Chapter 237: Chapter 237: Xie Yuanjiu’s True Face

Ye Shangyi heard his words in disbelief.

It usually didn’t matter if she acted a little arrogant. None of the other young ladies here came from a family as distinguished as hers.

But the person reprimanding her now was the Crown Prince of Cangyun Country!

Ye Shangyi felt utterly humiliated, her face ashen with embarrassment.

She shot Shen Ningning a resentful glance. "I... I..."

In the end, Ye Shangyi couldn’t bear the public humiliation. She covered her face, crying, and ran off.

The elder aunt gave a meaningful look, signaling a little palace maid to follow and keep an eye on her, lest anything happen.

"Did everyone hear the Crown Prince? The selection for female officials is absolutely fair. Everyone starts from the same point. There are no exceptions, and certainly no preferential treatment."

The elder aunt declared this sternly in front of Mo Lingwei.

Then, she respectfully approached Mo Lingwei. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you here to escort the Commandery Princess? As it happens, there are no more lessons scheduled for today."

Unexpectedly, Mo Lingwei’s dark gaze swept over the helpless little girl.

"I was just passing by. I’m leaving now," he said, retracting his gaze before turning to leave with his attendants.

Shen Ningning froze for a moment, then took a step with her little feet, about to chase after him.

But just then, a cry of alarm came from behind her. Qi Xiuwei shouted in fright, "Miss Xie has fainted!"

Shen Ningning turned to look. Sure enough, Xie Yuanjiu had collapsed on the ground, her face pale.

Everyone crowded around her. The elder aunt hastily ordered a little palace maid to take a token and summon an Imperial Physician.

Shen Ningning watched as the sedan chair carrying Mo Lingwei disappeared into the distance. She could only grit her teeth. ’I’ll have to wait until I see him tonight to explain.’

Then, the little girl ran to Xie Yuanjiu’s side to help.

When the elder aunt touched Xie Yuanjiu, she realized the girl’s body was burning hot.

After the Imperial Physician visited, he prescribed some medicine. He said Xie Yuanjiu had caught a severe chill, and because it had gone untreated for a day or two, it had become serious.

The elder aunt glanced impassively at the unconscious Xie Yuanjiu.

She left a little palace maid behind to look after her.

「In the evening.」

Xie Yuanjiu finally woke up. There was only one little palace maid in the room, brewing medicine.

Clutching her splitting headache, she sat up. Her first words were, "The elder aunt didn’t say she was going to send me away, did she?"

The little palace maid looked up. "You’re awake, Miss Xie. The elder aunt said no such thing. You shouldn’t be thinking about the selection for female officials right now. Your health is what’s important."

"The Imperial Physician said this illness came on very suddenly, so you must rest and recover well."

Xie Yuanjiu pressed her lips together, her expression turning serious.

She immediately demanded, "I want to see the elder aunt."

The little palace maid couldn’t refuse her. A short while later, the elder aunt heard the news and came over.

Xie Yuanjiu made an excuse and sent the little palace maid away.

Seeing this, the elder aunt’s expression remained calm. "Miss Xie, you should be resting. Tomorrow, I will contact your family to escort you out of the palace."

Xie Yuanjiu leaned against the bed, her face still gaunt from her illness.

But her eyes, dark and heavy with calculation, glinted.

"Elder aunt, I wanted to see you to discuss the matter of my illness."

"I know that according to palace rules, a young lady who falls ill can no longer participate in the selection for female officials. But you cannot send me away."

The elder aunt’s expression grew solemn. "Miss Xie, since you already know the palace regulations, even if I were to agree not to send you away, it’s not my decision to make. The palace rules are what count."

Xie Yuanjiu smiled. "But, elder aunt, while it’s true we would normally have to follow the palace rules..."

"...things are different now. Consort Rong spoke with me personally today. How do you know that Her Ladyship doesn’t intend for me to become a female official?"

The elder aunt’s heart jolted, and she frowned instinctively.

She studied Xie Yuanjiu. To think that this young lady, who usually appeared so quiet, reserved, and proper, could utter such arrogant words.

Xie Yuanjiu’s tone was serene. "Ningning is close to the Crown Prince, so she certainly won’t become the Ninth Prince’s female official."

"Miss Ye offended the Crown Prince today. I imagine word will reach Consort Rong’s ears soon enough, so she has lost her chance as well."

"Among all the current candidates, only Miss Qi and I have received Consort Rong’s favor."

"If you send me out of the palace, elder aunt, what will you do if you have misjudged Her Ladyship’s intentions?"

The elder aunt remained silent for a long while before speaking again. "Miss Xie, there are some things I would rather not say too bluntly, lest you be disappointed."

"But aside from Princess Funing and Miss Ye, whom you just mentioned, there are plenty of other outstanding candidates among the young ladies."

"The selection for female officials is based on overall performance. You haven’t passed a single assessment so far. Consort Rong is surely aware of this."

Xie Yuanjiu felt under her pillow and pulled out a small pouch, clutching it in her hand.

She smiled faintly. "You need not worry about that, elder aunt. All you have to do is not be so hasty in trying to force me out of the palace."

As she spoke, she held out a heavy pouch.

Xie Yuanjiu’s gaze was somber. "All you need to do, elder aunt, is tell everyone that my condition requires bed rest and that I am not well enough to be moved, so I cannot leave the palace for the time being."

"That shouldn’t be too difficult for you, should it, elder aunt? I trust that Consort Rong would not have you forcibly send me away at a time like this."

The elder aunt pressed her lips together, her gaze lowered for a moment before she replied, "Very well. It shall be as you say, Miss Xie. I hope you get what you wish for."

A flicker of triumph flashed in Xie Yuanjiu’s eyes, and she pushed the pouch forward again.

"Please take this, elder aunt. For all your hard work these past few days."

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Miss Xie, but I cannot accept it." With that, the elder aunt curtsied and departed.

Shen Ningning sat by the entrance to the Waterside Pavilion and Flower Shed.

She held a small hand warmer, her bright, dark eyes fixed on the entrance to the courtyard.

When the elder aunt emerged from the northern building, she saw the small, lonely figure.

"Commandery Princess? Who are you waiting for?" the elder aunt asked, walking over.

Shen Ningning tilted up her small, rosy-white face, her voice soft. "Elder aunt, I’m waiting to see when Brother Wu Fang will arrive."

’What if Mo Lingwei wants me to join him for dinner again?’ she thought.

She had to wait right here, so Wu Fang would see her the moment he entered.

Shen Ningning stood up and asked, "By the way, is Sister Xie feeling any better?"

The elder aunt’s gaze grew heavy. "Commandery Princess, you share a room with Miss Xie. Did you know all along that she was ill?"

Shen Ningning froze, then lowered her head, her little hands twisting the corner of her robes in a very guilty-looking manner.

"Yes..." she replied softly. "I’m sorry, elder aunt. I should have told you, but Sister Xie begged me not to say anything."

"She’s been preparing for the female official selection for so long. I felt I should give her a chance, so I didn’t report it."

The elder aunt’s heart grew cold as she listened.

’Princess Funing probably hasn’t realized what kind of person that Miss Xie truly is!’

The elder aunt shook her head. "Your Highness need not apologize to me. After all, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Miss Xie."

"Now, we can only wish her success in achieving her goals." After saying this, the elder aunt curtsied and took her leave.

Shen Ningning was completely bewildered.

’A blessing in disguise? How could getting sick be a good thing?’

The little girl sat back down, puzzled, and waited for another hour.

The sky grew dark, and it was nearly bedtime, but Mo Lingwei had not sent anyone for her.

Unless the Crown Prince summoned her, she could not leave the Waterside Pavilion and Flower Shed on her own.

So, Shen Ningning paced back and forth along the veranda.

Everyone else had gone to sleep.

A little palace maid had just come to urge Shen Ningning to go back to her room.

But the little girl wanted to wait just a bit longer.

Until a pair of hands gently tapped her on the shoulder from behind.

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