The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

The night was warm and the dark sky was studded with stars; it was just a hair's breadth away from a full moon.

Afang brought in a bowl of calming medicine, handed it to Jing Anle, and watched her drink it before saying, "A decree has just been issued that Consort Rong has been demoted to Noble Lady and imprisoned in Rong'en Palace."

Jing Anle leaned back against the pillows, tucked the blankets in with her hand, and asked calmly, "Was it an imperial decree personally issued by Father?"

"Indeed, the imperial decree has already spread throughout the six palaces," Afang replied.

"It's a lenient sentence, only because of her grandfather's sake."

Afang nodded, "Who can blame them when Consort Rong's grandfather was the late emperor's savior!"

The bright moon outside the window was captivating, and Jing Anle murmured, "Afang?"

"The servant is here."

"Is the Mid-Autumn Festival coming soon?"

Following Jing Anle's gaze, Afang said, "Today is the first day of the month, there are still about half a month left."

"What's wrong, Princess?"

"It's nothing, you should go and rest first," Jing Anle said.

"Yes, Princess." Although Afang was puzzled, she still turned off the lights and left.

In half a month, the Empress Dowager will be back, and she needs to make all the necessary preparations.

……

Outside the palace, at the General's residence.

Qin Xu's study could not be left unattended for even a moment. Two shifts of people took turns guarding it every day, and Qin Hu was on duty today.

"Miss Mu Ping, why are you back?" Qin Hu was on patrol when he unexpectedly ran into Mu Ping, who had returned. He had clearly seen Mu Ping leave the manor that afternoon.

Mu Ping smiled awkwardly, "I suddenly remembered something important that I need to tell the General!"

Her voice sounded hoarse, as if she had caught a cold.

"Miss Mu Ping, what's wrong with your voice? You were fine this afternoon," Qin Hu said.

"I'm fine, I probably caught a chill last night."

As Mu Ping spoke, she turned her face away. The night was dark, and even with the lanterns, Mu Ping's expression was not clearly visible.

Qin Hu found it strange, but Mu Ping was an old servant of the General's Mansion, so he didn't ask too many questions. He simply said, "But the General is out right now. Why don't you come again tomorrow, Miss?"

"Then I'll go in and get it myself!"

Seeing Qin Hu's puzzled look, Mu Ping explained, "It's something the princess asked me to bring, and I forgot to take it."

One minute she's saying she's getting something, the next she's saying she's looking for the general. Mu Ping is acting very strangely today; she hasn't been in the army for nothing after all these years.

Just as he was about to doubt, he heard a voice, "Tiger!"

Hmm? Only Mu Ping would call him that, and Qin Hu immediately dismissed the idea.

Qin Hu suddenly felt embarrassed. He glanced at his subordinates around him, lowered his head, and whispered, "Miss Mu Ping, please don't call me in front of so many people next time. You should go inside now!"

"I understand." Mu Ping chuckled softly and walked directly into the study.

One of Qin Hu's men said, "Why does Mu Ping seem a bit strange today?"

Qin Hu looked at the study, completely bewildered, but still said to his subordinate, "Mind your own business!"

The subordinate pursed his lips, lowered his head, and dared not say anything more.

Inside Qin Xu's study.

Seeing the study door close, Mu Ping secretly breathed a sigh of relief, because she wasn't the real Mu Ping, but Cao Wantang in disguise. She had been infiltrating the general's mansion for many years but had never been able to get close to the study. Recently, Mu Ping's appearance in the study gave Cao Wantang an idea. Although her disguise skills weren't superb, she could still have a better chance of success under the cover of night.

Having lived in the manor for many years, this was Cao Wantang's first time in Qin Xu's study. She had thought that such a mysterious place must be very large, but she was surprised to find that she could see it all at a glance.

She first went to rummage through the drawers, but found nothing after searching through several. Several military books were casually placed on Qin Xu's desk, one of which had an extra piece of paper on the edge. Cao Wantang immediately picked it up and looked at it. Sure enough, there was a letter tucked inside the military book.

But after she finished reading it, she frowned slightly. This was just an ordinary family letter. How could it be? This kind of thing didn't require Mu Ping to leave the palace in person. The real letter must be in this room.

So Cao Wantang started searching the back shelves, glancing at the lights outside the door from time to time, afraid that Qin Hu would suddenly come in, but she searched everywhere and found nothing.

Something's not right. What's wrong? This study is usually so heavily guarded; there must be some secret behind it.

Where is it?

As Cao Wantang explored, she tried to find any hidden mechanisms. Her eyes then settled on the potted begonia.

What's this? The crabapple blossoms I gave to Qin Xu last time, how did they end up here?

She couldn't help but walk over, holding the flowerpot in both hands. Just as she picked it up to take a look, she didn't expect there to be a mechanism underneath, and a hidden compartment suddenly popped out of the wall.

Cao Wantang was both surprised and delighted. So this was where it was! She quickly placed the flowerpot on the desk and went to check the hidden compartment. Sure enough, a letter lay quietly inside. She quickly took it out, ready to read it, when Qin Hu's voice rang out from outside the door, "Miss Muping, have you found the item?"

“I’ll be right soon!”

Cao Wantang answered guiltily, reading the letter as quickly as possible. But the more she read, the more anxious she became, and the uglier her face looked.

A moment later, Cao Wantang came out of the study.

"Miss Mu Ping, you've come out?" Qin Hu asked.

"Well, I'm done."

After Cao Wantang finished speaking, she walked straight outside, leaving Qin Hu completely bewildered. Why was this girl Mu Ping so unpredictable, sometimes cold and sometimes hot?

Cao Wantang was shocked by the news in the letter and had no time to chat with Qin Hu. She was extremely anxious and had to tell the young master the news as soon as possible.

The next day.

"The weather is fine today, perfect for visiting Wanfo Temple!"

The speaker was none other than Qin Zhihua's wet nurse, Granny Luo.

"Is the Second Miss going out of the manor today?"

Cao Wantang happened to overhear this scene as she passed by the side hall, so she went up and asked.

"Greetings, Consort Cao!" The servants bowed to Consort Cao.

“That’s right. My grandmother has been in much better health lately, and I would like to go to Wanfo Temple to fulfill my vow!” Qin Zhihua replied indifferently when she saw Cao Wantang arrive, neither particularly pleased nor displeased.

Although Wanfo Temple is not far away, it still takes a whole day to go there and back.

“It would be inconvenient for Miss to travel alone. If you don’t mind me bothering you, why don’t you let me come along so I can keep you company?” Cao Wantang said.

Although Cao Wantang was not favored by the old lady in the mansion, this second young lady treated her quite well, and she herself was also sensible.

With everyone else at home unavailable, Qin Zhihua pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Not at all. With you here, I won't feel bored on the way."