Chapter 33: Volunteering for the Mission

As Ji Hua left, the young ladies who had been eavesdropping couldn’t help but start whispering among themselves.

“Really? How come I didn’t know about this? Second Miss Ji is quite something—doesn’t this count as fickleness?”

“Oh, come on, what do you mean by fickleness? Didn’t Miss Ji himself say that Second Miss Ji just likes to compete? When they were little, she competed with the eldest Miss Ji over small trinkets, and now she’s competing with her for a husband. But she does have guts, to openly say she wants to be Crown Princess.”

“Right? No shame at all. I wonder how the Prime Minister’s household disciplines their children. I heard from my father that the Prime Minister is quite authoritative in court.”

“Hah, what do you know? The Prime Minister is one thing, and the Prime Minister’s wife is another. The lady currently presiding over the rear quarters of the Prime Minister’s mansion is the second wife, not the original spouse. What respectable family would willingly accept a second wife?”

“Tsk, they say you can judge a person by small things. With Second Miss Ji’s attitude, her mother must have had a major influence.”

The young ladies burst into laughter at that remark.

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out from behind.

“Second Miss Ji!”

Startled, the young ladies turned around to see Prince Xuan standing there, his face pale.

They quickly stepped back and bowed.

“Your Highness, Prince Xuan!”

Ling Moxuan gave them a cold glance, a faint smile on his face that was nonetheless intimidating.

“Ladies, do you have other business? If not, I would like to speak with Second Miss Ji alone.”

The young ladies scattered at once.

Hearing Prince Xuan’s voice, Ji Shulan was also taken aback.

She turned to see Prince Xuan striding toward her, with several fleeing young ladies in the distance.

She immediately realized that Ji Hua had set her up.

Swallowing nervously, she tried to explain as he approached.

“Your Highness, please don’t believe what my sister said. She did it on purpose! She deliberately—”

“Second Miss Ji!” Ling Moxuan interrupted sharply, his tone icy.

“There was a mishap at the banquet, so it’s ended early. I’ve arranged a boat to take you ashore. You may return now.”

Ling Moxuan had originally followed Ji Hua to ask a few questions but hadn’t expected to stumble upon such a scene.

He didn’t particularly care which woman he married, as long as she could assist him. But hearing his own woman harbor feelings for another man and being picky with him was a different matter altogether.

At least in Ling Moxuan’s eyes, a woman was the one being chosen, and once married, she should be loyal and virtuous.

Ji Shulan was foolish and unruly; she had even coveted Ling Yuzhao before, initially setting her sights on him, and just moments ago had been inquiring about him…

So what now? The imperial marriage decree had already been issued.

Still thinking of infidelity?

Especially since Ji Shulan had done so right in front of Ji Hua.

In other words, Ji Hua had just witnessed her own joke unfold.

Thinking of that cold, aloof woman silently mocking her, Ling Moxuan’s mood darkened, his eyes simmering with a storm of emotions.

Ji Shulan felt the sudden chill around her and rubbed her arms, hastily attempting to explain.

“Your Highness, it’s truly a misunderstanding. The things I said earlier were out of youthful ignorance and thoughtlessness—I was just caught up in anger at the time.”

“Lan’er’s true affection is for Your Highness! I only ran after you just now to ask what happened with Ji Hua; hasn’t she been with the Crown Prince all along?”

Ling Moxuan’s anger abruptly stalled as reason returned.

Yes, he had nearly been misled by trivial matters.

Clearing his mind, Ling Moxuan cast aside the insignificant nonsense, his expression softening as he looked at the anxious Ji Shulan, a plan forming in his mind.

“Second Miss Ji, please don’t take it personally. My anger is not directed at you. I had meticulously prepared this banquet, and its failure fills me with shame. To this day, I still don’t know what exactly happened.”

“The Crown Prince is still upset, so I dare not press him. You’re right—Miss Ji has been with the Crown Prince and might know the reasons. Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to ask Miss Ji now…”

“I’ll go!” Ji Shulan immediately raised her hand, volunteering to inquire.

Ling Moxuan feigned surprise, then smiled faintly.

“In that case, I’ll trouble you, Second Miss Ji.”

Seeing the smile on Ling Moxuan’s face, Ji Shulan’s heart fluttered, leaving her dizzy.

“No, no need to thank me. It’s my duty. I’ll go now!”

She said nervously and hurried off in the direction Ji Hua had gone.

Ling Moxuan’s smile faded, his expression unreadable as he watched Ji Shulan’s retreating figure, though his gaze drifted farther.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, displeased to see Ji Hua entering the painted boat with the Crown Prince.

At the same time, he suspected Ling Yuzhao might know something.

Impossible!

He had planned for so long, setting up carefully concealed traps. Ling Yuzhao simply could not know.

After crafting this plan for so long, he wouldn’t allow Ling Yuzhao to bypass it so easily. He needed to make arrangements immediately.

...

The painted boat was filled with their own people.

Dong Yufeng and the others had been assigned to another boat, making it easier for Ling Yuzhao to speak with Ji Hua.

“Now that the captives have been taken, everything is proceeding smoothly. Miss Ji, do you have any suggestions?”

Ji Hua smiled at his words. “The Crown Prince has arranged things well. They should be sent directly to the Jingzhao Prefecture for interrogation.”

“However, I suggest separating the prisoners so they cannot collude. Without their comrades, fear will make them lose their composure, and they’ll be more likely to spill secrets…”

As she spoke, Ji Hua noticed the faint smile at the corner of Ling Yuzhao’s lips and suddenly realized—

Had she talked too much?

The Crown Prince certainly knew more than she did about these matters, so she quickly retracted her words.

“Your Highness, I don’t know as much as you do, so I won’t pretend to be knowledgeable. But may I accompany you?”

She couldn’t contribute much after this point.

However, if the interrogation yielded information different from what she had told Ling Yuzhao earlier, her presence might be useful.

In any case, until it was certain Ling Yuzhao could fully sidestep the trap Ling Moxuan had set, Ji Hua was uneasy.

“Very well,” Ling Yuzhao agreed readily.

...

“Clatter—”

Chains slid, and a jailer shoved Dong Yufeng roughly into a cell.

He turned to look at his companions, only to find the door slammed shut.

He hurried closer.

His mouth was gagged and his hands bound behind his back, leaving him confused about where the others were being taken.

Then he saw his companions being led to another cell—not next door, but with an empty cell in between—and another door slammed behind them.

They were gagged and bound as well.

Now, they couldn’t even speak, and the nearest companion was separated by an empty cell, making it impossible to read even their expressions!

It was over…