Chapter 19: The Fortune God in Hand Must Not Be Lost
Gan Qiongying was pulled out of the carriage. The horse had already stood up from the water. She stepped onto the carriage shaft, supported by several people, but her gaze first fell on Wen Xueling’s carriage.
Her carriage had been knocked over by Gan Qiongying’s, and Wen Xueling had likely choked on water. When she was pulled out of the carriage, she was completely dazed.
Her face was deathly pale from sheer fright. After spitting out several mouthfuls of water and wiping her face, she looked up and met Gan Qiongying’s condescending gaze.
Having muddled through the plot, Gan Qiongying felt no pain in her chest. Soaked in water, the effects of the alcohol had completely dissipated, leaving her refreshed and clear-headed.
She smiled at Wen Xueling and, echoing the line from the plot where “Princess Duanrong” pushed Wen Xueling into the water, said half-heartedly, “How dare someone like you compete with me?”
In the original plot, when Duanrong uttered these words, her tone was sinister and malicious, sending chills down one’s spine like snakes and insects crawling along the bones.
But when Gan Qiongying spoke them now, her voice even carried a hint of amusement.
Yet it was precisely this relaxed, indifferent, and haughty attitude that sent a chill down Wen Xueling’s spine. As the night wind blew through her soaked, thin dress, she completely lost her composure.
“You did this on purpose… You did this on purpose!”
Wen Xueling opened her mouth, then spat, her mouth filled with the filthy river water, carrying an indescribable stench of aquatic plants.
After all, she had also been raised in luxury. Although outsiders praised her for her gentle temperament, noble demeanor, and appearance that epitomized the elegance and grace most admired in Nánzhào.
But on this dark and windy “night of murder,” Wen Xueling could no longer maintain her poise and decorum. Pointing at Gan Qiongying, she was helped onto the shaft of her carriage by her attendants and stomped her feet, shouting at Gan Qiongying, “You did this on purpose! You vicious woman!”
Gan Qiongying raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself, “Little white flower heroine, aren’t you breaking character?”
Gan Qiongying herself hadn’t realized it, but she possessed a remarkable trait: anyone in her presence found it difficult to hide their true nature.
Consort Lihua was like this, and so was Wen Xueling.
However, Gan Qiongying had no interest in continuing to clash with the heroine. Once she had followed the plot and delivered her lines, her attitude immediately shifted.
She directed her people to lead the carriage up the riverbank slope and even instructed Wen Xueling’s carriage to follow behind hers.
Wen Xueling couldn’t help but retort, “You clearly wanted to kill me! Stop pretending to be merciful—you’re nothing but a madwoman!”
Her pale face flushed red with anger, for tonight she had genuinely felt her life was threatened, convincing her that Gan Qiongying intended to kill her.
Gan Qiongying had used various vicious tactics before, but as the Jingxi Junzhu, Wen Xueling’s attendants were no pushovers. Eight out of ten times, Gan Qiongying’s schemes backfired, leaving her worse off.
The remaining two times were when Wen Xueling feigned vulnerability to turn the tables.
Could someone raised as the cherished pearl of Jingxi Wang—a man who “occupied mountains as a tiger and claimed territory as a king”—truly be a delicate, naive little white flower?
But despite always holding the upper hand, she had never felt as threatened by Princess Duanrong as she did tonight. Because this madwoman, in her attempt to kill her, had even risked her own life as bait!
Thus, the true nature hidden behind the little white flower mask, which had remained concealed throughout the entire book, was stripped away by Gan Qiongying’s carriage accident.
Wen Xueling’s attendants couldn’t hold her back as she continued to stomp her feet and curse at Gan Qiongying.
Once both carriages had reached the shore, Gan Qiongying’s expression shifted again, refusing to acknowledge the threats she had made in the water moments earlier.
She merely said, “Princess Xue’e, please calm your anger. I had no idea the horses would be startled, causing you such distress. I will send someone to your residence another day to offer my apologies.”
“Someone, bring a cloak for the Princess. The night wind is chilly, and after falling into the water, losing body heat can easily lead to a cold.”
Gan Qiongying had arranged beforehand for some of her belongings that could not get wet to be placed on the bridge in advance. Now, having changed into dry clothes, she was perfectly fine.
Moreover, tonight she had not only recovered a jade ring worth a fortune but also tested whether the plot could be muddled through. She felt a sense of inner and outer elevation, which made her attitude toward the female lead, Wen Xueling, particularly gracious.
However, this graciousness, in Wen Xueling’s eyes, only confirmed that Princess Duanrong was not only deranged but also shamelessly fickle, refusing to admit to the wrongdoing she had committed and insisting that the carriage collision was merely an accident!
“If it truly was an accident, how could Princess Duanrong have prepared these dry clothes in advance!”
Wen Xueling, trembling like a startled rabbit, her eyes red with anger, rejected Gan Qiongying’s cloak and threw it to the ground, demanding an explanation.
Gan Qiongying replied, “…I had just stopped on the bridge to reprimand my maid for her incompetence, scolding her for bringing such a plain cloak. In my anger, I tossed all the clothes onto the bridge.”
She spun her lie as if it were the truth, shaking her head and sighing, “Who would have thought… alas, the horses were startled, and you, Princess Xue’e, were caught up in the trouble.”
Wen Xueling let out a bitter laugh. Such an absurd explanation—only a fool would believe it!
But if she insisted on pursuing the matter, she had no solid evidence to back her claims. This time, Princess Duanrong had grown wiser and even risked her own life, dragging Wen Xueling into the river with her.
Wen Xueling could no longer make Princess Duanrong suffer the consequences of her own actions as she had done many times before.
Furious, her chest heaving rapidly, she felt neither the cold from the river nor her own fear and humiliation. Instead, she glared defiantly at Gan Qiongying, hoping she would lose her composure again or do something excessive, giving Wen Xueling a chance to seize the upper hand.
Little did she know that Princess Duanrong had already quietly transformed into a cunning strategist.
Her guiding principle was to avoid the plot whenever possible, and when unavoidable, to muddle through it. Any unnecessary complications were to be cut off without hesitation.
Earlier, she had felt a twinge of guilt for dragging Wen Xueling into the mess while following the plot, which was why she had prepared a cloak for her as well.
Seeing that her gesture was not appreciated, she simply let it go.
Thus, she withdrew her goodwill, her expression hardening once more into that of the aloof, untouchable Princess Duanrong.
She turned and took Silver Moon’s wrist, gently smoothing her hair and counting the golden hairpins that had not fallen into the water. Then, with a lazy tone, she said, “Since Princess Xue’e is unharmed, we shall take our leave.”
She boarded the damp carriage and soon drove away, leaving behind a livid Wen Xueling, stomping her feet in frustration.
Once Gan Qiongying departed, Song Ci, the subordinate sent by Zhongli Zhengzhen to monitor her, did not follow the princess’s carriage. Instead, he returned to report to Zhongli Zhengzhen, recounting the “accident” that had just occurred between Princess Duanrong and Princess Xue’e.
Zhongli Zhengzhen was about to retire for the night when he heard Song Ci’s report. After a moment of contemplation, he let out a soft, disdainful chuckle.
Then the worry on his face completely dissipated, and he said, “I thought she had truly changed her nature, and that it would be difficult to deal with her in the future. But it turns out she’s just become smarter, even learning the art of playing hard to get.”
“After failing to harm Princess Xue’e multiple times, this time she didn’t hesitate to put herself at risk…”
Zhongli Zhengzhen’s expression was arrogant and proud, satisfied with Duan Rong’s actions, convinced that she was still madly in love with him. After all, the words she spoke while standing on the carriage step had been relayed word for word by Song Ci.
Therefore, Zhongli Zhengzhen instructed Song Ci to send someone tomorrow to reply to San Jiu, saying that the trouble they were worried about had already been resolved.
Then he went to sleep, content and satisfied.
Little did Zhongli Zhengzhen know, brimming with confidence and feeling he had Gan Qiongying, this unpredictable variable, firmly under his control.
But Gan Qiongying had only ridden in the carriage a short distance before turning away from the route back to the Princess Manor, heading straight for the Consort Manor of her consort, Lihua.
Because she had received a report from the manor, learning that the consort had not yet returned to the Princess Manor at this hour.
Although Yindu in Nánzhào had no curfew at night, it was already past the third watch after all the commotion. If the consort still hadn’t returned home, he must be throwing a small tantrum and refusing to come back.
That wouldn’t do.
She couldn’t let go of the wealth god she had already secured.
Moreover, the results from tonight’s test proved that Gan Qiongying urgently needed a perfect “excuse” to help her avoid distorting the upcoming series of plot developments.
At the same time, she could use these methods to try and change the tragic outcome between her and Lihua.
Thus, at the fourth watch, the Princess’s carriage arrived at the Consort Manor for the first time since their marriage.
The maids in the consort’s inner courtyard were caught off guard, thrown into chaos. They couldn’t drive her away, nor dared they neglect her. In moments, the entire quiet Consort Manor was brightly lit.