Chapter 37: Blunt but True-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)

After finishing her words, Ji Hua patted Ji Shulan on the shoulder and walked away with Liu Yiyi, directly bypassing her.

Ji Shulan was stunned by the remark and did not react until Ji Hua had already left. She scrambled to chase after her, cursing loudly.

"You bitch! Do you think you have any right to lecture me? It is clearly your own issues being discussed right now! And what right do you have to bring up Prince Xuan? He is my future husband!"

"You shameless woman, you are the two-faced slut who looks at the pot while eating from the bowl! Come back here!"

Ji Shulan hurled insults at Ji Hua’s retreating back, but Ji Hua did not even pause, disappearing from view with Liu Yiyi.

Ji Shulan would not give up the pursuit, but she was grabbed by someone. She angrily shook off Nanny Hu. Nanny Hu was an elderly woman specifically arranged by her mother to keep an eye on her out of concern. However, in Ji Shulan’s eyes, such a lack of awareness—delaying her from settling the score with Ji Hua—made the woman nothing but a burden.

"Why are you holding me back?" Ji Shulan snapped. "Ji Hua has run off now; are you going to take responsibility for it? Let go of me! I should never have kept you by my side. I’ll send you back the moment I return!"

Nanny Hu knew her young mistress had a foul temper, but she still had to offer counsel; that was exactly why the Madam had sent her. Recalling what Ji Hua had said earlier, Nanny Hu asked cautiously, "Miss, was what the Eldest Young Lady said true? Did Prince Xuan really ask you to inquire about this?"

Ji Shulan’s expression darkened. "I haven't even finished settling accounts with you, and now you dare to question me? Who are you to ask who sent me!"

Although Ji Shulan did not answer directly, her reaction confirmed Nanny Hu's suspicions. The Eldest Young Lady had guessed correctly—it really was Prince Xuan who had sent the girl to pry. Nanny Hu’s brow furrowed. The girl was young and naive, but as someone who had lived through many years, how could she not see the danger? She didn't know what had happened at the banquet, but if it involved the Crown Prince, it was not something a sheltered young lady of the inner court should be meddling in.

Furthermore, it seemed Prince Xuan himself was in the dark. In such circumstances, having the young mistress chase after the Eldest Young Lady for information meant she was being used as a pawn. Recalling the Eldest Young Lady’s words—*Don't be so eager to grovel before a man!*—Nanny Hu sighed. The words were harsh, but they rang true.

It was hard to say what motive the Eldest Young Lady had for giving such advice, but the logic was sound. Nanny Hu began to persuade her, "Miss, this matter is highly unusual. Why didn't you explain it more clearly to the Madam? If it truly was Prince Xuan who sent you to ask the Eldest Young Lady, then..."

"What, you share Ji Hua’s opinion? You think I shouldn't have gotten involved? You think I’m being too desperate?"

Ji Shulan was already fuming from her encounter with Ji Hua, and Nanny Hu’s implication that she agreed with her rival only fueled her rage. Nanny Hu licked her lips and, seeing the young mistress’s state, decided to soothe her with a flattering smile.

"Miss, this servant is only concerned for you. The Madam sent me here, and I must perform my duties well. Please don't be angry. If you think the Eldest Young Lady was wrong, why not ask for the Madam’s opinion? Surely the Madam would never harm you."

Hearing this, Ji Shulan did not retort. Among everyone in the household, she knew her mother was the one who cared for her most. She also understood why her mother had sent Nanny Hu. Nanny Hu knew nothing of her rebirth, as her mother had strictly forbidden her from telling anyone. Her mother worried she might make a slip of the tongue, and this arrangement was for her protection. Ji Shulan could accept that, but she could not accept Nanny Hu siding with Ji Hua.

Still, her temper softened slightly. "I'll tell her, then! I don't believe Mother is as disloyal as you, turning her back on her own!" With that, she went off to find her mother. Nanny Hu breathed a sigh of relief, happy to have calmed the young mistress down, and hurried after her.

...

"Miss, please have some tea."

Back in her courtyard, Liu Yiyi poured warm tea and asked curiously, "Miss, why did you say those things to the Second Young Lady? Weren't you just helping her? If she wants to be so eager to please Prince Xuan, let her. If she gets hurt, it's her own fault."

Ji Hua smiled. "Do you really think I was helping her?"

Liu Yiyi looked confused. "Wasn't it?"

Ji Hua smiled without explaining. She was certainly not trying to help Ji Shulan. Why bother waking her up? If that fool Ji Shulan wanted to ruin herself, Ji Hua would be happy to watch. However... Ji Shulan was also reborn.

Ever since realizing this, Ji Hua had felt a lingering anxiety. She could use her memories from her past life to help Ling Yuzhao avoid risks and navigate traps set by others. By the same token, Ji Shulan could do the same. While Ji Shulan’s own intellect might not be enough to grasp the consequences of complex, man-made disasters, if she told Ling Moxuan everything she remembered, even if he had to analyze it himself, his sharp mind would be able to reconstruct most of it.

That was a problem for Ji Hua. She had spoken those words to prevent Ji Shulan from impulsively feeding vital information to Ling Moxuan in the short term. She couldn't silence Ji Shulan permanently, but she could buy some time. Still, it wouldn't last long; one day, in a fit of emotion, Ji Shulan might spill everything, rendering her efforts useless.

Most importantly, now that the imperial edict for the marriage had been issued, Ling Moxuan and Ji Shulan would sooner or later be one family. They would share the same interests. When that time came, to suppress Ji Hua or help Ling Moxuan ascend the throne, Ji Shulan would likely be eager to write down everything from her past life for Ling Moxuan to study in detail.

Ji Hua’s heart sank. She had thought her rebirth was a divine mercy, a chance for revenge. Yet, fate had granted Ji Shulan the same opportunity to alter her destiny. With Ling Moxuan’s cunning, if he knew the events of the past life, he would be like a tiger gaining wings. Her efforts to help the Crown Prince avoid risks would become meaningless, as Ling Moxuan would surely adapt his strategy. At best, it would be a stalemate. But she wanted an absolute advantage—she wanted Ling Moxuan’s failure to be an inevitable conclusion.

Ji Hua gritted her teeth, her eyes deep and cold. Liu Yiyi, sensing her mistress’s distress, wanted to offer comfort but, seeing her expression, wisely chose to remain silent and simply keep her company. After a moment of thought, Ji Hua reached a decision. Her only concern was Ji Shulan revealing the past to Ling Moxuan; tracing it back to the root, Ji Shulan was currently her greatest threat.