Chapter 32: Take Them All Away-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)

The Crown Prince wore a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"As I just stated, they have offended me and shattered the jade thumb ring given to me by the Emperor. Regardless of whether they are assassins or something else, I cannot treat them lightly!"

Ling Yuzhao’s attitude was resolute. Ling Moxuan, upon hearing this, looked down and indeed saw the white jade thumb ring, which Ling Yuzhao often wore, broken into two pieces. Although he could not fathom how the ring, which had been securely on Ling Yuzhao’s finger, had come to be shattered, he certainly could not defend Dong Yufeng and his companions at this moment; doing so would be far too conspicuous.

However, letting Ling Yuzhao take them away was out of the question. The plan had gone awry, and these people had to be under his control. If the plan failed, it was one thing, but if they were taken by Ling Yuzhao, it would be a disaster.

Ling Moxuan immediately feigned shock and anger. He crouched down to pick up the shards of the ring, his expression filled with regret. "To think they would destroy a ring bestowed by the Imperial Father—this is truly detestable! Brother, ordinary people would not dare to do such a thing; they are indeed highly suspicious."

"Brother, why not hand them over to me? I will personally escort them to the Ministry of Justice prison. With some heavy interrogation, they will surely spill something!"

Ling Yuzhao reached out to take back the shards. After toying with them for a moment, he looked down at Dong Yufeng and the others from his elevated position and sneered. "No need. They are just people of unknown origin; what qualifications do they have to enter the Ministry of Justice? That is a place for questioning officials of our dynasty. What are they worth? Just send them directly to the Jingzhao Prefecture."

Watching the brothers trade barbs, Ji Hua realized that Prince Xuan had already lost the upper hand. She couldn't help but admire the Crown Prince’s decisiveness. His sudden arrest meant that even with Prince Xuan’s timely arrival, nothing could be changed. After all, Dong Yufeng and his group hadn't had the chance to implicate Gu Zirui or the Crown Prince, nor had they even had the opportunity to reveal their identities to the assembled nobles. Thus, they remained mere suspicious individuals of unknown origin, left entirely at the mercy of the Crown Prince.

The Ministry of Justice was Ling Moxuan’s territory, but if they were locked up in the Jingzhao Prefecture first, and the women of the Feng family were located quickly, the subsequent matters would be much easier to handle.

Ling Yuzhao didn't dally any longer. He turned and walked away, his guards trailing behind with Dong Yufeng and the others, leaving Ling Moxuan no chance to intervene. Dong Yufeng’s group dared not expose their connection to Prince Xuan. Aside from a fleeting glance of hope when Prince Xuan appeared, they kept their heads bowed. Now, being forcibly taken away, they didn't dare make a single unnecessary movement, terrified of leaving behind any evidence.

Seeing this, Ji Hua hurried to follow, but she was cut off halfway by Ji Shulan.

"Ji Hua, stop!" She was as overbearing as ever.

Ji Hua was forced to halt. Looking at Ji Shulan, who was inches away, she stepped back with an expression of distinct distaste and asked coldly, "What is it?"

Ji Shulan glanced back toward the direction the Crown Prince and his party had departed—the pier, which was the only way to leave the lake banquet. The Crown Prince was leaving. Ji Shulan had arrived late to the commotion and only heard a rough summary, so she had chased after Ji Hua to ask, "What did those people do? Why did the Crown Prince have them arrested?"

Ji Hua scoffed, laughing, "Ji Shulan, what makes you think I would answer your questions? Is it because of your thick skin?"

"You!" Ji Shulan was choked with rage.

Ji Hua’s gaze drifted past Ji Shulan, catching sight of someone behind her. She then returned her eyes to Ji Shulan’s flushed, angry face and raised her voice. "Little sister, didn't you choose Prince Xuan? Why are you still prying into the Crown Prince’s affairs? Before the imperial decree for your marriage was issued, you were constantly shouting about wanting to be the Crown Princess."

"You said that once you became Empress, you would rule the world and trample me underfoot. I never expected you to change your heart so quickly, suddenly deciding on the eve of the decree that you had taken a fancy to Prince Xuan instead."

"Now that the marriage decree is out and you are on the verge of fulfilling your wish to become the Princess of Xuan, why are you running up to me to ask about the Crown Prince? You seem so very concerned about him." Ji Hua’s tone took on a hint of mock disappointment. "I’ve known your nature since we were young—you’ve always been fickle. I won’t hold it against you, but the Crown Prince and Prince Xuan are not the wooden puppets we fought over as children; they are imperial princes."

"To take it a step further, regardless of how improper and offensive your behavior is toward the princes, from a personal standpoint, if Prince Xuan knew you had someone in your heart while your eyes were chasing another, he would surely be heartbroken. After all, you are to spend your whole life together!"

Ji Hua spoke so rapidly that Ji Shulan had no chance to interject. When Ji Hua finally finished and Ji Shulan prepared to retort, Ji Hua cut her off again.

"What, little sister? Are you trying to deny it? Have you forgotten what you said publicly at the flower-viewing and tea parties hosted by the ladies of the capital?"

"You publicly declared that the Crown Prince was brilliant and heroic and that you hoped to be his Crown Princess. Many people heard those words; it is common knowledge. Do you still intend to deny it?"

Ji Shulan froze instantly.

She had indeed said such things. In her previous life, after she truly married the Crown Prince and was tormented by that fiend, she had regretted those words countless times. It felt like a self-imposed curse! Upon her rebirth, she had been so focused on changing her fate that she had completely forgotten this detail.

Now that this wretch was bringing up the past, Ji Shulan felt a wave of panic. She had expressed her admiration for Prince Xuan many times. If the words she had spoken at those banquets about wanting to be the Crown Princess reached Prince Xuan’s ears, what would she do?

Ji Shulan was both furious and anxious. She lowered her voice and threatened Ji Hua, "I—I warn you! Do not stir up trouble and spout nonsense! That—that was all—"

"Forget it!" Ji Hua sighed, cutting her off again as she raised an eyebrow with a faint, mocking curve of her lips. "If you don't want me to speak because you fear I will affect your relationship with Prince Xuan, then I won't. After all, we are family, and you have been willful since childhood; there is nothing I can do about it."

"With the mistress of the house doting on you, I only hope that you will be more prudent in your speech after you marry. If you disgrace yourself again, don't let it fall on my head. In the future, you will represent the face of Prince Xuan. If you speak like this again, and Prince Xuan decides to handle it with family law, sister won't be able to plead for you..."

With that, Ji Hua offered a meaningful smile and bypassed Ji Shulan, following in the direction Ling Yuzhao had left. After a few steps, she passed several people who had been eavesdropping on the commotion and nodded to them with a smile.

Indeed, Ji Hua had deliberately raised her voice to speak to Ji Shulan because she had noticed several noble daughters approaching behind her—and, furthermore, Ling Moxuan was among them.

Wasn't that just perfect? It was only that Ling Moxuan was standing at the very back, and no one had noticed him.