C10 How Far Can You Hide How Far Can You Hide

Xie Ningqian took a step back, nearly losing her footing. The Spirit King's ferocity was not just for show, she had lived two lifetimes and still had not been able to completely stabilize her emotions. A faint wave rose in her heart before disappearing in the blink of an eye.

She steadied herself. Her expression was stubborn and she did not retreat. The two of them were very close, but their faces were extremely cold.

Xie Ningqian explained, "Originally, I prepared the Sanskrit Book requested by the emperor, but on my way to the palace, I was indeed given a bag. The other party came intentionally and prepared. The situation in the palace is very complicated, I don't know who they are."

What Xie Ningqian said was the truth. If it happened outside the palace, she could still guess that it was the Bai clan. However, since it happened inside the palace, she didn't have a deep understanding of the situation.

Xiao Rui, on the other hand, was thinking in an abnormal manner. His expression was unfathomable as he forced Xie Ningqian into a corner. His voice was calm as he said, "Xie Ningqian, your lordship will not accept this explanation!"

Xie Ningqian: "..." "Prince …" What can I do if you don't accept me? This was the truth!

"Please don't make things difficult for me!" Xie Ningqian frowned, looking very obedient. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her expression was normal. However, her tone was very stubborn.

"Difficult?" Xiao Rui pursed his lips, his eyes narrowing slightly. He let out a soft laugh, but the cold aura around him did not lessen in the slightest, and his smile did not reach his eyes.

"Second Miss Xie, perhaps this king should let you see what a real dilemma is!" Xiao Rui had forced his opponent into a corner, his face hidden in the half-lit candlelight. The contours of his face became even more distinct, cold and hard, with an aura that could pierce through a person's heart.

Xie Ningqian's chin tightened and his expression was calm. However, a hint of nervousness flitted across his eyes, but it didn't escape Xiao Ruyi's sharp eyes. He smiled mockingly, "I'll give you a chance!"

"What chance?" Xie Ningqian's voice was a bit tighter, but there was no change in her expression. Instead, her body was like a gecko as she stuck to the wall. "Your Highness, please explain."

"In a month's time, you'll find out exactly what happened. If you can't find the mastermind behind this, then this Queen Mother's matter will be placed on your shoulders. At that time, you'll know what it means for you to make things difficult for this king."

Xie Ningqian: "…" What else could she say? She didn't have any clues as to where she could find any tricks up her sleeve in the palace within the span of a month!

"Is there a problem?" Xiao Rui raised his eyebrows and raised his voice slightly, as if he could immediately punish her if she nodded her head.

"No!" Xie Ningqian straightened her back. "I'll go back to the residence and investigate immediately!"

Only then did Xiao Rui Yi feel satisfied. He let go of Xie Ningqian and gave her a chance to relax. "I'll be waiting for your good news."

Xie Ningqian didn't even know how she managed to get back to the Manor. It was really hard to get along with Xiao Rui, but she was still able to hide as far away as possible.

After returning home, Qingge and Senior Servant Wen were the only ones left in the room. Xie Ningqian's expression darkened. "Qingge, who knows about my trip today, and the cloth wrapping around the books?"

In the palace, it was not only a single book that had been swapped. The cloth wrapping the book was exactly the same. If not for the fact that a spy had sprung from the palace, how could the people in the palace have received the news so quickly and then prepared such a play?

"Miss, this bag was taken from the courtyard's embroidery room. Many people have seen it, and you have been copying books in the past few days. Everyone has seen this book before. If anyone wants to mess with it, there are many opportunities."

Xie Ningqian narrowed her eyes slightly. "The material of this cloth isn't ordinary. Senior Servant Wen, I'll have to trouble you to scout around the courtyard, especially the girl at the embroidery workshop and the girl serving tea these few days. Do you know who has frequent access to the manor?"

Senior Servant Wen nodded. "Miss, this old servant understands. I will definitely investigate secretly and not alert the enemy!"

Senior Servant Wen was an old man in the mansion, she watched as Xie Ningqian grew up. There were old and new servants in the yard, but she was in charge of them all, while Qingge mainly served her and was in charge of her safety.

Senior Servant Wen was also very efficient. She checked on the material from Xie Ningqian, and coincidentally found ten pieces of precious brocade that had just entered the house. Originally, she didn't have Xie Ningqian's portion, but the old granny doted on her and intentionally split one of her brocades.

Senior Servant Wen knew that Xie Ningqian didn't pay attention to these matters, but the old granny's reward was also important, so she gave it to the most agile embroidery lady in the courtyard to keep safe.

"Miss, this is the embroidery mother, Pine Mist. This old servant has checked. On the day Miss entered the palace, Pine Mist had the little girl who was studying with her send a letter to her family …" Senior Servant Wen got someone to hold on to Song Yan and kneel in the room. All the servants in the yard were watching. They didn't know what was going on, but they knew that Song Yan must have done something.

"Where's the letter?" Senior Servant Wen had naturally gathered all the evidence, not allowing Matriarch Song to deny it. She handed the letter with the pictures of the package and book to Xie Ningqian, took a glance at it, and then slammed the table. "Matsumoto, you're serving in my courtyard, and I know you're willing to serve anyone. Why are you doing this kind of thing to betray your master?"

The crowd was shocked. They pricked up their ears to listen to Xie Ningqian's temper, only to see Song Yan clench her teeth and quibble, "Miss, this servant only felt that this package was pretty, so I drew a picture and sent it home to let my family experience it …"

"Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?" Xie Ning Qianqian shouted.

This was the first time something so vile had been improperly handled. It was likely that there would be no end to it in the Duke's estate in the future.

As the second Miss, Xie Ningqian, she did not have her mother by her side to protect her. However, she could not let others think that she was easy to bully.

Her body trembled, and her legs, which had been kneeling down, began to tremble uncontrollably. She had served by Xie Ningqian's side for quite some time, but she had never seen the Second Miss lose her temper like this before.

Even the usually gentle Second Young Miss had such domineering moments.

"Miss, this servant does not have the slightest bit of disloyalty towards Miss. "Miss is this servant's master, how could I dare …" She knelt on the ground and begged weakly, but it was useless as the matter was already in front of her. No matter what, Xie Ningqian would not believe her.

Without waiting for her to finish speaking, Xie Ningqian sneered, "Do you believe those words yourself? "You're quite capable. Even as a young lady, I might not be able to get my hands on those paintings, but to think that you would actually get your hands on them. They are truly extraordinary."