Chapter 175 Life Is like a Play, Thanks to Acting.

“It’s been many years. In these years, Princess Lingnan had threatened me to do things for her, whether in Prince Lingnan’s Mansion or in the Palace. I’ve done lots of things for her.”

Concubine De sounded cold at the moment.

How would a proud lady like her be someone’s puppet?

She was just waiting for a chance to let that person pay for her concessions.

“She acted so boldly because she possessed an item which would do me harm.”

Concubine De showed her cold face, and a silver of coldness appeared in the corner of her mouth.

“So, mother, you chose to compromise in order to get what is in Princess Lingnan’s hand back?”

Lin Mengya was clever enough to know Concubine De’s intention soon.

“You are half right. Actually, I’ve—”

A female sound interrupted Concubine De.

“Sister, it was my fault just now. Please don’t be angry with me.”

At a short distance, a smiling Princess Lingnan was walking toward Concubine De with Shangguan Hui.

“Nonsense. You are my sister. I was busy recently so I spoke too bluntly. Don’t take it to heart, sister.”

Lin Mengya realized now that, her mother-in-law, Concubine De was the best actress in Prince Yu’s Mansion.

Look, in just the blink of an eye, she returned to be the leading poor lady.

Every facial expression seemed to pretend to keep calm deliberately.

If she had not told her the truth, even Lin Mengya would think that, Concubine De was scared of Princess Lingnan.

But, what about Shangguan Hui?

After a moment of thought, Lin Mengya realized that, the Shangguan family was the Empress parents’ home.

‘Would she be from the Empress’s people?’

Lin Mengya observed Shangguan Hui, and found that, she was as soft as water, showing no arrogance of the Shangguan family.

Either that was who she was,

or that was what she played.

All in all, she had to be cautious.

“Are you blaming me for bringing a girl from the Shangguan family, sister? You take me wrong. Hui’er comes from the collateral branch from the Shangguan family, but she had no relationship with them. It is my fault for being inconsiderate. No wonder sister was angered by this.”

Princess Lingnan was also an excellent actress; her words and actions looked as if she really felt sorry.

Lin Mengya kept her arrogant expression, even her eyes were not raised, and just remained sitting next to Concubine De.

“How could I? The daughter of the Shangguan family, whether the branch or the same family, is excellent.”

Concubine De looked very uncomfortable, like an extremely frightened person.

Princess Lingnan, who thought that it was time to warn Concubine De of something, jauntily said,

“Concubine De and I still have something to discuss. Why doesn’t Princess Yu show Hui’er around the Imperial Palace?”

Princess Lingnan was sure that Lin Mengya would say yes. Concubine De was still under her control after all.

“Ya’er, take Miss Shangguan to look at the Imperial Palace. I… I am okay.”

Concubine De slightly lowered her eyes, and some awkward smiles could be seen from her face.

Lin Mengya agreed that the time was right. Therefore, she saluted and passed by Shangguan Hui.

“Follow her. Ya’er has a bad temper, but she is still kind. Miss Shangguan, don’t be angry with her.”

Shangguan Hui smiled, looking shy and pitiful.

She turned around, and followed behind Lin Mengya.

“Sister De, should we talk about our thing now?”

A cruel smile appeared in Princess Lingnan’s eyes.

“Alright.”

A weird smile flashed in her lips.

Concubine De and Princess Lingnan hid behind the flowers. No one could hear what they were talking about.

Lin Mengya still kept her eyes on what was happening behind her, even when she was walking ahead.

Shangguan Hui seemed to be exactly as gentle as how she looked.

Lin Mengya turned her eyes, and stopped by a pool in the Imperial Garden.

“They all say that Princess is intelligent. When I saw you today, I knew they were right.”

With Concubine De and Princess Lingnan no longer around her,

Shangguan Hui looked more like who she really was.

She seemed to be prouder; like a real wise woman, less graceful. Lin Mengya silently raised her eyebrows in astonishment.

‘There were indeed not many elegant ladies.’

“On the chrysanthemum appreciation meeting, I was lucky to get a gift from the Princess. I still have that mask with me now. Your Highness, did you forget?”

Shangguan Hui’s words reminded Lin Mengya of that female figure wearing a mask.

Lin Mengya looked at Shangguan Hui’s figure, and found that she was exactly the same as that lady, who spoke with a mask on her face.

“It’s you? You?”

Lin Mengya was slightly surprised. No matter what, Shangguan Hui came from the Shangguan family.

Shangguan Hui nodded with a smile. She said,

“It’s me. I wanted to do Your Highness a favor. Unfortunately, I have a sensitive identity. The Empress was there then. I had to be careful.”

Shangguan Hui was still a stranger for Lin Mengya then. So why would she help her? Lin Mengya felt there was something wrong.

Especially Shangguan Hui who was so clever.

“But, could you tell me the reason? Why would Miss Shangguan like to help me?”

Looking at Lin Mengya, Shangguan Hui blinked her eyes suddenly, and then, her face flushed.

“I may feel shy if I have to say. Actually, I helped you because of the young general…”

‘Young general?’ Lin Mengya stood still. ‘Did she mean my brother? Lin Nansheng?’

“I come from the unimportant collateral branch from the Shangguan family. Although I am the daughter of the princess, my family has declined, and I had to be controlled by others. But, since I saw the young general on a banquet three years ago, I thought that there would be no other men better than him.”

Her answer really stunned Lin Mengya.

‘Oh gosh! Shangguan Hui likes my brother?’

‘Although my brother is handsome, intelligent, the top one in the world,

‘how absurd it was for him

‘to have Yue Ting die for him and win Shangguan Hui’s heart at first sight!’

However, Yue Ting had just passed away. She couldn’t do such a thing, it would be as if she were betraying Yue Ting.

“Thanks for the appreciation for my brother, Miss Shangguan. But, you know that, my brother hasn’t been made aware of Yue Ting’s death. Even I am unable to know what my brother will do when he knows the truth. So, I think, Miss Shangguan, please set your heart on my brother.”

Lin Mengya could discriminate between kindness and hatred. Shangguan Hui helped her. So she would give hatred in return.

But, every man of the Lin family was lovesick,

including her father, and her brother.

Lin Mengya had been worrying about that, her brother would bury his heart with Yue Ting’s death.

For selfish reasons, she didn’t want to see her brother lonely forever.

Obviously, it was not the right time to consider that.

Shangguan Hui’s smile became gloomy.

But, in a second, she cracked a confident smile.

“I know about Yue Ting’s death. I also know that she was framed.”

Lin Mengya silently felt astonished because few people knew the real story at that time.

‘How would Shangguan Hui know that?’

Shangguan Hui, who seemed to be excited, grabbed Lin Mengya’s hands, looked at her eyes, and said incomparably sincerely,

“The Shangguan family had already colluded with King Ming. I had met Yue Ting several times. To be honest, she was an extraordinary lady. She was very conventional, absolutely unlikely to volunteer to do that thing with a man. You didn’t believe it, neither did I. Besides, that man was King Ming’s second son. He was such an idiot. He was no one in front of the young general.”

Lin Mengya was surprised that, Shangguan Hui could give such a thorough explanation.

Whether she was pretending, or she was serious,

her words showed that, she stood by Yue Ting’s side. It was the first time for Lin Mengya to hear that kind of words after Yue Ting’s death.

“I can’t tell whether you are sincere or not. But, it indeed makes me have a better opinion of you.”

Lin Mengya held Shangguan Hui’ s hands back. She gently said,

“But, you clearly know what kind of person my brother is. If you are destined to be together, I won’t be your obstacle. But if you are not, I hope you find your Mr. Right.”

Shangguan Hui laughed relaxingly; her eyes were like crescent moons and sweeter than honey.

Lin Mengya believed that, even though Shangguan Hui might have said something false, her love for Lin Nansheng was indeed real.

“I know you had a good relationship with Yue Ting. I’m touched by your words. I don’t know your plan, but I guess some of it. Don’t worry. I will help you.”

Shangguan Hui blinked her eyes, and then, the smile in the corner of her mouth was drawn back.

She suddenly got hold of Lin Mengya’s hands, and then, acted as if she were pushed down into the pool by someone.

A splashing sound froze Lin Mengya for a while.

Looking at Shangguan Hui, who was pretending while blinking her eyes at her, Lin Mengya came to realize what her plan was.

‘Shangguan Hui—she was such a go-getter!’

Since the show started, she should make it more authentic.

“Baisu, yell out. Tell them that Miss Shangguan fell into the water. Oh, you, the maid attending Shangguan Hui, run to ask for help. Tell them that, Princess Yu in person pushed Miss Shangguan into the water.”

The two maids on the bank exchanged a glance.

At once, their closest maids started to shout.

“Thanks.”

A light voice was heard clearly by Shangguan Hui.

Shangguan Hui raised her head, and returned a smile back to Lin Mengya. Then, she continued thrashing about.

On the banquet of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it seemed to be noisy enough since the beginning.

“Look at you, what has Miss Shangguan done? How could you push her into the water?”

In the side hall, a crowd of people surrounded them, watching Concubine De criticizing Lin Mengya.

However, Lin Mengya was too stubborn to admit her mistakes.

And more than that, she was throwing a fierce eye on Shangguan Hui, every time their eyes met.

“Tell us, what’s wrong with you!?”