The Grand Princess had no idea that Cui was being controlled by Li Man'er and was no longer acting of her own accord. She still believed that the grandmother and granddaughter were colluding to subtly mock her.
"Your grandmother is senile, and are you senile too? I believe I have never wronged you. You and Qiao'er, you two had fate but no connection, this marriage was something you yourself gave up, can you still blame me?" The Grand Princess's heart was racing, wanting to use this incident to sway public opinion and quickly suppress the matter.
The other ladies present also realized what was happening, thinking that the grandmother and granddaughter wanted to dwell on this issue. They immediately began to persuade them in a flurry of words.
"Princess Anning, you are already engaged, there's no point in dwelling on this matter!" Madam Cao, who had previously gained no advantage from Li Man'er, reappeared, a hint of disdain in her tone. She was clearly trying to sow discord between Li Man'er and Qi Yihan.
"Exactly, let the past be the past!"
Even Li Tian'er, who didn't know what was going on, joined in the excitement, seeking attention. "Eldest sister, you are now a princess, and the future Ninth Princess Consort, what more could you be dissatisfied with?"
Ziyan and Lüyī frowned. This Third Miss was truly foolish, trying to elevate herself by stepping on the princess, without considering if she had the brains for it.
Li Man'er, unfazed by the accusations, simply asked Cui, "Grandmother, what do you say?"
As if receiving a command, Cui suddenly pointed at the Grand Princess and said, staring intently at her, "It was her! She ordered me to kill your mother, Ning Ruoying."
The warm pavilion erupted in gasps of shock. Everyone stared at the Grand Princess as if they had seen a ghost.
The Grand Princess had never expected Cui to unearth this old secret. She had always thought that the old woman, Cui, was terrified of death and cherished her reputation, making her the most loyal old dog. To her surprise, she had stepped forward so recklessly at this time and in this setting.
Was she not afraid that she would expose her own secrets?
The Grand Princess's mind raced. She immediately thought of Cui's recent illness. Could it be that this old hag had an incurable disease and wanted to drag someone down with her before she died?
"I don't understand what you're saying. Are you mad? Ning has been dead for over ten years. What does her death have to do with me? She was your daughter-in-law!"
As soon as the Grand Princess spoke, the other ladies present also reacted. Was Old Madam Cui losing her mind? How could she say such things? Someone who had been dead for over a decade, and had no connection to the Grand Princess, why would she frame the Grand Princess for her death?
"Old Madam, this is going too far! She was your daughter-in-law. Wasn't it said that she died of illness back then? Why are you saying she was murdered now?"
"Yes, even if she was murdered, the blame should be directed at your Li family! What does it have to do with the Grand Princess?"
The Grand Princess was getting anxious. The situation was becoming uncontrollable, as if an invisible hand was manipulating things. All she could do was to end this absurd banquet as quickly as possible and get rid of that old dog, Cui.
"It was her! She held my leverage and made me kill Ning Shi." Cui chuckled sinisterly. "Grand Princess, why don't you tell us why you wanted to kill my daughter-in-law? She had no quarrel with you."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" The Grand Princess's face turned extremely ugly. She immediately shouted, "Guards, escort the Old Madam to the side chambers! Are you all dead?"
Her reaction was too strong, and it gave a few of the ladies present a bad premonition. They seemed to have stumbled into something serious, and it might be too late to leave amidst the chaos.
A few ladies tried to slip away quietly, but then they heard Li Man'er lazily ask, "Ladies, where are you going?"
It wasn't just the Grand Princess's guards who wouldn't let them leave; Li Man'er wouldn't let them leave either.
The atmosphere froze again. At this point, all the ladies present realized their predicament and wished they could vanish on the spot.
But the Grand Princess had been shouting for a long time, yet the warm pavilion remained eerily silent. It seemed no one was coming.
Just as the Grand Princess realized something was amiss, the door to the warm pavilion was gently pushed open. Standing outside was none other than Qi Yihan.
"Ninth Brother?" The Grand Princess's eyes were about to burst into flames. She looked at Qi Yihan, then at Li Man'er, and sneered, "What, are you here to seek justice for her? Or are you going to fabricate stories and make this accusation stick?"
Qi Yihan exuded an imposing aura, looking down on everyone, not even sparing the Ninth Princess.
The other ladies trembled, unsure whether to bow or gouge out their own eyes. The Ninth Prince had arrived! He could kill them all, and no one would dare to utter a word!
What bad luck. Why couldn't they just lie comfortably at home? They had to come to the Princess's manor to admire flowers, and now their lives were at risk.
Li Tian'er was a mix of excitement and fear. Although she knew that Qi Yihan and Li Man'er had been bestowed marriage by the Empress Dowager, Li Man'er and Tong Qiao had been a couple before, and it didn't work out in the end. Even if she couldn't be the main consort, being a secondary consort would be acceptable! She was willing. She believed that if she could marry the Ninth Prince, she would surely captivate him so that he would have no one else in his eyes or heart.
Perhaps because of this delusion, Li Tian'er's fear diminished. She decided to wait and see, and at the critical moment, she would jump out to speak for Li Man'er. This way, the Ninth Prince would surely see her kindness and beauty.
" Imperial Sister, you misunderstand. I am here only because I do not wish for anyone to be harmed, and I hope the truth will come to light. I will not interfere in your affairs, but I request that Imperial Sister and Old Madam Cui provide their own proof. I will later submit this matter to the Dali Temple for accountability. wap.kanshuwu.net
"Hiss~"
And this is what they call not interfering? This was blatant favoritism.
However, after a moment's thought, everyone realized: who was the Grand Princess? Even if the Dali Temple held her accountable, they wouldn't dare do anything to her. Unless...
Unless the Grand Princess was truly the mastermind, and the Emperor held her accountable, then this matter would truly not end well.
Qi Yihan's subordinate quickly brought a chair and placed it by the door. Qi Yihan sat on it as if no one else was there. "Everyone, please continue."
The Grand Princess knew that her own subordinates were no match for Qi Yihan. At this moment, she was like a turtle trapped in a jar, with no way out.
But the Grand Princess was not afraid. She had handled her past actions meticulously. Even if Cui accused her, she wouldn't have any evidence.
Thinking of this, the Grand Princess calmly said, "Very well. If that is the case, then I shall listen to Old Madam's esteemed opinion. You say I made you harm Ning Shi, where is the evidence? Words are not proof, are they?"
She didn't believe Cui had any evidence!
Cui coldly sized her up. "Naturally, I do. Princess, please do not rush."
The ladies in the warm pavilion widened their eyes. There was actually evidence!