Chapter 31: Decisive and Swift-Irmã Louca Rouba o Casamento? Após Trocar de Lugar com Ela e Casar com o Príncipe Herdeiro de Vida Curta, Eu Subi ao Trono como Imperatriz(Estrela e Pintura de Primavera)

Had it not been for Ji Hua's warning, Ling Yuzhao did not believe he could have evaded the trap.

Ling Moxia, however, surely would not have imagined that his intricate scheme would be exposed by Ji Hua in advance, and that she would go so far as to tip him off. Now, it seemed, Ling Moxia would not get his wish.

Ling Yuzhao’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Miss Ji is truly my lucky star. Very well, I shall follow your lead this time."

With that, Ling Yuzhao acted immediately, ordering his guards to steer the boat toward the bank.

"Your Highness, what are you planning?" Ji Hua asked, puzzled.

Ling Yuzhao stared at Dong Yufeng and his companions on the shore, his eyes fixed on them like a silver wolf tracking its prey. "Did you not say, Miss Ji, that we must strike first? We must take the initiative before Ling Moxia can react. Be sharp, Miss Ji, and coordinate with me."

Before Ji Hua could figure out what he wanted her to do, the pleasure boat had already docked. Ling Yuzhao stood up and stepped off; Ji Hua frowned, but followed him quickly.

"They’re off! The Crown Prince is off the boat!" Beneath a willow tree, a sharp-eyed young nobleman caught sight of the Prince disembarking and, in his excitement, whispered a reminder to his group.

Dong Yufeng saw it too. Masking the excitement in his eyes, he cautioned his companions, "Stay steady. Do not say a word until I give the signal."

The others nodded. Dong Yufeng then led the way toward Ling Yuzhao. Standing at the Prince's side, watching them approach, a thought crossed Ji Hua’s mind: *Walking right into the trap!*

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" As they drew near, Dong Yufeng and his group were immediately blocked by the Crown Prince’s guards.

Ling Yuzhao raised an eyebrow. "Let them through."

Upon the Prince’s command, the guards stepped aside. Dong Yufeng and his men exhaled in relief. Ji Hua glanced at Ling Yuzhao, curious to see what he would do—and then she witnessed a masterclass in swift, decisive action.

"Your Highness."

When Dong Yufeng and his companions reached him, they were still wearing fawning expressions, but before they could utter a word, the Prince’s stern face broke into a rare smile, his entire demeanor softening.

Then, Ji Hua watched as Ling Yuzhao slowly removed the jade thumb ring from his left hand and tossed it onto the ground. With a crisp *crack*, the ring shattered into two pieces.

Ji Hua’s eyes widened, and the group from the shore jumped in shock. Ling Yuzhao’s cold voice rang out, cutting through the air. "Insolence! Guards! Seize them! How dare they destroy an imperial gift and offend me? Arrest them all!"

Before the words had even faded, the guards patrolling the area swarmed in and apprehended Dong Yufeng and his men.

Ji Hua, catching on, added, "Your Highness, these people are bold enough to defy heaven. Gag them as well, lest they start spinning lies."

The commotion was significant. Out of the corner of her eye, Ji Hua saw nearby nobles turning to look, some already heading their way. Under the public gaze, they could not allow Dong Yufeng to sow seeds of doubt.

Ling Yuzhao nodded at the guards. They acted with practiced efficiency; using what was at hand, they drew their swords to slice the hems of the men’s robes, rolled the fabric into balls, and shoved them into their mouths. Before the crowd of onlookers could arrive, the men were tightly bound, ensuring they could not break free.

Ji Hua played her part perfectly. Seeing the confused expressions of the approaching nobles, she spoke in a commanding voice, "What audacity! To dare offend the Crown Prince and destroy an object bestowed by the Emperor! Do you even know what an imperial gift is? It was a token from His Majesty himself! What crime is this?"

The first to arrive, hearing Ji Hua’s words and taking them at face value, assumed they knew the situation and kindly explained the events to the latecomers. Within moments, everyone watching knew that Dong Yufeng and his group had been brazen enough to offend the Prince and shatter his jade ring.

It was indeed audacious. More importantly, these men looked unfamiliar—they did not appear to be among the elite youth of the capital.

"I don't recognize any of them," someone questioned. "Are they guests from one of the noble houses?"

"Surely not. Even if they were, I would recognize at least one. Who brought them to the lake banquet today?"

They exchanged glances, waiting for someone to claim knowledge, but no one spoke up. Then, someone voiced a new suspicion: "Could they be... spies or assassins who snuck in?"

At the mention of "assassins," many were frightened, but seeing Dong Yufeng and his men bound and captured, they felt a sense of relief. It was at this height of speculation that Ling Moxia finally made his delayed entrance.

"Make way! Move aside! Prince Xuan is here!" A guard clearing the path pushed through the throng. The crowd parted.

Prince Xuan strode in with a grave expression, followed by his own guards—and, of course, a crowd of curious onlookers. Before he even saw the scene, he called out, "Why is everyone gathered here? What is the matter between the Crown Prince and these people—"

He stopped mid-sentence as he reached the front and saw the bound men. Clearly, this was not how he had envisioned the play unfolding. He immediately composed himself and turned to Ling Yuzhao, his face etched with concern—though the transition was so abrupt that his expression appeared somewhat stiff.

"Your Highness, what is happening here? Who are these people? What could they have possibly said to make you so angry that you had them bound?"

Ling Yuzhao stared at Ling Moxia’s face for a long, searching moment before answering casually. "I do not know. They look unfamiliar, and everyone is speculating whether they are spies or assassins who have snuck in. Regardless, their offense against me is a fact."

With that brief explanation, he ordered his guards, "Take them away!"

"Wait!" Ling Moxia blurted out.

The shout drew everyone’s attention. Ling Yuzhao raised a brow. "What? Does my royal brother know them?"

Realizing his impatience had been too obvious, Ling Moxia coughed and stepped forward to stand before Ling Yuzhao. "No, I do not. It is just that these men look truly suspicious. I invited everyone to this banquet, and I never expected such a thing to occur. If we do not uncover their origins, I fear no one will be able to rest easy tonight."

"Why not interrogate them publicly to see what is going on? If they are assassins or spies, they should be sent to the Ministry of Justice at once. If they are merely commoners who snuck in, then—"

"Since when has Prince Xuan become so lenient?" Ling Yuzhao interrupted, dropping the title of "royal brother" and addressing him simply as Prince Xuan.