The bad husband wanted to bring his second wife into the house, so I turned around and became his st

Lu Shengyuan frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on her coldly like cold stars. He opened his thin lips and asked coldly, "What are you doing?"

Lin Wanqing's heart sank when she heard this, and the color drained from her face. She knew her actions had been impulsive, but when she thought of Xiaomei's suffering, how could she remain indifferent and stand by?

"Your Highness, I just want to take my maid away." Lin Wanqing explained, biting her lower lip unconsciously while speaking. Her tone was full of helplessness, and there was a hint of stubbornness in her eyes.

"Maid?" Lu Shengyuan's lips curled up slightly, and he let out a cold smile, which was devoid of any warmth. "She is now a prisoner in the palace. How can you take her away so easily just because you want to?"

When Lin Wanqing heard this, her eyebrows couldn't help but frown, and a hint of anxiety and unwillingness flashed in her eyes.

"But she is indeed my maid. Even if she really made a mistake, according to the rules, I should be the one to deal with it." Lin Wanqing raised her voice a little, with obvious dissatisfaction in her tone, and her hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

Lu Shengyuan stared at her closely, and a hint of bone-chilling coldness flashed in his eyes. His eyes were like thousand-year-old ice, making people feel as if they were in an ice cellar.

"Lin Wanqing, do you know that an important item missing from my study was found on this maid?" Lu Shengyuan's voice was as cold as the water in a icy pond. "This is by no means a trivial matter. How can you treat it as a joke?"

When Lin Wanqing heard this, the expression on her face froze instantly. Her eyes, which had originally been filled with stubbornness, now dimmed. Her heart couldn't help but skip a beat, as if she had been hit hard by a huge rock.

She really didn't expect that the seriousness of the matter was far beyond her imagination.

"But, Your Highness, there is still no conclusive evidence to prove that she stole those things." Lin Wanqing took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and continued, her eyes full of sincerity, trying to convince Lu Shengyuan.

"Lin Wanqing, you are too naive." Lu Shengyuan looked at her with disdain in his eyes and snorted coldly, "How much do you really know about this servant girl? How can you be so sure that she wasn't bribed by someone to deliberately frame me?"

When Lin Wanqing heard this, she froze in a moment, as if under a spell. She stood there, her eyes filled with confusion and thought.

Thinking back carefully, she realized that she didn't know Xiaomei's past well enough. But on weekdays, this maid had always been loyal to her, completing any task she was given with all her heart and soul. She found it hard to believe that Xiaomei would do such a treacherous thing.

"This..." Lin Wanqing's lips trembled slightly as she looked at Lu Shengyuan. For a moment, her throat seemed to be choked by something and she couldn't speak.

Seeing her like this, Lu Shengyuan's anger grew even stronger. He felt that Lin Wanqing was too naive, trusting this maid without reservation, while completely ignoring the complexity and sinister nature of human nature.

"Lin Wanqing, I know you've always cared deeply for this maid, but you can't blindly trust her without any reason." Lu Shengyuan locked his eyes with her, his tone filled with a hint of admonition, "In this world, there are too many people who would easily sell their souls and do despicable things in pursuit of profit."

When Lin Wanqing heard these words, a trace of hesitation flashed in her eyes. She lowered her head and began a fierce struggle in her heart.

"Your Highness, I understand. I am also very surprised. This maid is usually honest and well-behaved. Why did she go to the study for no reason?" Lin Wanqing nodded slightly, with a bit of guilt and confusion on her face, indicating that she understood.

Seeing her reaction, Lu Shengyuan finally relaxed. He knew that this woman was kind by nature, but when kindness is excessive, it can lead to credulity and lack of defense.

"I'm glad you understand." Lu Shengyuan looked at her, his tone unconsciously softening slightly, and a subtle tenderness flashed in his eyes. "I will thoroughly investigate this matter and give you a satisfactory explanation."

Lin Wanqing felt a surge of warmth in her heart when she heard this, and her eyes welled up slightly. She knew that Lu Shengyuan was usually very busy with government affairs and had to deal with many complicated matters every day, but now that she had been in trouble, he was willing to put aside the important matters at hand and seek justice for her.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Lin Wanqing raised her head and looked at him sincerely, with gratitude flashing in her eyes.

When Lu Shengyuan saw the gratitude in her eyes, a sense of pride welled up in his heart and his chest slightly puffed out.

"You go down first. I will handle this matter properly." Lu Shengyuan looked at her with a hint of tenderness in his eyes, as if he was comforting a frightened deer.

When Lin Wanqing heard this, a hint of hesitation appeared on her face. She desperately wanted to stay here and keep an eye on Xiaomei's situation, but her mind told her that even if she stayed, she would be of no help at all.

"Then...I'll take my leave." Lin Wanqing hesitated for a long time before she gritted her teeth and said with determination.

Seeing this, Lu Shengyuan nodded slightly in response.

Lin Wanqing slowly turned around and walked away with heavy steps. Her back seemed a little lonely, and her heart was filled with worry.

She was full of worries, not knowing what kind of cruel punishment Xiaomei would suffer next, and she didn't know whether there was an even more terrible conspiracy hidden behind this incident.

Back in the elegantly decorated room, Lin Wanqing seemed to have lost all her strength as she gently sat down at the carved table. Her eyes were empty, staring blankly ahead, as if she had fallen into an endless abyss of darkness. A myriad of thoughts raced through her mind, yet she couldn't make sense of anything.

The air around is filled with a faint scent of incense, which drifts slowly and blends with the fragrance of plum blossoms wafting in from outside the window, creating an atmosphere that seems peaceful but is actually mysterious.

"Princess, what's wrong with you?" Pei'er walked into the room lightly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze, afraid to disturb Lin Wanqing, who was immersed in her thoughts. This voice broke the long-lasting silence in the room.

Pei'er looked at Lin Wanqing's distraught appearance, her eyes full of concern and worry, "Why do you look so worried? Did something bother you?"

Lin Wanqing heard the voice and slowly raised her head. With a hint of confusion and temptation in her eyes, she stared at Pei'er and asked, "Pei'er, what do you think of Xiaomei?"

Pei'er was somewhat bewildered by this sudden question. She subconsciously frowned, a trace of thought flashing in her eyes as she tried to recall every detail about Xiaomei. However, she did not have much contact with Xiaomei on weekdays, and her understanding of her was only superficial.

"Princess, to be honest, Xiaomei and I rarely interact on a daily basis." Pei'er shook her head helplessly, with a hint of apology in her tone. "She is usually very quiet and always does things alone. I really can't say what kind of person she is. But..."

Pei'er paused for a moment, her eyes became deep, and she stared at Lin Wanqing closely.

"However, since she has encountered such a situation, Princess, please refrain from interfering. After all, the situation in this palace is extremely complicated and deep-seated. We have no idea what is hidden behind it. If Princess intervenes rashly, she will only bring disaster upon herself."

As Lin Wanqing listened to Pei'er's words, the doubts in his heart not only did not decrease, but became even stronger.

"Pei'er, you're right." Lin Wanqing sighed softly, her voice low and helpless. "The waters of this palace are indeed unfathomable. We have no way of knowing what secrets are hidden behind it."

Lin Wanqing fell into deep thought, her eyes became a little blurry, and she began to recall the past times she had spent with Xiaomei.

Although this maid doesn't talk much, she is quick, diligent and conscientious in her work, and is kind and polite to people around her.

However, now that she was caught up in this terrible storm, Lin Wanqing found it difficult to judge whether she was innocent or not, and he couldn't decide whether he should continue to plead for her.

Pei'er looked at Lin Wanqing's sad face, her eyes full of heartache.

"Princess, don't worry too much." Pei'er comforted her softly, "The prince knows his limits in this matter. He will definitely investigate it thoroughly and give everyone a fair result."

After hearing this, Lin Wanqing felt a little relieved.

"I hope so," Lin Wanqing murmured softly. Her gaze once again turned to the window, where the plum blossoms, proudly blooming in the cold wind, came into view. Those plum blossoms, standing stubbornly in the biting wind, seemed to be telling the world about the spirit of tenacity and indomitable spirit.

Looking at the plum blossoms blooming proudly in the snow, Lin Wanqing couldn't help but feel an inexplicable courage in his heart.

"Pei'er, please help me find out what Xiaomei's current situation is." Lin Wanqing suddenly spoke, her voice firm and powerful, and her eyes revealed an unquestionable determination.

Upon hearing this, Pearl widened her eyes in surprise and looked at her in disbelief.

"Princess, didn't you just say that you didn't intend to interfere in this matter?" Pei'er asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"I did say I wouldn't interfere, but as her master, it's at least okay for you to care about her safety, right?" Lin Wanqing looked at Pei'er, a hint of helplessness in his eyes, and sighed slightly.

After hearing this, Pei'er nodded, turned around and quickly left the room.

Lin Wanqing looked at Pei'er's departing back and fell into deep thought again.

She knew in her heart that this matter was not as simple as it seemed, and there might be more complicated conspiracies and secrets hidden behind it.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the air in the room seemed to freeze.

Lin Wanqing sat there quietly, his eyes fixed on the door, anxiously waiting for news of Pei'er.

Finally, a familiar sound of footsteps was heard outside the door. Lin Wanqing looked over immediately and saw Pei'er walking in with a serious expression.