Jiang Sujie followed behind the Crown Princess, her mind preoccupied with the Crown Prince’s words just now—His Majesty was assigning another task to Duan Wang?
Last time at Yuxiang City, Duan Wang had made a name for himself with a single battle. Among the princes, he already held the highest prestige. And now he still wanted a share of this matter? Was he trying to outshine the Crown Prince?
How could that be allowed?
The Crown Princess walked in front. She and Yu Wangfei were both pregnant, so their pace was slow. Jin Wangfei grew a bit impatient. Even though she tried hard to restrain it, the irritability still showed on her face.
The Imperial Flower Garden was in full bloom, with flowers competing for beauty at every step. The scene was breathtaking, with pavilions, towers, artificial mountains, and flowing water. Looking up, one could see the winding paths, deep and mysterious, revealing a different world.
“Why is the Fourth Younger Sister-in-law so quiet?”
Duan Mingxi was caught off guard when she suddenly heard the words from Jin Wangfei. She froze for a moment, then looked up. Although the Wangfei had a smile on her face, her eyes were cold as ice.
“The beautiful scenery is delightful. One must truly appreciate it to do justice to this full garden of flowers.” Duan Mingxi walked up to Jin Wangfei. “In this world, there is no real trouble, only the petty disturbances caused by ordinary people. I am just an ordinary person. I live for today, and enjoy it fully.”
Jin Wangfei found the words “ordinary person” particularly harsh.
Who was Duan Mingxi mocking with that remark?
Was it the lowly Jiang Liandi in the Eastern Palace?
Or Yu Wangfei, who was distant from her husband?
Or perhaps the Crown Princess, who stood on the pedestal of virtue?
Jin Wangfei glared at Duan Mingxi’s back, thinking to herself that today she was acting arrogantly, but when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would see how Duan Mingxi ended up!
Duan Mingxi wasn’t interested in arguing with Jin Wangfei. Xingan Marquis family had already fallen, and yet she still didn’t know how to protect herself. Always focusing on others—how foolish!
Hadn’t the Crown Prince and the Empress both supported Xingan Marquis? Was it really so hard to preserve him?
Even if they couldn’t save his title, at least they could have saved the man.
But without hesitation, the Crown Prince had cast Xingan Marquis aside. Jin Wangfei’s eyes, like those of a blind person, were beyond her understanding.
A group of them walked along the corridor of the Imperial Flower Garden, and soon Bai Shixi began to feel unwell in her stomach. She found a nearby pavilion and sat down to rest.
Duan Mingxi saw her pale face and, not wanting to get too close to the Crown Princess in front of Jiang Sujie, took a seat some distance away, opposite the Crown Princess.
Jin Wangfei entered and muttered, “We were supposed to be admiring the flowers, why have we stopped to sit?”
Yu Wangfei, whose pregnancy was more advanced than the Crown Princess’s, sighed in relief after sitting down. Listening to Jin Wangfei’s complaints, she replied calmly, “Eldest Sister-in-law, please understand. Now that I’m carrying, it’s not the same as before. We’ve been walking for quite a while. Naturally, we need to rest.”
Jin Wangfei’s expression stiffened. She looked at Yu Wangfei and said unceremoniously, “If Second Younger Sister-in-law wants to rest, then just rest. There’s no need to show off to me.”
Yu Wangfei, having long been displeased with Jin Wangfei because of He Wanyi’s matter, smiled lightly at her words. “Eldest Sister-in-law, why are you speaking like that? Which woman in this world gets married and doesn’t have children? What is there to show off about?”
“Only, Eldest Sister-in-law, you haven’t had a son or a daughter yet, so perhaps you don’t understand the hardships of a woman carrying a child. When you have one of your own, you’ll understand.”
“What do you mean by that?” Jin Wangfei’s face darkened.
Jin Wangfei suddenly took a step forward, and Duan Mingxi immediately stood up to shield Yu Wangfei. The atmosphere turned tense in an instant.
Duan Mingxi stared at Jin Wangfei. “Eldest Sister-in-law, I advise you to calm down.”
Jin Wangfei glared at Duan Mingxi and suddenly pushed her forcefully. Duan Mingxi had nowhere to retreat; behind her was Yu Wangfei. If she fell, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Duan Mingxi hadn’t expected Jin Wangfei to act this way. Was she mad?
In a nearly instinctive response, she sank her waist and braced her legs, like a stance in martial arts, to absorb the force of Jin Wangfei’s push. Then, she grabbed Jin Wangfei’s arm and with one swift motion, she pushed and pulled, hearing Jin Wangfei cry out in pain.
Qi Wangfei was startled and immediately shouted, “Fourth Sister-in-law, what are you doing? Are you trying to kill Eldest Sister-in-law?”
What an accusation to throw!
Duan Mingxi stood upright and pushed Jin Wangfei aside, her eyes dark and cold as she looked at Qi Wangfei. “Seventh Younger Sister-in-law, there are so many people here. Do you think you can just casually accuse me of attempted murder?”
Qi Wangfei had only shouted in reflex. As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized they were inappropriate.
But when Duan Mingxi confronted her with those words, she couldn’t back down. “Am I not speaking the truth? Eldest Sister-in-law’s arm might be broken. Is it not true that this happened because of you?”
Jin Wangfei’s scream quickly attracted the Crown Prince and his entourage, who rushed over.
“What happened?” the Crown Prince demanded sharply.
“Please, Your Highness, intervene and help me! Duan Wangfei tried to kill me!” Jin Wangfei cried out through clenched teeth, enduring the pain.
She had collapsed on the ground, her hair disheveled, her broken arm causing unbearable pain, and sweat beading on her face.
She certainly looked tragic.
“Fourth Younger Sister-in-law, what is this? I know your temperament is proud, but there’s no need to strike so harshly,” the Crown Prince said, glaring at Duan Mingxi with dark eyes flashing with anger.
“Your Highness, the truth is not clear yet. It’s better not to make rash judgments,” Xiao Muchen said as he stepped forward, positioning himself protectively behind Duan Mingxi. He glanced at Jin Wangfei before continuing, “The truth is easy to find. With so many people here, it’s easy to get to the bottom of this.”
Jin Wang, standing aside with his hands clasped behind his back, didn’t even look at Jin Wangfei on the ground, showing no interest in asking any questions.
Jin Wangfei had initially expected that at least Jin Wang would make a stand, but now, seeing his indifference, her heart sank completely.
Qi Wang hesitated for a moment, then walked to his newlywed wife and asked, “What’s going on?”
Qi Wangfei, still angry from Duan Mingxi’s earlier slight, immediately replied, “Duan Wangfei pushed Eldest Sister-in-law. We all saw it with our own eyes.”
At this, the Crown Prince turned to the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess’s eyes flicked toward Jin Wangfei, pretending not to notice that the Crown Prince was watching her.
The Crown Prince furrowed his brows and then turned to Jiang Sujie.
Jiang Sujie took a deep breath, clutched her handkerchief tightly, and stepped forward. “Your Highness, Seventh Younger Sister-in-law is correct. Duan Wangfei did indeed attack Jin Wangfei.”
Yu Wangfei could no longer contain herself. She stood up, holding onto the corridor pillar. “Seventh Younger Sister-in-law, I have no grievances with you. Why are you speaking so unfairly?” She then turned to Jiang Sujie, no longer polite. “I’ve heard for a long time that the Jiang family has a deep grudge against Duan Wangfei. Now I see for myself, your ability to speak nonsense is truly impressive. Jiang Liandi’s actions are truly something to behold.”
Jiang Sujie wasn’t afraid of the now-disfavored Yu Wangfei. She spoke directly: “Yu Wangfei, I don’t know which of my words you think were wrong. Did Duan Wangfei not strike Jin Wangfei? I merely spoke the truth—why must you throw dirt on me for it?”
