Chapter 64 Reprimanded Again

As she passed by a groom, she gave him a subtle, unreadable look.

The groom gave an almost imperceptible nod, then lowered his head once more, resuming his meek and ordinary demeanor.

...

"Get over here! What were you doing over there just now? Do you know what kind of occasion this is? Running off to the men's guest area in full view of everyone!"

"Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was as your mother when those madmaids and young ladies were laughing at you? I had to rack my brain to smooth things over, and while everyone was treating me as a joke, you certainly went out of your way to humiliate me!"

Liu Qingmei pulled Ji Shulan into a secluded spot and began to lecture her without a trace of courtesy.

Ji Shulan felt deeply aggrieved. She had just been lectured by her father, and now her mother was scolding her as well.

She felt she had done nothing wrong. After all, if that woman surnamed Meng could do those things, why couldn't she?

Besides, was there anything wrong with choosing a target for herself?

At this thought, Ji Shulan came up with an excuse to justify herself. Pouting, she said to Liu Qingmei, "Mother, I just think the Grand Princess Meng is wonderful. Aren't all those people surrounding her trying to curry favor with her? That proves Grand Princess Meng is capable!"

"Her capability doesn't rely on her maternal family, nor on her husband's family—she relies on herself! This shows that even after a woman is married, she can still fight for her own status. I figured that Father is biased toward Ji Hua, and since you are the mistress of the inner courtyard, once I get married, you won't be able to help me much anyway."

Ji Shulan muttered resentfully, "I just thought I would learn from Grand Princess Meng and fight for my own status in my husband's family. That is why I went to exchange a few words with His Highness the Prince Xuan. I didn't do anything too out of line."

"I was merely proving my own ability. If Prince Xuan realizes I am capable before I marry him, he will respect me all the more once I am wed to him!"

Hearing her daughter's words, Liu Qingmei felt a chill in her heart and asked with concern, "What did you say? Didn't I tell you not to speak recklessly? You didn't..."

Her voice trailed off abruptly.

Liu Qingmei looked around vigilantly, lowered her voice, and stepped closer to ask, "Do you know the consequences of saying the wrong thing? Did you treat my words as wind blowing past your ears?"

Ji Shulan had long anticipated her mother's fury, but ever since she saw Grand Princess Meng being showered with flattery, she had already made up her decision: she would rely on herself to carve out a status in front of Prince Xuan!

Therefore, even though she put on a frightened and guilty expression on the outside, she cared not a whit in her heart.

Her mother was, after all, merely a woman of the inner courtyard with little vision. But she herself was someone who had lived through two lifetimes; the things she had witnessed in her past life far surpassed anything her mother could imagine.

Her mother meant well.

However, her mother's perspective was limited and could not truly help her. It was far better to trust herself.

She could forge a path of her own through sheer capability!

If Grand Princess Meng, who lacked her own foresight, could win the admiration of so many noble ladies and the deep respect of Duke Meng, why couldn't she?

With this in mind, Ji Shulan decided to placate her mother first.

In any case, once today was over, Prince Xuan would look at her in a whole new light. Facts would speak louder than words, and her mother would surely change her mind then.

Thus, softening her tone, Ji Shulan said, "Mother, I know I was wrong. I didn't say anything inappropriate; I merely went to exchange a few pleasantries with His Highness Prince Xuan. I didn't say what shouldn't be said—I am not that foolish."

Liu Qingmei remained half-convinced.

"All right! Let the race begin!"

"The Crown Prince will definitely win!"

"The horse Prince Xuan chose looks exceptionally fast!"

At that moment, bursts of cheers erupted from the racecourse, instantly drawing the attention of both mother and daughter.

Ji Shulan looked past her mother, her eyes lighting up instantly.

"Mother! It's Prince Xuan! Prince Xuan is entering the arena. I won't talk with you anymore, I'm going to take a look!"

Without waiting for a reply, she lifted her skirts and sprinted off, leaving Liu Qingmei to scold coldly, "Show some decorum! Where do you think you're running?"

Ji Shulan did not look back, though she did slow her pace somewhat, changing from a run to a brisk walk.

Though irritated, Liu Qingmei was also curious about the commotion, so she led her attendants back to the women's seating area as well.

The mother and daughter took their seats one after another, but the surrounding matrons and young ladies paid them no heed, fixing all their eyes on the racecourse.

At this moment, the imposing Crown Prince had already vaulted onto his horse.

Prince Xuan was not to be outdone.

Both men possessed an overwhelmingly powerful aura.

Mere eye contact between the two was enough for the spectators on the sidelines to feel the thick, crackling tension of a battle ready to erupt.

Liu Qingmei was not surprised to see Prince Xuan seemingly preparing to race against the Crown Prince; weren't the two of them always at each other's throats like needles against awns?

Nevertheless, she certainly hoped Prince Xuan would win.

After all, Prince Xuan would be her future son-in-law, and any glory Prince Xuan attained would ultimately reflect upon her own daughter.

A husband and wife were bound together—their fortunes shared in victory and defeat alike. Of course, this applied to external matters; internally, one still had to rely on capability to seize greater authority.

It was a pity her daughter was simply too foolish.

She utterly lacked the ability to achieve such a feat...

At this thought, Liu Qingmei could not help but worry.

Given her daughter's behavior just now, there was no telling if she was just lying to deceive her. What if she really had said something inappropriate to Prince Xuan? What would happen then?

Ji Shulan's gaze had originally remained fixed on Prince Xuan's face. Once her initial excitement subsided and reason returned, her attention shifted to the horses ridden by Ling Yuzhao and Prince Xuan, and she immediately sensed something was amiss.

She muttered in bewildered doubt, "How can this be? Why are they riding black horses? Weren't there two white horses in my past life?"

"What two white horses?"

A sudden question sounded beside her ear.

Startled, Ji Shulan instinctively turned her head to see Ji Hua looking at her with a puzzled expression.

Noticing Ji Shulan looking back, Ji Hua smiled and asked again, "What was my younger sister talking about just now regarding two white horses? Care to explain?"

Chagrined and angered, Ji Shulan snorted, "Elder Sister truly has wonderful upbringing, actually eavesdropping on other people's conversations!"

Unfazed, Ji Hua replied indifferently, "This is not your private courtyard. You spoke your words aloud, and I happened to overhear them—how can that be considered eavesdropping? If you don't want others to know, keep your mouth shut!"

With that, Ji Hua locked her gaze onto Ling Yuzhao on the field and deliberately said to Ji Shulan, "The Crown Prince's horse looks formidable at a glance, and naturally, the Crown Prince himself is even more formidable. In this horse race, the Crown Prince will undoubtedly win!"

Ji Shulan already knew the outcome, and she was certain Ji Hua would be terrified out of her wits by what was to come.

Yet, she was genuinely curious where Ji Hua got such blind confidence to believe the Crown Prince would win, and she could not help asking, "How do you know the Crown Prince will win? What if His Highness Prince Xuan wins instead? Besides, Prince Xuan is hardly inferior; in my eyes, His Highness Prince Xuan is the most formidable of all!"

Ji Hua scoffed in mockery, "Little Sister is truly deeply devoted to Prince Xuan. However, such blind faith is hardly wise. I say the Crown Prince will win because he possesses genuine capability."

"Just how much capability Prince Xuan has, I cannot say, but it certainly cannot compare to the Crown Prince. After all, the Crown Prince was raised and taught by the Empress herself. A mother of such distinction breeds an exceptional son—that is my judgment."