crucial moment, damaging the country's image. Their crime is unforgivable! Bind them and throw them into prison, and punish them according to the law!"
Meng Qianqian clenched her fists, "Your Highness is wise!"
Wanping Princess said, "Get out."
Meng Qianqian jumped down from the rock, "Okay."
(End of Chapter)
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