SGEIRS -Chapter 140 She Fell into the Trap

Meng Jinyao held her teacup, took a sip, and casually asked in return, “What did you say?”

Hearing this, Princess Jingning immediately felt that she was deliberately pretending not to understand and glared at her with her eyes: “I mean what we talked about not long ago at the previous tavern.”

Meng Jinyao’s expression showed a hint of realization, then she smiled again, calm and unhurried: “If I say it’s true, Princess might not believe me. If I say it’s false, I would be going against my own conscience, and my conscience would ache.”

Princess Jingning was momentarily speechless. Indeed, this girl had a thick skin, speaking in a roundabout way that essentially meant everything she said was true.

After a moment, Princess Jingning asked again, “So, in the theater last time, it really was your sister who wanted to push you down, but she accidentally fell herself and you saved her, and even falsely accused you in front of me?”

Meng Jinyao countered, “Otherwise? Do you think I was just joking with her, Princess?”

Princess Jingning’s face darkened instantly, teeth clenched with anger: “So, she tricked me?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “If I had wanted to do anything to her, would I have saved her? Saving her was simply to avoid being framed. As long as she didn’t roll down the stairs, she had no way to pin the blame on me.”

Princess Jingning’s expression grew uglier, but a faint sense of relief lingered—she hadn’t been completely fooled. Yet the honesty in Meng Jinyao’s eyes shattered that faint hope: she really had been deceived by Meng Jinyu.

She couldn’t understand it at all: “I befriended her, and she deceived me… what benefit could she possibly gain from that?”

Meng Jinyao looked up at her. The young princess was so angry that her teeth were clenched and her emotions were plainly visible—so pure and straightforward. Meng Jinyao spoke: “I heard that Princess likes to stand up for those who are wronged. Seeing someone pitiful, you would naturally feel twice the sympathy.”

Princess Jingning was speechless: “……”

She simply couldn’t tolerate seeing kindness being taken advantage of—but who would have guessed she herself would be used as a tool?

Meng Jinyao added, “It is good that Princess hates evil, but not being able to distinguish right from wrong will only make good intentions cause harm.”

Princess Jingning was taken aback: “Are you lecturing me?”

Meng Jinyao smiled faintly with pursed lips: “I would never dare.”

Princess Jingning snorted lightly and stopped responding, her heart still simmering with indignation and the shame of being deceived. Who could have thought that a newly made friend—someone she could get along with—was actually taking advantage of her? It made her feel foolish.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyao didn’t care about her reaction.

Soon after, the waiters began bringing the dishes.

Qingqiu stood by to serve the food to Meng Jinyao, who ate her lunch without distraction. The chefs at this tavern were excellent, and she had ordered the pricier dishes—every one was exceptionally delicious. She already had a good appetite, so she enjoyed the meal thoroughly.

Princess Jingning, born into royalty, had tasted all sorts of delicacies from a young age and was notoriously picky. Normally, she ate little, taking only a few bites of even the finest dishes. But seeing Meng Jinyao eat with such gusto, she suddenly found herself hungry.

They finished their lunch, with plenty of dishes left.

The princess’s two maids and Meng Jinyao’s two maids had not eaten yet. After their mistresses finished, the maids sat aside and continued eating the remaining dishes. Although it was leftover food, the maids used serving chopsticks to dish it out, so there was no concern about eating after their mistresses.

Twelve dishes for six people were more than enough. The more expensive the dish, the smaller the portions. Meng Jinyao had ordered the priciest dishes, which were small in quantity but exquisite in taste and ingredients. By the time the four maids finished, very little remained—hardly wasteful.

Satisfied and full, the group left the tavern.

Meng Jinyao smiled: “Thank you for your generous hospitality today, Princess.”

Princess Jingning glared at her, fuming. Generous hospitality? This single meal had cost her over a hundred taels of silver! Luckily, she had plenty of money; otherwise, she couldn’t have afforded it.

As the saying goes, one who has eaten cannot talk back. After a lavish meal, Meng Jinyao was easy to talk to. She gently asked: “Princess, where will you go next? Shall I accompany you? If not, I shall take my leave.”

Hearing this, Princess Jingning scrutinized her from head to toe. Today, Meng Jinyao’s makeup was bright and elegant, and she nodded: “You seem to have a good eye. Come with me to pick out some jewelry.”

Meng Jinyao readily agreed, having nothing else to do, considering it a bit of fun for herself.

Jinyu Pavilion, the largest jewelry store in the capital.

Meng Jinyao’s taste was indeed excellent, picking several pieces for Princess Jingning.

The princess was pleased: “Madam Gu, your taste is much better than your sister’s. I didn’t quite like what she picked for me.”

Meng Jinyao smiled: “As long as Princess likes them, I’ll continue to look at others.”

Soon, Meng Jinyao set her eyes on a set of white jade headpieces inlaid with red coral. The jade was crystal clear and pure white; the coral deep red without a single flaw—top quality. She liked it very much and was about to ask the shopkeeper the price when Princess Jingning’s voice rang out.

“This set suits Madam Gu very well. If you like it, you may buy it,” said the princess.

Meng Jinyao turned to her, smiling sweetly: “Princess, are you giving it to me?”

Princess Jingning froze: “?”

Seeing no answer, Meng Jinyao added: “Then I shall thank you, Princess.”

Princess Jingning was dumbfounded. When had she ever said she would give it to her? She had seen people with thick skins, but never one this audacious. If enemies ever invaded, she must recommend Meng Jinyao to her royal uncle so that Meng Jinyao could fend them off with her brazen nerve.

Gritting her teeth, she said in a low voice: “When did I say I’d give it to you? That headpiece is so expensive—you really have some nerve!”

Meng Jinyao blinked innocently, perceptive: “Didn’t Princess bring enough silver today? Then forget it; I thought you were rich enough not to worry about money.”

This provoked Princess Jingning. She turned to the shopkeeper and said boldly: “Shopkeeper, charge this set of headpieces that Madam Gu likes to my account.”

Meng Jinyao’s smiling voice sounded: “Thank you, Princess.”

Her lips curved in a smile, eyes glinting mischievously—like a clever little fox.

Princess Jingning belatedly realized she had fallen into a trap, having been goaded into paying. She glared at Meng Jinyao, teeth clenched: “Both you and your sister are deceivers!”

Meng Jinyao looked utterly innocent: “Princess, that’s not true. When did I ever deceive you?”

Princess Jingning snorted, instructing her maids to settle the bill, including Meng Jinyao’s, then stormed toward the exit of Jinyu Pavilion. After a few steps, she realized she was going the wrong way and turned toward the main door.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyao realized she had played the game too well—she had actually left the princess so flustered she couldn’t find her bearings. Originally, she had just thought Princess Jingning’s innocent, slightly silly demeanor was cute and wanted to tease her a little, not actually get her to pay. She hurried to catch up.

Outside Jinyu Pavilion, she spoke gently: “Princess, please don’t be angry. If you make yourself sick from anger, that would truly be my fault.”

Princess Jingning stopped, glanced at her sideways, snorted coldly, and said irritably: “Enough. Don’t keep calling yourself ‘I’ before me so formally. Such courtesy doesn’t suit your nature. After all, today you spent over a thousand taels of my silver—and no other woman has ever dared to trick me out of my money.”