At this moment, Jiang Mengyue still had no idea that trouble was about to arrive, as she was preoccupied with worries about Jin Jingxiu.
She had once thought Jin Jingxiu was like a dog she kept—summoned at a wave of her hand. But Jin Jingxiu had thrown down the house deed and left coldly, and to this day had never come back to her.
Jiang Mengyue tugged at her handkerchief, her expression dark.
“How dare he… how could he throw me aside and not care?”
“What has that wretch Jiang Ning done! Even Jin Jingxiu has been bewitched by her…” Jiang Mengyue placed all the blame squarely on Jiang Ning.
It must have been something Jiang Ning did that caused Jin Jingxiu’s attitude to change so drastically.
She clenched the kerchief tightly, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes.
At that moment, the maid entered and said, “Miss, that lord has arrived.”
The Crown Prince?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengyue suppressed the coldness on her face, put on a new expression, and went to greet the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince’s mood seemed bright, his face like one bathed in spring breeze.
Jiang Mengyue went to the doorway to greet him personally, smiling faintly, “My lord, why have you come so suddenly?”
After stepping down from the carriage, the Crown Prince seized Jiang Mengyue’s hand and said, “Tomorrow Chu Yunli will set out for He Province. Have your matters here been arranged?”
Jiang Mengyue’s expression stiffened slightly.
She had promised the Crown Prince to deliver him a great opportunity, but if Jin Jingxiu could not be handled, and if the Jin family did not fully support the Crown Prince…
She felt sweat breaking out along her back, unable to stop the cold perspiration.
“What’s wrong?” The Crown Prince noticed Jiang Mengyue’s expression.
Jiang Mengyue shook her head slightly, “It’s nothing. Please rest assured, my lord—there will be no problem.”
She could only grit her teeth and agree for now, planning to think of a way with Jin Jingxiu later.
“That’s good!” The Crown Prince laughed heartily, took Jiang Mengyue’s hand, and together they entered the residence.
They did not notice: in the shadows, a gaze fell upon them, cold and sinister.
The Crown Princess almost laughed, clutching her kerchief so tightly it nearly tore. The Crown Prince truly had a woman outside—and even kept her in this residence!
Her suspicions were correct: in recent days the Crown Prince had grown increasingly cold toward her—all because of this woman!
“Crown Princess…” Xiuzhu looked at her with concern. She had never imagined she would encounter His Highness here, and even see him leading a charming woman by the hand into the residence.
“You must think of the child in your belly… The imperial physician instructed: you must stay calm, without worry.”
“Ha!” The Crown Princess let out a cold laugh.
How could she possibly remain calm?
The Crown Prince’s heart had always held only the throne and ambition; he disdained women, and even married her solely for advantage.
But now, for the first time, she saw on the Crown Prince’s face a true regard for a woman—he genuinely liked her.
Xiuzhu looked at the Crown Princess with worry, fearing that in her agitation she might suffer physically.
“Crown Princess… perhaps we should return first. Once back, you can speak properly with His Highness…” Xiuzhu advised.
The Crown Princess gave no reply, her face dark, eyes fixed on the residence, with no intention of leaving.
After about half an hour, the Crown Prince and Jiang Mengyue came out of the residence; Jiang Mengyue watched as he boarded the carriage and departed.
After sending off the Crown Prince, Jiang Mengyue turned around, her face suddenly turning cold.
“I must resolve the matter of Jin Jingxiu quickly…”
She knew Jin Jingxiu’s temperament well: if she lowered her stance and feigned pitiful weakness, he would return to her side.
At worst, she could first pretend to agree to the marriage.
Jin Jingxiu left her now because he had learned of her connection with the Crown Prince; as long as she explained clearly that there was no such relationship, Jingxiu would surely return.
Jiang Mengyue clenched her fist and ordered the maid: “Send word to the Jin household—tell them I wish to see Jin Jingxiu.”
The maid’s expression turned strange. “Miss, you just met that lord, and now you want to see the young master of the Jin family?”
The maid was too shocked to speak, thinking the young lady seemed strange—how could a respectable woman be involved with… several men at once?
Jiang Mengyue furrowed her brows, lifted her face, and snapped: “Hurry up and go!”
“Yes, yes.” The maid immediately lowered her head in compliance.
Suddenly, a burst of noise came from the doorway.
Jiang Mengyue frowned—this place was always quiet, so why was it suddenly so noisy? She snapped impatiently: “What’s going on? Why is the doorway so loud?”
The maid also looked curiously and said, “I will go take a look.”
The Crown Princess stepped down from the carriage, reached the gate of the residence, and was about to force her way in.
The servant guarding the gate blocked the way: “Stop! Who are you?”
The Crown Princess’s face was icy; ignoring the servant, she moved to enter.
She wanted to see which vixen it was who had bewitched the Crown Prince into losing his composure.
“Stop! This is a private residence. If you dare force your way in, don’t blame us for being rude!” The servant barred the Crown Princess’s path, unaware that the woman before him was of exalted rank.
The servant spoke as he moved to shove the Crown Princess out of the gate.
Xiuzhu stepped forward to shield the Crown Princess, slapped the servant across the face, and shouted: “Insolent! Do you know who this is?”
The servant was left utterly bewildered after being struck.
The Crown Princess stepped across the threshold and walked straight into the courtyard.
“Miss, someone is forcing their way into the manor—we can’t stop them…” After finding out, the maid hurried to report to Jiang Mengyue.
Jiang Mengyue frowned. Someone trespassing into the manor?
Ha! This is sheer recklessness—do they even know where they are, daring to trespass here!
Here she had secret guards left by the Crown Prince; anyone daring to break in would be dealt with and thrown behind the mountain.
Jiang Mengyue ordered coldly to the hidden guards: “Deal with it at once.”
The shadows in the dark began to stir swiftly.
Jiang Mengyue turned around, ready to return indoors; she still had troubles here, needing to find a way to placate Jin Jingxiu.
She had only taken two steps.
“Miss…” the maid cried out in surprise.
Jiang Mengyue turned, only to see a richly dressed woman approach, stride up to her, and slap her across the face.
“Smack!”
Jiang Mengyue felt half her face go numb and ache; she turned her head, ears buzzing, unable to react.
The woman raised her hand high again and brought it down in a fierce slap—“Smack!”
Both sides of Jiang Mengyue’s face were swollen from the blows.
She stood dazed, unable to react—someone dared to strike her? And with two slaps?
Her cheeks burned hot, swelling high.
Jiang Mengyue widened her eyes in disbelief, staring at the woman before her. Anger surged within, and she shouted: “Seize her! She dares strike me? What madwoman is this!”
The Crown Princess’s face brimmed with anger as she stared coldly at the woman before her—it was her, the vixen who had seduced the Crown Prince.
Jiang Mengyue was frantic with rage—where were the Crown Prince’s secret guards? Had they all vanished? Someone had trespassed into her courtyard and even struck her twice.
“Guards! Quickly, seize her!”
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