Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince-Chapter 31 - Visitors from Duke Residence

She still occupied Li Mingjue’s bedroom and didn’t budge an inch.

Just after midday, an unexpected visitor arrived at Prince Qiu Residence.

As Qi Yu lay leisurely flipping through a storybook on the couch, Chunlan came running, panting as she said, “Princess, someone from Duke Residence is here!”

“Oh?” Qi Yu’s eyebrows lifted slightly, her tone rising a bit.

She was just feeling bored, and now someone had come to keep her entertained.

“Don’t just stand there, invite them in!” With that, Qi Yu went inside and changed into a new set of clothes with the help of a maid.

After all, one must not disgrace the Prince Residence when meeting guests.

Upon receiving the order, Chunlan quickly invited Duke and Madam of Duke Residence in.

In the front hall, Qi Yu arrived fashionably late and greeted the sitting Duke and his Madam with a cool demeanor.

“Prince Qiu’s Princess.” The Duke remained unmoved, while Madam got up and paid her respects.

Qi Yu feigned politeness by slightly lifting her hand, “Madam, you need not be over-courteous.”

Madam’s expression paused, almost unable to keep up the act.

She was just a fool, yet she dared to be so haughty!

Madam composed herself and said to Qi Yu, “I almost lost my life due to mistakenly consuming the Princess’s wine that day.

Thankfully, the Princess is blessed, and I was not gravely harmed.

Otherwise, I would have been unable to escape blame even if I died a thousand times over!”

Her words were said with heartfelt sincerity, and to the uninformed, they might be quite moving.

Unfortunately, Qi Yu knew from the beginning who had drugged the wine.

As for Madam’s fate, she could only say she had it coming.

The Duke followed up, “Princess, rest assured, the poisoner has been executed by me!”

“Really?” Qi Yu blew on the hot tea in her cup, her eyes misty in the rising steam of the tea, hiding her true expression.

The Duke asserted firmly, “Yes, the person was a maid in our residence who, listening to some slander, dared to poison the Princess!”

Seeing him speak so righteously as if telling the truth, Qi Yu chuckled lightly.

“In that case, may I know how exactly did the Duke execute that maid?”

She was curious to see how the folks from Duke Residence intended to fool her.

The Duke hadn’t expected her to ask for such detail and immediately looked a bit unsettled.

It was Madam who cast him a sidelong glance and rose to explain, “The person was executed, naturally.

Such bloody matters are better left unknown to the Princess, lest they cause nightmares.”

Qi Yu slowly sipped her tea, then suddenly frowned and said to Chunlan, “This tea is no good.”

Chunlan didn’t understand what her Princess was planning; after all, the tea served to the Princess in the residence was naturally of the finest quality.

But she still followed suit and said, “This servant will have someone change it.”

Yet Qi Yu suddenly threw a tantrum, hurling the tea cup onto the ground, “I don’t want it anymore!”

Seeing her anger, the surrounding maids hurriedly knelt down.

The Duke and Madam were startled by her sudden outburst, a flicker of panic crossing their faces.

Qi Yu rose to her feet, looking at Chunlan with an air of vexation as she said, “I don’t know if this tea has been adulterated, but it tastes exceptionally bad.”

Chunlan immediately caught on, realizing that her Princess was speaking in veiled criticism.

Suppressing a smile, she responded, “The residence has never had fake tea leaves before; how come just today there are some?

It must be someone being lazy, thinking to deceive the Princess with this fake tea!”

With her back to the Duke and Madam of the Duke Residence, Qi Yu cast an approving glance at Chunlan.

Worthy of being my Princess’s maid—what a level-headed response!

The Duke and Madam were no fools either, and they picked up on the unusual subtext.

But was the Princess Qi a fool?

Did her words really carry any special meaning?

The couple exchanged a silent glance, not sure how to break the silence.

Meanwhile, Qi Yu, harboring the intention of not letting them off easily, continued making a fuss about changing the tea, without giving them so much as a glance.

The Duke and Madam sat uncomfortably on the side, wishing to leave but unable to do so.

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In the midst of the commotion, two handsome and tall figures suddenly walked in from outside.

Li Mingjue, seeing the tea leaves scattered on the ground and the person throwing the tantrum, furrowed his brows and asked, “What happened here?”

Shen Xiheng, trailing behind him, wore an expression as if watching a play unfold.

Just now, Master Li had rushed into the study in a fluster to report that people from the Duke Residence had arrived.

Li Mingjue, who had been discussing matters with others, darkened in expression, and the others, sensing the mood, excused themselves to leave.

Only Shen Xiheng, thick-skinned as always, followed along.

He had heard about the recent events at the Duke Residence.

After hearing that not only had Qi Yu not fallen into the trap, but she had also turned the tables on Madam Qin, his curiosity about her reached its peak.

He couldn’t miss the chance to witness the excitement today and insisted on coming along.

Qi Yu huffed lightly, still appearing upset.

Chunlan bowed her head and quietly explained the situation.

Li Mingjue’s expression softened somewhat after listening.

When he entered and saw this scene, he thought Qi Yu was being bullied, but it turned out she was putting on an act.

Shen Xiheng, standing to the side, also understood the situation.

He shook his head and tsked softly.

This time, the Duke had met his match.

Li Mingjue exchanged a cursory greeting with the Duke, then turned to Chunlan and asked, “Who served the tea today?”

Chunlan gave a name.

Li Mingjue commanded in a cold tone, “Drag the person out and give them a heavy beating of thirty large planks!”

“Yes,” Chunlan quickly replied, not showing the slightest surprise.

The Duke and Madam, and even Qi Yu, were somewhat shocked as they watched him.

Just as Qi Yu was about to offer some hard-headed explanations, she was interrupted by Li Mingjue.

“I will never tolerate sand in my eyes.

Anyone daring enough to use fake items to deceive me must weigh their own life!” he declared.

His words drained the blood from the faces of the Duke and Madam.

With that said, what more could Qi Yu fail to understand?

Yet…

She stole a surreptitious look at the person with the dark expression, not expecting Prince Qi to be on par with her in sarcasm and irony.

Shen Xiheng, with a smile, added, “Exactly as Prince Qi said, those who dare blatantly deceive the Princess certainly deserve no leniency.”

After speaking, he turned to face the Duke.

“I heard that the Princess nearly faced a mishap at the Duke Residence a few days ago; I wonder if your visit today, Duke, accompanied by your wife, is to present the person who attempted the poisoning?”