Chapter 15: The Disabled Young Lady (Part Fifteen)

She fell into a soft embrace.

Su Kui opened her eyes and, after a moment, laughed softly.

This palace maid had passed the test!

That was right—Su Kui had been testing Green Waist, trying to determine whose side she was truly on.

If Green Waist knew martial arts but had deliberately kept them hidden, allowing Su Kui to fall, Su Kui would have accepted it.

She simply would not make further use of her.

But clearly, Green Waist had chosen another way to prove her loyalty to Su Kui.

The look of terror on Feng Qingqing’s face could no longer be maintained. The muscles in her face twitched as she forced a smile and hurried forward.

“Elder Sister, are you all right? I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

Su Kui let out a mocking laugh. She truly could not understand what Feng Qingqing resented about her. Though Feng Qingqing was a concubine-born daughter, she was healthy, attractive, and favored by both their father and her mother. How could she still be dissatisfied?

Raising an eyebrow, Su Kui said noncommittally, “Feng Qingqing, I advise you to stop wasting your efforts on me. It’s pointless. It won’t look good for either of us if word gets out that the two sisters are fighting among themselves, don’t you agree? Besides, if Father were to find out…”

She left the sentence unfinished, but Su Kui was certain Feng Qingqing understood its meaning.

It was not difficult to understand why Grand Tutor Feng doted on her so deeply. The Feng family had three daughters: the legitimate daughter was crippled, the second daughter was dull-witted, and only the other daughter was presentable enough to appear in public.

Any ambitious person would want to send his daughter into the palace and see her ascend to that supreme throne.

So Feng Qingqing’s expression shifted. She had evidently understood the point as well. With a slight curtsy, she said, “Elder Sister is right. I’ll be more careful from now on, so as not to cause any misunderstandings.”

Su Kui smiled without warmth. “You understand now, then.”

Having done something so underhanded, she still insisted on draping herself in a glittering veil of respectability.

Who knew what she thought she would gain from it?

Narrowing her eyes, Su Kui watched Feng Qingqing hurry away before turning to Green Waist.

“Let’s go too.”

Green Waist pressed her lips together, not daring to meet Su Kui’s bright eyes, and respectfully acknowledged her command.

She was beginning to find the girl before her difficult to understand—the one who was always grinning, arrogant, and overbearing.

Everyone inside and outside the court knew that the Grand Tutor’s legitimate daughter was capricious and quick-tempered, and that she dared to strike anyone who displeased her.

Many people mocked Grand Tutor Feng, saying that although he had been wise all his life and raised a family that produced numerous pillars of the state, he had somehow fathered a useless daughter who was not only crippled in both legs but also ignorant and incompetent.

She had caused him to lose all face before his fellow officials.

But Green Waist did not think so. She could not see through Su Kui. Every one of the girl’s seemingly foolish remarks struck precisely at the tenderest place in another person’s heart, leaving them utterly unable to refute her.

More importantly, Green Waist sensed in Su Kui an aura strikingly similar to that of her master.

—

Late that night, at the Regent Prince’s residence.

Outside the window, the bright moon hung like a veil of silver. Its light poured through the half-open window, spilling into the room.

No lamp had been lit. The moonlight bathed the chamber in a hazy glow and cast a radiant sheen over the man reclining against the soft couch.

The door creaked open from outside, breaking the silence.

Li Jin entered swiftly, stooping as he walked, his footsteps so light they were nearly soundless. He stopped ten paces from Jun Mo.

“My lord, according to the message Green Waist sent back, it seems Miss Feng has discovered that she knows martial arts.”

“Oh?”

The long fingers of Jun Mo’s right hand absently rubbed the ring on his left thumb. Raising an eyebrow, he gave a soft laugh, looking not the least bit surprised.

“I understand. Tell Green Waist to do nothing. She is to follow Miss Feng’s wishes in everything.”

“Yes, my lord!” Li Jin answered immediately. He was about to leave and send Green Waist the reply as quickly as possible when Jun Mo called him back.

“Wait. Have Green Waist protect her well.”

The End