Chapter 59: Tangtang, I don’t want to go back, I… I’m so scared, so…

The unsteady footsteps outside the door did not sound like those of a guard.

Qin Rong lowered her head and placed the cup in her hand steadily on the table. She glanced at the personal maid standing behind her, seeing the maid nod almost imperceptibly, and felt reassured again.

The large Western mirror in the room clearly reflected the expressions of everyone present.

Li Ruantang glanced at the servant who came forward to serve tea, but didn’t resist as usual. She lowered her head slightly and took a gentle sip from his hand.

The tea in the cup was just the right temperature.

Meng Jun was very alert, like a little fox preparing to hunt, carefully observing all the movements around him.

There was still a faint redness in the corners of his eyes. Although his beautiful phoenix eyes were slightly swollen, they still shone brightly as he occasionally stole glances at Qin Rong.

How silly.

Li Ruantang’s heart stirred as she watched, and she habitually reached out to ruffle his hair.

Her slightly raised lips pressed together, still wearing a cold expression, but her eyes were clearly as gentle as the moon outside the window and the shimmering waves on the lake.

The young man was slightly stunned, his eyes wide and round. If Wei Dan hadn’t already brought someone in, Li Ruantang would have really wanted to pinch his cheeks.

She had missed this clingy little tail after not seeing him for several days.

However, there were more important matters at hand now.

Li Ruantang suppressed her excess emotions and gestured for the young man to stand behind the chaise lounge before raising her eyes to look at Fang Zhi, who was being pushed and shoved into the room.

There were still clear fingerprints on her face, and half of it was swollen high, but when she saw Qin Rong sitting there comfortably with an unfamiliar expression, her back stiffened.

Abandoned pawn.

Fang Zhi silently pondered these two words, and thinking about Hu Youning’s inexplicable appearance, she immediately understood the situation.

What a scheme within a scheme!

With a plan in mind, she fell to her knees with a thud and explained in detail how the plot was conceived and executed.

Fang Zhi’s words directly pointed to Qin Rong sitting to the side.

But Qin Rong, having navigated the court for many years, was no ordinary person even if she hadn’t made much progress. She slowly sipped her tea and calmly said, “Miss Fang seems to have let lust cloud her judgment, concocting such a vivid story. This official won’t ask you anything else, just one question for the young lady: do you have any evidence?”

Fang Zhi was stunned.

Qin Rong continued knowingly, “You and Qingping were already old acquaintances, so it’s not surprising that you’d do such a thing out of jealousy. Moreover, regarding the Five Hearts Vegetarian Restaurant, this official has already sent people with your portrait to inquire. The one who bought the pastries was you, and the one who brought them onto the boat was also you. Now that the evidence is conclusive, what else do you have to say!”

“Young Mistress,” Qin Rong stood up and bowed, “In this official’s opinion, this Fang Zhi is a habitual liar. It would be better to send her directly to the yamen to be dealt with according to the law, as a warning to others!”

As she finished speaking, the personal maid behind her stepped forward swiftly.

Li Ruantang raised her eyes slightly, and Wei Dan’s long sword immediately unsheathed, forcefully deflecting the maid’s hand.

“You don’t trust this official?” Qin Rong bowed, “This official can swear that there is absolutely no intention to frame the Young Mistress.”

“No rush.” The young lady reclining on the chaise lounge shook her head, “This is just Fang Zhi’s testimony alone. If we were to determine someone’s guilt based on this, wouldn’t that be unjust? Please be patient, Official Qin.”

She looked at Wei Dan, who understood and clapped her hands. The maid who had intended to commit violence on the deck was brought up with her mouth covered.

“Young Mistress!” Qin Rong suddenly stood up, wanting to say something, but afraid that if she said too much, Li Ruantang might have more witnesses and evidence waiting.

She was suddenly overcome with anger, and beads of sweat appeared among her hair.

“Please sit, Official Qin.” Li Ruantang gestured for Wei Dan and the group of maids to guard outside.

The door creaked softly as it closed.

“These past few days, thanks to the Official’s hospitality, I’ve enjoyed many night views of the capital,” she said leisurely. “However, wealth and status need not always be sought in danger.”

“The Official is a clever person, and surely understands by now that if this case were to go to the yamen, it’s not something a mere scholar’s wife could bear.”

Qin Rong paused, realizing she had completely fallen into a trap. Her expression immediately turned ugly. “What exactly does the Young Mistress intend? Please enlighten this official.”

Li Ruantang rested her arm on the round pillow and smiled, “What do I want? That depends on whom Official Qin serves in court.”

“Yesterday, the Censorate already uncovered more than ten letters from Official Qin to the back palace. Wei Junshi is now a favorite by Her Majesty’s side, and those letters of greeting from you weren’t anything special. But coincidentally……”

She deliberately paused, causing Qin Rong’s fingers resting on her knees to grip even tighter, turning white.

“Coincidentally, Wei Yunruo went to the Censorate yesterday and translated all those letters one by one. Guess what? By sheer coincidence, they matched the account book from Hu Family Village down to the last detail.”

Li Ruantang quietly observed the restless Qin Rong, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief.

Yesterday, Wei Yunruo did indeed go to the Censorate, but not to testify. Instead, Meng Xiaozhi had used other matters as a pretext to bring her in.

These past few days, her people had been keeping a close eye on Qin Rong and Wei Yunruo. If she hadn’t repeatedly confirmed that Wei Yunruo hadn’t informed Qin Rong of this matter, Li Ruantang wouldn’t have dared to rashly make a move to test the waters.

“Young Mistress, this official was also forced!” Qin Rong hurriedly tried to clear herself of any connection.

Having fallen into the trap, she naturally wanted to protect herself first. Moreover, it was Wei Yunruo who had first betrayed their trust. Qin Rong’s eyes flickered, and she fell to her knees with a thud. “Young Mistress, you must save this official.”

“Please rise quickly, Official Qin.” Li Ruantang’s words sounded urgent, but her body reclining on the chaise lounge hadn’t moved an inch.

Entering court service, everyone was a fox.