Ye Xi understood. She looked up and scanned the noble ladies around. There was indeed a familiar face—Cao Wei.
However, judging from Cao Wei's position and expression, although she was gloating, there was neither a look of guilt nor the pleasure of a successful revenge.
As she was looking, suddenly a delicate female voice asked,
"What's going on?"
Everyone turned their heads in unison and saw Yi Zhen walking gracefully surrounded by a group of maids.
The young ladies all bowed in salute. Qiao Yan, who was the most familiar with Yi Zhen, was the first to explain.
"A Zhen, this maid didn't hold the tea steady and spilled it all over Xiao Xi."
"It's been getting quite cold these days. Xiao Xi might catch a cold."
"Stupid girl!"
Yi Zhen immediately pulled a long face.
"Can't even handle such a small thing properly. Someone, take her away first and give Miss Xi a good vent."
"Your Highness is kind, but she didn't..."
Ye Xi quickly pleaded for the maid.
But Yi Zhen waved her hand, signaling Ye Xi not to say more. She took two steps closer and said with concern,
"There are extra clothes prepared for the young ladies in the back chamber. Miss Xi is all wet. Go and change your clothes first."
"Yu An, you take Miss Xi there. Be careful to avoid people. Mu Yuan, go and ask the kitchen to cook a bowl of ginger soup so that Miss Xi can drink it as soon as she changes her clothes."
"Yes."
The two maids responded in unison and went into action separately.
It was not Ye Xi's place to interfere when the princess was punishing a servant. Saying too much would only make her seem ungrateful. After all, punishing the maid was also to stand up for her.
Helplessly, Ye Xi had no choice but to bow and thank her, then followed the maid Yu An.
They walked around a few corners, and indeed there were no outsiders on the way.
Ye Xi felt a little more at ease. She gathered the clothes around her chest and soon arrived at the room for changing clothes.
"Please go in, miss. I'll wait here."
Yu An opened the vermilion door and said respectfully.
Ye Xi nodded and gave Ling Yan a look. She took the purse that Sai Xing took out and personally handed it to Yu An, smiling gratefully.
"Thank you for your trouble, my lady. It's getting colder. This is just a little token for you to buy some cotton-padded clothes. Please don't mind."
[Well, at least she knows some etiquette.]
[If she weren't the person beside Prince Yu'an, she might really have a good friendship with the princess. Sigh, it's a pity...]
Yu An thought to herself, but showed nothing on her face. She just smiled and accepted the purse, then thanked Ye Xi neither overly humble nor overbearing.
Ye Xi retracted her hand calmly. She glanced at Ling Yan, who had checked the room and nodded to indicate it was safe. Then she said a few polite words and went in.
So Yi Zhen didn't really want to help her.
She had felt something was off before. If she hadn't known that the Shen family was working against Yi Yuan after the last incident, she wouldn't have thought in this direction. But once she had doubts, there were flaws everywhere.
Yi Zhen seemed to help her everywhere, but actually put her in a bad position. It was the same when she punished Cao Wei before and when she punished the maid just now. Yi Zhen deliberately aggravated the punishment in the name of standing up for her, directing all the blame at herself. And Yi Zhen remained the kindest and most considerate Fourth Princess, and she didn't say a single bad word about Yi Zhen.
Otherwise, if you bite the hand that feeds you, wouldn't you be heartless?
Thinking about it, the incident during the Qingyun Competition must have been Yi Zhen's doing. Besides Yi Zhen, the most favored princess in the royal family, who else could have done everything so perfectly without leaving a trace?
Thinking of this, Ye Xi was suddenly shocked.
When the incident happened to her at that time, the first person to be suspected was Qiao Yan!
If the things during the Qingyun Competition were really done by Yi Zhen, did the servant who identified Qiao Yan really happen to see what Qiao Yan did? What if someone deliberately arranged it to make Qiao Yan take the blame for her?
After all, in that situation, if she didn't have the ability to read minds, considering Qiao Yan's previous grudges with her, it would have been almost a certainty. She would probably have thought it was Qiao Yan who did it. No one would believe that Qiao Yan did those things secretly not to harm her. That silly girl Qiao Yan probably wouldn't even suspect her good sister until she died.
Yi Zhen was truly merciless.
Suddenly feeling a bone-chilling cold, Ye Xi couldn't help shivering.
"Are you cold, miss?"
Sai Xing asked with concern and quickened her movements.
"It'll be done soon. Later we'll drink more ginger soup and sweat it out."
"Fortunately, the wound on your chest has scabbed over. Otherwise, if it got wet, it might get inflamed..."
Sai Xing chattered on, completely unaware that Ye Xi's eyes were cold.
"Wait!"
Ye Xi suddenly grabbed Sai Xing's hand that was tidying her clothes, scaring Sai Xing.
"What's wrong, miss?"
Sai Xing asked confusedly.
Looking at the wet clothes she had just taken off, Ye Xi suddenly started to untie the belt that Sai Xing had just fastened.
"Ling Yan, go and check the carriage. I remember there should be spare clothes in it. Hurry up and get them."
Ye Xi bent down and ordered.
"Sai Xing, help me take off this dress. This dress might be problematic."
"Ah? Oh, okay."
Sai Xing was confused. But she knew that her miss was meticulous and smart, so it must be right to listen to her. So she quickly helped Ye Xi take off the dress she had just put on.
It took a little longer for this back-and-forth. Yu An urged outside the door,
"Have you changed yet, miss? If you delay any longer, the banquet up ahead will be over."
"Almost done,"
Ye Xi replied loudly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, my lady. But I have a wound on my hand, so it's a bit inconvenient to dress and undress. Please forgive me."
Only then did Yu An remember that Ye Xi had a wound on her hand. Her impatience faded by half. She responded a couple of times and then waited patiently.
Fortunately, Sai Xing was quick. In a moment or so, Ye Xi was dressed. After thinking for a while, Ye Xi put on the outer robe of the dress prepared by Qionglin Garden and then walked out leisurely.
Yu An noticed that Ye Xi's clothes seemed a bit strange, but didn't think much of it. She just listened to Ye Xi's apology and accepted a little bit of silver, then led Ye Xi back the same way.
Ye Xi was a bit puzzled. Judging from Yu An's inner thoughts just now, there seemed to be nothing wrong with the dress.
Was she just being paranoid?
Just as she was thinking, when they passed by a small path in the garden, they suddenly heard a rustling sound beside them.
Ling Yan was on high alert. Especially after the assassination attempt on Ye Xi last time, she still had lingering fears. As soon as she heard the sound, she immediately turned and rushed over, shouting,
"Who's there!?"
Sai Xing was also startled. She immediately stretched out her hands to protect Ye Xi and looked warily in the direction of the strange sound.
Yu An didn't take it seriously. She just walked a few steps and took a casual look, saying indifferently,
"Maybe it's a stray cat. This maid of yours is making a mountain out of a molehill..."
Before she could finish her words, a black shadow suddenly flashed by, scaring Yu An into letting out a soft cry. She instinctively shrank into a corner beside her.
Ling Yan was quick-eyed and quick-handed. She chased after it in a few steps.
In the blink of an eye, Ye Xi smelled a strong smell of alcohol. Suddenly, someone hugged her tightly from behind.
"Ah!"
Everyone's attention was on Ling Yan's side, and Ye Xi herself was caught off guard. She couldn't help letting out a scream and struggling hard.
The man was drunk. Seeing Ye Xi struggling, he hugged her even tighter. He also said,
"Xi Niang, it's me, it's me. Keep quiet. Otherwise, we'll be discovered soon..."