Chapter 17: Do Not Be Misled by Rumors

Ji Hua’s eyes were clear and calm as she gently wiped her fingers with a handkerchief, offering a faint smile. “Your Highness flatters me.”

She wished to say no more.

Yet Ling Moxuan seemed unable to understand this and pressed on.

“A beauty enhancing the scenery—Miss Ji, might you have the inclination to compose a poem?”

A faint smile played on his handsome face, his brows deep and handsome.

Had Ji Hua not known his dark heart in advance, she would surely have been deceived by such a handsome visage.

As for composing poetry—

“Those reputed talents are merely rumors spread in the streets,” Ji Hua replied with a faint smile, her eyes subtly revealing resistance and caution.

She refused gently but firmly, her voice calm. “After all, seeing the same view every day hardly brings novelty.”

The lake’s surface rippled, mirroring the undercurrents flowing between them.

Ling Moxuan’s eyes darkened, a cold smile lingering on his lips. Rejected again and again—did Ji Hua fear him?

“Exactly. Your Highness, you mustn’t be misled by outside gossip, for in truth...” Ji Shulan seized the opportunity to interject, but was cut off before she could finish.

Ling Moxuan’s deep, cold gaze settled on Ji Hua, his thin lips parting slightly. “In ten days, I shall host a banquet by the lake. I hope to see Miss Ji shine brilliantly then.”

A heavy weight settled in Ji Hua’s heart.

She remembered that banquet from her previous life.

At that time, the Crown Prince had already suffered repeated oppression from the Emperor, and Ling Moxuan’s banquet once again accused the Crown Prince Ling Yuzhao of colluding with courtiers.

As for Ling Moxuan...

He used the occasion to gather talented individuals, securing many who would prove invaluable in the future.

Ji Hua said nothing, hesitation flickering in her eyes.

Ji Shulan, unable to bear it, quickly took the lead. “Your Highness! I happen to have great interest in such banquets. Perhaps I might attend instead, as my sister dislikes socializing...”

“Miss Ji has repeatedly declined. Could it be that you are considering Chancellor Ji?” Ling Moxuan’s cold eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Ji Hua knew this was his true self.

Mentioning her father was merely a tactic to pressure her.

If her refusal to Ling Moxuan escalated into a rejection of Ling Wenbin by the Prince, it would no longer be a matter to brush off lightly.

A cold glint flickered through Ji Hua’s eyes, but she lifted her face again, a gentle smile gracing her beauty. Her voice was warm yet calm. “Your Highness misunderstands. I lack talent and fear only embarrassment.”

“Since Your Highness has invited me, I shall attend the banquet punctually.”

Her manners were impeccable, beyond reproach.

Ling Moxuan’s lips curved slightly, a trace of admiration fleeting through his eyes.

It was always easier to converse with the wise—no effort wasted.

Ji Shulan’s fury nearly erupted. Clearly, Ling Moxuan was her fiancé, so why was he constantly speaking with Ji Hua and ignoring her?

It must be that Ji Hua was deliberately seducing him.

She refused to believe that with her beauty and talent, she could be outdone by Ji Hua!

Her eyes reddened, tinged with grievance as she looked at Ling Moxuan.

“Your Highness... I spoke to you several times just now, yet you ignored me...” Ji Shulan’s eyes welled with tears, her delicate figure swaying like a willow—truly a sight to pity.

Yet—

Ling Moxuan only raised an eyebrow. “Did you?”

His single phrase silenced Ji Shulan.

Her anger toward Ji Hua only intensified.

“Since I have escorted you here, I shall take my leave,” Ling Moxuan said, pocketing the jade prayer beads in his hand, striding forward.

Behind him, Ji Hua gave a slight bow. Ji Shulan glared fiercely, her impatience mounting as she hurried after them.

“Your Highness, wait! Allow me to see you off!”

Ji Shulan lifted her skirts, abandoning all decorum.

A trace of mockery flickered in Ji Hua’s eyes.

Patience was precisely what Ji Shulan lacked.

Without depth or subtlety, she refused to think deeply.

Someone like Ling Moxuan would never be moved by such meek grievances.

Ji Hua lowered her gaze, instructing Liu Yiyi to gather the begonia flowers back into the courtyard to prepare some begonia wine for the next day.

She recalled Ling Yuzhao seemed to like it.

Consider it a gift of thanks.

Meanwhile,

Ji Shulan had just seen Ling Moxuan off.

Her heart burned with fury. Ling Moxuan had shown no real interest in speaking to her, responding only perfunctorily.

But Ji Hua!

At the pavilion by the lake, the two had exchanged glances and smiles, chatting happily. Ji Shulan’s lungs felt as if they might explode with rage.

Her chest tightened with frustration—damn it!

Unable to bear it any longer, Ji Shulan stormed into Ji Hua’s courtyard with a group of people, her fury palpable.

Upon entering, she spotted the white magnolia and, enraged, kicked it violently to the ground.

“Ji Hua, how dare you seduce Prince Ling Moxuan! Come out here this instant!”

The maids and elder servants inside stared wide-eyed. That was the young lady’s most beloved magnolia!

“Miss!” they cried out hurriedly.

Ji Hua had just finished setting the wine yeast when the commotion outside reached her ears.

Liu Yiyi also looked grave, helping Ji Hua push the door open.

With a single glance, Ji Hua saw the flowers and plants at her gate trampled into a mess, her expression hardening.

“Ji Shulan!”

Her voice was sharp, her exquisite face icy cold.

Ji Shulan trembled slightly under her fierce aura but quickly regained her stubbornness.

“Ji Hua, what do you mean by calling out like that? How dare you deliberately seduce my fiancé and still act like you’re in the right?!”

Today, the Prince had flirted openly with Ji Hua in front of so many people. Where was her face?

“Seducing?”

Ji Hua sneered, taking a few strides closer. “Which eye of yours saw me seducing him? If you have no proof, then you are slandering me. Present your evidence!”

“What evidence do I need?! So many people have seen it!” Ji Shulan’s fury grew. Her eyes reddened. “You deliberately made a scene to get the Prince talking to you. Otherwise, why would you still be at the pavilion by the lake after you’d already left?”

“Smack!”

Ji Hua raised a hand and slapped her across the face.

Her stunningly beautiful face bore only a chilling, murderous coldness.

In an instant, Ji Shulan’s cheek swelled high, the pain burning fiercely.

She screamed, “Ji Hua, how dare you!”

“What is there to dare?” Ji Hua advanced coldly, her fierce eyes filled with icy resolve. “This slap is to show you the consequences of slandering me!”

Ji Shulan, furious beyond reason, spat venom. “You wretched woman! It’s clearly you—”

“Smack!”

Ji Hua struck again without mercy.

Now both sides of Ji Shulan’s face were swollen grotesquely, pain bringing tears to her eyes.

“This slap is from your elder sister, teaching you to behave.”

Liu Yiyi handed over a handkerchief. Ji Hua lightly wiped her fingers, her indifferent gaze fixed on Ji Shulan.

Ji Shulan’s eyes burned with hatred. Why?

Why did Ji Hua always outdo her? Why did Ji Hua get everything?

She glared fiercely at Ji Hua and suddenly lunged forward, raising her hand—

“I am the Prince’s fiancée! You’d better remember that!”

Just as her palm was about to fall,

Liu Yiyi suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Ji Shulan’s wrist.

This time, it was her turn to protect the young lady.

She pushed Ji Shulan aside and spread her arms to shield Ji Hua. “No one is allowed to harm Miss!”

“Fine, fine!”

Ji Shulan laughed bitterly through her fury. “How dare you insult me? Guards, seize her!”