Chapter 15: The Alarm Bells Ring Loudly

A visitor appeared, clad in a smoky pink begonia dress, her hair adorned with a golden jade hairpin, a delicate face no larger than a palm radiating an imposing aura.

Gao Wanwan raised her chin arrogantly. Upon seeing Ji Hua, she snorted coldly, her expression dripping with disdain.

"Princess Gao!"

The shopkeeper’s heart skipped a beat, quickly forcing a flattering smile.

Everyone knew that Princess Gao was the sole legitimate daughter of the heterodox King Gao Yang, cherished beyond measure, accustomed to having the moon itself handed to her.

Encountering her now, trouble was surely brewing.

“Did you not hear what I just said?” Gao Wanwan’s voice was icy, her eyes locked onto Ji Hua with fierce intent. “I want this hairpin!”

Ji Hua raised an eyebrow.

Across her past and present lives, she had no connection to Gao Wanwan whatsoever.

Why harbor such hostility?

Ji Hua remained calm and unruffled. “Princess Gao, I was the first to lay eyes on this hairpin and have already agreed to pay for it.”

“So what?”

Gao Wanwan’s arrogance was boundless. “I say I want it, so I get it. You’re nothing but a mere daughter of a prime minister’s family—dare to defy me?”

Even being a princess meant she was personally appointed by the emperor!

“Business follows the principle of first come, first served. Are you trying to bully your way through just because of the emperor and the prince’s favor?” Ji Hua’s sharp gaze struck directly at Gao Wanwan.

When the emperor breaks the law, he is equal to the common people.

Such arrogance and impudence were charges Gao Wanwan could not bear.

Momentarily at a loss for words, Gao Wanwan was about to retaliate when the shopkeeper chimed in.

“Princess, indeed the eldest daughter of the prime minister was first to see this hairpin,” the shopkeeper said, his scalp tingling but forcing a smile. “Our Golden Jade Pavilion has many new hairpins. Please have another look upstairs. Choose one you like best, and consider it a gift of apology from us.”

“You insolent dog! Who cares about your apology? I want this one!”

Gao Wanwan’s eyes blazed with fury, her wrath ignited as she kicked the shopkeeper. “You used to fawn over me, but now that Ji Hua might become the Crown Princess, you’re licking her boots instead!”

The shopkeeper winced in pain, inwardly cursing. Who knew the princess would suddenly lose her mind today?

He couldn’t afford to offend either side, so he had no choice but to grovel.

Gao Wanwan was still dissatisfied. Why should Ji Hua get it if she wanted it?

Her eyes burned with hatred as she glared at Ji Hua. “I’m telling you, since the deal isn’t done, the hairpin isn’t yours! Say another word, and I’ll slap you!”

Ji Hua’s expression darkened sharply.

Liu Yiyi already stood nervously in front of her.

Ji Hua had been patient, unwilling to cause unnecessary trouble, but now that she had been struck, there was no reason to hold back.

Ji Hua lifted her gaze, cold and icy as she stared down Gao Wanwan. “Princess, you act arrogantly, but I am no pushover. Since you refuse to yield, I will report this to the authorities and let them decide!”

“Go ahead and report! Do you think I’m afraid?” The tension was thick, on the verge of snapping.

At that moment, a crisp male voice sounded at the door.

“The Golden Jade Pavilion is quite lively today?”

The familiar voice made Ji Hua’s heart tremble.

She instinctively looked up to see Ling Moxuan standing there, dressed in a white robe embroidered with jade cranes, handsome and elegant, a golden jade crown belt at his waist, a faint smile playing on his handsome face.

His deep, piercing eyes swept over her, overlapping with memories from a past life.

In an instant, a fierce hatred flickered in Ji Hua’s eyes.

She hated his beastly heart beneath a human face, how he had used her to the utmost.

She hated his cruelty, deceit, cunning, and greed.

Past causes bore today’s effects.

Ling Moxuan seemed to sense something. His gaze, which had initially shifted away, suddenly fixed on Ji Hua again.

But as he studied her, that glint of resentment vanished without a trace.

Ji Hua’s delicate brows and fair face were serene as snow under the heavens; her graceful figure composed and dignified, a gentle smile touching her peach blossom face.

Ling Moxuan’s eyes flickered with surprise.

Perhaps, he had been mistaken.

Everyone else offered casual greetings. Gao Wanwan, feeling uncertain, lost her voice and quietly diminished her presence.

The shopkeeper, seeing Ling Moxuan as a savior, quickly put on a broad smile. “Your Highness, Prince Xuan, you have finally arrived!”

“What happened?” Ling Moxuan asked.

The shopkeeper hurriedly recounted the earlier incident, feigning pity. “Your Highness, only you can decide! The fate of this hairpin is in your hands!”

Gao Wanwan’s pupils shifted.

Why was he here?

Her father had warned her that Prince Xuan was ruthless and decisive, not to be offended lightly.

Fearfully, she lowered her gaze and adopted a more submissive demeanor.

She gave a proper bow, tinged with flattery. “Your Highness, Wanwan truly adores this hairpin. It has been so long since she’s found one she likes so much, so she was a bit impatient…”

Feigning regret, she bit her lip and assumed the posture of a young lady without finishing her sentence.

Ling Moxuan’s deep eyes shimmered. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze landing on Ji Hua. “And you?”

Ji Hua had already lowered her eyes, regaining composure.

Her voice was calm and measured, neither humble nor arrogant. “I was just about to have my maid pay for it.”

She neither excused herself nor argued, simply stated the facts.

A faint, intrigued smile curled on Ling Moxuan’s lips. He looked at Ji Hua quietly. “Look up.”

Ji Hua obeyed, raising her eyes. Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched tightly, her body tensed for a moment.

She suppressed the storm of hatred surging within her like the calm before a violent sea.

She met Ling Moxuan’s gaze quietly, neither yielding nor challenging, as placid as a still well.

She truly had a very beautiful face.

Lightly adorned, she remained exquisitely captivating, her bright, lively eyes like a mountain stream fox, elegant and unworldly.

Ling Moxuan’s thoughts stirred. He recalled the incident at the banquet—the alleged betrayal.

Had Ji Hua really fallen for the Crown Prince that day?

If not…

His eyes darkened. Suddenly, he took a step closer.

Ji Hua’s heart jolted. The killing intent in her eyes immediately flared, but she squeezed her palm hard to restrain the tremors in her gaze.

Ling Moxuan smiled faintly, his cold aura instantly withdrawn. “Since you saw it first, then it belongs to you.”

What?!

Gao Wanwan was furious enough to stomp her feet. No matter what, her father had connections with Prince Xuan. How could he not side with her?!

Why?!

“But—” Gao Wanwan tried to protest.

But when her eyes met Ling Moxuan’s sharp, indifferent gaze, she abruptly stopped.

Tears welled in her eyes, a mix of grievance and helplessness.

Why did everything good belong to Ji Hua? The Crown Prince she had pined for all these years was hers, and even this hairpin—too!

Red-eyed, Gao Wanwan stormed off in anger.

Ji Hua glanced once more before withdrawing her gaze calmly. She bowed to Ling Moxuan. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Her eyes landed on the pearl jade hairpin, but her expression grew pensive.

Why was Ling Moxuan’s favor so sudden today?

Could it be that he was doing her a favor to gain her trust, so he could later extract information about the Crown Prince?

Her eyes flickered with countless thoughts, then quickly hushed.

Ling Moxuan looked down at her, a dark gleam flashing in his eyes, a slight smile playing at his lips. “No matter. A mere hairpin shall be on my account.”

Such an abrupt gesture raised alarms in Ji Hua’s heart.

Having seen through Ling Moxuan’s tactics, she immediately realized her suspicions might be the truth.

She shook her head, declining the favor. “I intended to buy this as a gift for my maid. Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but this would be inappropriate.”

A maid?

Ling Moxuan instinctively glanced to Ji Hua’s side, suddenly noticing Liu Yiyi’s face—