Chapter 12: Catching the Thief and Recovering the Stolen Goods
Escape?
A sudden gleam of hope flashed in Xia Qiqi’s eyes, only to fade instantly.
She was determined to escape!
But she did not want to drag Liu Yichen into this whirlpool.
He was merely the illegitimate son of the prime minister, already struggling to survive among the pack of wolves in the prime minister’s mansion.
She absolutely could not let her escape be linked to Liu Yichen in any way!
Moreover, Xia Qiqi could feel that Liu Yichen genuinely regarded her as a friend!
“Escape to where?”
Having made up her mind, Xia Qiqi deliberately adopted a somewhat teasing tone. “Does Young Master Liu mean for this servant to switch to another noble household and continue doing menial maid work? Or to find some rustic village husband and become a farmer’s wife?”
If she wanted this pure-hearted youth to give up on the idea, she had to show him her truly ugly side!
“But, Qiqi...”
Liu Yichen’s expression faltered slightly. He pressed his lips together, stiffened his neck, and said, “You must understand, my father would never allow you to remain the Princess Consort of Jin forever!”
Of course, Xia Qiqi understood.
She was only temporarily replacing Liu Mingyu as the Princess Consort of Jin for a few months. Sooner or later, she would have to return to a life matching her own origins.
From what she knew of Liu Yuanqing, Xia Qiqi was well aware that the day she swapped back her identity with Liu Mingyu would be her death day!
“I know that very well.”
Xia Qiqi let out a faint smile, lifted the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said, “A person’s journey in this world is nothing but an experience.”
“I’ve had enough of being a servant. As for being Princess Consort of Jin... I quite look forward to it!”
Her words were half sincere, half jest.
If it weren’t for witnessing the Jin Prince secretly indulging with the second young lady in the study that day, she might have really wanted to see what an ancient prince looked like.
What kind of magnificent life could a princess consort lead?
Just like the five-feathered coronet she wore on her head and this sip of pre-rain Longjing tea, she truly liked them!
Ah, but never mind.
If she had to face that worthless prince every day, she might as well escape sooner!
“Qiqi! You didn’t use to say such things!”
The youth was still unwilling to believe what he had just heard.
“Used to?” Xia Qiqi’s smile deepened, “The old Xia Qiqi was wrong!”
Kind-hearted like a Buddha, humble as dust, yet still blown by the wind into the sight of wolves!
Liu Yichen stared blankly at Xia Qiqi, confusion filling his eyes.
She was clearly smiling, but from within, a sudden, impenetrable coldness had taken root.
“You’ve changed, Qiqi.”
Liu Yichen suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart, his voice hoarse as he said, “You will regret this!”
“Rest early. You still have to set off tomorrow to report back to the prime minister’s mansion.”
The youth stopped insisting but, as he stood, he bowed his head unconsciously.
Xia Qiqi’s smile stiffened, and then she heard a low, hoarse, resolute voice beside her ear: “If you’re in trouble, send Hui’er back. I’ll come through fire and water for you!”
With that, he left.
Hui’er.
That was the little pigeon abandoned by its mother.
Xia Qiqi had carefully raised it in the prime minister’s mansion and later gave it to Liu Yichen.
Just as Liu Yichen stepped out, Aunt Wu and Xiao Ai came in one after another.
“This is the list of wedding gifts sent by the Jin Prince’s Mansion. I have also organized the return gifts to be sent tomorrow. Let me collect them for Miss first,” Aunt Wu said without ceremony, waving two slips of paper before Xia Qiqi’s eyes and then attempting to tuck them into her sleeve.
[The treasury is stuffed with one hundred and twenty sets of gold, silver, and jewels—almost blinded me, meow!]
Fortune!
Xia Qiqi’s heart leapt, but then Xiao Ai said, [Aunt Wu actually sneaked several pieces of the dowry into her own bosom!]
That scheming servant!
Knowing she was a substitute, she dared to steal from the dowry, no doubt planning to blame Xia Qiqi for it later.
Xia Qiqi lowered her gaze slightly and said coldly, “Aunt Wu, give me the list of gifts.”
A flicker of barely perceptible doubt passed through Aunt Wu’s eyes, but she said, “Miss has always entrusted me with managing the valuables. Rest assured, after the wedding, I will hand everything over to Miss!”
Aunt Wu deliberately emphasized “Miss,” clearly intending to remind Xia Qiqi not to truly think of herself as the prime minister’s daughter.
[Ugh! Shameless! Liu Mingyu would never entrust her with valuable items!]
[Xia Qiqi! You must make her hand over the gift lists!]
Xia Qiqi was never one to indulge her. She snorted coldly, “Aunt Wu! Who’s the master and who’s the servant? Don’t forget your place!”
“You!”
Aunt Wu was annoyed but only dared to whisper, “I am under the prime minister’s direct orders to watch over you!”
“Besides, isn’t this place empty? What are you putting on airs for here?”
Xia Qiqi stood and stepped two paces closer to Aunt Wu, leaning in to whisper coldly, “Aunt Wu, you are quite capable. Why don’t you try being the Princess Consort of Jin for these seven months?”
Aunt Wu’s face flushed red. She scolded, “If Miss takes pleasure in mocking me, then—”
“Smack!”
Before she could finish, a burning pain flared across her cheek.
“You!”
[Meow! Well deserved! Xia Qiqi, you’re so cool!]
“What ‘you’?” Xia Qiqi clapped her hands and snorted coldly. “Daring to brazenly steal from the dowry! A slap is just to teach you a lesson!”
“If the prime minister finds out, Aunt Wu, you’d be seriously injured if not dead. Am I right?”
How did she learn that Aunt Wu had stolen from the dowry?
Could it be that there was a spy here?
Hadn’t Steward Yan said she was only a maid before?
Aunt Wu felt as if Xia Qiqi’s eyes could see through everything.
Fear crept over her as she hurriedly pulled out several large luminous pearls from her bosom, trembling as she explained, “Miss is marrying into royalty after all. On the wedding day, it’s customary to reward the servants with some treasures, so... I took the liberty to set aside a few luminous pearls for Miss.”
[Meow! That sly servant thinks Xia Qiqi doesn’t recognize valuable things? Just one of those luminous pearls could support an ordinary family for three or five years!]
Red warmth!
Could this really be worth so much silver?
Xiao Ai was right—she truly didn’t know her valuables!
Very good. No need to pilfer from the treasury anymore. Just stuff these into the bundle and leave!
Suppressing a smile, Xia Qiqi instructed, “Since that’s the case, Aunt Wu, hand these over to me and then go rest early.”
With silver in hand, once the night was deep and silent, she could slip away!
Just the thought made her excited.
Aunt Wu trembled as she turned to leave, but Xia Qiqi admonished, “Although this is an inn, Aunt Wu, you should still observe some decorum. Don’t let others see and gossip about the prime minister’s household’s lax management.”
At that moment, Aunt Wu seemed as if her soul had been drawn out. She obediently bowed to Xia Qiqi, then stepped back a few paces and exited the room.
Xia Qiqi could hardly wait. She called Chun Tao over and said, “Chun Tao, quickly pack the essentials. We leave tonight!”