Chapter 34: The Reverse Scale

Shen Mengli walked out from the inner chamber with a graceful gait.

"My Lord Heir, what brings you to Snow Bamboo Pavilion?"

"Shen Mengli, I am asking you: was it you who spoke ill of Qingyu to Mother, leading her to punish Qingyu and causing her injury?"

Shen Mengli looked at him, her expression one of utter confusion. "My Lord, when would I have ever spoken ill of Lin Qingyu to Mother?"

She had been staying quietly in Snow Bamboo Pavilion the entire time; she had no idle interest in gossiping about her to the Princess of Duan. Truly, she was sitting safely in her own home when an enormous, undeserved pot of blame fell from the sky.

"If it wasn't you who slandered Qingyu to Mother, why would Mother have troubled her?" Qi Yunyan glared at her, as if waiting to see how she would squirm out of it.

Shen Mengli was speechless. If he wanted to know why the Princess of Duan had targeted Lin Qingyu, he should ask the Princess herself—why was he coming to her to throw a tantrum?

"My Lord, that is a question you should put to Mother. I have no idea what is on her mind. Besides, why would I have any reason to speak ill of Lin Qingyu in front of her?"

"Naturally, it is because you are a hypocritical person. Before me, you say one thing and do another. You pretend to dislike me on the surface, but in your heart, you have always craved my favor. You know I love Qingyu, and in order to usurp her position in my heart, you resorted to underhanded tactics, using Mother to deal with her."

Shen Mengli: "..."

Is he serious? Does he have something wrong with his brain? When had she ever shown a desire for his favor? If he could point out when, she would change it immediately.

"My Lord, are you perhaps laboring under some misunderstanding regarding me?"

"Feeling guilty, are you? You've been caught, so now you have nothing to say. Shen Mengli, I truly underestimated you. You are a vicious woman."

Shen Mengli twitched the corner of her mouth: "..."

What was he even saying? She couldn't make sense of a single word.

"My Lord, I know you do not like me, and I have never harbored any delusions of your affection. I know you have always loved Lin Qingyu, and I have only ever wished you both well. I have no intention of inserting myself between the two of you," Shen Mengli said, her tone entirely sincere. "Furthermore, when Mother met with Lin Qingyu today, I remained here in Snow Bamboo Pavilion the entire time. I was not at Hibiscus Court at all. I only went there after hearing the news that Mother had fainted. I do not possess the ability to be in two places at once."

Qi Yunyan cast a skeptical look at her. "Who is to say you aren't lying?"

"Heaven and earth are my witness; I have spoken nothing but the truth. If you do not believe me, then just wait and see. Time will prove everything."

Shen Mengli was on the verge of holding up three fingers to swear an oath right in front of him. Was she insane? Why would she give up the comfortable life of a Princess-consort to meddle in the love games between him and Lin Qingyu?

Qi Yunyan was a handsome man, true. But no matter how dashing or beautiful he was, she had no interest in him. What she craved was the power of the Duan Prince's estate. Qi Yunyan had told her long ago that they would never share a true marriage, but he would grant her the dignity of a legitimate wife. That was already enough to satisfy her goals; why would she bother causing trouble for no reason? With that idle time, she would much rather spend it reading books in the study.

"Whether what you say is true or false, I am warning you solemnly today: keep your thoughts in check. I will allow you to fulfill your duties as the Heir's consort, but if you dare to play any tricks, you will be sent back to wherever you came from. Qingyu is my bottom line. If you dare to hurt or scheme against her, I will make sure you learn exactly how to spell the word 'regret'."