Ch 142: Letter

“It’s a pity I couldn’t see clearly who was with him.” Old Master Xiao’s face showed a hint of regret.

Meng Tingyue mused, “I can probably guess who that person is.”

After speaking, she looked at Old Master Xiao, her expression gentle, “Maternal Grandfather did not rashly step forward to expose them, which was a wise move. If they had ill intentions and wanted to harm Maternal Grandfather, Tingyue would…”

Hearing this, Old Master Xiao gently patted Meng Tingyue’s back to comfort her, “Don’t worry, even if they really become desperate, the Crown Prince’s Mansion guards are not ordinary people. I only need to shout, and guards will come to protect us.”

Old Master Xiao knew that the Crown Prince’s Mansion was heavily guarded. Under such strict guard, Meng Dongliang was able to sneak out, it must have been Tingyue’s plan. He guessed that Tingyue had other calculations.

“Maternal Grandfather, do you know about what time he went out?”

“Around the time of the Zi Shi (11 PM to 1 AM).”

After keeping this in mind, Meng Tingyue chatted with Old Master Xiao for a while before leaving West Garden.

She asked Qinglan to find an opportunity to call Shi Xiaoyue.

While waiting, Ling Qi’s figure quietly appeared at the door, holding two sealed letters from the Crown Prince. “Crown Princess, this is what His Highness the Crown Prince specifically instructed his subordinate to deliver.”

Meng Tingyue elegantly reached out to receive the letters, glanced at them quickly, and checked their contents.

At that moment, Qinglan led Shi Xiaoyue into the room. Seeing this, she put the letters aside.

Qinglan bowed slightly, “Crown Princess, I have brought the person.”

Shi Xiaoyue entered the room, her eyes showing some apprehension, and she bowed respectfully: “Greetings, Crown Princess.”

Meng Tingyue sized her up, finding that she recognized her; she was one of the people who came with Qiao Lige after the wedding night.

Meng Tingyue said softly, “Get up.”

Shi Xiaoyue stood up, her gaze fixed on Meng Tingyue, and she probed, “I wonder what the Crown Princess wishes to ask?”

“What is your relationship with Qiao Lige?”

Upon hearing this, Shi Xiaoyue’s heart trembled slightly, and she quickly pondered the meaning of Meng Tingyue’s words in her mind, then cautiously replied, “Elder Sister Qiao is naturally kind to us.”

Meng Tingyue continued to observe Shi Xiaoyue’s changing expression, her tone calm but with hidden sharpness, “Then do you know about her close relationship with my uncle?”

Catching a trace of nervousness in Shi Xiaoyue’s eyes, Meng Tingyue’s mind suddenly became clear.

“I don’t…” Shi Xiaoyue had just opened her mouth when she was interrupted.

“It seems that Qiao Lige’s trust in you is also limited. She didn’t even reveal such an important matter.” Meng Tingyue’s lips curled into a light and slightly playful smile. Her gaze on Shi Xiaoyue contained a hint of imperceptible pity.

“My uncle privately mentioned to me that once he meets a woman he likes, he should treat her with the rites of a proper wife and get married. I have prepared the quiet courtyard in the city suburbs as a wedding gift for my uncle. I thought that Qiao Lige and you had a deep affection and would plan to leave together, but I didn’t expect…”

Meng Tingyue paused here, her eyes filled with indescribable sympathy and pity.

Upon hearing this, a distorted look flashed in Shi Xiaoyue’s eyes, and jealousy surged like an undercurrent.

“The Crown Princess’s uncle, he is such a prominent and noble figure, how could he easily fall for an ordinary girl?” In Shi Xiaoyue’s laughter, there seemed to be a hint of imperceptible bitterness and unwillingness.

Meng Tingyue gently shook her head, her voice gentle and firm, “Miss Shi, that’s not right. The Meng family has never been bound by social status. If we like someone, we will naturally treat them with the rites of a proper wife.”

Having made her point subtly, Meng Tingyue changed the subject, “The reason I invited Miss Shi here today is to ask you for something.”

Shi Xiaoyue looked puzzled, “I wonder what the Crown Princess wants?”

“Erquan said that something is with you. I’m here to retrieve it.” Meng Tingyue said softly.

Hearing this, a hint of difficulty flashed across Shi Xiaoyue’s face, but she still quickly agreed, “I’ll go get it now.”

She agreed so readily that Meng Tingyue immediately had some speculations, thinking that there might be an unknown affection between them.

However, Meng Tingyue didn’t delve into it; her only thought was to get the item as soon as possible.

Seeing this, Qinglan accompanied Shi Xiaoyue to retrieve the item.

Meng Tingyue slightly turned her head, her gaze falling on the two letters lying quietly on the table. She reached out and took one of the opened letters.

Her gaze quickly scanned the first two lines of the letter, then elegantly folded the letter and gently placed it back in its original position.

This letter was from Li Jiao’yu’s brother. Its contents must have been reviewed by His Highness the Crown Prince to ensure there were no problems before being delivered. Reading it again would be redundant for her.

She reached for the other letter.

The other letter was unopened, so it wasn’t for someone else, it was for her.

She opened the letter and carefully examined it.

The letter was concise, containing only a few words.

The letter mentioned that the Meng elders had safely arrived in Jingdu and were now living in a quiet mansion in a corner of the west of the city. The specific location of the mansion was also included.

Meng Tingyue wrote down the address in the letter, folded the letter, and planned to go check it out in a few days.

At this moment, Qinglan returned, holding a small booklet, her steps light, and her hands respectfully presenting it, “Crown Princess, please look it over.”

Meng Tingyue slowly received the booklet, her fingertips gently stroking the cover, then carefully turning each page.

Several names written in elegant script were recorded in the booklet, along with some short but meaningful notes.

If she wasn’t mistaken, the names of the girls recorded here might be the innocent women who were harmed by Zheng Steward.

“Did she mention where she found this booklet?”

Upon hearing this, Qinglan nodded slightly, “Miss Shi said that she accidentally found this booklet under the bed in her residence in the North Garden.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Tingyue’s brows involuntarily furrowed, and a look of doubt appeared in her eyes.

Why would the North Garden hide a booklet exposing Zheng Steward’s crimes?

Meng Tingyue pondered for a moment, then looked up at Qinglan and softly instructed, “Qinglan, go investigate the North Garden and see if anything unusual happened before.”

“Yes.” Qinglan accepted the order.

Meng Tingyue gently placed the booklet aside, thinking to herself.

The appearance of this booklet was too abrupt; she was worried that it might be a trap set by Zheng Steward.

After Qinglan investigated the situation in the North Garden, she would decide whether or not to use this booklet.

Thinking this, she handed the letter beside her to Qinglan, “Send this letter to Li Jiao’yu.”