Chapter 440: Princess Consort Qi, Explain Yourself

Chapter 440: Chapter 440: Princess Consort Qi, Explain Yourself

Princess Shu still didn’t know what was happening. She only felt everyone’s gaze turn toward her, their expressions complicated.

She smiled as she walked toward Shen Ningning. "Ningning, the carriage ran into a bit of trouble on the way, so I’m late."

With that, she turned to greet Princess Consort Qi. Princess Shu’s smile was gentle under the sun, a stark contrast to the forced calm on Princess Consort Qi’s face. Shen Ningning hid a private smile.

Princess Shu explained to Princess Consort Qi, "Since today is Your Highness’s birthday, I prepared a gift as well."

A servant behind her presented a brocade box. When it was opened, everyone saw what was inside: a twin lotus crafted from gold and silver thread, a symbol of a deep and harmonious bond.

The meaning behind her blessing was unmistakable: she was wishing for Princess Consort Qi and the Emperor to share a bond as harmonious as the twin lotus.

Everyone’s gaze then shifted back to the Jade Token on Princess Consort Qi’s neck, and their feelings grew even more complicated.

Princess Consort Qi smiled, though the corners of her lips were pulled tight. "You are too kind, Princess Consort. I like this gift very much, and I am sure the Emperor will be pleased as well. Someone, show the Princess Consort to a seat."

Immediately after, Princess Consort Qi was about to call for the dancing girls to begin their performance.

Of course, Shen Ningning wasn’t about to let her get her way.

The little girl stood up, walked over to link arms with Princess Shu, and pointed at the Jade Token on Princess Consort Qi’s chest.

"Auntie Shu, you’ve come at the perfect time. We were just discussing the story behind that Jade Token on Princess Consort Qi’s neck."

Princess Shu looked a little confused, glancing at Princess Consort Qi. "A Jade Token?"

That confirmed it for Shen Ningning. ’Princess Shu still doesn’t know King Shu gave the Jade Token to Princess Consort Qi!’

And as the little girl lowered her head, she happened to see a colorful thread cord wrapped around Princess Shu’s wrist.

’That was the cord used to hang the Jade Token...’

’That King Shu! So deceitful and cheap, giving the Jade Token to Princess Consort Qi and taking the cord off to give to his own wife!’

’He’s a real piece of work.’

Shen Ningning was about to expose the lie then and there, but to her surprise, Mo Zhirou beat her to it and spoke first.

"Mother, please bear witness for me. Father did give you a brocade box with a Jade Token inside, didn’t he?"

Princess Shu grew even more baffled. "He did send a brocade box, that’s true, but inside was a colorful thread, not a Jade Token. Look."

She gently pulled up her sleeve, revealing the colorful thread around her wrist.

A soft, sweet smile graced Princess Shu’s face as she looked at the gift.

"Your father said he prayed for this colorful thread for seven days while offering lamps before the Buddha. What’s this about a Jade Token?"

When Mo Zhirou saw the string of colorful thread, the color instantly drained from her face.

Of course she recognized it. It was just the cord used to hang the Jade Token.

’It was hardly a colorful thread blessed by seven days of lamp offerings.’

Mo Zhirou instinctively wanted to help King Shu cover up the lie, but when she looked up, she saw Shen Ningning staring at her, a serene smile on her little face.

Mo Zhirou’s heart sank.

’Oh no. Shen Ningning knows where this cord came from. The day I bought the Jade Token, I deliberately flaunted it in front of her.’

Shen Ningning’s glistening eyes narrowed as she spoke. "Auntie Shu, it’s like this. A while ago, a Persian merchant brought an exquisite Emperor Green Jade Token to the Capital for auction. I originally wanted to buy it."

"But by the time I got there, Miss Mo had already bought it. I didn’t compete with her for it because she said King Shu intended to give it to you. But then today, I happened to see Princess Consort Qi wearing an identical Jade Token around her neck. What a coincidence, don’t you think?"

As she spoke, Shen Ningning covered her mouth with her small hand and let out a soft laugh, as if she couldn’t help herself.

The ladies present stared silently at Princess Consort Qi.

At this moment, Princess Consort Qi felt like she was sitting on pins and needles. She broke out in a cold sweat, especially when Princess Shu looked over at her with a deep, probing, and frigid gaze.

The spring sunlight was wonderful, warming everyone’s skin, but Princess Consort Qi only felt a chill run down her spine.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to explain, Shen Ningning interrupted again.

The little girl said, "And that colorful thread cord on your wrist isn’t ordinary, either. When Miss Mo was showing off the Jade Token, I saw that this very cord was just what it was hanging from."

"Don’t tell me that after Uncle King Shu bought it, he really took the cord to be blessed by seven days of lamp offerings before the Buddha?"

The surrounding young ladies and female guests gasped.

Princess Funing was practically throwing the evidence in Princess Consort Qi’s face!

Liang Yici frowned at Princess Consort Qi, her eyes brimming with cold displeasure.

She remembered her mother, Fang Qingdai, once saying that Princess Consort Qi was a devious woman. Years ago, even though she knew full well that Shen Siyi and Chancellor Xie were fond of each other, she had still tried to push Shen Siyi to approach and seduce King Shu.

This was despite Shen Siyi treating her as tenderly as her own sister.

But all Princess Consort Qi cared about was using Shen Siyi to curry favor with royalty for her own gain.

As Liang Yici thought of this, she looked at Shen Ningning and felt a surge of encouragement for the little girl.

’It’s only right that Shen Siyi’s daughter should be the one to make Princess Consort Qi pay for what she did!’

Nearby, Ye Shangyi whispered to Qi Xiuwei, "What is your aunt’s relationship with King Shu? Did they know each other before?"

Qi Xiuwei wrung her handkerchief, feeling utterly humiliated. She instinctively replied, "How would I know? I hope they have nothing to do with each other. Otherwise, I’ll never be able to face Princess Shu again!"

The young ladies lowered their voices, murmuring amongst themselves.

The atmosphere grew icy. Princess Shu looked down at the colorful thread on her wrist, her gaze growing colder by the second.

She raised her head and asked Princess Consort Qi directly, "Your Highness, this Jade Token of yours... was it really, as Ningning said, a gift from my husband, King Shu?"

Mo Zhirou hastily tried to smooth things over, covering for King Shu. "Mother, you must have misunderstood. The Princess has misunderstood as well. It’s not as if there’s only one kind of Jade Token in the world. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence that they bought identical ones."

Shen Ningning knew she would say that.

With a soft chuckle, she said, "Funny you should say that. The Jade Token Princess Consort Qi is wearing is the very same one King Shu had you buy."

"It also has a twin lotus design, and right where the pistils are, there’s a reddish tint from an impurity in the Jade. Auntie Shu can confirm whether I’m right or not with just one glance."

"It’s not possible for two different Jade Tokens to have the exact same impurity, is it? Not even leaves on a tree are identical. Do you really think a Persian merchant happened to have two identical Jade Tokens?"

Mo Zhirou’s face was as pale as paper.

Princess Consort Qi was so furious her nails were digging into her palms.

’This foolish Mo Zhirou! If she doesn’t know what to say, she should just keep her mouth shut! Every word she says is just digging my grave deeper!’

Princess Shu’s expression had turned frightfully grim.

Facing all the eyes fixed on her, Princess Consort Qi slowly exhaled.

After a long moment, she finally said, "If what Princess Funing says is true, then this Jade Token must indeed be the one King Shu purchased."

The ladies present erupted in an uproar.

Princess Shu bit her lower lip. "Please speak more clearly, Your Highness. How did something my husband bought end up in your possession?"

A fine sheen of cold sweat had broken out on Princess Consort Qi’s forehead.

Feigning composure, her fingertips clenching tightly beneath her sleeve, she said, "Actually..."