Reborn into the palace, she seduces the emperor's heart, driving the chief minister to madness!

Chapter 10 Tearing Off the Mask

After Chu Qingyin fell into the water, Qiao Gongquan punished Jiang Yiniang and Qiao Qingling by fining them monthly allowances and confining them to their quarters for ten days for failing to properly discipline them.

Counting the days, today is exactly the tenth day.

Unexpectedly, the mother and daughter arrived in such a hurry.

Chu Qingyin had been fighting with those women in the palace for five years, and she had seen all sorts of shady and dirty things.

Now that he understood that his aunt and half-sister were cut from the same cloth, he wasn't flustered at all.

Moreover, Chu Qingyin never liked to owe anyone anything. Since they shared the same name, Qingyin, she decided to take revenge for the original owner as payment for the body the original owner had lent her.

Sure enough, not long after, Aunt Jiang and the second young lady, Qiao Qingling, walked in leisurely.

Chu Qingyin had met Aunt Jiang before. She was well-maintained and looked to be in her early thirties. She wore a purple casual dress and a gold hairpin, exuding the alluring charm of a mature woman.

The girl beside her was only fourteen or fifteen years old. She wore a moon-white embroidered orchid jacket and skirt, with fair skin, beautiful features, and a slender figure. She had a delicate and scholarly air about her.

This is Qiao Qingling, the second daughter of the Minister's mansion.

"Sister," Qiao Qingling bowed obediently, "I've come here today specifically to apologize to you."

Aunt Jiang stepped forward as well: "Yes, Qingling and I feel really bad about what happened to you when you fell into the water last time."

Chu Qingyin raised an eyebrow, gesturing for the two to sit down: "Auntie and Second Sister are too kind. Someone, bring tea."

"I heard your sister is going to participate in a talent show?"

Qiao Qingling took the tea offered by the maid and said casually, "That's quite unexpected."

Aunt Jiang chimed in, "Yes, if you were to enter the palace, then what about Young Master Lin...?"

"How is Young Master Lin?"

Chu Qingyin interrupted, "Auntie, have you forgotten what Father said last time? He said that if I continue to entangle with Young Master Lin, he will disown me as his daughter. Does Auntie want me to break off all ties with Father?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Jiang's expression changed abruptly: "Young lady, don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant."

"Oh? That's not what you meant, Auntie. Then what did you mean?"

Chu Qingyin glanced at her coldly: "If it weren't for my aunt and second sister giving me the idea to jump into the pond to force my father to agree, I wouldn't have been sick for so many days and almost lost my life."

In recent days, some memories of the original owner have gradually surfaced in Chu Qingyin's mind.

For example, when the original owner wanted to study, Aunt Jiang encouraged the servants to take her out to play. Also, when the original owner made mistakes, Aunt Jiang not only didn't discipline her, but indulged her willfulness and capriciousness. Furthermore, when the original owner met the poor scholar surnamed Lin, it was Aunt Jiang who covered for her and helped them meet…

No wonder the original owner, a daughter of a high-ranking official, did so many foolish things; it turns out she had such a "virtuous and loving" aunt.

Chu Qingyin scoffed inwardly; this tactic of flattery to kill was truly brilliant.

It's likely that the Jiang mother and daughter interfered in the original owner's private dealings with that scholar Lin.

“Sister, how can you speak of my aunt like that? My aunt and I have always genuinely cared for you…”

Qiao Qingling bit her lip, looking aggrieved, and said, "Why are you making it sound like we deliberately harmed you?"

"Sincerely?"

Chu Qingyin raised an eyebrow, suddenly thinking of something, and looked at Qiao Qingling: "Anyway, my fate with Young Master Lin is probably too shallow. If Second Sister likes it, I don't mind helping you two get together."

Qiao Qingling's expression changed: "What do you mean by this, sister?"

"The literal meaning."

Chu Qingyin gently stirred the tea. "Second sister, haven't you always been fond of Young Master Lin, praising him to me whenever you have the chance? I suppose you also have feelings for Young Master Lin, right? Why don't I go and tell Father now and ask him to grant your wish? I think Father shouldn't object too much to a sister who is born out of wedlock."

"You!" Qiao Qingling stood up abruptly, spilling tea on the table, her pretty face flushed with anger.

"Qingling, don't be impulsive." Aunt Jiang quickly pulled her daughter back and turned to Chu Qingyin, saying, "Qingyin, how could you speak to your sister like that?"

Did I say something wrong?

Chu Qingyin remained calm. "Or is it that Second Sister's feelings for Young Master Lin are something she can't let others see?"

Qiao Qingling trembled with anger: "Chu Qingyin, don't go too far!"

"Excessive?" Chu Qingyin chuckled. "Compared to some people who feign apologies but are actually trying to gather information, what I've done is nothing."

Her incisive and ruthless remarks astonished both Aunt Jiang and Qiao Qingling.

Seeing that things were not going well, Aunt Jiang quickly pulled Qiao Qingling away to say goodbye.

Before leaving, Qiao Qingling was still furious and glared fiercely at Chu Qingyin.

Chu Qingyin didn't care at all. Watching the two slink away, she slowly picked up her teacup and took a sip.

The tea was slightly cool, just like her current state of mind—calm and undisturbed.

After all, the tricks of these women in the inner quarters were simply no match for Chu Qingyin, who had experienced palace intrigue.

"Young lady, you are truly amazing!"

Xianglan, standing to the side, couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, her eyes filled with praise, "Those words were so satisfying! Aunt Jiang and the Second Miss must be furious!"

"This is nothing."

Chu Qingyin casually brushed a stray hair behind her ear and said calmly, "I will make them pay back every single one of the advantages they took from me and the suffering they caused me, with interest."

In this way, it wouldn't have been in vain for the original owner to have borrowed her body.

--

The study in the main courtyard of the Lu residence.

A copper lamp on the table emitted a soft light, illuminating the man's handsome and aloof face.

Lu Zhiheng picked up the list of candidates for the imperial concubine examination from the table, traced it with his finger, and then suddenly stopped.

The familiar name jumped into view—Qiao Qingyin.

"They're really going to enter the palace..."

He frowned, and as his gaze moved downwards, he saw another name—Qiao Qingling.

"They certainly have big ambitions, even sending their illegitimate daughters into the palace."

Could it be that this Miss Qiao's sudden decision to enter the palace was forced upon her by Qiao Gongquan? Just a few days ago she was so desperate for a scholar, and now she's suddenly changed her mind—it's really suspicious.

Based on his understanding of Qiao Gongquan, he knew that although the old man was old-fashioned, he was deeply devoted to his deceased wife and had not remarried, resulting in him having only a legitimate daughter and no legitimate son.

If they wanted to send their daughters into the palace to gain power, sending a concubine's daughter would have been enough. Now, they've put both of their daughters on the list.

Lu Zhiheng tapped the table lightly with his long fingers. After a long while, he summoned Ling Xiao: "Go and find out where that scholar surnamed Lin is now."

Ling Xiao was somewhat confused: "Which scholar surnamed Lin?"

Lu Zhiheng looked up: "Miss Qiao's lover."

Ling Xiao realized what was happening and quickly agreed, but after leaving the house, he scratched the back of his head in confusion.

It's really strange. Why is our master, who has always been indifferent to women, suddenly so interested in Miss Qiao?