Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 287 Sophistry
When Yan Ciwan returned to the west side hall, she saw that Qiu Shuang was still asleep. She quietly changed her clothes back into Qiu Shuang's.

Qiu Shuang woke up not long after, still a little dazed when she sat up in bed.

Yan Ciwan sat at the table playing with origami, twisting the rice paper into thin strips and then rolling them into little flowers. She noticed Qiu Shuang had gotten up and casually asked, "Are you feeling better?"

Qiu Shuang quickly recalled what had happened before she fell into a deep sleep.

She quickly got out of bed, looked at Yan Ciwan and asked, "Did you put a sleeping potion in the milk tofu you gave me?"

Yan Ciwan paused in her folding of paper. She first looked surprised, as if she was astonished by Qiu Shuang's questioning. Then she frowned deeply and rebuked, "What nonsense are you talking about? You weren't the only one who ate that bowl of milk tofu. I ate some too. If I had drugged it, why am I fine?"

The autumn frost choked me.

Yan Ciwan immediately questioned, "I've been locked up here for the past two days. Where would I get the sleeping pills? Besides, what good would it do me to drug you? Just to sit here and admire your beautiful sleeping face?"

Qiu Shuang blushed and stammered, unable to speak after being teased by her.

“This servant, this servant did not mean that…”

"You said you were dizzy and not feeling well, so I let you sleep in your own bed. I never expected that my kindness would be taken for granted. After you woke up, you turned your back on me. As expected, you can't be a good person!"

After Yan Ciwan finished speaking, she let out a heavy snort.

Qiu Shuang stepped forward and apologized repeatedly: "I'm sorry, I misunderstood you."

"Alright, alright, we have nothing more to say to each other. You should leave now, I want to rest." Yan Ciwan turned her head away, adopting a cold and indifferent attitude that indicated she didn't want to talk to the other person anymore.

Qiu Shuang noticed that the dishes on the table had already been put into the food box. She felt even more guilty. Ning Ci not only let her sleep in his bed, but also cleaned up the dishes for her. And she even suspected that he had drugged her to harm her. She was really not human!

"What happened tonight was all my fault. I will reflect on my actions. Please get some rest. I'll take my leave now."

Qiu Shuang carried the food box and left the West Annex Hall dejectedly.

As soon as everyone left, Yan Ciwan rushed to the window. She pushed the window slightly open and peeked out through the crack. She saw Qiu Shuang hand the food box to a young eunuch who was in charge of running errands.

Just as Qiu Shuang was about to leave, the guards at the gate suddenly called her back. She went over and whispered a few words to the two guards, during which they glanced in the direction of the west wing.

Yan Ciwan's heart sank. It seemed that her attempt to sneak out by impersonating Qiushuang had been exposed!
After finishing her conversation with the Imperial Guards, Qiu Shuang went straight to the main hall.

Yan Ciwan guessed that Qiushuang must have gone to report to the Sage.

A short while later, Qiu Shuang came out of the main hall. She walked to the west side hall and knocked on the door.

Yan Ciwan closed the window, then walked to the bedside and sat down. She didn't open the door, but instead pondered what to do next.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, Qiu Shuang put down her hand that was knocking on the door and said slowly, "Madam Ning, I know you are still awake. The Emperor has summoned you for an audience. Please come out immediately."

After waiting for a while, the door was slowly opened.

Qiu Shuang looked at Yan Ciwan standing in the room, her teeth itching with hatred. She had actually believed her nonsense and almost thought she had misunderstood her. Looking back now, she realized how incredibly stupid she had been!
Yan Ciwan pretended not to notice the anger in the other person's eyes and asked casually, "Why does the Sage want to see me?"

"Naturally, it's because you disguised yourself as a servant and tried to escape from the Immortal Abode Palace!" Although Qiu Shuang tried her best to restrain herself, she couldn't help but raise her voice.

She wanted to see how Ning Ci could possibly defend himself now that she had exposed his crimes to his face.

If she were Ning Ci, she would definitely feel ashamed and uneasy, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Yan Ciwan acted as if nothing had happened and slowly asked in return, "What are you talking about? I've been staying in the West Annex Hall the whole time and haven't gone anywhere else. Don't make up stories and frame people without reason."

Qiu Shuang was even more furious that she could still deny it even at this point.

“The Imperial Guards at the gate have already told me that a palace maid was carrying a food box and walking out just now. They all thought that palace maid was me, but I was sleeping in the west wing the whole time. That palace maid must have been you in disguise!”

Yan Ciwan narrowed her eyes: "Are you still half asleep? Why are you talking nonsense? There are so many palace maids in this Immortal Abode Palace, countless of them come and go every day. What's so strange about the Imperial Guards mistaking one person for another? Even if a palace maid did impersonate you, it doesn't necessarily mean it was me in disguise, right? If you insist on accusing me, then please provide solid evidence. Otherwise, don't blame me for suing you for fabricating rumors and deliberately framing me!"

Qiu Shuang was shocked by the other party's shamelessness. It was clearly Ning Ci who had schemed and used her, and she was the victim. Yet Ning Ci was turning the tables and suing her for slander?!
"you you……"

Yan Ciwan looked at her calmly and asked in return, "Is there anything wrong with what I said?"

Qiu Shuang was sent by the Sage to monitor her, which prevented her from doing many of her little tricks. Her plan to sneak out at night was also thwarted. She found Qiu Shuang a nuisance and wished she could take this opportunity to get rid of her.

Therefore, she deliberately adopted a shameless attitude, hoping to thoroughly provoke Qiu Shuang and make a big fuss.

Qiu Shuang's hand was trembling as she pointed at Ning Ci. She wished she could pounce on him right now and give him a good beating, to see if he would dare to be so arrogant again!

In the end, reason prevailed, and Qiu Shuang suppressed her violent thoughts, gritting her teeth as she spoke.

"Stop talking nonsense, the sage is waiting to see you, come with me now!"

Yan Ciwan raised an eyebrow, feeling a little disappointed that her plan to provoke him had failed.

She left the west wing and walked with Qiushuang toward the main hall.

Qiu Shuang was seething with anger. She gave Yan Ciwan a cold laugh and said sarcastically.

"When we confront the sage, I'll see how sharp-tongued you can be then."

Yan Ciwan glanced at her and calmly replied, "If the Sage really wants to hold me accountable, I'll say it was your idea that you voluntarily exchanged clothes and identities with me to help me escape."

Qiu Shuang immediately lost her guard: "You dare?!"

Upon hearing the shouts, Song Qing, who was waiting outside the main hall, immediately reminded the emperor, "Keep your voice down, lest you disturb His Majesty."

Qiu Shuang was startled, realizing she had lost her composure, and quickly shut her mouth, staring intently at Ning Ci with her eyes full of resentment.

She was silently threatening him with her eyes—

If you dare to talk nonsense, I'll kill you!