Transmigrated Into The Book

Qi Zhou ceased his forehead. "Your highness, then who is this Mei Shin?.  It was the given name of Lady Daiyu's friend." he bowed his head and gave thanks for his permission to speak. 

Hearing that name, Li Jing was stiffened. She let out a small gasp after pouring tea to the prince's visitor. She remained calm and collected her composure very well. She'd never thought that she would hear that name again.

Though before the prince could answer, Hawk entered the room and explained everything. Including the fake death of Mei Shin.

Li Jing tightened her grip to the teapot in her hands. She was scared to drop it even though her fingers were shaking. Why is she so afraid though? Just from her uneasy expression, anyone would suspect her that she had something with Mei Shin.

If she could only look at herself right now. Probably, she will see her own face turning pale from nervousness.

Li Jing brushed it off and wiped the imaginary things running inside her thoughts. She should be rest assured because Mei Shin wasn't in the royal palace anymore. At least it was a relief.

After Hawk stated that Mei Shin's death was fake, she got more intrigued. It's true that Lady Daiyu often visits Mei Shin when she was still working as a court lady in the palace with them.. And hearing the news that she was dead struck all of them, especially Li Jing. She knew because she understands Mei Shin.

The second prince turned his head to her. He took a sip from his cup and twirled it, watching the warm tea twirled inside. "Li Jing?"

Li Jing jolted. She was so drawn at Hawk's information that she almost got startled by the Prince's call. "Y-Yes, your highness!" she exclaimed, bowing her head immediately.

"Would you mind explaining some things about Mei Shin to us? I knew that she was very close to you," Yi Lin said.

Li Jing gulped. Her sweats form from her forehead down to her cheeks. "A-As y-you wish, your highness," she stammered, grabbing everyone's attention.

Her hands holding the tray started to tremble, she was sweating from nervousness. She didn't even know where to start. It was too sudden for her to hear the question. Is it because she was close to Mei Shin, his highness, Yi Lin, is also suspecting her? 

But she would never, nor dare to do such things. She was just a poor citizen with a sick mother having small siblings to feed. 

"No need to be scared,"

Only she realized that Yi Lin took the tray away from her hands. He put it down on their table and held her hand. "You are shaking too much, calm down" Yi Lin pressed her cold hands. 

Li Jing looked at her hands and then to the prince again. "Y-Your h-highness?" her cheeks turned red. It was the first time for her to receive a skinship from the second prince. 

Yi Lin smiled. "Come sit with us," he gestured to the lady to sit across from him. Li Jing lowered her head and said thanks.

After letting her nervousness be swept away by the assurance of the prince, she started to talk. "Both me and Mei Shin came from a poor family," she gripped the hem of her clothing. "At first we are really getting along well, Mei Shin's situation was understandable not until the others discovered her other side,"

"Hmm," Yi Lin hummed. "Can you please explain to us what she did?" 

Li Jing nodded, "Yes, your highness." then she continued. "At first, Mei Shin would always wait for his highness to finish every meal, she would take all the leftovers and bring it to their home, since we don't want the foods to go to waste, we didn't put too much attention to that," Though she was a little bit guilty for turning a blind eye, she still continues. 

Li Jing glanced at Yi Lin to see his reaction, but the prince remained calm with his gentle gaze. She continued again. "Until she didn't just take leftover foods, I caught her taking spices that are used as cooking ingredients in the kitchen...some of the court ladies stopped her including me, but in our surprise, she took the knife and cried, telling us to keep that as a secret because her sick mother ask for it, we turned a blind eye and ignored it,"

"She's very bold to do that," Sun Wei couldn't help but comment out his opinion. 

Li Jing just glanced at him and stated the second part of her story. "Then the days goes by, the court ladies started to distance themselves from her, but not me, because she was my friend and I understand her situation, I pursued her to change, because she also started to took some royal blankets"

Yi Lin tapped her shoulder, "Did you finally convince her after that?"

Li Jing shook her head, "She didn't listen to me, your highness," Her expression turned gloomy. "I apologize for not telling this to you, your grace. I am very sorry," she bowed her head, almost touching the floor. 

"Lift up your head, it's not your fault," Yi Lin replied. "Is there anything you wish to tell me more about?" he asked, still gentle.

Li Jing shook her head. "No more, your highness. Because the next day she went missing and that's when we found out that someone snuck in the royal medicinal hall the night before," 

'I guess it was also the night when Lady Daiyu turned to a jiangyin and created chaos in the Inn,' Qi Zhou thought. 

"Wait!" Sun Wei suddenly jolted. "Then if the dead body isn't the real Mei Shin and Lady Daiyu was out of place," he glanced at Qi Zhou then to Yi Lin. "Is there a possibility that it was Mei Shin who took Xianyu away and lured us into the trap?!" he exclaimed.

"It can be true, meaning she pretended to be Lady Daiyu," Yuan also agreed. 

It made Yi Lin brush his face and sighed. "Sorcery these days is really something," he mumbled.