Chapter 58 Is the Plan Leaked Again?

Prince Xuan, Ling Muxuan, felt a surge of dissatisfaction in his heart, but he did not let it show on his face, offering instead a mocking smile.

Of course, Ji Shulan was completely oblivious to it.

Ling Muxuan asked directly, "You said the Crown Prince will face punishment. What do you mean by that? What kind of punishment will he suffer? Could it be that you intend to go and lodge a complaint? Or question him?"

Ji Shulan shook her head, smiling rather cryptically.

"Your Highness, rest assured. The Crown Prince has bullied you so, and the heavens are watching. He will definitely be punished!"

Initially, Ji Shulan had intended to leave it at that.

However, when she looked at Prince Xuan's expressionless face, she worried that being too vague might not work.

Otherwise, even if something were to happen to the Crown Prince in the end, Prince Xuan might not necessarily believe it was due to her accurate prediction.

After much deliberation, Ji Shulan decided to spell it out more clearly, suppressing her excitement as she spoke.

"I believe the Crown Prince will suffer severe punishment today for bullying Your Highness. Most likely... he will fall from his horse and be trampled by it, sustaining heavy injuries. Perhaps he might even break his leg!"

Ji Shulan excitedly described the events of her past life, completely failing to notice the sudden change in Ling Muxuan's expression.

Yet, within a mere fraction of a second, Ling Muxuan reined in his emotions, his eyes merely flickering with endless suspicion.

He forced a smile, gritting his teeth as he asked, "How could the Second Young Miss Ji come to such a thought? Why would the Crown Prince fall from his horse? Did someone say something to you?"

Shock rippled through Ling Muxuan's heart, and he tested her with his words.

How did Ji Shulan know?

His plan had been executed with utmost secrecy, and yet Ji Shulan knew what he intended to do to Ling Yuzhao...

Having experienced the failure of the previous banquet, Ling Muxuan could not afford to be anything less than sensitive.

His plan had not even begun to unfold, and yet this fool Ji Shulan already knew? Had his scheme been exposed?

Or did Ji Shulan possess some extraordinary ability that allowed her to uncover his plot?

At this thought, a trace of icy chill flashed deep within Ling Muxuan's eyes.

Ji Shulan remained completely unaware that he was looking at her as if she were already a dead person, happily eager to explain that it was her own premonition.

Nurse Hu's voice interrupted the words that were about to slip from her lips.

"Second Young Miss, My Lord is calling for you."

With those words, she bowed toward Ling Muxuan.

"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Xuan."

Ling Muxuan frowned, staring unhappily at Nurse Hu.

Every time they were about to discuss something important, someone would inevitably pop up to interrupt. Ling Muxuan could not help but suspect that his luck had simply run out, colliding with some ominous force that made everything go awry.

There was no way to question Ling Yuzhao further.

However, there was no need to show such restraint with Ji Shulan.

Before Ji Shulan could speak, Prince Xuan interjected, "Since the Prime Minister has sent for you, I shall not detain you. But the Second Young Miss had better make her words clear. Such remarks must not be spoken casually. Where on earth did the Second Young Miss hear such talk?"

Ji Shulan harbored no suspicion whatsoever regarding the intent behind Ling Muxuan's inquiry and eagerly spilled the explanation she had prepared beforehand.

With a mysterious air, she said, "Your Highness does not know this, but ever since I was young, I have possessed a special ability—I dream of things that might happen in the future, though most of them must involve me in some way."

"For instance, if I am present in the dream, it counts. Yesterday, I dreamed of what would happen today at the racecourse..."

At this point, as if just noticing Nurse Hu standing nearby, Ji Shulan abruptly clamped her mouth shut and turned to Ling Muxuan.

"Anyway! Your Highness, I simply know. If you do not believe me, just wait and see for yourself."

Having said this, as if terrified that Ling Muxuan might continue questioning her, she immediately addressed Nurse Hu.

"Let's go, don't let Father wait too long!"

She put on the complete facade of a well-behaved daughter.

Then, offering Ling Muxuan a shy bow, she turned and left in the company of Nurse Hu.

Upon hearing Ji Shulan's absurd discourse about prophetic dreams, Ling Muxuan was torn between laughter and rage for a moment.

He must truly have lost his mind.

To actually stand there listening to this fool babble nonsense!

Yet... if she was merely spouting falsehoods, how on earth had she discovered his plan?

Ling Muxuan's eyes were filled with doubt. When he realized he had allowed himself to be sidetracked by a fool's ramblings, annoyance crept into his heart, and he muttered in a huff, "How could I, in my right mind, believe the nonsense of an idiot? Truly, meeting with consecutive setbacks has made me lose my wits!"

Perhaps... it was simply a coincidence.

Having no alternative, since Ling Muxuan could find no logical reason for Ji Shulan to know of his plot, he had no choice but to attribute it to coincidence.

...

"Did Father say anything?"

Ji Shulan had only walked a few paces behind Nurse Hu when she spotted her father and Ji Hua standing side by side not far away.

The two of them appeared to be still discussing something.

Wondering whether Ji Hua was speaking ill of her, Ji Shulan wanted to pry a bit more information out of Nurse Hu.

Nurse Hu shook her head with a helpless expression.

"This servant does not know either. My Lord simply sent a servant to deliver the message; this servant has no idea what My Lord intends to do, but..."

"Second Young Miss, for you to run over to the men's quarters and converse with Prince Xuan, His Lordship will likely not be pleased."

A nameless tension gripped Ji Shulan's heart.

She knew she had been somewhat impulsive today, but she felt no regret.

At any rate, what needed to be done had already been accomplished.

As long as Prince Xuan believed in her abilities, and later Ling Yuzhao fell from his horse and broke his leg precisely as she had predicted, then all her recklessness today would be entirely worthwhile!

At this thought, Ji Shulan instinctively straightened her back. When she walked up to Ji Wenbin, there was not a shred of guilt on her face.

"Father, did you look for me?"

With a darkened countenance, Ji Wenbin watched his second daughter display a complete lack of remorse, and the anger in his heart could finally no longer be contained.

Originally, he had thought that his younger daughter might merely have acted on impulse out of youthful ignorance.

Seeing Miss Meng being able to converse with the Duke of Meng on such an occasion must have stirred up a competitive spirit within her, leading to her reckless behavior.

She was young, and thus her actions were excusable; after all, she was his own daughter, and he could simply scold her a couple of times.

Yet, looking at Ji Shulan's current demeanor—

Hmph!

Ji Wenbin knew he had misjudged her.

She still needed a severe reprimand!

Especially since Ji Shulan's impulsive dash into the male guest enclosure seemed to have implicated his eldest daughter as well.

The expression on Ji Wenbin's face turned a shade more solemn as he commanded outright, "Both of you, stand right there!"

He pointed to a specific spot.

Ji Hua obediently walked over and stood where Ji Wenbin had instructed.

Seeing Ji Hua putting on such an obedient act, Ji Shulan let out a cold snort and reluctantly shuffled over to stand there as well.

However, she was not entirely foolish; one look at her father's expression told her he was genuinely angry, forcing her to resort to coaxing and pleading.

"Father, do not look at me like that, I am frightened... If there is a matter, let us speak of it properly..."

"Shut your mouth!"

Ji Wenbin coldly cut off Ji Shulan's words, then assumed an imposing posture, radiating an oppressive aura.

"What occasion is today? Instead of staying properly in the women's quarters, what were you both doing running over to the men's side?"

Ji Hua spoke up first, seizing the initiative.

"Father, Hua'er did not mean to. It was younger sister... who suddenly ran over in this direction, and at the time, the Mistress was already displeased. There were also many matrons and young ladies watching from the sidelines, and fearing that younger sister might cause a disaster, I chased after her."