Chapter 331: He laughed (1/2)

Chapter 331: He laughed

Long Feiye still had things to take care of, so Han Yunxi naturally wouldn’t dawdle. She left Baili Mingxiang with a few words before leaving. But she had no idea that the woman had trailed after her as soon as she reached the guest hall. Baili Mingxiang hid herself behind the wall outside the building and waited. Soon enough, she saw His Highness and Han Yunxi emerging into the courtyard, one after the other. Once they reached the gates, His Highness grasped Han Yunxi’s hand.

She knew that His Highness treated Han Yunxi different from everyone else, but she never knew it was to such an extent. He held her hand so naturally that it felt like he’d done it for years.

“Your Highness, from the first moment I saw you, I thought you’d never love anyone in the world,” Baili Mingxiang murmured as a bitter pain filled her heart. Despite this, she was still wearing a soft smile. She kept smiling even as the person she’d thought of for the past ten years disappeared long out of sight.

“Xiang’er, why make yourself suffer like this?” an unhappy voice spoke up behind her.

Scared to death, Baili Mingxiang turned to see none other than her father, Baili Yuanlong. “Father, I just came over. Has His Highness and the rest left?” she feigned ignorance.

“You’re still pretending, even in front of your father?” Baili Yuanlong rebuked her.

“Father, Mingxiang doesn’t know what you mean,” Baili Mingxiang wore a lost expression.

“Towards Your Highness, you…girl, you should know your place!” Baili Yunalong’s tone softened.

“Don’t worry, fathe. Mingxiang has always known her place and duty. Mingxiang won’t disappoint you or His Highness,” Baili Mingxiang’s voice was steady, enough to make Baili Yuanlong second guess himself. He couldn’t say anything else, so he strode away. Baili Mingxiang recovered from her sadness as well, enough to dash to the gates in hopes of catching another glimpse. She really wasn’t sure whether she’d get the chance to see His Highness again before the Beauty’s Blood was completed.

Unfortunately, Long Feiye’s carriage had long gone by the time she went to look.

—

Inside the carriage, Han Yunxi struggled with herself a bit before she asked piteously, “Your Highness, I want to go back to the estate. Can you send me there?”

Even though Emperor Tianhui and the empress dowager hadn’t forbidden them from leaving the palace, the latter had already arranged rooms for them in the palace. It was obvious that she wanted the two women to stay there. If Han Yunxi didn’t want to, then Long Feiye was her only way out.

Long Feiye simply looked at her expressionlessly without saying a word.

Han Yunxi waited, but when he still didn’t react, she only dropped her gaze. Soon enough, Han Yunxi lifted her head and said again, “Your Highness, I don’t want to go back to the palace.”

But Long Feiye still ignored her. Han Yunxi withered completely at his reaction. It looked like she’d be better off not trying her luck.

However, when the carriage finally stopped, Han Yunxi got off and discovered that there weren’t in front of the palace, but the Duke of Qin’s front doors. She was really caught off-guard. Surprised and pleased, she didn’t even know what to do beyond sporting a foolish smile. Long Feiye had his icy face as always as he said, “Is there anything worth laughing about? Why aren’t you going in yet?”

“Oh!” Han Yunxi stopped smiling, but her joy was painted all over her face.

Once Long Feiye made sure that Han Yunxi had gone inside, he turned around to hide a soundless chuckle.

Han Yunxi loitered at home until the third day before returning to the palace, but the empress dowager and Emperor Tianhui didn’t cause her any trouble. Heaven knows how Chu Qingge had spent her last three days, but her stare on Han Yunxi was enough to murder a man.

“Miss Chu, have you found out the culprit?” Han Yunxi asked with a grin.

Though they still had an entire day left for their investigation, Han Yunxi didn’t want to waste any more time. If Long Feiye hadn’t shown up the day before yesterday, she would’ve revealed the truth right there and then. A small case like Noble Consort Yun was obvious with a glance. Chu Qingge hadn’t overestimated her own skills, but underestimated Han Yunxi’s abilities. By now, Chu Qingge had already collected all the information from Noble Consort Yun’s palace. She even had evidence that Noble Consort Xiao had been framed. Now she needed to figure out just who framed the consort in the first place. Even though Emperor Tianhui had scared away all her enthusiasm for the case, she still kept her cold and haughty attitude on before Han Yunxi.

“Esteemed wangfei only came back today. I supposed you’ve long known the truth already? Why don’t we call over the empress dowager and His Majesty now to hear you explain how Noble Consort Yun died?” Chu Qingge sneered.

But Han Yunxi only replied generously, “Sure! Let’s invite them.”

“You!” Chu Qingge grew fearful. “Han Yunxi, stop joking with me!”

“Who’s joking with you? Someone come, invite the empress dowager and emperor here. Tell them that this wangfei’s already found the real murderer!” Han Yunxi said loudly.