Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 20 - Scattered Influence

Madam Liu, standing to the side, seemed not to understand what was going on. The First Madam, however, was frowning. Wu Sheyue could not tell whether she knew anything or not.

After coldly observing everyone’s reactions, Wu Sheyue suddenly felt that Yin Qiuming’s death was more complicated than the surface facts suggested.

She had originally believed it was exactly as Ning’er had said: Xin Zhi had accidentally killed Yin Qiuming. Wu Hantian, mindful of the prince’s status and the fact that he had never cared about Yin Qiuming, had lied to everyone and claimed Yin Qiuming had died suddenly of illness, thereby doing Xin Zhi a favor. That was why she had pressed so hard on that point today. But now it seemed that something else was wrong beneath the lie.

At the same time, she noticed a problem she had previously overlooked. If Wu Hantian truly had helped Xin Zhi cover up a killing, then no matter who had died—favored or not—Xin Zhi should not have had the nerve to throw a tantrum at Wu Hantian.

Alas, the immediate crisis still comes first. Wu Sheyue sighed inwardly. The important thing now is to deal with this Eighth Prince.

After judging the situation, she felt that continuing to question them about Yin Qiuming would no longer benefit her, so she had no choice but to turn the conversation back to her earlier point.

“Please, Grandmother, don’t let Yue’er be killed by the Eighth Prince. If Yue’er must die, she would rather die at home.”

The Old Madam seemed to relax. She casually patted the arm Wu Sheyue was holding and said, “All right, all right. Stop crying.”

The Old Madam’s expression was casual, but the look she used to examine Wu Sheyue remained sharp. She had never liked this granddaughter much before. Now, though… with her mind working properly, she could be a useful child in the future.

Unaware of what the Old Madam was calculating, Wu Sheyue wiped her tears and called out again, “Grandmother.”

Seeing Wu Sheyue learn to act spoiled the moment she recovered her senses, the First Madam frowned. Was this really someone whose mind had only just cleared?

The Old Madam patted Wu Sheyue’s hand and said very seriously, “Eighth Prince, this matter cannot be handled carelessly. Was it truly our Yue’er who injured Your Highness with a knife, or was everything too chaotic at the time and your memory mistaken?”

Xin Zhi’s eyes suddenly brightened, and his energy returned. He stood and thrust his right hand in front of Wu Hantian, waving it. “Then she did break this finger of mine. That much is not wrong, is it? This prince’s hand is so precious, yet she simply snapped it. Your family must give me an explanation!”

Wu Sheyue appeared indignant. “Everyone heard you say you killed my concubine mother, but who saw me bend back your finger?”

When Wu Hantian heard Wu Sheyue mention Yin Qiuming again, he felt his head was about to explode. He estimated that if he truly promised Wu Sheyue to the Eighth Prince today, she would certainly keep clinging to the matter of Yin Qiuming. And with the Eighth Prince’s well-known lustful nature, it was obvious he had taken a fancy to this newly recovered third daughter. If he really married Wu Sheyue back, and then tried to please her by talking about Yin Qiuming…

Just thinking about it made his head ache.

Xin Zhi had no idea Wu Hantian’s thoughts had already gone that far. He was still stamping and shouting angrily at Wu Sheyue. “You blocked it! Your sleeve!” As he spoke, his temper flared, and he tried to use his wrapped fist to lift Wu Sheyue’s sleeve.

Seeing Xin Zhi about to touch her, the Old Madam nearly leaped to her feet in fright.

Wu Hantian quickly stepped forward and grabbed Xin Zhi’s arm. “Eighth Prince, please wait. My concubine has only just passed away, and Yue’er was born to her. Yin has been gone only a few days. It truly would not be proper to promise Yue’er to anyone so soon. If Your Highness is still interested in Yue’er, perhaps the matter can be discussed later.”

He now knew he could not force Wu Sheyue. If he truly sent her to the Eighth Prince’s residence by force, there would be no controlling the Eighth Prince’s loose mouth. It would be better to first stabilize her regarding Yin Qiuming’s death, then later casually promise her to another family.

He was not afraid that one small concubine-born daughter could do much. He was afraid she would run into some fool who liked standing up for women.

Wu Hantian had barely finished when, before Xin Zhi could agree, Wu Sheyue gave a soft laugh from the side.

Sure enough, Xin Zhi’s anger grew even hotter. He pointed back and forth at Wu Sheyue and Wu Hantian with his wrapped fist and threatened them viciously. “You, and all of you! Fine! Since we cannot come to an agreement, I will go ask my imperial father to judge this! Do you think the imperial clan is so easy to bully?”

This time the Old Madam truly stood up. The First Madam hurriedly reached out to support her. “Oh, Eighth Prince, you must not do that.”

Wu Hantian’s face had also darkened terribly. He had probably not expected Xin Zhi to be so capable of making trouble. Wu Sheyue sensed that he was on the verge of exploding. Unfortunately, Wu Hantian did not lose his temper. He still spoke in a conciliatory tone. “Eighth Prince, please do not be angry. Let us sit down and speak properly. Have some tea.”

“Tea? Look at this prince’s hands!” Xin Zhi thrust both fists in front of Wu Hantian. “Should I drink it with my feet?”

The Old Madam was so angry that her vision darkened. She pressed a hand to her chest. The First Madam, Madam Liu, and the others looked unsettled. Strictly speaking, they should not have been present for any of this.

Wu Lixiang, who had been watching the show from the side, somehow still failed to see how the people in the room were divided. Even the First Madam did not dare interrupt, but she, with no eye for the situation, opened her mouth. “Oh, Father, I don’t think this is difficult. If Father marries Third Sister over, that solves it. Doesn’t the Eighth Prince still want to marry Third Sister?”

(To be continued)