Truly Deserved

Lily Evans was so preoccupied with the missing children case that she didn't hear a word Penny White said.

Seeing that Lily didn’t respond, Penny assumed she’d tacitly agreed to let Miss Bianca into the manor. She hurriedly said, "Princess Consort, you mustn’t let Miss Bianca in! Didn’t Master Peony say that Miss Bianca covets our Prince, is highly skilled in martial arts, and is cunning? Who knows what she’ll say once she’s inside. Remember last time, when you were still in confinement, Miss Bianca barged in and spoke rudely to you. I think she was trying to provoke you while you were weak, hoping to anger you to death so she could take your place as Princess Consort!"

Penny was indignant, muttering beside her. As Lily listened to Penny’s complaints, a sudden thought struck her. She grabbed Penny’s arm and said, "Penny, what did you just say!"

Penny was confused. "Princess Consort, I said a lot just now. Which sentence are you asking about?"

Lily pressed, "Penny, you said Miss Bianca is highly skilled in martial arts, has a vicious mind, and covets the Prince, wishing I’d die so she could become Princess Consort. Is that right?"

Penny nodded quickly. "Exactly! Last time she shamelessly called herself our Prince’s ‘sister,’ insisting on that ‘brother-sister’ nonsense. Between a man and a woman, there’s no such thing—it’s just an excuse to flirt! Back then, you were weak from confinement, and she came deliberately to provoke you. If you were petty, she might have succeeded in making you sick from anger. Luckily, you’re wise and didn’t let her get her way…"

As Penny rambled on, Lily listened and muttered to herself, "Right, she hates me for taking her man, is skilled in martial arts, wants me dead, and is both vicious and clever. Isn’t that just…"

Lily suddenly looked up and said to the servant nearby, "Go invite Miss Bianca in."

Penny exclaimed, "Princess Consort, why are you letting her in? She’s definitely here to kick you when you’re down and provoke you again. Why give her the chance and play right into her hands!?"

But Lily Evans walked to the desk, quickly wrote a note for Penny White, and said, "No time to explain, Penny. When Miss Bianca comes in, hurry over to the school across from the Prince of Qin's Manor and give this letter to Xiao Wu!"

Seeing Lily so serious, Penny said nothing more, carefully put away the note, and nodded before leaving the room.

Meanwhile, Miss Bianca was invited in. She was a bit surprised and wondered why Lily Evans was willing to see her today.

But then Miss Bianca thought, Lily Evans must be overwhelmed by the rumors now and doesn’t have the energy to keep up her airs.

When Miss Bianca entered, she saw that Lily Evans looked troubled and had lost all her usual spirit. Her eyes were full of fear, and she didn’t even dare look Miss Bianca in the eye.

"Oh my, Sister-in-law, what’s wrong? You look terrible—did something happen?" Miss Bianca feigned ignorance.

Lily Evans seemed lost, as if her soul had left her body. Seeing Miss Bianca, she suddenly grabbed her sleeve and said, "Miss Bianca, tell me honestly, is everyone outside spreading rumors about me and my son? I... I really didn’t do it. Now even the Prince doubts me. What should I do!?"

Miss Bianca pressed her lips together in a smile, thinking: Lily Evans, didn’t you go out yourself to investigate today? Now everyone says you’re a child-eating monster. You can’t handle it, can you? Serves you right!