Chapter 379

Chapter 379 – Rivals Met

Chapter 379 Rivals Met

A surprised voice came from behind the ladies. “Cousin Moying, what happened? Why are there so many people here?”

Everyone raised their heads, and they saw a few people. The one who stood in the center wore gorgeously like a fairy. It was none other than Ji Youran, the Side Princess of Eastern Palace.

Most of the people present knew Ji Youran. However, Ji Youran was now Princess Ji. Her status was much higher than theirs, and everyone had to bow to her when they saw her.

Qu Moying also stood up and bowed sideways.

Ji Youran took a step forward and enthusiastically reached out her hands, trying to hold Qu Moying’s hands. “Cousin Moying, why is it so noisy here? Did someone bully you?”

She asked softly with concern in her eyes. There were two strands of long hair beside her cheeks. She was a good-looking woman, but such a hairstyle made her look dumb and even somewhat cheesy. She was not fit for this kind of hairstyle.

But she had to keep this hairstyle because of the scar on her cheek.

Qu Moying seemed to step back inadvertently, and she happened to avoid Ji Youran’s hands. She shook her head and said, “Thank you for your concern, Princess Ji. I’m fine!”

Ji Youran let her hands drop and asked with concern, “How could you be fine? I heard it clearly from behind just now. Fourth Lady He, the lady next to County Lady Jingyu, seems to be making trouble for you all the time. Why…”

Fourth Lady He’s face flushed red, but she did not dare to say anything. After all, Ji Youran was the Side Princess of Eastern Palace. Even if Fourth Lady He was Lord Jing’s cousin sister, she did not dare to be presumptuous in front of Ji Youran.

With a decent smile, Qu Moying said, “County Lady Jingyu accidentally fell into the lake. She felt that someone pushed her, so she asked me if I saw who it was.”

She didn’t beat around the bush, and she pointed out that Fourth lady He was aggressive just now because of Liu Jingyu.

Everyone suddenly realized something, and they looked at Liu Jingyu with suspicion in their eyes. They had been so focused on Fourth Lady He just now that they neglected the most important thing, that was, Liu Jingyu was the one who contributed to the accident in the first place. However, they had not suspected her.

Was it really that Fourth Lady He was too stupid, or did she have ulterior motives?

“Even though you did so for the sake of County Lady Jingyu, you can’t bully Cousin Moying like this.” Ji Youran’s face darkened. She turned to Fourth Lady He and said angrily. It seemed that she was very protective of Qu Moying. “Fourth Lady He, are you questioning Cousin Moying as if she was a criminal? Even if Cousin Moying really didn’t see the person, so what?”

Fourth Lady He explained with a red face, “I… I just wanted to ask her. I didn’t mean anything else.”

She didn’t dare to be arrogant in front of Ji Youran. Even if she had just arrived in the capital, she had heard of Ji Youran.

Ji Youran said coldly, “You didn’t mean anything else? So why are there so many young ladies surrounding Cousin Moying? Didn’t other ladies see the suspect? Was it only Cousin Moying who saw the one?”

Her words hit the nail on the head. Although she did not directly blame Liu Jingyu, her meaning was that Liu Jingyu was bullying Qu Moying with so many noble ladies.

Qu Moying had always looked fragile. She was really thin, and the long eye veil on her face made her look even more fragile. It was as if she could be blown away by the wind. Moreover, Liu Jingyu had so many people on her side, so it seemed that Qu Moying was bullied.

Liu Jingyu could not continue to stay aloof. She raised her head to face Ji Youran. “Princess Ji, I’m afraid that you are mistaken. We were just asking Fourth Lady Qu about the whole matter. Everyone is very concerned about this matter, so we gathered around to talk about it.”

Even though she despised Ji Youran in her heart, she hadn’t become the Crown Princess yet, whereas Ji Youran was already the legitimate Side Princess of the Crown Prince.

“Am I mistaken? But I clearly heard it just now. Cousin Moying is the ex-Crown Princess’ cousin sister, so she is also my cousin sister. When the ex-Crown Princess was still alive, she cared about Cousin Moying the most. I naturally have to help take care of her. Otherwise, I don’t know how to face the ex-Crown Princess after I die!” Ji Youran said righteously as if she wanted to try her best to protect Qu Moying.

It was not a big deal if Liu Jingyu was a little indifferent to Ji Youran, who was only the Crown Prince’s Side Princess, and no one would say anything. After all, if Liu Jingyu married the Crown Prince, she would be the Crown Princess, and she would have a dominant position over Ji Youran. However, Ji Youran mentioned Ji Hanyue, the ex-Crown Princess whose status Liu Jingyu would never be able to exceed.

Even if Liu Jingyu successfully married into Eastern Palace, she would only be the Crown Prince’s second wife. Even if the Crown Prince became the Emperor, the position of Paramount Empress would still be reserved for Ji Hanyue. Ji Hanyue had an extraordinary status, and the Crown Prince was affectionate to her. In the future, only Ji Hanyue could be buried together with the Crown Prince.

Because of this, Liu Jingyu did not dare to take Ji Hanyue lightly. At least she did not dare to neglect Ji Hanyue in the slightest in front of others.

She had to appear respectful to Ji Hanyue all the time.

“Princess Ji, it is not that big of a deal. I asked her just for the facts.” Liu Jingyu had to yield and explain again. She was filled with resentment. She was going to be the Crown Princess, but now she had to show weakness in front of a Side Princess.

As she spoke, she walked up to Qu Moying with a guilty expression. “Fourth Lady Qu, if I accidentally offended you, please forgive me.”

Qu Moying turned sideways to avoid her. Although she smiled weakly, she still looked decent. Of course, only others thought she was weak, but Qu Moying herself never felt weak.

“County Lady Jingyu, I will say it again. I really did not notice who pushed you. At that time, the young ladies beside you should also be these few, right? Why do you have to make me tell you who it was?”

These words had a profound meaning. The young ladies standing next to Liu Jingyu immediately changed their expressions and looked at Liu Jingyu warily. Even though they were attached to Liu Jingyu, it did not mean that they were willing to take the blame for her, especially when an outsider like Ji Youran was around.

Hearing Qu Moying’s words, Ji Youran asked with a warm smile, “County Lady Jingyu, what exactly happened? Tell me, let me figure it out for you.”

Liu Jingyu refused, “Please don’t bother, Princess Ji!”

She was going to be the Crown Princess in the future. If she asked Ji Youran, a Side Princess, to help her solve the problem, how was she supposed to gain a foothold in Crown Prince’s Mansion? The Crown Prince would definitely think that she was incompetent.

“County Lady Jingyu, it isn’t bothering. Since this matter has involved Cousin Moying, I will dip my fingers into it for her.” Ji Youran did not intend to give up. She came today just to embarrass Liu Jingyu.

Right now, she pretended not to know anything just to embarrass Liu Jingyu. She used Qu Moying as an excuse to intervene. Anyway, the Crown Prince wanted her to get closer to Qu Moying.

The most important thing was that before she came over here, she went to see Grand Princess Changyu first. She happened to see the Crown Prince, who was with Grand Princess Changyu. She had asked someone to come to these young ladies first and knew that Liu Jingyu was having a dispute with Qu Moying, so she led the Crown Prince over. Now, the Crown Prince was in a yard not far away.

She raised her eyes and quietly looked at the yard on the left side of the pavilion. The door of the yard was slightly ajar. She came here from the yard, but no one noticed her because they were making a scene. Now, the Crown Prince was standing behind the yard door. Ji Youran had tried it out just now, and she knew that the Crown Prince could clearly hear the quarrel here from where he was now.

“I don’t dare to trouble you, Princess Ji!” Liu Jingyu couldn’t bear it anymore, and her face darkened.

Ji Youran said kindly, “It’s no trouble. I want to help Cousin Moying. She has just arrived in the capital, so she might be a little ignorant.”

Liu Jingyu was furious. “Ji Youran really is hard to deal with. I couldn’t get rid of her! She is really annoying!”

She took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in her heart. She fell into the lake today, which made her lose her usual composure and gave Ji Youran an opportunity to hold her down.

“Princess Ji, this matter is over. There is really no need to mention it again.” Liu Jingyu’s face darkened. She tried hard to suppress her anger and twisted the handkerchief in her hand into a ball. She wished she could twist Ji Youran’s face like that. “How dare a mere Side Princess challenge me? I will definitely make her suffer after I enter Eastern Palace.”

Ji Youran asked with a smile, “Does this matter have anything to do with Cousin Qu?”

“No!” Liu Jingyu was annoyed and didn’t want to argue with Ji Youran anymore. She turned around and was about to leave.

“County Lady Jingyu.” Qu Moying called out. She didn’t want to let Liu Jingyu off the hook so easily. Others might not notice where Ji Youran came from, but Yu Dong had already reported it to Qu Moying in a low voice.

Ji Youran glanced at the yard from time to time, and Qu Moying also noticed it.

Liu Jingyu reluctantly turned her head, and she had to force a gentle smile. “What is it?”

Qu Moying reiterated. “County Lady Jingyu, I really didn’t see who did it!”

“It’s normal that you didn’t see it. I misunderstood you.” Liu Jingyu said with a fake smile. After that, she was about to leave. She didn’t want to argue with Qu Moying here at all, and she had a bad premonition.

“County Lady Jingyu!” Ji Youran spoke up after Qu Moying to stop Liu Jingyu.

Liu Jingyu could hardly keep calm. “What is it?”

“Since there’s nothing, it’s the best! I always think that you are kind. You could even remain decent and reasonable in such a situation.” Ji Youran said with a smile. It sounded like she was praising Liu Jingyu.

However, it made Liu Jingyu so angry that her hands and feet turned cold. If she had not been in such a sorry state, she would have been happy to hear such complimentary words. However, she fell into the lake. Although she had changed her clothes, anyone could see what she had been through and they witnessed her accusing Qu Moying.

She clearly failed to remain decent and reasonable in such a situation, so Ji Youran’s words were quite sarcastic.

Liu Jingyu wanted to give Ji Youran two slaps, but she knew that she could not do so now. She was not qualified to do this. She was only a County Lady now, not the Crown Princess.

She took a deep breath. Her face finally became a little stiff. Even though she was sophisticated, she couldn’t maintain a friendly smile now. She smiled coldly, “Thank you, Princess Ji. But why are you here today? Prefectural Princess Xiangrong didn’t invite you, did she?”

She couldn’t help but said these words that carried a bit of ridicule.

If it was in the past, and if Prefectural Princess Xiangrong were to invite a lady from Earl Ling’an’s Mansion, it must be Ji Hanyue who was invited. After all, only Ji Hanyue was qualified to attend such a gathering. Earl Ling’an’s Mansion’s second branch couldn’t compare with its first branch.

Now, it was even more impossible for Prefectural Princess Xiangrong to invite Ji Youran. All the noble ladies present were unmarried. Ji Youran had already entered Eastern Palace. Apparently, it was impossible for her to be invited here.

Since that was the case, had she come without an invitation?

Liu Jingyu had suffered setbacks again and again today, and now she couldn’t suppress her anger any longer. After saying this, she looked at Ji Youran with a cold gaze.

Qu Moying secretly curved the corners of her lips. Sure enough, she had already expected such a scene when she asked Yu Dong to send a message to Earl Ling’an’s Mansion.

Liu Jingyu was a ruthless person, and so was Ji Youran. What’s more, they were rivals who had competed for the same thing…