bookcurios Chapter 24 Vicious Fake Gold 23
Chapter 24 Vicious Fake Gold 23
After Ji's mother revealed the truth, she seemed much more at ease. In the end, she even took the jade pendant, but Qingyu didn't ask what she intended to do with it.
There are only two possibilities: either confront the Empress, or tell Ji Qingying the truth directly.
Qingyu actually hoped it was the second one, after all, some things are more fun to talk about.
However, to Qingyu's surprise, everything turned out calmly in the end. Ji Qingying was very calm, and there was no sound from the Empress's side. Everything seemed to be normal.
Feeling a bit bored with one less scene, Qingyu accepted Nanzhu'er's invitation to form a group of sisters and play leaf cards.
The location was set at the Ji family's residence, because Qingyu was too lazy to go out.
Four people came that day. Besides Nan Zhuer and Zhang Yuting, who were already acquainted, the other two ladies were also from that gathering. As soon as she saw Qingyu, Nan Zhuer complained, "You really are a homebody. I've asked you out so many times, and you only agreed this time."
Zhang Yuting sat down next to Qingyu and teased, "That's right, I heard you haven't been feeling well lately? What's wrong?"
"Are you feeling unwell?" Nan Zhu'er's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly ran to Qingyu's side and looked her up and down, her little face scrunched up in confusion. "You do look quite haggard... Did Ji Qingwei bully you?"
"Ji Qingwei? She's been quite the star lately, she's even a county princess now." Another sister chimed in, immediately stirring up the conversation.
So, Qingyu was forced to overhear many rumors about Ji Qingwei from outsiders. In short, it all boiled down to one sentence: Ji Qingwei had been getting too close to Gu Ye recently and was already the designated "Crown Princess," breaking the hearts of many young ladies.
"Alright, are we still playing cards?" Qingyu idly played with her hair, her fair face full of lazy sleepiness. Everyone was amazed for a moment when they saw this, and then immediately started playing cards.
What a joke! We can't neglect their little Qingyu.
When Ji Qingying and the others returned, they found Qingyu's courtyard bustling with activity, with women's laughter frequently heard. After learning the situation from the maid, Ji Qingying sighed deeply.
It seems there's no chance to talk to Qingyu; this little darling is just too popular.
It's also because he's been busy with internal affairs lately.
Touching the jade pendant at her waist, Ji Qingying's eyes were filled with darkness, making her look quite gloomy.
He used to disdain fame and fortune, but now that he has what he wants, he doesn't mind climbing the ladder by any means necessary, even if it means deliberately provoking the Empress and threatening her...
Ji Qingying did it too!
What he wants is power; he needs the Empress to give him some conveniences!
Furthermore...
They're both sons, so why should Gu Ye be taken care of by her for over ten years? Everything she gets now is only rightfully hers!
Thinking of the things she still had to do, Ji Qingying suppressed her inner rage, turned around and left silently, completely unaware of Ji Qingwei hiding behind her.
The latter gazed intently at Ji Qingying's retreating figure, his eyes filled with vigilance, and his usually calm and composed face was now etched with complex emotions that were hard to describe.
Knowing from her dream that Ji Qingying's identity was questionable, Ji Qingwei had already sent people to keep an eye on her, but she never expected it to be such a big problem...
It turns out she and Gu Ye are half-brothers!
Once the Emperor finds out about this, not only will the Empress suffer, but the Ji family, who helped the Empress enter the palace and raised Ji Qingying, will also be in trouble!
The Ji family can't escape punishment, and Qingyu will definitely be held accountable!
This is absolutely not okay!
Ji Qingwei exhaled, feeling an unbearable heaviness in her chest.
She cannot make these things public for the time being, especially since she is currently on Gu Ye's side. Even if she did make them public, she would definitely not escape the consequences!
We can only proceed gradually!
"Gu Ye, you absolutely mustn't let me down..."
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Time passed slowly, and as the weather turned cold, Qingyu became increasingly lazy and reluctant to go out. She was scolded by the system every day, and the system even suspected that Qingyu was deliberately disrupting the plot in order to avoid completing the mission!
You should know that right now, the male and female leads, including several male supporting characters, are all in terrible shape, and they've all gone off to seize power. The court is in a tense situation, with people eyeing it covetously from both inside and outside.
Originally, Gu Ye's ascension to the throne was a foregone conclusion in the plot, but now everything is uncertain. Gu Ye was even reprimanded a few days ago, and his influence in the court has been reduced by half!
It was all because of Ji Qingying's intervention!
On the other hand, Qingyu, the villainous female supporting character, lives a peaceful life. Even the hothouse flower doesn't know how to take care of her!
"It's no use cursing me every day. If things continue like this, maybe we'll be able to live a carefree life soon~" Qingyu laughed extremely happily, her beautiful face as radiant as the warm spring sun, her eyes sparkling with joy, and the curve of her lips as charming as a crescent moon, making people unable to help but fall for her.
The system scoffed, interrupting her reverie, "So this is why you've been frantically accumulating gold jewelry lately?"
Qingyu nodded confidently, her little head held high with pride as she spoke, "I'm just planning ahead. I can't live a hard life. I want to be a delicate and charming supporting female character. I need bread!"
"...You still know about bread? Didn't you have no memory?" The system was somewhat surprised, then received a glare from Qingyu, who then retorted, "I may have no memory, but I'm not mentally challenged or stupid. Some things just slip out of my mouth because I'm used to them."
"Besides—" Qingyu drawled, unable to suppress a laugh, "You haven't turned off your online videos lately, and I've actually learned a lot from watching them."
System: "...Don't talk nonsense, I didn't watch any videos, I'm a rigorous system!"
As soon as it finished speaking, it ran away, leaving behind the words, "I'll be back..."
It looks quite comical.
"Hello, sister." At this moment, Ji Qingbao suddenly appeared and greeted her. Qingyu came back to her senses and looked at him, and found that Ji Qingbao, who used to be so playful, had matured a lot.
The rules have improved a lot.
Qingyu still looked down on her younger brother, and tried to walk past him without even glancing at him, but Ji Qingbao stopped her. The latter scratched his head and asked, "Sister Qingyu, do you know what Big Brother and Sister Qingwei have been busy with lately?"
Qingyu looked him up and down, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Why are you asking this?"
Mentioning this gave Ji Qingbao a headache. She grimaced and complained, "I feel like too many people are getting close to me lately, and they're all so weird..."
Ji Qingbao is simple and straightforward, but not stupid. He has some basic understanding, especially when there are people with ill intentions around him.
For example, he recently encountered at least three women who sold themselves to bury their fathers! Each one was beautiful and pitiful, and they would pounce on Ji Qingbao as soon as they saw him, scaring him so much that he didn't dare to go out for several days.
After hearing Ji Qingbao's words, Qingyu couldn't help but laugh. She had no idea there was such a thing.
Why is no one approaching her?
However, this idea was soon confirmed, because early the next morning, the Ji family welcomed a matchmaker to propose marriage, and the person they were proposing to marry was none other than Qingyu.
At that time, Qingyu was still not awake when she heard Fuqin talking about the noise in the front hall. "I heard that it was a son of a concubine from the Ministry of Revenue who came. Now the eldest son, the second daughter, the master and the madam are all arguing in the front yard."
Speaking of this, Fuqin felt a little proud and emotional, realizing that her young lady was truly favored by the Ji family.
"They're still here?" Qingyu looked out the window. She was still not fully awake, her eyes were a little blurry. The falling leaves outside the window indicated that she had been in this world for some time.
Qingyu had a premonition that this world was about to end, that the main characters were all up to something, and that she could start preparing to run away.
"Fuqin, if I asked you to leave with me, would you be willing?" Qingyu suddenly asked this question, which stunned Fuqin. After realizing what was happening, Fuqin quickly nodded.
"Wherever Miss goes, this servant will go!" She was willing to take care of Qingyu for the rest of her life!
Hearing this, Qingyu nodded in satisfaction. She was really used to Fuqin's care, and it would be best if she could bring him along.
Two hours later, the noise in the front yard subsided. Qingyu looked up and saw Ji Qingwei, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, standing in her yard. Her expression was not as calm as usual, but rather showed a hint of unfathomable desire and depth.
"Qingyu, it's been so long since I've seen you. I've missed you." She stared intently at Qingyu's every move, feeling that every glance was a pleasure.
Recently, Gu Ye's actions have become increasingly aggressive. In order to cooperate, Ji Qingwei has had to constantly overdraw her storyline to help him. After a while, she was completely exhausted, but the results were only so-so.
This made Ji Qingwei a little anxious. She was only able to come back today because she heard that someone was approaching Qingyu. Otherwise, she would have been too busy to find the time.
"You and my elder brother are quite busy, but I, a free man, can't compare to you," Qingyu replied with a half-smile. Her clear eyes seemed to know everything, making Ji Qingwei dare not meet her gaze.
After a long while, just when Qingyu thought Ji Qingwei wouldn't speak again, she suddenly heard the latter ask, "If one day, between me and my older brother, who would you choose?"
Qingyu was stunned for a moment, then looked up and met Ji Qingwei's eyes. It was a kind of destructive ruthlessness, like the prelude to a volcanic eruption, and also carried the despair of a desperate gamble...
Qingyu narrowed her eyes slightly, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Of course, we'll choose whoever is more capable."
Ji Qingwei's breath hitched as she gazed intently at the lively young girl, her heart burning with an unending passion.
"Okay, you said it!"