If such hypocritical words had been spoken in the past, her younger, naive self might have believed them.
But the Gu Qiurong of today, having endured the horrors of the imperial prison, would never believe them again.
Just as she was about to leave, she caught sight of someone not far away—Gu Lingwei was looking for Sheng Mochen.
A sharp, clear light flickered in Gu Qiurong’s dark eyes. She glanced at the warning hidden in Gu Lingwei’s gaze, then turned to Sheng Mochen and said, "Your Highness, why must you speak such duplicitous words? When I was in the imperial prison, you sent people to attempt my life. They nearly drowned me in a water vat. You were so eager to see me dead—what is the meaning of this charade now?"
Sheng Mochen’s heart gave a violent jolt, and his expression darkened significantly.
*Attempt her life?* When had he ever sent anyone to harm her?
Gu Qiurong’s eyes were already rimmed with red, whether from grievance or sorrow, it was hard to tell. Tears rolled down her cheeks one by one as she stared at him in silence.
Sheng Mochen’s heart tightened. In politics, he was ambitious, ruthless, and decisive. But in matters of the heart, stripped of his halo as the Crown Prince, he was the very type of man women found most irritating: fickle, pitying everyone, and caught up in shallow affections for all.
"Qiurong, what are you talking about? What do you mean I sent people to harm you? When would I ever have sent someone to hurt you?"
Sheng Mochen felt a profound sense of grievance. Not only had he not made things difficult for her, but upon learning she had been thrown into the imperial prison, he had actually felt a sense of relief. The prison was under the supervision of his own men, and it would have been easy to provide her with extra care. He had specifically ordered them to look after her and ensure she came to no harm, yet she was claiming... that he had tried to kill her?
"Qiurong, explain yourself..."
But Gu Qiurong only looked at him with those red, swollen eyes.
The moment she turned away, a mocking curve touched the corner of her lips. She knew, of course, that Sheng Mochen was innocent; but when Gu Lingwei had sent people to harm her, she had done so under the Crown Prince’s name.
Didn't Gu Lingwei care more about the position of Empress than anything else? If Sheng Mochen discovered that Gu Lingwei was not the dignified, virtuous, and gentle woman he imagined her to be, would he still consider her a suitable candidate for Crown Princess?
She didn't covet the position of Crown Princess, but she did not want Gu Lingwei to have her way. The pain and suffering she had endured, Gu Lingwei would have to experience every bit of it!
Gu Qiurong quickened her pace. She was no longer the lowly girl in the Pingding Marquis Estate whom anyone could trample upon.
By the time Gu Lingwei hurried to catch up, Sheng Mochen was still wondering when he could have possibly sent men to take Gu Qiurong’s life.
A gentle voice rang out by his ear. "Crown Prince, has my sister come to pester you again? I understand. This marriage was meant for her. I am the one who usurped her place, occupying her nest. It is only right that she should resent and hate me..."
She sounded so aggrieved that, in the past, Sheng Mochen would have immediately comforted her and told her it was not her fault. But at this moment, Sheng Mochen was still immersed in his own indignation at being falsely accused.
"When have I ever sent anyone to the prison to harm her? Who could have incited Gu Qiurong to slander me like this!"
At these words, Gu Lingwei’s face turned slightly pale. She clenched her fingers, her heart pounding violently. She could feel that the Gu Qiurong who had returned from prison was no longer the easy target she had been before.
Could it be that she wanted to take everything away? Her parents, her brothers and sister, and even her fiancé?
At the thought of this, Gu Lingwei grew restless and anxious. She would not allow it. Everything belonged to her; she had enjoyed a decade of wealth and glory in the Marquis Estate and had always been the favored daughter. As for Gu Qiurong, she had spent ten years as a servant and should have long since been accustomed to serving others. Why did she have to fight for anything now?
"Perhaps she offended someone in the Marquis Estate, and they bribed the guards to kill her in your name, Crown Prince. Please don't blame her; my sister suffered too many grievances when she was young..."
Before Gu Lingwei could finish her attempt at consolation, Sheng Mochen frowned and snapped, "The grievances she suffered when she was young had nothing to do with me! Why should she blame me?"
With a flick of his sleeves, Sheng Mochen turned and stalked off in a rage.
Eunuch Chang hurried after him, and Sheng Mochen muttered with suppressed fury, "Go and investigate. See who dared to impersonate me to cause trouble for Gu Qiurong."
"Yes, Your Highness."
***
"My Lady! The Crown Prince is investigating who harmed Gu Qiurong in the prison."
Mother Hai delivered the news to Gu Lingwei. Gu Lingwei’s fingers tightened. It was indeed that wretch Gu Qiurong talking nonsense in front of the Crown Prince.
She had spent years with Sheng Mochen and knew his nature well; he was most prone to pitying women. Even if he didn't harbor romantic feelings for Gu Qiurong, he would naturally feel a degree of compassion for her simply because she was a woman. If the Crown Prince were to discover that it was she who had orchestrated the attack on Gu Qiurong...
Gu Lingwei’s frame trembled slightly. Her position as Crown Princess would be impossible to secure. If the Crown Prince developed even a shred of suspicion toward her, it would not only affect her but the entire Marquis Estate. Even though Gu Lingwei viewed the Marquis Estate merely as a ladder for her own advancement and held no true affection for them, their fates were tied.
She would not let the Marquis Estate fall. She would not allow her certain future as Crown Princess to be ruined by Gu Qiurong.
"Are the jailers we bribed back then still in the imperial prison?"
Mother Hai had already investigated. "Three are still there; one has returned to his hometown."
Gu Lingwei’s eyes narrowed. She raised her hand and looked at Mother Hai with a deep, intense gaze. "Mother Hai, I do not want the Crown Prince to uncover a single shred of evidence."
"Yes, my lady, I understand."
That very night, the few jailers Gu Lingwei had once bribed all died miserable deaths. By the time Sheng Mochen’s men arrived to investigate, they were met with the news of their deaths. With no evidence left, even as the Crown Prince, he was helpless.
Gu Qiurong had never pinned her hopes on Sheng Mochen. Her goal was simply to sow seeds of suspicion in his mind; whether he found the truth was secondary. She would never rely on Sheng Mochen to uphold justice for her.
Night fell.
Everything was deathly silent. The entire Pingding Marquis Estate lay in stillness.
Lying in bed, Gu Qiurong opened her eyes and woke Qingzhi, who was curled up at the foot of the bed. "Qingzhi, we’re leaving."
Qingzhi was still groggy, but at Gu Qiurong’s call, she scrambled up.
The mistress and maid quickly changed into dark clothing and headed out of the Rongan Courtyard. Qingzhi kept a close watch on the night watchmen pacing outside, and as soon as they moved away, she beckoned to Gu Qiurong.
"My lady, the hole in the wall is here!"
The two quickly reached the hole in the back wall. Gu Qiurong, with her petite frame, crouched down and squeezed through with ease.
Qingzhi was larger-boned; even though she was skin and bone, the passage was a struggle. Her hips got stuck, and unable to move, she turned back with a flushed face and waved at Gu Qiurong. "My lady, help me!"