She was buried alive at the start, but she's determined to smash her ex-husband's head in

After a great deal of effort, Lin Xiuyao finally moved her belongings to Yongning Palace. Because she was the last to arrive, she didn't have the chance to choose a room.

The remaining two rooms weren't very good, but one of them had decent lighting.

She glanced at Lin Shuhui, and without even asking, directly instructed Lian'er to take her things inside. Lin Shuhui naturally didn't dare to compete with her openly, and obediently went to another room.

"Yao Yao!"

Lin Xiuyao had just sat down when she heard her best friend Zhao Yanyan's voice. She was overjoyed and immediately stood up and ran out to meet Zhao Yanyan, holding hands and looking at each other.

"It's you! I thought it was just the four of us!!!"

Zhao Yanyan said, "Yes! I also thought they would only choose four people! But your Lin family is already famous!"

"What kind of fame?" Lin Xiuyao hadn't paid much attention to the rumors circulating outside lately; the affairs of Lin Qingwei, Qi Yanzhi, and Pei Zhaoan were enough for her to ponder.

"Could it be about Lin Qingwei?"

After all, the actions of the three of them at the palace gate that day were indeed quite shocking.

But clearly, Zhao Yanyan didn't know this, and asked suspiciously, "Your sister? No, it's about you and your half-sister. I heard that it was Prince Duan's idea for you to enter the palace. Does Prince Duan have feelings for you?!"

Thinking of Prince Duan, Lin Xiuyao was speechless: "He probably doesn't exist anymore..."

She asked again, "What happened to Lin Shuhui this time?"

"Well, although it's not nice to say it like this, don't you think it's strange that a concubine's daughter could enter the palace to be a companion to the princess? Many talented young ladies from noble families weren't selected, but she, a concubine's daughter who had never appeared before, was chosen. This has caused quite a stir."

Lin Xiuyao pouted: "It's said that on the day of our first test, she and Song Miaoyan were chased and bitten by bees. She risked her life to protect the other person, so she got the prize by chance."

Remembering her parents' words of advice, Zhao Yanyan couldn't help but say to Lin Xiuyao, "Song Miaoyan is indeed a county princess, but where does she get such great power to choose whoever she wants to be her study companion? If you don't get along with your half-sister, you'd better be careful in the future."

If it weren't for the approval of people in the palace, how could a mere county princess like her have arranged matters concerning a princess?

Lin Xiuyao didn't take it seriously and gave a perfunctory reply, and the two changed the subject to something else.

The door to the room was wide open, with Lin Xiuyao facing outwards and Zhao Yanyan facing her. The two of them were laughing so hard they couldn't stand up straight, seemingly chatting about something fun.

However, the smile on Lin Xiuyao's face froze the next second.

She was so shocked to see Lin Qingwei and Pei Zhaoan walking side by side that her mouth dropped open. These two were incredibly audacious! Being so intimate in broad daylight!

Lin Qingwei saw the previously closed door open and was met with Lin Xiuyao's shocked eyes. She also wanted to die, but Pei Zhaoan insisted on taking this path and dragged her along.

She remembered that no one lived in this room!

"What's wrong?" Zhao Yanyan noticed Lin Xiuyao looking outside with a strange expression and wanted to turn her head away out of curiosity.

Lin Xiuyao quickly reached out and pressed Zhao Yanyan's head down without hesitation for a second, feigning surprise as she looked at the ordinary hairpin on her head.

She said, "My goodness! How come I never noticed how beautiful your jewelry is before! Where did you buy it?"

"what?"

Zhao Yanyan's head was pressed down so firmly that she couldn't budge it. Lin Xiuyao desperately prayed in her heart that the two of them would leave quickly! If they were discovered, they would be doomed!

Pei Zhaoan seemed to be doing it on purpose, walking very slowly, and sometimes stopping to say a few unnecessary words to Lin Qingwei. Not only was Lin Xiuyao anxious, but Lin Qingwei was even more miserable.

"The Grand Secretary must have some important matters to attend to, so I won't keep you any longer." The intention to dismiss him was quite clear.

Pei Zhaoan pretended not to understand: "So you want me to stay? Actually, it's not impossible. Anyway, it's still early. Why don't we go to your place for a cup of tea?"

"What exactly do you want to do...?"

"You believe what he says? Aren't you afraid he'll use you again?" Pei Zhaoan's expression turned cold, and he spoke very seriously.

Xu Hanzhang is no good person. If he could sacrifice Lin Qingwei the first time, he could sacrifice her a second time.

Lin Qingwei said, "Why does the Grand Secretary think that he must be using me?"

No one understands Xu Hanzhang better than himself. He now has a new option and doesn't have to place all his hopes on Zhao Huarong. In order to gain his trust, he is even willing to reveal Zhao Huarong's secret.

Does he love himself? Perhaps, but Xu Hanzhang loves power the most. Dealing with someone like him is easy, but dealing with Zhao Huarong will require some effort.

Instead of defeating them one by one, it's better to deceive Xu Hanzhang first and use him to deal with Zhao Huarong.

In her previous life, didn't Zhao Huarong trust Xu Hanzhang a lot? This time, she really looked forward to seeing the pain of betrayal on Zhao Huarong's face!

"What do you want to do?" I can help you.

Pei Zhaoan didn't say the second half of the sentence. He had been thinking about his relationship with Lin Qingwei for the past few days.

Some people are like a ray of light; even if they don't shine on you, they are still light, and that doesn't stop you from forever yearning for them...

But Lin Qingwei was unaware of his inner thoughts. Just thinking about that kiss that day, and the feelings Pei Zhaoan might have for her, gave Lin Qingwei a headache. She didn't want to get entangled with too many people.

With a hint of polite detachment: "This is my own business."

Once again, the blatant rejection chilled Pei Zhaoan's heart even more. There were some things he hadn't said long ago, and now he had neither the opportunity nor the standing to say them. He nodded, and disappeared again without a word of farewell.

Lin Xiuyao finally breathed a sigh of relief and put her hands down, exhausted.

Before she entered the palace, her mother gave her many instructions, telling her to be careful with her words and actions, avoid causing trouble, and avoid getting entangled with people in the palace. Now it seems that her mother really advised the wrong person; the one who needed to be careful with her words and actions was not her at all!

As evening approached, the nanny saw that everyone had finished getting ready, so she asked the maids to call everyone out for dinner and to give them a few reminders about the things to pay attention to when they officially started accompanying their studies the next day.

Lin Shuhui, being the closest, arrived first, standing obediently in the corner with her head down. Lin Xiuyao and Zhao Yanyan followed closely behind, and soon Lin Qingwei also arrived. Only Song Miaoyan remained, waiting and waiting without seeing anyone.

The old woman frowned, already somewhat impatient, and sent someone to fetch her again. At this moment, Song Miaoyan's maid, Wenwen, hurriedly ran over.

"Please forgive me, Granny, the princess is probably asleep, that's why she hasn't opened the door. Please wait a little longer."

"I can wait, but does the county princess expect the two princesses to wait like this tomorrow? She's asleep, why don't you push open the door and wake her up?"