Chapter 35: What Kind of Relationship

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Xiao Jinglin said with a smile, “Miss Luo, there is no need to pretend ignorance when you know perfectly well what is going on.”

His gaze then settled on Xiao Muyuan. “I had no idea, Uncle, that you had become so… eager to help others. I wonder if Miss Luo’s appearance reminded you of an old acquaintance.”

“Still, allow me to remind you of one thing, Uncle. No matter how much she may resemble that person, Luo Yunqiao is Luo Yunqiao. She is not her.”

Luo Yunqiao raised an eyebrow. From Xiao Jinglin’s words, it seemed that she bore a strong resemblance to someone Xiao Muyuan had once known.

Perhaps Xiao Muyuan had agreed to help her only out of consideration for that old acquaintance.

But who was this person?

Xiao Muyuan spoke, his voice revealing neither anger nor pleasure. “I have not yet grown so old and muddle-headed that I cannot tell one person from another. Tend to your own affairs.”

With that, Xiao Muyuan left without looking back.

Having been publicly slighted, Xiao Jinglin felt that he had only made a fool of himself. He was about to leave as well when Luo Yunqiao called out to him.

“Are you really planning to leave just like that, Your Highness? I have yet to receive your congratulations today.”

Xiao Jinglin gave Luo Yunqiao a strange look. “You should save those congratulations for yourself and Uncle. I shall not interfere.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Luo Yunqiao caught sight of a figure in the distance. She deliberately moved a few steps closer, narrowing the distance between herself and Xiao Jinglin.

“Speaking of which, Your Highness, are you not curious about the relationship between the Prince and me?”

Xiao Jinglin frowned. He instinctively resisted her approach, but because of her words, he restrained the impulse to push her away and instead asked, “Then, would Miss Luo care to tell me what sort of relationship exists between you and Uncle?”

“My imperial uncle has always been indifferent. On ordinary days, even the family banquet during the Mid-Autumn Festival requires three invitations and four pleas before he is willing to attend. Yet he came to a mere welcoming banquet and even took the initiative to speak on your behalf.” Xiao Jinglin smiled. “It seems that the relationship between Miss Luo and Uncle is rather close, does it not?”

Luo Yunqiao replied seriously, “I shall never forget the Prince’s great kindness and benevolence.”

At the opportune moment, Jinxin spoke up. “A few days ago, the Prince somehow heard about the wager between you and Second Miss. He even sent someone to deliver a copy of the qin score.”

Yinxin picked up the thread, her face filled with sincere admiration. “The Prince truly is a good man.”

Although Luo Yunqiao had said nothing, it was as though she had said everything.

As for the exchange between the two maids, it had exposed the intimate relationship between Luo Yunqiao and Xiao Muyuan beyond any doubt.

It was the first time Xiao Jinglin had truly begun to examine his former fiancée.

What ability did she possess that could make Xiao Muyuan take notice of her?

To be fair, Luo Yunqiao had a dignified beauty that did not lack a woman’s delicate charm. She was undeniably attractive. But who was Xiao Muyuan? With a wave of his hand, he could have any beauty he wanted.

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The only explanation was probably that Luo Yunqiao resembled that woman.

But could a mere resemblance truly be enough to make Xiao Muyuan help her so wholeheartedly?

Xiao Jinglin could not figure it out for the moment, but he knew that Luo Yunqiao was no longer the same person she had once been. She now possessed more secrets—and greater value as a tool.

As for whether that value surpassed Luo Yunzhen’s… he would need to weigh the matter more carefully.

Under normal circumstances, Luo Yunzhen had suffered such a blow that Xiao Jinglin ought to have gone to visit her, both emotionally and logically.

However, after speaking with Luo Yunqiao today, he temporarily cast the matter aside. He offered a few perfunctory remarks and left first.

This time, Luo Yunqiao did not stop him.

After all, everyone who had come to watch the show had already departed. Naturally, there was no longer any need for her to continue performing.

Luo Yunqiao turned and headed back into the residence. When she reached the center of the courtyard, a maid appeared from nowhere and collided with her, knocking the tray in her hands against Luo Yunqiao’s body. The food spilled everywhere, and quite a bit of grease stained Luo Yunqiao’s dress.

Yinxin immediately rebuked her. “What are you doing? Can you not see that the Young Miss is here?”

The maid showed not the slightest sign of panic. She merely curled her lips, looking entirely unconcerned.

“It was this servant’s fault, but the Young Miss should have moved out of the way…”

At that, Luo Yunqiao understood.

She had only just had her identity acknowledged at the welcoming banquet. Most of the servants were the sort who fawned upon the powerful and looked down on the weak. How would they dare offend her now? They would hardly be able to flatter her eagerly enough.

Yet this person had clearly come looking for trouble.

As for who stood behind her…

Luo Zeting would never do something like this, while Luo Yunzhen was already struggling to take care of herself.

There was no need to think about it. It had to be Luo Zefeng.

After all, the method was far too crude.

Luo Yunqiao patted at her skirt, her brows knitting together. She had rather liked this dress, only to have someone ruin it like this.

What a nuisance.

“Since you know that you were in the wrong, go and receive five strokes, then have half a month’s wages deducted.”

“What?” The maid nearly thought she had misheard.

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Luo Yunqiao merely looked at her with an ambiguous smile and showed no intention of repeating herself.

She even deliberately assigned Yinxin to oversee the punishment.

Just as expected, by the end of the day, word had spread of Luo Yunqiao’s arrogance and cruelty.

People said that she beat and berated the servants at the slightest provocation and had an atrocious temper.

Hearing this left Jinxin and Yinxin terribly anxious.

In their eyes, their mistress had done nothing wrong. That maid had deserved her punishment. How had the matter somehow turned into proof that their mistress was arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable?

Several times, the two young maids wanted to rush out and argue with those people.

Luo Yunqiao, however, remained completely unconcerned.

As she put it, “Whether they curse me or insult me, it all comes from their fear of me. Once they are afraid, they will naturally hesitate to provoke me in the future. Is that not a good thing?”

She had never cared for Luo Yunzhen’s policy of winning people over through gentleness.

This way was much better.

Come to think of it, today was the third day of Luo Yunzhen’s confinement. In the days before this, Luo Yunqiao had been busy preparing return gifts and had not had the time.

Now that she had finally found some leisure, she ought to go visit this old acquaintance.

More importantly, Luo Yunqiao needed to confirm whether her psychological strategy had achieved the desired effect.

…

Within the West Wing Courtyard, the former liveliness was gone, leaving the place somewhat desolate.

Luo Yunqiao had recently risen in status, and her ill reputation had spread far and wide. Even the guards did not dare offend her lightly, so she was able to see Luo Yunzhen without difficulty.

The instant Luo Yunzhen saw Luo Yunqiao, her eyes seemed to have been steeped in poison.

“What are you doing here? Have you come to enjoy my misfortune?”

Luo Yunqiao laughed. She sat down across from Luo Yunzhen of her own accord. “What is there worth seeing in your misfortune? Besides, the account between us has yet to be settled.”

“I came today out of sympathy. Sister Yunzhen, there is no need for you to show me such hostility.”