Kapitel 34: Sneaking around
The coast was clear. Qing Guang sneakily tried to exit her courtyard, but unfortunately, no matter how slowly she pushed it, the old, faded wooden door of her courtyard made creaking sounds.
Qing Guang's twin brother, Qing Bo, was not in the city as he went with their parent to a city a bit far from Jin Ye, so there was only her and her half-sister, Qing Li, at home.
Qing Guang had a holiday for two days so she should be able to practice dancing again today. Qing Guang usually communicated with Hu Ye through Fei Ying, but she felt a bit uneasy about it because Hu Ye got sick yesterday, so she didn't expect to get a reply this time. Somehow, Fei Ying came back with a letter from Hu Bai, saying that she should come to the Hu residence to practice.
Qing Guang wondered about Hu Ye's condition but did not dare to ask about it in the letter. Thinking about what happened last night, she walked and finally made it to the back door. Looking around and making sure that there was no one in sight, she smiled victoriously and opened the back door.
"Where are you going, dear sister?" Someone with a very beautiful voice spoke.
Qing Guang's cold eyes widened. She swiftly looked up and saw her half-sister's enchanting face that made her want to puke. Qing Li was seated in a very grand dark blue carriage; she had spoken through the drape's opening.
"Sister Li…" Qing Guang tried not to frown. "What are you doing out here so early in the morning?"
"Oh, a friend of mine invited me to a small party at her home," Qing Li said with a sweet smile on her face. "Your dear sister was on her way there and saw someone opening the back door sneakily. I could not help but become suspicious that a thief had entered, so I told the servants to check it out."
Damn liar! Qing Guang thought. If she had really thought that it might be a thief, she would never have come near here personally!
The ice princess with her cold and sharp eyes looked up and down to investigate what Qing Li was up to. She may have lied about the thief thing but the part about wanting to go to her friend's house was probably true because the dress she wore today could almost overshadow a princess's, allowing her to show off to her fellow high ranking officials' daughters. The carriage was also especially fancier than usual too.
"So, dear sister, what are you doing so early in the morning?" She spoke with an innocent face. "Where are you going?"
Qing Guang was secretly relieved that Qing Li really did plan to go to the party, not knowing what she would do if Qing Li had actually been watching over her movements. Officially, the Qing residence and Hu residence were not on good terms with each other as one was an official's family and the other was a general's, making them rivals in imperial court. She would be in much trouble if Qing Li figured out where she was heading.
Qing Guang quickly tried to think of an excuse she could use to leave.
Going to the market? No, Qing Li knew that she had no money.
To a friend's house? She had no close friends that would usually invite her.
Taking a stroll? Not convincing enough.
Then Qing Guang though of a brilliant one. "I am going to the library," she said confidently.
Qing Li blinked twice. "Is that so?"
"Yes." Qing Guang put on a rare convincing smile.
"I am also on my way past there, just taking the long road because I want to pick up some clothing on the way."
"Eh?"
"Dear sister, why don't we go together?"
"Didn't you say that you want to go to your friend's house?"
"Actually, that friend I mentioned was Princess Yin, since the library was right beside the palace…"
Damned wench! It felt like Qing Li could read her mind. If she intended to go to the library, she would not have used the back door because she would need to walk a longer distance compared to using the main gate. Unfortunately, the Hu residence was on the opposite way to the library. Her brilliant excuse had been not so brilliant after all.
Why is she unusually smart today?
Qing Li was not as smart as her two half-siblings, just getting a bit lucky to have stopped the little ice princess from sneaking around.
Qing Guang's eyebrows lowered little by little, especially when seeing Qing Li's satisfied smile. "I thank Little Sister for the offer but I think I can go there myse—"
Before Qing Guang could finish her sentence, Qing Li ordered her servants to open the carriage door and force Qing Guang to come in.
"Let's go," she said.
"What? Stop, no!"
The ice princess seemed to be releasing cold air all around as they grabbed her and made her sit tightly. An invisible vein seemed to be popping on her forehead as the carriage moved toward the direction of the palace.
Qing Guang was forced to let this go because she could not afford to be doubted by Qing Li.
Qing Guang finally raised her head and saw Qing Li's victorious sweet but coy smile. Her red lips matched well with any makeup she used, and her hair accessories complemented her dress, the beautiful yellow hanfu seeming to be glowing. On the other hand, Qing Guang wore her usual black hanfu with a white hem. She swiftly tied her long, silky hair up.
Qing Guang looked at her long hair intently, feeling the spark of jealousy that came every time she saw Qing Guang. Although she did not remember Qing Guang's mother face, she recalled how her own mother hated that woman so much. That woman was not only very intelligent and wealthy, she was also one of the most beautiful women in Jin Ye of her time.
Qing Li's mother once hated that woman's beautiful hair, and now, Qing Li felt the same way.
"Hmph!" She turned away, inwardly sneering.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein