After a while, Song Yixiao finally got the reply she wanted to hear and turned happy.

She flipped her hair and summoned the maids, intending to ask them to distribute several visiting cards to Jian Xubai. Unexpectedly, right after she said so, a pearl hairpin suddenly dropped on the ground, thus leaving her falling-off-the-horse bun spread out instantly!

Jian Xubai and Song Yixiao thought of why at once. While Jian Xubai was standing behind Song Yixiao before, he plucked her pearl hairpin that fixed her bun for a while, which had loosened the bun!

However, the maids were busy working so they failed to notice that. Now when they saw the Mistress with hair disheveled, they seemed to have understood something and all of them blushed.

Song Yixiao was speechless.

She had no idea what to say!

With a gloomy face, she a.s.signed tasks to the maids, then watched Jian Xubai handle the rest of the visiting cards and had supper afterwards… Even after they took a bath and returned to their room, Jian Xubai noticed that his wife was still angry. He tried not to laugh, saying, “You only dropped a hairpin before the maids and it happened in our own mansion. You won't be blamed for improper manner anyway!”

Song Yixiao rolled her eyes at him silently.

Jian Xubai kept joking her, “Moreover, we are official husband and wife. Nothing is wrong with us making out in our own home! Even if the maids misunderstood us, what are you shamed for?”

“Shame on you!” Song Yixiao pushed him away impatiently, “I just feel annoyed!”

Why was she annoyed?

Because every time she finally took the upper hand, a b.u.mmer would always happen!

I just can't win it perfectly!

Without knowing what she was thinking about, Jian Xubai continued joking at her. Yet, when his wife obviously didn't want to talk with him by pulling up the quilt to cover her head, he said laughingly, “Yesterday I went to Hongxiu Alley to meet with Cousin Mingfei to ask about Wei Chan. Don't you feel like listening to what I have learnt?”

“Chan?” Song Yixiao didn't know he had questioned Wei Chan in secret. However, she suddenly recalled what Wei Mengying told her—that men sometimes liked romantic adventure, which touched her nerve. She stayed calm and asked, “Don't you always dislike her? Why did you ask about her all of a sudden?”

“Anyway, I never intend to make her my new sweetheart.” Hearing what Jian Xubai said, Song Yixiao became angry and red-faced again. However, this time Jian Xubai was well prepared. When he noticed her glance at the nearby horsetail whisk, he immediately dragged her into his arms and gave her a kiss, saying complacently, “So my old love, don't need to shed tears now!”

Song Yixiao struggled to free herself and yet failed anyway. Then she just gave up, leaving herself held in his arms and sneering, “Do you think that I am so idling that I only keep an eye on you? I just fear that you may do harm to my cousin!”

Jian Xubai didn't care about her duplicity, and instead said smilingly, “Guess what Cousin Mingfei told me yesterday!”

Although his wife remained silent with a sneer, he continued talking regardless, “According to him, on the birthday feast of Dowager Consort of Hengshan in April, he went to pay his congratulation. Amidst the feast, a girl b.u.mped into him deliberately. Actually, all girls who throw themselves to him are welcome. Yet, he felt that the girl was plain so he just ignored her!”

Song Yixiao was instantly shocked and on second thought, she took a tumble, “You went to question Chan while I was sleeping?”

“I never promise you not to go into the whys and wherefores of it!” Jian Xubai said naturally, “You told me that we were the one and yet hid secrets from me. I didn't ask you further as you were not in the mood. Why couldn't I find it out myself?”

He spoke with great confidence, about which Song Yixiao was quite at a loss to reply. She remained gloomy for quite a while and then said, “Then what do you want to do now?”

“What do I want to do?” Jian Xubai lowered his head to look at her in confusion, saying, “Last night I felt that something was wrong. According to Wei Chan, she met with a mishap after trying to hit on Cousin Zifu, actually, Cousin Mingfei instead, and then failed. She believed that those people acted under the order of Dowager Consort of Hengshan, but how was it possible?”

It was not that he believed that Dowager Consort of Hengshan couldn't do such an evil thing. Instead, “At the birthday feast, the prince's mansion was bustling. Without a thorough plan, how could they carry off Wei Chan unknowingly in front of so many people? Moreover, even when she returned to the feast after the accident, she still aroused no suspicion.”

Since it was prepared in advance, by reason, the Dowager Consort should be aware of what Wei Chan would do. “Then how could the people of the Dowager Consort take action after Wei Chan b.u.mped into Cousin Mingfei? You know, the Dowager Consort highly objects to Prince of Hengshan's interfering in the throne fight. And Aunt Daiguo has started to lobby for Prince of Wei since March, which is known by the Dowager Consort!”

Even if Wei Chan didn't side with Prince of Hengshan, but, “For one thing, Wei Chan took the order of your mother, the mistress of the prince's mansion; for another, the incident happened in the prince's mansion. To avoid arousing suspicion, the Dowager Consort wouldn't allow such contact, would she?”

Song Yixiao turned around and looked at him carefully. Realizing that he was a.n.a.lyzing the matter seriously without criticizing Wei Mengying or Wei Chan, Song Yixiao felt relieved.

She braced up and said, “But the Dowager Consort also hopes Lu Guanlun to be the heir of the prince! Maybe she thinks that she can get the goods on my mother by doing so? After all, it is said that Lu Guanlun will probably become the heir, right?”

“Such a comment does exist.” Jian Xubai said, “But although we've just learnt the ins and outs, your mother should have known about them. Why doesn't she make any trouble for the Dowager Consort?”

Instead, she focused on torturing her own niece who had already suffered unfairly.

Even though Wei Mengying was extremely angry about Wei Chan's hurting Lu Guanyun, why did Wei Mengying stand by and watch the ringleader get what they wanted? It was definitely not Wei Mengying's style!

After staying silent for a while, Song Yixiao said with a shocked face, “You mean, either Wei Chan didn't tell the truth or the ringleader is someone else?”

“I vote for the latter.” Jian Xubai said honestly, “I don't think there is anything special with your cousin. How dare she lie to us at the important juncture of life and death?”

“Then…” Song Yixiao took a deep breath and sat straight up in her husband's arms, saying through clenched teeth, “The ringleader must be Madam Jin!”

There were only a few persons who could exert such a scheme on the birthday of the Dowager Consort in Prince of Hengshan's mansion!

Before the birthday feast, Wei Mengying was found pregnant so she handed over some of the power to Madam Kong, Madam Jin and Lu Kou'er for the purpose of miscarriage prevention, so these three persons were the most suspicious ones!

But Madam Kong had sided with Wei Mengying to seek revenge for her son. It was impossible for her to bury the hatchet with Madam Jin. Why would she scheme against Wei Mengying's niece?

Lu Kou'er was not on good terms with Wei Mengying and Song Yixiao but as an unmarried girl, she wouldn't hurt Wei Chan who was even younger than her in such an evil way anyhow. Moreover, the reason why Lu Kou'er was included in a.s.sisting in managing the household affairs was to prevent Madam Kong and Madam Jin from coming into a conflict.

Hence, in fact, she had little power. Otherwise, she would not do anything on the Dowager Consort's birthday but to talk with her on the morning.

Even if she wanted to set against Wei Chan, given her manpower and experience, she couldn't do it!

Only Madam Jin would do her best to frame Wei Chan in light of the grudge between her and Wei Mengying.

Besides, as the daughter of the Director, she was married for years. In a t.i.t-for-tat struggle against Wei Mengying, she was frequently treated with favor by the Dowager Consort. Hence, she had the motivation and the capability to do it!

At the moment, all the old and recent grudges came to Song Yixiao's mind. Her eyes became red, “What a hussy! I will never let go of her, ever!”

“Madam Jin?” Jian Xubai said seriously, “Her husband, Lu Guanqun is not favored by Dowager Consort of Hengshan and Prince of Hengshan, but he is the eldest son born by the first wife of Prince of Hengshan. In terms of legitimism, he is superior to Lu Guanlun! It is fair enough that he has a reason to sow dissension between the Dowager Consort and your mother!”

“However, supposedly, Mother must have thought it through and yet set against Wei Chan instead of Madam Jin?” Song Yixiao was angry and confused, “As far as I know, there are no negative rumors about Lu Guanqun.”

Jian Xubai thought, “If Madam Jin is really the ringleader, in light of my mother-in-law's temper, how can she allow Madam Jin to live in the world? The problem is that Madam Jin is non-virtuous and vicious indeed, but she has an influential father. Her father, Jin Suke, has been in charge of the Ministry of Personnel for years. Although he is not as powerful as my grandfather in the yore, his position is rather secure, who is arguably Mr. Undefeatable in the political circle! It was not a problem before but now?”

Now that the fight for the throne started, the Crown Prince, Prince of Wei and Prince of Zhao all spared no effort to win over the officials. Hence, all of them didn't dare to offend Jin Suke, the head of the six ministries, who didn't take any side yet.

As such, Madam Jin was more than exalted. At the crucial moment, why would Wei Mengying set against her without a perfect plan?

However, as Wei Mengying's son-in-law, it was improper for Jian Xubai to tell his wife directly his conjecture about the senior. He only said, “It doesn't mean nothing just because it is not leaked. Think about what Wei Chan has suffered, which hasn't been leaked out by far. Maybe Madam Jin is weeping under the quilt in her room!”

Song Yixiao agreed with him, “She should not only weep for the sins she has done! I must make her pay in my lifetime!”

“If I take revenge on her for you, what benefit will you give me?” Jian Xubai saw her resentful face and pondered. Suddenly he lifted her chin and said frivolously, “Answer me after careful consideration. If I am not satisfied with the answer, I will leave it alone.”

Song Yixiao raised her chin to get away from his hand and then twined a wisp of hair around her fingers. Her tender fingers and black hair added radiance and beauty to each other, which const.i.tuted a fabulous painting.

She tilted her head. As long as Jian Xubai looked down on her, he would see her fan-like long eyelashes, snow-white skin and rosy lips. However, most attractively, her glittering almond eyes were fixed on him. She uttered slowly, “Someone just told me that he and I were the one! Now he is asking me for benefits! Evidently, his words are not matched by deeds. What a big liar!”

Jian Xubai loved to see her grumble in a flirtish manner. He couldn't help kissing her lips and didn't reluctantly stop until a while later. Then he gave a kiss on her cheek too, saying smilingly, “Why did you conceal it from me before? I would do it without asking for any benefits but as you deliberately concealed it from me, I must let you learn a lesson this time!”

“You…” Song Yixiao grabbed her wisp of black hair and whisked lightly within his open collars with the hair end. She was about to speak when she was interrupted by the abrupt tap-tap. “Your Highness! Madam! Words come from Jiangxing Villa that Miss Wei jumped into the lake!”