Mu Qing secured the Jade Seal and thoughtfully asked.
"Does the Princess Consort have any message for me to pass on to Princess Consort Zhen?"
Hua Manman stared blankly into the distance. After a long moment, she finally spoke.
"This is probably the last time I’ll ever help her."
Hua Manman had very complicated feelings about Hua Qingqing, the original protagonist of the novel.
According to the original plot, the two of them were supposed to be mortal enemies.
But somehow, their relationship had grown increasingly close, as if they had become true sisters.
She hoped Hua Qingqing would live a better and better life.
She was also willing to help Hua Qingqing in any way she could.
But now, she could barely protect herself. Everything she could do for Hua Qingqing was already done.
This was as far as she could walk with Hua Qingqing.
As for the road ahead, Hua Qingqing would have to walk it herself.
...
「In Moon Viewing Pavilion.」
Hua Qingqing already knew that the Yulin Guards were searching everywhere for Princess Consort Zhao.
She was so anxious she couldn’t sit still, terrified for her younger sister’s safety.
Just then, Mu Qing arrived at Moon Viewing Pavilion once again.
She handed over a heavy Brocade Bag.
"Princess Consort Zhao asked me to give this to you, Your Highness. Please keep it safe."
Hua Qingqing took the Brocade Bag.
Even without opening it, she could feel the shape of the object inside through the fabric.
’She was astonished. Her younger sister had actually gotten the Jade Seal!’
’No wonder the Yulin Guards are hunting for Princess Consort Zhao everywhere. They must have found out she stole the Jade Seal.’
Hua Qingqing asked urgently.
"Where is Princess Consort Zhao? Can I see her?"
Mu Qing shook her head. "I’m sorry, but I cannot reveal Princess Consort Zhao’s whereabouts to anyone."
Although Princess Consort Zhao trusted Princess Consort Zhen, Mu Qing, as an outsider, was wary of her.
Hua Qingqing asked, "Then can you tell me how Princess Consort Zhao is doing? Is she in any danger?"
Mu Qing answered with her eyes lowered.
"To answer Your Highness, Princess Consort Zhao is safe for the time being."
Hearing this, Hua Qingqing’s heart eased slightly.
She said earnestly.
"If there’s anything you need help with, you must tell me.
Princess Consort Zhao is my own sister. She only put herself in danger to help me.
I would do anything to protect her!"
Mu Qing bowed her head. "I will relay your words to the Princess Consort."
She waited a moment, and seeing that Princess Consort Zhen had no further instructions, she prepared to leave.
As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Princess Consort Zhen.
"There’s something I forgot to tell you, Your Highness. The Princess Consort specifically asked me to pass on a message to you."
Hua Qingqing pressed her. "What is it? Tell me, quickly."
Mu Qing enunciated each word clearly.
"This is the last time she will help you."
Hua Qingqing froze.
She never imagined her younger sister would say something like that to her.
She couldn’t help but ask, "What does my sister mean by that?"
Mu Qing hadn’t intended to say more. After all, this was a private matter between the two sisters, Princess Consort Zhen and Princess Consort Zhao; it was none of her business as an outsider.
But looking at the beautiful, uncomprehending face before her, Mu Qing couldn’t stop herself from speaking her mind.
"Princess Consort Zhao is about to give birth, yet she still has to exhaust herself worrying about your affairs. She even put her own life at risk for you. As her older sister, have you ever felt the slightest bit of shame?"
Hearing this, Xi Xiang’s eyebrows shot up in anger. "How audacious! How dare you speak to Her Highness Princess Consort Zhen that way?!"
Hua Qingqing waved her hand, signaling for Xi Xiang to be quiet.
She looked at Mu Qing and spoke slowly.
"I am, of course, ashamed that I failed to protect my younger sister."
Mu Qing sneered, "Is that so? Are you feeling ashamed while simultaneously scheming to use Princess Consort Zhao?"
Hua Qingqing frowned and couldn’t help but retort.
"I have never used my younger sister."
Mu Qing stated coolly.
"If you didn’t use Princess Consort Zhao, then how did you get the Jade Seal you’re holding?
Of course, you could say you merely offered a suggestion to the Princess Consort and didn’t demand she do anything for you.
But you know perfectly well that as soon as you asked, Princess Consort Zhao would definitely help you.
After all, she’s helped you so many times before. What’s one more time? Isn’t that right?"
Hua Qingqing was utterly speechless.
’She truly hadn’t intended to use her younger sister. But when she wrote that reply, she did have a selfish motive.’
’She knew about Prince Wu Zhang’s feelings for her sister; with just a little effort, her sister could easily win his trust.’
’That was why she had suggested her sister help find the Jade Seal.’
’She figured that once she had the Jade Seal, the Seventh Prince’s appointment as Crown Prince would be finalized, giving her the leverage she needed to make a comeback.’
’Once she reached a high position, she would repay her sister tenfold.’
Faced with Mu Qing’s interrogation, Hua Qingqing felt a lump in her throat, unable to utter a single word.
She had no way to refute what the other woman was saying.
Mu Qing stared at her, enunciating each word.
"You ask why Princess Consort Zhao said that? It’s because the Princess Consort understands everything perfectly.
She knows you used her, but she still braved the danger to get the Jade Seal for you.
She truly saw you as her own sister.
It’s just a pity. You weren’t worthy."
Those last three words landed like a thousand-pound weight on Hua Qingqing’s heart, leaving her so ashamed she could barely hold onto the Jade Seal in her hand.
Xi Xiang quickly steadied Princess Consort Zhen by the arm.
Mu Qing gave Princess Consort Zhen a curtsy and said solemnly.
"Although I do not approve of you using your own sister, I can understand why you made such a choice in your predicament.
If I were in your shoes, I might very well have done the same thing.
So please, Your Highness, forget what I just said.
Now that you have the Jade Seal, I imagine you will get what you desire very soon.
I offer you my congratulations in advance.
I hope that in the years to come, you won’t regret the choice you made today."
With that, she turned and left Moon Viewing Pavilion without a backward glance.
’Once she relayed the Princess Consort’s message, she knew it was over for the two sisters. She wouldn’t need to deliver any more messages to Moon Viewing Pavilion.’
Hua Qingqing collapsed onto the soft couch, staring blankly into space.
Her mind was consumed by the message her younger sister had Mu Qing deliver—
"This is the last time I will help you."
The words were like a proclamation.
A proclamation that the bond between them as sisters was now over.
Hua Qingqing felt as if her heart were being torn to shreds, the pain so intense she could barely breathe.
The feeling reminded her of when her grandmother had passed away.
Back then, she had just lost an important family member. Her entire world had plunged into darkness, without a single ray of light to be seen.
But back then, at least her younger sister had been there with her.
But now, she had lost her younger sister, too.
No matter how heartbroken or desperate she became in the future, her younger sister would never spare her another glance.