Jiang Mengyue cursed inwardly that the crown prince’s secret guards were useless—letting someone break into her home and even allowing that madwoman to slap her twice.
Where have all the secret guards gone?
“Someone! Where are you!” Jiang Mengyue cried out, shaking all over with fury.
It wasn’t that the secret guards hadn’t acted—they simply didn’t dare to move at all.
The person before them was the crown princess —how could they possibly dare lay a hand on her.
“Impudent! Do you realize who stands before you, that you dare raise your voice? And worse, you insult her as a lunatic?” Xiu Zhu advanced, her tone icy.
Humiliated and seething from two stinging slaps, Jiang Mengyue’s vision blurred with fury; only when the icy voice rang out did she raise her head to see who stood before her.
At that glance, she was completely stunned.
The crown princess?
In her dreams she had already become the fourth prince’s consort, so of course she recognized the palace figures—and naturally she recognized the crown princess as well.
The dignified and resplendent woman before her was none other than the crown princess.
The crown princess carefully wiped her hands with a handkerchief, as though they had been tainted by something unclean.
Jiang Mengyue felt as if struck by a great shock, her face turning ugly—how could the crown princess be here? How did she know of this place?
Could it be…
Her secret meetings with the crown prince—did the crown princess know of them?
Jiang Mengyue’s whole body trembled, unable to stop the chill spreading through her.
The crown princess wiped her hands clean and said coldly, “Raise your head. Let me see what kind of fox spirit has bewitched His Highness into losing his soul.”
The scene now resembled being caught in adultery, leaving Jiang Mengyue both ashamed and stifled with anger.
She dared not lift her head—if the crown princess recognized her, how could she ever remain in the capital?
At the thought, her resentment flared once more.
It was all Jiang Ning’s fault, that wretched woman—if not for her, she would still be the marquis’s legitimate daughter, not fallen to such a state!
Xiu Zhu strode over, seized Jiang Mengyue’s chin, and forced her to raise her head.
“Didn’t you hear what the crown princess said!”
Jiang Mengyue, both humiliated and enraged, felt her pride trampled. Never had she endured such treatment. At that moment she clenched her hand so tightly that her nails dug into her palm, piercing until flesh and blood blurred.
The crown princess consort glanced at Jiang Mengyue’s swollen face, let out a light laugh, and said, “So that’s all there is.”
Jiang Mengyue dared not make a sound. Before her stood the exalted crown princess, who with a mere gesture could make her life worse than death. She did not dare provoke her, and could only endure.
Recalling how this woman had just looked so affectionate with the crown prince, the crown princess felt jealousy stir. Her expression hardened as she said coldly, “Is it with this face that you’ve ensnared His Highness?”
“Ha! Do you think that by ensnaring the crown prince you can soar into nobility like a phoenix? Let me tell you—you’re dreaming! His Highness would never take in a powerless, statusless woman like you!”
Jiang Mengyue clenched her teeth hard, a flash of unwillingness crossing her heart.
She had no power or influence, but she knew what the future held. That knowledge could make her a great asset to the crown prince—far more useful than the crown princess.
The crown princess saw the defiance in Jiang Mengyue’s eyes and said, “What’s this? Still defiant?”
The crown princess lifted her hand and brought it down with force—smack! Jiang Mengyue’s head snapped to the side, her ears buzzing.
Jiang Mengyue was so furious she nearly spat blood; never before had she endured such humiliation.
“So, you used this face to ensnare the crown prince? Then today I shall destroy it, and we’ll see if His Highness still favors you…” Jealousy flickered in the crown princess' eyes as she said coldly, "Bring a dagger!”
Jiang Mengyue’s whole body trembled, her eyes widened. “No…”
Destroy her face?
No! Absolutely not!
If her beauty were ruined, how could she ever marry the fourth prince? Even the Crown prince would surely despise her… No!
“Your Highness Crown Princess, you misunderstand. The Crown prince and I are not as you imagine…” Jiang Mengyue shook her head in explanation.
The servant handed over the dagger, its blade gleaming with a cold sheen.
Jiang Mengyue’s eyes widened as she shook her head frantically, struggling with all her strength, desperate to break free.
But Xiu Zhu clutched her body tightly, refusing to let her move.
Jiang Mengyue grew frantic. “Crown Princess, please listen to me… I have nothing to do with the Crown prince! It’s absolutely not the relationship you imagine…”
The crown princess consort took the dagger, glanced at its sharp edge, her lips curling faintly. Then she looked coldly at Jiang Mengyue, studying her face as if deciding where best to cut.
Jiang Mengyue’s whole body went cold, as though she had fallen into an ice cellar.
“No—don’t destroy my face!”
“Don’t…”
The crown princess consort stepped up to Jiang Mengyue, pressing the dagger against her face. “Tell me, how many cuts should I make? Here… or here?”
“No, no…” Jiang Mengyue dared not move, terrified that the slightest motion would slice her face.
She was utterly terrified; tears slipped down, leaving her pitifully fragile.
The crown princess' patience frayed—this was the very pitiful act she used to lure the Crown prince.
The crown princess raised her hand, a cold gleam flashing in her eyes, about to slash down.
“No! Save me!”
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“Help me!” Jiang Mengyue nearly collapsed from fear, inwardly raging at the Crown prince’s hidden guards—useless men, just watching as her beauty was about to be destroyed.
Just at that moment—
“Stop!” A cold shout rang out.
The crown princess' hand trembled—that was the crown prince’s voice.
The crown prince’s face darkened; he strode forward and slapped the dagger from the crown princess' hand. “What are you doing!”
The crown princess body trembled; she lifted her face to look at the crown prince.
The crown prince ignored the crown princess and turned to Jiang Mengyue. Seeing her swollen, beaten face, his expression grew even darker—so dark it seemed water might drip from it.
He raised his hand, gently caressing Jiang Mengyue’s face with aching tenderness.
“Are you alright? I came too late.”
Jiang Mengyue wept like pear blossoms in the rain; upon seeing the crown prince, her tears fell like broken strings of pearls. “Your Highness…”
The crown prince drew Jiang Mengyue into his arms, murmuring softly, “Rest assured, no one can touch you.”
Meanwhile, the crown princess' face twisted with jealous hatred—the crown prince was siding with that woman, daring to defend her right before her eyes.
The crown prince gently patted Jiang Mengyue’s back and said, “Go inside and apply medicine first. I’ll handle things here.”
“Your Highness…”
Jiang Mengyue tugged at the crown prince’s sleeve, lifting her eyes to gaze at him with fragile softness.
The crown prince’s heart softened; he comforted her quietly, “Go inside. I’m here for everything.”
Only then did Jiang Mengyue nod and return to her room.
Once Jiang Mengyue had left, the crown prince’s expression turned cold. He turned to the crown princess: “You followed me?”
“I did not…” The crown princess' expression shifted slightly as she shook her head in reply.
“Then how did you know about this place! Cheng Hanyan, I’ll only say this once—put away all your jealousy! Jiang Mengyue is of great use to me, and no one may touch a single hair on her head!”
The crown prince’s tone was icy; Jiang Mengyue held a crucial place in his heart, of great use to him, and she must not be lost under any circumstances.
“Your Highness…”
The crown princess consort was startled, utterly incredulous—she had never imagined the prince would scold her for another woman.
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