Chapter 4: The Tiger and the Wolf—Which Path Will She Choose?

Ling Yuzhao's kiss had already landed on her cherry lips.

This kiss seemed to harbor a myriad of tenderness and extreme caution, as if she were a precious treasure being treated with the utmost care. For a moment, it even made her forget to resist.

Ling Yuzhao gently tucked the stray hair behind her ear.

"Wait for me to marry you."

He released her, and in the blink of an eye, he had vanished from the window.

Ji Hua stood where she was, her hand unconsciously brushing against her lips. The words Ling Moxuan had spoken in her previous life swirled continuously in her mind.

Ling Yuzhao... Did he truly cherish her?

But in an instant, Ji Hua regained her clarity. It was impossible; Ling Yuzhao had never liked her from the very beginning. She did not want to get entangled in the struggle for royal power or the complications of romance again. She only wanted to live well.

Ji Hua changed her clothes. She sat at the table and drank a cup of cold tea to settle her chaotic thoughts. She had yet to recover from the panic of nearly being discovered just moments ago. It was so close—she had almost been on the verge of repeating the same mistakes.

The current Emperor was in the prime of his life, and the Crown Prince had already been appointed, dividing the imperial court into three factions: one supporting the Crown Prince, one supporting Ling Moxuan, and a third that remained neutral, led by her father, Prime Minister Ji.

The Emperor intended for her and Ji Shulan to each choose one of the princes, which led to the events of today. Although her biological mother had passed away early, her father had never shown any partiality between her and Ji Shulan. Regardless of who married the Crown Prince, it would not affect her father's neutrality, for the Prime Minister was the head of all officials, possessing immense power. Once he took a clear stance, the daughter who did not marry into that side would surely face a difficult life. This was the Emperor’s art of balance, ensuring that the court remained stable.

An hour later, footsteps suddenly echoed in the courtyard.

"Hua'er!"

Ji Hua’s heart trembled. Father! She could finally see her father!

Ji Hua hurried to open the door. Her father, her stepmother, and Ji Shulan were all in the courtyard. Ji Wenbin, dressed in a black robe with gold embroidery, his features stern and resolute, looked at her with eyes filled with worry. "I heard you suddenly disappeared during the banquet. What happened?"

Ji Hua had never imagined she would see her father again. During those days when she was imprisoned, her father had tried to visit her at the Prince’s residence more than once, only to be turned away by Ling Moxuan under various pretexts. Although she had never experienced a mother's love, her father had doubled the affection he gave her to make up for it.

Ji Hua’s gaze flickered, and she struggled to suppress her emotions, forcing herself to remain calm.

"I am fine, Father. It was the Crown Prince who escorted me back."

As soon as these words were spoken, her stepmother’s cold gaze swept over her, and she said with authority, "Nonsense! How could the Crown Prince possibly escort you?"

Ji Hua turned to look. Her stepmother, Liu Qingmei, was dressed in a red peony-patterned gown, adorned with pearls and jade. She was well-maintained, her features elegant and dignified.

Ji Wenbin frowned at her. "It was merely the Crown Prince’s kindness to provide protection; do not interpret things so sordidly."

Liu Qingmei’s expression darkened significantly. "My lord, it is not that I am being intentional, but she is still an unmarried maiden. To have an outside man like the Crown Prince escort her—would that not invite ridicule if word got out?"

Ji Hua curled her lips coldly. The lady of the house was as imposing as ever. Over the years, she had managed to maintain her position not only through her beauty but also through her cunning and manipulation. To win her father’s allegiance, various ministers had sent their wives to intervene, yet Liu Qingmei had remained neutral without offending anyone, and no one held a grudge against her. She managed the household with such skill that it spared her father a great deal of worry.

Her stepmother had long planned to marry Ji Shulan to the Crown Prince; if the Crown Prince were to marry her instead, wouldn’t that ruin her stepmother's plans?

Ji Wenbin’s eyes were filled with dissatisfaction. "Hua'er has her own sense of propriety. I have seen how you have treated her all these years. Has she ever shown you even a hint of disrespect?" He sighed involuntarily; his wife was excellent in every way, except for being overly harsh toward Hua'er.

Liu Qingmei paused, remaining dignified. "My lord, that is not the same thing at all."

Ji Wenbin raised a hand to interrupt her and turned back to Ji Hua. "The wedding is drawing near. Have you sisters decided whom you wish to marry?"

Ji Hua’s gaze darkened. Between a tiger and a wolf, how could she choose? But before she could speak, Ji Shulan suddenly stepped forward, her expression firm.

"Father, daughter wishes to marry Prince Xuan!"

Ji Hua was slightly stunned and instinctively looked at her. Ji Shulan was dressed in a green gown, wearing light green jade hairpins and earrings. She resembled Liu Qingmei by seventy percent, with skin as white as snow and moist eyes full of charm. Although she could not compare to Ji Hua, she was still a rare beauty.

Her words stirred a storm. Ji Shulan gripped her fists tightly, her body trembling. "I do not want to marry the Crown Prince! I would rather die than marry the Crown Prince!" Her voice was filled with panic, her eyes darting around.

Ji Hua’s surprise grew. In her previous life, Ji Shulan had been adamant about marrying the Crown Prince, but now, what was wrong with her? Could it be—!

Liu Qingmei’s eyes darkened with concern as she took Ji Shulan’s arm. "Are you feeling unwell?" If the Crown Prince were to ascend the throne in the future, she would be the Empress! What could possibly be wrong with her?

Ji Shulan shook off Liu Qingmei’s hand forcefully. "If you do not let me marry Prince Xuan, then I will die!" Ji Shulan shrieked, her eyes filled with determination. It was as if the bright path Liu Qingmei had paved for her was, in her eyes, a hell driving her to her death.

Ji Hua smirked. So, Ji Shulan had also been reborn. But did she truly believe Prince Xuan was a good match? Ling Moxuan cared only for profit; anyone could be a stepping stone for his ascent. In the past, when her maternal grandfather’s family had been loyal to Ling Moxuan, he had drained them of every benefit and then ruthlessly had them killed.

Liu Qingmei looked at Ji Shulan with hesitation, seemingly wanting to speak but fearing to provoke her. "Shulan, calm down first."

Ji Shulan gritted her teeth. "If you don't let me marry Prince Xuan, I will drown myself!"

Her erratic behavior left everyone, except Ji Hua, completely bewildered. Liu Qingmei, in particular, had a look of murderous intent beneath her furrowed brows. Had Ji Hua done something to her?

Ji Wenbin looked at Ji Hua with a complex expression. "Hua'er, whom do you wish to marry?"

Ji Hua pursed her lips, her eyes resolute. The Crown Prince and Prince Xuan were natural enemies. With her foresight from her previous life, she could help the Crown Prince avoid many dangers and, furthermore, use his hand to topple Ling Moxuan! Why not?

Ji Hua raised her eyes to look at Ji Shulan. "Have you decided? To marry Prince Xuan?"

On Ji Shulan’s pale face, the panic had not yet faded, and her fingers beneath her sleeves were trembling, but she remained adamant. "That’s right! I must marry Prince Xuan!"

Liu Qingmei’s gaze grew colder, but given Ji Shulan’s state, there was nothing she could say.

Ji Hua nodded. "Fine, then I will marry the Crown Prince."

The hand hidden in her sleeve had its nails deeply embedded in her palm. Ling Moxuan, we are starting over again. I will make sure you are ground to dust!

Ji Wenbin’s face did not show any relief; instead, it was heavy and complex. "Since you have both chosen, I will submit a petition to the Emperor tomorrow, and the decree will be issued soon. I will prepare the dowries for both of you in advance; I will not be partial." This was the last thing he could do as a father.

Ji Shulan breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Hua frowned slightly. In her previous life, she didn't seem to recall any imperial decree, nor had any eunuch come to announce one.

Ji Wenbin leaned toward Liu Qingmei, seeing her darkening gaze, and whispered, "Ask Lan'er privately what is wrong; her mood is not right."

Liu Qingmei nodded and immediately pulled Ji Shulan back toward her room. Ji Shulan looked grim. "Mother, you..."

Before she could finish her sentence, only the sound of...