Xiao Qiniang's face was pale, as if she had been greatly startled. She looked considerably more haggard after only half a day, her eyes bloodshot, as though she had not slept for several nights.
Liu Ya was also shocked to see Xiao Qiniang's state. The woman who had been radiant in the morning was now like a withered flower, as if all her vitality had been drained away.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
Li Man'er looked at Xiao Qiniang, utterly bewildered. "What was me? What does Miss Xiao Qiniang mean? I don't understand."
"It was you, you harmed Xing'er."
Li Man'er's eyes widened, her expression one of pure innocence. "What are you saying, that Miss Xing'er was harmed? What is going on?"
Liu Ya was also puzzled. This was the Xiao household, and Xing'er was Miss Xiao Qiniang's personal maid. How could she have been harmed within the Xiao household?
"Seventh Miss, Xing'er is like your right and left hand. I understand you are upset about her mishap, but you cannot just speak carelessly and make groundless accusations." Li Man'er leaned back against the chair, her expression very relaxed. "When we left this morning, Miss Xing'er was perfectly fine. Now you say I harmed her. May I ask for proof? How did I harm her? Did I poison her, or did I kill her?"
"You..." Miss Xiao Qiniang's eyes turned red. The words were stuck in her throat, unable to be swallowed or spat out, almost suffocating her.
"You have no proof, but I do." Li Man'er suddenly stood up. "After I and Liu Ya left Miss Xiao Qiniang's place this morning, we returned to the small side courtyard to look after my father, decocting medicine for him and performing acupuncture. We also had lunch. The guards and servants in the small side courtyard can all testify that we, master and servant, never left the small side courtyard. How could we have harmed your Miss Xing'er?"
Xiao Qiniang's face remained pale and she said nothing.
"Of course, this is the government office, which is equivalent to your Xiao family's territory. If you insist that I harmed Miss Xing'er, there will naturally be people to testify for you. I suppose we would have no way to defend ourselves."
Xiao Qiniang closed her eyes painfully and pointed towards the door. "This matter has nothing to do with you. Miss Li, please return. If it is a misunderstanding, I will apologize another day."
Li Man'er walked out with a stern face, saying nothing. Liu Ya, though utterly bewildered, could only hurry out after her.
"Miss, what does Miss Xiao Qiniang mean? This servant doesn't understand at all." From her words, it seemed that Xing'er had been harmed, and Miss Xiao Qiniang suspected them, but had no proof and didn't really want to frame them. She even mentioned apologizing. How could this servant possibly understand?
Li Man'er, however, said, "What does it matter to us? It has nothing to do with us."
How could it have nothing to do with her?
Li Man'er knew very well that Xing'er was harmed by her. Although she did not do it herself, she had forcefully imposed her will upon Xiao Qiniang. Xiao Qiniang had no choice and personally killed Xing'er. How could she not hate her?
But no one else knew about this. Even if Xiao Qiniang spoke of it, who would believe her?
"I told you long ago, she was a person close to death."
Liu Ya, not fully understanding, thought to herself that perhaps this was karma.
At the same time, Xiao Qiniang sat on a chair, her face pale, emanating a cold aura. The young maid behind her dared not look at her, trembling slightly, unable to control herself.
At noon, everyone had witnessed it with their own eyes: after waking up, Miss Xiao Qiniang, like a madwoman, had stabbed Xing'er to death with the short knife hanging on the wall. Xing'er could never have imagined that her mistress would end her life in such a manner. She didn't even know what mistake she had made, and before she could even ask why, she fell to the ground.
Xing'er died covered in blood, her eyes wide open, her features contorted, utterly unable to rest in peace. And their mistress, Miss Xiao Qiniang, had dropped the knife in her hand in a panic, staring blankly at Xing'er's corpse, as if she had no idea what had happened...
Xiao Qiniang could clearly hear the chattering of the maid's teeth behind her. She had anger, but she wouldn't take it out on her own maid. She said, "You may leave. I want to be alone for a while."
The maid felt as if she had been granted a great pardon. She quickly bowed and ran out.
Xiao Qiniang let out a cold laugh. Now, in their eyes, she was probably no different from a murderer. She had killed her closest maid in such a brutal way. Anyone would find her detestable, wouldn't they?
But this was not her intention at all. It was Li Man'er who controlled her.
Who would believe her? Even if she spoke of this matter now, who would believe her?
Xiao Qiniang let out a deep sigh. Her eyes regained their usual clarity, filled with determination. She had to uncover Li Man'er's secret. Perhaps in the future, this person could be of use to her. If she could learn her methods of controlling people's minds, that would be the best outcome.
Human greed was evident in Xiao Qiniang. She didn't consider that if she guessed these things, how could Li Man'er let her go? When the time was right, Xiao Qiniang would simply be the next Xing'er.
That evening, after Li Nian returned to his room after dinner, he suddenly sensed the presence of an unfamiliar person. He drew the dagger hidden in his sleeve. Just as he was about to strike preemptively, two figures suddenly emerged from behind the curtain.
The person in front was wearing a blue brocade robe, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, looking like an immortal from a painting.
Li Nian's heart sank with just one glance. He immediately put away the dagger in his hand and stepped forward to pay his respects. "Your subordinate Li Nian greets Your Highness."
The person before him was none other than the Ninth Prince, Qi Yihan.
"Lord Li, there is no need for such formalities. When you are out, do not reveal your identity."
Li Nian immediately replied, "As my lord says."
Qi Yihan then looked at Ah Qi, who said, "Shopkeeper Li... Li, your niece asked me to convey a message for you. Your elder brother will wake up in the next day or two. She wants you to make arrangements accordingly."
Everything had been within Li Man'er's calculations. While the Xiao family could keep her confined, they could not confine Qi Yihan and Ah Qi. This master and servant duo could come and go freely and even had informants within the government office. Conveying a message for her was a simple matter.
Li Nian was overjoyed. Although he wondered why the Ninth Prince would deliver a message for his niece, he dared not ask.
"Thank you, my lord." Li Nian gritted his teeth and said, "May I ask if Your Highness has any important business in Mo Bei? Do you require assistance?"
"It is best that only you know of this matter. Do not spread it around," Qi Yihan continued. "As for Miss Li, it would be best to send her back. The temperature in Mo Bei drops sharply in the depths of winter; it is too cold for her."
Li Nian had no time to think of anything else and could only agree. After Qi Yihan left, Li Nian frowned. This girl, Man'er, could actually order the Ninth Prince to deliver messages for her. Could the two of them be... something?