ATMIWPT Chapter 12 That’s Absurd!

Liu Fangya fixed her gaze on Qin Ningxin, then swept her eyes over the noble ladies around her. “What are you all doing here?” she demanded.

Had she and the Third Prince not left early, they might have run into them.

If that had happened, their relationship would have been exposed.

The consequences would have been unimaginable!

Moreover, this place was secluded—ordinary people wouldn’t have been able to enter so easily.

Let alone an entire group barging in all at once.

Qin Ningxin’s mood soured instantly at having her plans interrupted by Liu Fangya.

She had been so close—just one step away from success—only to be thwarted at the last moment. Just thinking about it was infuriating.

Now, she even suspected Liu Fangya of siding with Qin Muyao, deliberately shielding her from harm.

Her usual composure shattered.

Feigning innocence, she asked, “Fangya, we stumbled upon this place by accident and simply wanted to take a look. Is that not allowed?”

Her expression brimmed with confusion, as if she found it utterly baffling that Liu Fangya would greet them with such hostility.

Of course, regardless of the reason, nothing would stop her now!

Liu Fangya’s gaze darkened as she stared at Qin Ningxin, her voice cold. “So, you deliberately led everyone here?”

Qin Ningxin shook her head and denied it with ease. “Fangya, your choice of words is misleading. Are you suggesting I intentionally brought everyone here? That’s absurd!”

Tch, as if she cared to explain herself.

Before Liu Fangya could respond, Qin Ningxin added, “Why are you stopping us from going in? Could it be… there’s something inside that you don’t want us to see?”

At those words, the noble ladies’ ears perked up in unison.

And what was their favorite pastime?

Gossip, of course!

Liu Fangya remained motionless, her cold, unwavering stare locked onto Qin Ningxin as if she were already a dead woman in her eyes.

But with so many people watching, she couldn’t act recklessly.

Liu Fangya had no choice but to swallow her frustration.

She gestured toward the maid beside her, signaling her to explain.

The maid nodded, then put on a fearful expression, her voice trembling as she spoke. “B-because… this place is haunted…”

She wasn’t exactly lying.

There had indeed been a suicide here in the past—someone had hanged themselves.

Rumors of hauntings occasionally spread afterward.

But those were just hearsay, never truly verified.

Now, using it as an excuse was merely a convenient way for Liu Fangya to stop them from entering.

“What did you say?!”

“Haunted?”

“I heard someone once visited a haunted place and fell gravely ill afterward—almost lost their life…”

“No wonder Liu Fangya is stopping us! She’s afraid we might disturb… something. We should leave, quickly!”

The moment they heard the word haunted, the noble ladies instinctively stepped back.

They had no interest in provoking the supernatural.

It was far too terrifying!

Even Qin Ningxin felt a chill run down her spine, momentarily thrown off balance.

But when she thought of the crown princess position, she forced herself to stand firm. “But I clearly saw Qin Muyao go inside…”

Liu Fangya’s eyes snapped toward her, her voice sharp. “What did you say?!”

Qin Muyao has been here?

How could she not have known?!

Had Qin Muyao arrived before the Third Prince? If so, they had never even noticed her presence.

Could she be hiding nearby?

How much of their conversation had she overheard…?

At the thought, Liu Fangya’s heart clenched with panic.

Just then, a voice came from behind them.

“Oh? Why is everyone gathered here?”

Qin Muyao strolled in at a leisurely pace, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

——