Chapter 14: I’ll Take It!

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Just as those fierce, menacing maids were about to rush forward, a commanding voice rang sharply through the front hall.

“Who dares?!”

Ji Hua stood tall and graceful, her eyes shimmering like the cold moonlight on the horizon, piercing and resolute.

Her words struck fear into everyone present!

The maids hesitated, glancing nervously at Liu Qingmei.

Liu Qingmei was filled with anger; it was laughable that Ji Hua had just silenced her. Even her own attendants dared not take a step forward!

“In such a grand minister’s residence, I manage the household affairs, yet I don’t even have the right to give orders to a servant?”

Liu Qingmei dug her fingernails into her palms, glaring hatefully at Ji Hua before shouting at the maids, “Hurry up and act! Don’t block my view!”

The maids braced themselves and stepped forward, avoiding Ji Hua’s gaze.

Ji Hua sneered coldly, arching an eyebrow as she looked at Liu Qingmei.

“Madam, perhaps you’ve forgotten that soon I will be marrying into the Eastern Palace. When that time comes, you will have to bow to me.”

Her eyes were razor-sharp. Ji Hua curved her lips into a smile. “No matter if it’s just a maid, those under my protection cannot be ordered around by you!”

The imperial edict had already been issued!

A buzzing noise filled Liu Qingmei’s mind, and she nearly spat blood in fury.

If it weren’t for Shu Lan relinquishing the title of Crown Princess to her, how could she have such arrogance today?

Liu Qingmei was infuriated to the point of death. Ji Shulan could no longer hold back and rushed forward to pour out her venom.

“Ji Hua, what are you so proud of here? Don’t think you’re impressive just because you’re the Crown Princess!”

Ji Shulan clenched her fists angrily. “How dare you talk back to mother just because of your Crown Prince status? You—”

Ji Hua swiftly raised her hand and struck Ji Shulan’s face with a sharp slap!

“Smack!”

The crisp, resounding slap stunned everyone present.

“Ah!!”

Ji Shulan’s face swelled within moments, her body trembling as if in pain.

Liu Qingmei’s expression changed drastically. “Lan’er!”

She glared furiously at Ji Hua, but before she could speak—

Ji Hua’s gaze turned icy as she said, “His Highness the Crown Prince is of noble imperial blood. How dare you address him so casually?”

Ji Hua was poised and dignified, flawless in etiquette.

“This slap is a warning: mischief comes from the mouth. Be careful with your words in the future.”

“You!!”

Ji Shulan pressed her hand to her stinging cheek, seething with rage.

She was so furious she wanted to tear Ji Hua’s proud face apart!

Despicable woman, despicable woman!

She pitifully looked toward Ji Wenbin. “Father! Look at what sister has done—”

“Ji Hua is right.”

Ji Shulan and Liu Qingmei’s eyes widened in shock!

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Did he even know what he was saying?

Ji Hua was the one who struck someone, yet he sided with her?

Ji Wenbin’s face was stern. Such matters could either be trivial or significant, depending on what someone wanted to make of them.

He looked severely at the tearful Ji Shulan. “Do you not understand the saying ‘walls have ears’? If you continue speaking recklessly, do you know the consequences? When you marry Prince Xuan, you must watch your words and actions.”

Ji Shulan’s resentment deepened.

Ji Hua twitched her lips.

In her past life, Ji Shulan was very skilled at playing the innocent and pure act, often with great effect.

It was because she didn’t want to put their father in a difficult position and was tongue-tied.

But this life was different.

After all, no matter who Father scolds, it is still a scolding. So why should she yield to those who hurt her?

She bowed slightly to Ji Wenbin. “Father, if there’s nothing else, I will take Liu’er back now.”

“Go ahead,” Ji Wenbin waved his hand, his gaze toward Ji Hua tinged with complexity and pride.

This daughter he had cherished in the palm of his hand had finally grown up...

He had once worried whether Ji Hua could fulfill the duties of Crown Princess.

But today, it seemed she would only do better.

Ji Hua smiled gently, her cold and indifferent gaze flicking toward Liu Qingmei and her daughter before she took Liu Yiyi’s hand.

Liu Yiyi’s heart warmed, tears welling in her eyes.

For her sake, the eldest miss had done nearly everything possible...

She vowed to protect the eldest miss forever and repay her kindness!

This trip had come with a storm but returned without a scratch.

Ji Wenbin had urgent matters and left first.

Liu Qingmei and her daughter watched them leave, their chests heaving with anger, their teeth nearly grinding to pieces!

Ji Hua hadn’t even married yet, but she was already looking down on them arrogantly!

Such a shameless creature!

“Mother, please don’t be angry...”

Ji Shulan suppressed her rage and whispered into Liu Qingmei’s ear, “There will be plenty of chances to show her up. Just wait and see!”

Since she was betting on Prince Xuan, she would never lose!

Liu Qingmei’s anger subsided slightly.

She waved her hand. “Forget her for now. The important thing is the wedding. Tomorrow, you will go to the Golden Jade Pavilion to pick out jewelry. Just prepare yourself well...”

...

The next morning.

Two luxurious carriages bearing the ministerial residence’s crest stopped steadily in front of the Golden Jade Pavilion.

This was the most prosperous and costly jewelry shop in the capital, mostly featuring exquisite pieces carved by master craftsman Liu Yujiang. Every jade hairpin was delicately beautiful.

Over a stretch of ten miles, the Golden Jade Pavilion stood supreme, lined up with shops filled with elegantly dressed ladies and noble young women bustling in and out.

Liu Yiyi drew back the beaded curtain. “Eldest Miss, we have arrived.”

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Ji Hua stepped down gracefully from the carriage, wearing a pale orchid-colored dress embroidered with butterflies, her movements light and elegant, like a lotus emerging from clear water.

In her previous life, she had been locked in a dark room before her wedding and never once came to the Golden Jade Pavilion to select her dowry jewelry.

This time, it was truly different.

She narrowed her eyes slightly. The shopkeeper on the first floor had already recognized the carriage’s crest and quickly put down his work, rushing forward with a smile.

“Miss of the minister’s residence, second Miss, please come inside!”

The shopkeeper was stout and jovial, with an especially charming face.

Ji Shulan had just alighted from the carriage and strode ahead arrogantly, brushing past Ji Hua while haughtily asking, “What do you have here?”

“Second Miss, you’ve asked the right person,” the shopkeeper answered with a mysterious smile. “The first floor mostly has ordinary gold and jade hairpins that might not suit your taste. The Golden Jade Pavilion also has a second and third floor, where you can find exquisite jewelry of rare materials that appear only once in a century!”

The shopkeeper’s words were modest.

Even the first floor was already dazzling, far superior in quality to other stores.

The pearwood-crafted display tables gave off a faint sandalwood fragrance, with items arranged by category and styled with flowers, birds, insects, and beasts.

Ji Hua happened to have a South Sea pearl-wrapped jade hairpin in her hand, exquisitely crafted. The pale pink pearl was especially delicate, instantly captivating her heart.

“This is quite nice.”

She picked it up casually; the warm jade gave off a gentle fragrance, the tip tinged with a slight red, resembling a phoenix’s nine tails, charming and full of meaning.

The shopkeeper smiled eagerly. “Miss has a keen eye. This is a newly arrived hairpin made from rare pink pearl and South jade. South jade is very difficult to carve and breaks easily, so this hairpin took a lot of effort to make!”

Ji Shulan rolled her eyes disdainfully. She sneered, “No taste at all!”

With this, she still fancied herself flying high with the Crown Prince!

The first floor was for ordinary folk or impoverished families. Anyone could afford these, but they didn’t reflect her noble status!

She, Ji Shulan, wanted only the finest!

For example—

Prince Xuan!

After her sneer, Ji Shulan lifted her skirt and, feigning indifference, said, “If sister likes it, she can look herself. I’m going upstairs!”

Ji Hua glanced at her, too indifferent to respond.

She held up the hairpin and beckoned Liu Yiyi. “Lower your head a bit.”

Liu Yiyi complied gracefully. Ji Hua adjusted the hairpin’s position, and Liu Yiyi’s exquisite beauty made the pearl shine even brighter.

Ji Hua’s lips curved in a smile as she said to the shopkeeper, “Wrap this up for me.”

“Certainly!”

The shopkeeper beamed, reaching out to take the hairpin, when suddenly someone stormed through the front door.

The person walked with purpose, slapping the counter and pointing at the hairpin in Ji Hua’s hand with commanding force.

“I want this hairpin!”