Chapter 27: The Chosen Fool

Ling Yuzhao lowered his head to meet the woman’s sparkling, watery eyes. Her tone was pitiful, but her expression remained perfectly calm.

She was truly an interesting woman.

With Dong Yufeng and his companions watching, Ling Yuzhao offered a helpless smile. Right before their eyes, he leaned down and scooped Ji Hua up into his arms.

Ji Hua was startled; she subconsciously wrapped her arms around Ling Yuzhao’s neck, only to quickly pull them back once she realized what she was doing.

"Hold on tight."

Ling Yuzhao whispered the three words, his voice carrying a subtle hint of doting affection if one listened closely.

Ji Hua’s earlobes flushed red. Unable to show weakness in front of Dong Yufeng and the others, she had no choice but to place her hands back around his neck, though she did so lightly, without exerting any real strength.

Ling Yuzhao looked toward Dong Yufeng and his group. "The eldest Miss Ji has sprained her ankle; I must take her to have it treated. You all may amuse yourselves."

Without waiting for their response, he strode toward the painted boat with long, steady steps.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Highness!"

Dong Yufeng finally snapped out of his daze and instinctively started to chase after them. However, before he could get close, Ling Yuzhao’s guards stepped forward to block his path.

The guards were expressionless, their tone cold, hard, and resolute.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has not summoned you; you may not pass."

Dong Yufeng and his companions were forced to stop. To press the issue now would create too much of a scene.

Dong Yufeng stepped forward and offered the guards a conciliatory smile. "We have just arrived in the capital and are unfamiliar with the local rules. It is our fault; we shall not proceed further."

The guard pulled his hand back from his sword hilt but remained standing in place, his gaze fixed on the group with intense, wary scrutiny.

Dong Yufeng and his companions glanced at Ling Yuzhao, who had already carried Ji Hua onto the painted boat, their eyes filled with unwillingness.

Dong Yufeng turned first and led the others to another willow tree. They stood together, backs turned toward Ling Yuzhao’s guards.

One of them whispered anxiously, "What now? Our plan was thwarted at the very start. Shouldn't we find a way to get onto that boat?"

Dong Yufeng immediately dismissed the idea. "No, it’s too obvious. It would be bad if the Crown Prince grew suspicious. Let’s wait. The banquet on the lake is sure to last all day; we will have our chance."

The others exchanged glances and ultimately agreed with Dong Yufeng’s suggestion.

...

Prince Xuan’s expression remained grim. While Ji Shulan’s words had indeed contributed to his mood, it was not because he believed her provocations, but because he was struck by the thought that Ji Hua might have already lost her virtue to the Crown Prince.

It was even possible that the two had been carrying on a secret affair for some time, and he simply hadn't known.

Both times they had met, Ji Hua had shown him no warmth. By what right did that woman dare to put on airs before him?

To lose one’s virginity before marriage made her nothing but damaged goods. If not for her father, the Prime Minister, Ji Hua would have no capital for her arrogance.

Ji Shulan’s sobbing continued, giving Ling Moxuan a headache.

Looking down at her from his height, watching her shoulders tremble with every sob, a flash of disgust crossed his eyes.

There wasn't a single word of truth in this woman’s mouth. Her acting was clumsy, her lies were endless, and her unsightly behavior was clear for all to see—she was a total fool!

As a contender for the throne, how could Ling Moxuan not have thoroughly investigated the situation within the Prime Minister’s household?

The outside world claimed that Ji Wenbin treated his two daughters equally, and that was the truth. According to the intelligence Ling Moxuan had gathered, there was no sign of favoritism.

As for Ji Shulan’s claim that Ji Hua had always bullied her and her mother, that was sheer nonsense. After all, in the Prime Minister’s residence, with the neutral Ji Wenbin as the biological father, Ji Shulan and her mother were two against one. How could Ji Hua possibly have held the upper hand against the pair?

A child without a mother is like a blade of grass, after all.

Moreover, Ling Moxuan knew a thing or two about Liu Qingmei, Ji Wenbin’s second wife; she was a woman of deep schemes. Otherwise, she could never have managed to keep a fool like Ji Shulan on equal footing with Ji Hua in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and standing in Ji Wenbin’s heart.

Ji Hua’s reputation as a talented woman was well-earned. That Liu Qingmei had the ability to elevate a dimwit like Ji Shulan to match Ji Hua was proof of her own capability.

Ling Moxuan glanced at Ji Shulan, the disgust in his eyes fading slightly.

Never mind, no one is perfect. He had chosen Ji Shulan from the start anyway.

Ji Wenbin remained neutral in the imperial court, but once his daughter married, he would be forced to pick a side. Ji Hua’s biological mother was long gone, and it was Liu Qingmei who now remained by Ji Wenbin’s side. With her whispering in his ear, Ji Wenbin would eventually be forced to compromise and pledge his loyalty to him.

And while Ji Shulan was stupid enough to make one laugh, a fool was easier to control, wasn't that right?

As for Ji Hua, beyond her annoying arrogance, there was an unfathomable quality about her. If Ji Shulan was like a glass bottle one could see through at a glance, then Ji Hua was more like a mountain shrouded in clouds and mist—impossible to penetrate.

Thinking of this, Ling Moxuan’s gaze toward Ji Shulan softened for the first time, and the corners of his lips lifted in a faint smile.

"What is the Second Miss Ji doing? The ground is cold; hurry and get up."

With that, he bent down to help Ji Shulan to her feet.

Feeling the warmth of his touch on her elbow, Ji Shulan’s face turned bright red. Yet, suppressing her shyness, she looked up at Prince Xuan and said coyly, "Your Highness... do you believe what I said?"

There was no sign of reluctance on Ling Moxuan’s face.

"Second Miss Ji is overthinking. My suggestion earlier was merely to invite the eldest Miss Ji to break the ice so that everyone might show their talents; there was no other meaning intended."

"If the Second Miss dislikes it, then I shall simply not associate with the eldest Miss Ji so frequently in the future."

Ji Shulan was pleasantly surprised. She had never expected to receive such a guarantee from Prince Xuan. Overjoyed and momentarily losing her composure, she leaned toward Ling Moxuan.

"Your Highness, hearing you say that, Lan'er is truly..."

Before Ji Shulan’s hand could touch his sleeve, Ling Moxuan stepped back.

A flicker of revulsion passed through his eyes before he turned to walk away.

"Second Miss Ji, the spring scenery is lovely today, and the oasis in the lake is quite beautiful. It is rare for you to be out, so do enjoy yourself. I have matters to attend to; please excuse me."

Ling Moxuan offered a perfunctory, albeit polite, excuse before turning and leaving the lake pavilion.

Ji Shulan’s smile had no time to fade, remaining stiffly on her face.

Watching Ling Moxuan’s retreating back, even though she was unhappy, she could only pout, then say with a tone of inevitable triumph:

"Your Highness, believe me, your heart and your person will be mine sooner or later!"

Ji Shulan was confident. As someone who had lived a second life and possessed foresight regarding the past, she would surely be able to help Prince Xuan!

Once Prince Xuan realized she possessed such abilities, he would never be able to leave her.

When that time came, his favor and trust would all belong to her.

And she would ascend to that noble position!

As for Ji Hua... by then, she would have long since turned into a pile of white bones!