Chapter 278 Rescue Leads to Fate

Chapter 278: Saved and Bonded

After Madam Cai left Weiyang Palace and reached the corridor of the detached palace, just as she was about to exit the palace, her maid Lianye unexpectedly noticed a troop of guards walking fiercely in their direction. Even from a distance, they gave off an intimidating vibe.

Lianye’s body trembled, and she looked nervous.

"Madam, there’s no one else here but us. Could those guards be coming for us?"

Madam Cai’s expression was cold, and she snapped at her.

"Don’t be ridiculous. These are the palace guards patrolling the palace. We haven’t stolen anything. Why would they come for us?"

However, palace guards usually only patrolled near the six main gates. Seeing them in the inner court of the harem was quite rare.

Just then, a pale, delicate hand reached out from behind, grabbing Madam Cai by the arm and pulling her behind a rock garden.

"It’s dangerous here. Come with me quickly!"

Madam Cai was startled. Seeing that it was Luo Qingge who had pulled her, she asked in confusion.

"Ninth Princess, what do you mean by that?"

Luo Qingge was extremely anxious but still patiently explained.

"Consort Li claims you insulted her and hit Luo Qianxue, that you’re arrogant and defied the emperor’s authority. She’s now having Father send the palace guards to hunt you down all over the palace!"

"If she catches you, she’ll have a reason to punish you. In any case, come with me, Princess."

Madam Cai’s heart sank.

She felt that during the half hour she had spent in Weiyang Palace, she had been perfectly respectful to Consort Li.

As for Luo Qianxue, the other woman had put a knife to her own neck. Madam Cai hadn’t even laid a hand on her.

How could she have insulted Consort Li or hit Luo Qianxue?

When she left, Madam Cai had said her farewells and performed the proper courtesies before leaving. She hadn’t fled at all.

She had known that Consort Li and her daughter were shameless, but she never imagined they could be so shameless.

They’d even resorted to framing and slander!

Without realizing it, Madam Cai let Luo Qingge take her hand and lead her away to Feiyue Palace.

Once inside, Luo Qingge shut the door, making sure no one had followed them.

She asked, "Madam Cai, can you tell me what exactly happened?"

When Luo Qingge returned from the garden, she saw the palace guards searching everywhere for them.

She asked around and learned that today Consort Li had invited Madam Cai of the Duke Rong residence into the palace, claiming she wanted to discuss something.

Luo Qingge thought that Consort Li and Luo Qianxue were not good people, and that Madam Cai was Ji Yuntang’s sworn mother.

After some deliberation, she decided to step in and lend a hand.

At the very least, she could ensure Madam Cai’s safety within the palace.

Having gone through the incident with Luo Qianxue, Madam Cai had become much more alert. She didn’t answer Luo Qingge’s question right away but instead asked her a question.

Princess Jiu, I am not well acquainted with you. Why would you help me?

"Because you are the mother of my third sister-in-law, the person she acknowledges and wants to protect. The people my third sister-in-law acknowledges are the ones I acknowledge. Now that she is not in the palace, it is my responsibility to protect you and ensure your safety."

Luo Qingge's tone was neither servile nor proud but sincere.

Madam Cai was surprised by her answer.

But while surprised, she was also puzzled.

She assumed that Luo Qianxue and Ji Yuntang, being sisters-in-law by marriage, should be closer.

Yet, it turned out to be the opposite.

Luo Qianxue hated Ji Yuntang to the bone, while Luo Qingge was especially protective of her.

Madam Cai asked in confusion, "Are you and Tang'er close?"

"My third sister-in-law and I are like sisters," Luo Qingge replied, without hesitation.

She smiled and said, "From the moment I first saw my third sister-in-law in the palace, I took a liking to her. The way she'd drop all pretense and go berserk whenever something happened deeply attracted me."

Afraid that Madam Cai might misunderstand her feelings for Ji Yuntang, Luo Qingge for once, explained herself.

"Don't misunderstand, Madam Cai. I don't mean that kind of liking, but the liking between sisters. It's like the relationship people call 'bosom friends,' and we are even closer than that."

"My third sister-in-law has a wonderful relationship with my third brother. I sincerely wish them well and hope they can soon taste sweetness after bitterness and find their happy ending."

A faint smile appeared on Madam Cai's lips. Compared to Luo Qianxue, she found Luo Qingge's straightforwardness particularly endearing.

"Your Highness, you don't need to explain. I understand what you mean."

"Tang'er is indeed wonderful. When I first saw her at the Xu residence, I was captivated by the way she never backed down when she was in the right. Even now, when I think about it, it feels like a dream."

Most women in the Dongchen Kingdom were well-behaved and virtuous. Even when mistreated by their own natal families, they would dare to be angry but not to speak out.

But in Ji Yuntang, instead, Madam Cai saw a spirit of resistance.

Even though she knew she was insignificant, she was still willing to stand up against the entire Yongning Marquis Manor, using only her own strength.

This Ji Yuntang left Madam Cai both heartbroken and moved.

Then, remembering what Luo Qianxue had said, she asked curiously, "But everyone says Tang'er is the illegitimate daughter of the Yongning Marquis Manor. Does that not bother you, Your Highness?"

Luo Qingge's status was simply too noble. In contrast, Ji Yuntang's status as an illegitimate daughter was considered unseemly.

She had been ridiculed for this reason many times.

Luo Qingge brushed a strand of hair from her ear, her radiant face with a hint of sweetness and playfulness.

"What does it matter whether she's an illegitimate daughter or a legitimate one? What I care about is my third sister-in-law as a person, not her status."

After saying this, Luo Qingge winked at Madam Cai. "I believe you feel the same way, don't you, Madam Cai?"

If she truly cared about Ji Yuntang's status, she would not have chosen her as her goddaughter in the first place.

A gentle smile curved Madam Cai's lips. "Exactly. Your Highness and I are truly of the same mind on this."

Both of them liked Ji Yuntang from the bottom of their hearts, and without realizing it, Madam Cai’s wariness toward Luo Qingge had also dropped considerably.

She felt that anyone who could be on good terms with Ji Yuntang would not be lacking in character or conduct.

Madam Cai suddenly thought of her own son, Xie Liuzheng, and wondered if he would like a woman like Luo Qingge—generous, straightforward, and courageous.

Most importantly, Luo Qingge was very sweet-tongued.

Madam Cai had been planning to tentatively ask Luo Qingge if she had anyone she liked.

But before she could speak, a troop of imperial guards burst into Feiyue Palace menacingly.

From outside the courtyard came Linglan’s stern rebuke.

“How dare you! This is the residence of Princess Jiu. Who allowed you to barge in without permission?”

Zhao Defa, the leader of the imperial guards, spoke with outward respect but wore an extremely arrogant expression.

“We are here on the emperor’s orders to apprehend the culprit who injured and insulted Consort Li and the Tenth Princess. May I ask Princess Jiu to allow us to search the Feiyue Palace?”

Zhao Defa had a reason for bringing his men to Feiyue Palace.

Just moments ago, someone had clearly seen Madam Cai and her maid in the corridor, but in the blink of an eye, they had disappeared.

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