lcionline Chapter 42 Testing
Chapter 42 Testing
Chu Qingyin naturally noticed Pei Yuanling's scrutinizing gaze. She knew he was suspicious by nature, and he must have some doubts about her at this moment, otherwise he wouldn't have tested her repeatedly.
Therefore, she couldn't panic, nor could she show any sign of evasion. Otherwise, he would rather kill the innocent than let her go.
After a long while, seemingly not noticing anything amiss with Chu Qingyin, Pei Yuanling withdrew his gaze. As if to reassure her, his tone softened considerably: "Get up."
Chu Qingyin felt a sense of relief, but she didn't show it on her face. Following etiquette, she first said, "Thank you, Your Majesty!" before standing up by holding onto the corner of the table next to her.
"Someone come and help me change my clothes," Pei Yuanling ordered, and Chen Zhongliang immediately entered from outside.
Chu Qingyin immediately stepped aside, no longer daring to make a move rashly, lest she lose her composure and cause the opposite of what she intended.
Meanwhile, inside Shuhua Palace.
Upon hearing that Qiao Qingyin had been favored again, Consort Shu's face was filled with resentment. When the Noble Consort was alive, His Majesty never gave them a second glance. Now that Chu Qingyin was dead, she thought her suffering was over, but she never expected Qiao Qingyin to appear...
"Bam—"
The more Consort Shu thought about it, the angrier she became. She raised her hand and threw the beauty-enhancing ginseng soup that the maid next to her had brought to the ground.
"You insolent fool, do you want to scald me to death?" Consort Shu shouted angrily.
Zijuan was terrified. The red marks on her cheek from the last slap had just faded, and this time she instinctively covered her cheek and knelt on the ground, pleading, "Your Majesty, spare my life!"
"What, do you think I'm not as favored as that little slut, and you're all trying to ride roughshod over me?" Consort Shu said, raising her hand and slapping Zijuan hard across the face again.
The slap was extremely forceful, and Zijuan was knocked to the ground, covering her face and crying, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant would never dare to have any disloyal intentions towards Your Majesty. Moreover, this servant has good news to report to Your Majesty."
"What good news?" Consort Shu frowned.
Zijuan immediately got up from the ground and knelt in front of Consort Shu: "This servant has found out that the rumors of being possessed by ghosts were spread by Consort Lu. The Empress also intends to take this opportunity to undermine Consort Qiao's prestige and has invited people to catch the ghosts!"
Is this really true?
“This is absolutely true. It was told to me by my former sisters in the Imperial Bedchamber.”
That's good news! A smug smile immediately appeared on Consort Shu's face. She had tried to outsmart Qiao Qingyin several times, but Qiao Qingyin had managed to evade her every move.
If Empress Wang were to take action this time, Qiao Qingyin would be doomed. After all, she is a ruthless character who pretends to be weak while actually being strong, not to mention that the Wang family also has the powerful Empress Dowager behind them.
Now, there’s something good to watch!
**
Pei Yuanling slept soundly again and was in a very good mood.
He hadn't slept as peacefully as he did now since Yinyin left.
He glanced at the woman sleeping peacefully beside him. Gone was the fawning and ingratiating demeanor of the day; her sleeping face now bore a striking resemblance to Yinyin's.
His gaze lingered on her, filled with tenderness.
Chu Qingyin noticed Pei Yuanling's gaze as he turned his head. She thought it was unintentional, but after a long time, she could still feel his burning gaze on her face.
What exactly is he looking at?
Could it really be that one can see Chu Qingyin's shadow in this face that looks seven or eight parts like her?
"Your Majesty, it's time for the morning court session."
The voice of a eunuch outside the hall interrupted Pei Yuanling's gaze.
Noticing that the intense gaze had shifted away, Chu Qingyin immediately pretended to have just woken up and slowly opened her eyes.
Her movements were slow, her almond-shaped eyes slightly open, the light in them as bright and dazzling as the rising sun.
If Pei Yuanling were still looking at her, he would surely be able to see something in those eyes.
After all, he had once praised her for loving her sleeping face when she first woke up, saying it was like a goddess descending to earth, innocent and pure.
"Your Majesty, I will help you get dressed."
Seeing that the young eunuch had arrived and was about to help Pei Yuanling put on his clothes, Chu Qingyin immediately stood up and greeted him with a smile.
Pei Yuanling was momentarily stunned when he saw her bright smile.
Before he could even utter a word of refusal, Chu Qingyin had already begun helping him get dressed.
Her movements were so practiced that she didn't seem like a novice, but rather like a seasoned veteran who had been trained in palace etiquette for many years.
Wasn't she a young lady who lived a secluded life in her boudoir?
Who taught her these things?
Pei Yuanling's eyes flickered slightly, and doubts suddenly arose in his heart.
Chu Qingyin, who was focused on serving Pei Yuanling, was unaware of his suspicion.
At this moment, relying entirely on past habits, she subconsciously dressed him in formal attire, just as she had done for many days before, smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes, from the inner robe to the outer garment, and from the crown to the gold-inlaid jade belt...
He used to be a down-on-his-luck prince, and she gave him dignity.
Now that he is the true emperor, she respects his dignity.
"Meow--"
Just as Chu Qingyin's thoughts were drifting away, a cat's meow interrupted her.
As soon as she looked up, she saw a pure white Linqing lion cat walking in from outside the palace.
Oh, it's Little Snowball! What are you doing here?
Chu Qingyin's face instantly lit up with surprise, though she quickly concealed it, it was still noticed by Pei Yuanling, who had been watching her closely.
"Your Majesty, I have brought Little Snowball."
Xiao Guizi, who was outside the hall, bowed respectfully.
Pei Yuanling gave a faint "hmm," then looked at Chu Qingyin and said, "From now on, you will be the one to raise it."
"To be raised by concubines?" Chu Qingyin asked in astonishment.
Who doesn't know that Snowball is the Imperial Concubine's beloved pet? No one but her is allowed to get close to it. Now he's presenting Snowball to her; what does he mean by this? Has he sensed something?
A wave of doubt surged through her mind, but she quickly calmed down. Impossible; her rebirth was nothing but a fantasy.
She is Qiao Qingyin, and Qiao Qingyin is also her. They are now the same person, so Pei Yuanling could not possibly notice anything amiss.
Therefore, Pei Yuanling must be testing him.
Thinking of this, Chu Qingyin instantly put on a bright smile, bent down and picked up the soft little snowball: "Since Your Majesty is willing to entrust this little guy to me, I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's expectations and take good care of him."
As soon as the little snowball landed in Chu Qingyin's arms, it immediately snuggled against her obediently, as if it recognized her as its owner.
Chu Qingyin's heart softened. If it weren't for Pei Yuanling being there, she would definitely want to hug and kiss Little Snowball!
Seeing the two so close, Pei Yuanling suppressed his doubts and nodded lightly: "That's good."
After saying that, he got up and left.
Chu Qingyin held the little snowball and respectfully saw him off, her thoughts a jumble of emotions.
She did indeed intentionally confuse Pei Yuanling, making him feel that she was Chu Qingyin, yet also that she wasn't...
But they were once lovers, and now they've ended up testing each other like this.
"Meow--"
The meowing of the cat in her arms interrupted Chu Qingyin's thoughts. As if dissatisfied that she was immersed in her own world and ignoring her, the little snowball whimpered and snuggled closer to her.
Chu Qingyin's previously worried face immediately brightened with a smile thanks to the little snowball, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise cold and desolate palace.