Qiluo's fingers jerked back from the package as if scalded.
On her way back, her heart thumped wildly.
If it weren't for the kind - hearted old woman who had once helped her avoid Qin Ziqi, she would have thought it was a trap set specifically for her.
She feared that once she delivered the things to Lady Qin, she would be framed for hiding pornographic items and then be kicked out on some pretext.
After calming down and thinking it over, she realized that the Qin family didn't need to go to such great lengths to get rid of her.
She was just an insignificant third - class servant girl. They didn't need a reason to beat or scold her, let alone to sell her off.
What did Lady Qin want the erotic pictures for?
There were many young ladies in the inner courtyard, and Qin Xuanyan was her beloved daughter. How could she let her daughter see such filthy things?
Was it to deal with someone else?
When she reached Qin Xuanyan's courtyard, Qiluo slowly pulled herself out of her thoughts.
She stepped forward and knocked on the door. Standing at the door, she handed the things to the head maid.
As a third - class servant girl, she wasn't qualified to enter the mistress's room.
The head maid took the things and waved her away.
She deliberately walked slowly. Muffled voices of the mother - daughter pair came from the boudoir.
It was too far away to hear clearly, but she could tell from the tone that Qin Xuanyan was excited and thrilled.
Finally, unable to hold back her voice, her ecstatic shout drifted out.
"I'll ruin Cheng Simian's reputation! If the Crown Prince marries her as his princess, it'll be a disgrace to the royal family!"
Cheng Simian.
Qiluo didn't know her, but in recent days, Qin Xuanyan had mentioned this name over and over again.
Every time Qin Xuanyan mentioned her, she gritted her teeth in hatred, wishing to devour this woman alive.
Qiluo had no work to do that night, so she returned to her quarters early.
As a third - class servant girl, she wasn't qualified to live in the mistress's courtyard.
There were separate wing - rooms for servants of her rank.
When she got back to her room, the other three girls who shared the room with her hadn't returned yet.
It wasn't very late, so she sat under the eaves and embroidered a purse.
Her embroidery was excellent, with delicate patterns and neat stitches. In her spare time, she would embroider a few and ask the old woman at the side - gate to sell them in an embroidery workshop outside. She could earn a little money that way.
She embroidered intently, determined to save enough money to redeem her mother and then take her mother away from that heartless and shameless man.
"Qiluo, I've been looking for you all day. So you've been hiding here."
Suddenly, a slippery male voice came from behind.
Qiluo quickly put away her needle and thread, took three steps back, and stared warily at Qin Ziqi.
"Master Qin."
Qin Ziqi's look at her was both slimy and somewhat sinister.
Qiluo felt as if she were wrapped by a cold snake, terrified and nauseated.
"The sun has set, and you're still busy embroidering. Aren't you afraid of straining your eyes?"
Qin Ziqi stepped forward and reached out his arm to hook Qiluo's slender waist.
Qiluo dodged behind a pillar, her fingertips gripping the pillar turning white.
"I don't dare to trouble Master Qin to care about me."
Qin Ziqi clicked his tongue but wasn't angry.
In the inner courtyard of the Rongxiang Duke's Mansion, he held a noble position. As the future young duke, many servant girls vied to flatter him. He was used to those adoring smiles.
This servant girl, Qiluo, never smiled at him. She always had a cold face and was nervous and on guard around him.
Yet, she was extremely beautiful. Even with a plain face, she made Qin Ziqi itch with desire.
Having failed to get her several times only fueled his desire to conquer her.
The wing - rooms were in a remote location. At this hour, the servants were busiest, and there was no one in sight.
This was the perfect opportunity.
Qin Ziqi grabbed Qiluo's slender arm and roughly pulled her into his arms.
"Why do you have to make things difficult for yourself? Wouldn't it be better to be a first - class servant girl in my room? Why be a rough servant girl who can't even use candles at night?"
"Let go, Master Qin, or I'll tell Lady Qin!"
Qiluo pressed against his shoulders with both hands, struggling and pushing back. But how could the strength of a servant girl match that of a strong man?
Qin Ziqi easily dragged her into the room and pinned her down on the couch.
He gasped excitedly, fumbling to untie his belt, and nuzzled his mouth against Qiluo's neck.
"What can you achieve by telling Mother? I'm the master, and you're a servant girl. The fault can only be yours. Then you'll surely be beaten again. Look at your little face. It's still swollen. It really breaks my heart."
His big hand grabbed Qiluo's chin and was about to kiss her.
Helpless and desolate tears streamed from Qiluo's eyes.
Did she deserve to be beaten and trampled just because she was a low - born servant girl?
She would rather die than be defiled by this beast in human clothing, Qin Ziqi!
Overwhelmed by her unwillingness to submit, Qiluo gritted her teeth, grabbed a pair of scissors from the nearby sewing basket, and stabbed Qin Ziqi in the shoulder.
Blood spattered.
Qin Ziqi let out a howl, covered his shoulder, and stumbled to the ground.
Qiluo's mind went blank. Her whole body trembled. She threw away the scissors and ran out.
When she couldn't hear Qin Ziqi's howls anymore, her mind became much calmer.
A great disaster had befallen her, and there was no way out.
But if she just waited to be discovered and taken to Lady Qin, she was doomed.
She had to confess on her own initiative to try and save herself!
Clenching her teeth, she ran all the way to the study in the front courtyard.
Qin Feng returned to the mansion from the emperor's imperial study. After dinner, he was about to go to the study to deal with some official business.
He had been in a bad mood lately.
Today, he had probed the emperor's attitude towards the Crown Prince's wedding.
The emperor had only said, "Hong'er has his own ideas," and then evaded the topic.
Qin Feng had been an official for more than twenty years and was well - versed in the ways of the officialdom.
Each emperor had his own group of ministers. Although he was trusted by the emperor, he wasn't close to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince trusted Prime Minister Wen the most.
If his daughter couldn't become the Crown Princess, once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he might be sidelined and excluded from the center of power.
Although he had the title of Duke of Rongxiang, without the position of the Chief Minister, he would be just an empty shell and lose his voice in the court.
Both he and his wife, Lady Yang, were eager for their daughter to become the Crown Princess.
Suddenly, a blood - covered servant girl rushed up recklessly and knelt in front of him.
"Master, this servant has caused a great disaster. Please punish me!"
The butler who accompanied him was startled. He grabbed Qiluo's sleeve and tried to pull her back, fearing that the smell of blood on her would offend Qin Feng.
Qin Feng was also taken aback. He usually didn't interfere in the affairs of the inner courtyard, but he had vaguely heard that his daughter was arrogant and domineering. She didn't like servant girls prettier than her and often beat and scolded them.
This servant girl's cheeks were swollen, clearly showing signs of being beaten.
Frowning, he asked, "Why are you covered in blood? Were you beaten?"
Qiluo covered her face with a handkerchief and cried sorrowfully, "Just now, this servant was embroidering under the eaves. Master Qin came and tried to force this servant. In a moment of desperation, this servant picked up the scissors and accidentally injured Master Qin. This servant knows she has committed a capital crime. Please give this servant a quick death!"