Yuzhou territory.

The weather was excellent, with the sun shining brightly!

The warm light scattered upon people’s bodies, feeling extremely comfortable!

“Clatter, clatter.”

A luxuriously decorated carriage traveled neither quickly nor slowly through the mountain roads…

Behind the luxurious carriage followed several ordinary carriages, with large and small trunks tied onto them—looking like some wealthy household moving their entire family.

The driver in front urged the horses along while calling out to the person inside the luxurious carriage, “Miss, we’ve reached Yuzhou. In another day or two, we’ll arrive at the capital.”

Very quickly—

From inside the carriage came a sharp, thin, complaining female voice: “Why does it still take so long?”

They’d been traveling for several days already, and still needed another day or two!

How annoying!

The driver said, “Miss, these are all mountain roads. The journey is bumpy, so we’re traveling rather slowly.”

“Alright, alright, hurry up, go faster. We can’t afford to be slow.”

“Yes!”

After receiving the order, the driver lightly flicked his whip across the horse’s back. The horse neighed and picked up its pace.

Naturally, the carriage also sped up.

The bumping became even more severe!

Then—

A scream was heard from inside the carriage!

Red tea had spilled onto Ji Muqing’s glazed silk dress!

She looked distressed, knitting her delicate brows as she stared at her expensive dress hem, her hands held up, not knowing where to place them.

“How could you serve tea like that? This dress is my favorite.”

She complained.

Ji Wanxin, sitting beside her, had also burned her hands quite badly. She set down the teacup and blew on her hands while saying, “Once we reach the capital, you can just wash it.”

“You make it sound so easy.” Ji Muqing huffed, her face flushed red with anger, and added another remark: “Fortunately it didn’t stain the outfit I’m wearing to enter the palace, otherwise I’d make you pay for it.”

Oh my, oh my!

So you’re the most impressive one!

However, the outfit Ji Muqing was wearing to enter the palace was indeed even more expensive—custom-ordered in Qingzhou, one of a kind.

It was said that the hem of that dress was encrusted with gems and pearls, and just one of them could feed an ordinary family for a year.

But—

Wasn’t a dress hem encrusted with gems heavy?

Wasn’t it excessively extravagant?

Ji Wanxin glanced at her domineering elder sister and decided not to respond, simply letting out a soft breath and lifting the curtain to look outside.

Nothing but shrubs and forests!

Her eyes couldn’t help but reveal a trace of worry: “I wonder how Yunshu is doing in the capital?”

Upon hearing the words “Yunshu,” Ji Muqing grabbed her and pulled her back.

She said sternly, “Listen carefully to me. Our Ji family has no one named Ji Yunshu at all. She’s not our relative—she’s our enemy. If you dare to regard her as a sister, I won’t let you off.”

“Elder sister…”

“She caused Third Brother’s death, and angered Grandmother to death. This time, she nearly caused Elder Brother’s death too. A person like her should descend to the eighteenth level of hell and never be reborn!”

How malicious!

Though it did fit Ji Muqing’s nature!

However, Ji Wanxin wore a troubled expression, clearly unwilling to listen to her words, and even said, “Elder sister, how can you blame Yunshu for Third Brother’s death? It was Third Brother who intended to kill someone in the first place.”

“Enough!”

Ji Muqing shook her off, utterly furious!

She turned away, raging, “Back then, that damned Luan’er had already taken all the blame, but she just wouldn’t let Third Brother go. She insisted on sending him to prison, causing his tragic death. Clearly, if she had just pretended not to know anything, Third Brother wouldn’t have had to die.”

This logic!

Truly incredible.

Poor Luan’er!

Ji Wanxin knew she was in the midst of her anger and didn’t want to argue with her, so she simply began tidying up the teacups in the carriage.

Ji Muqing was still not satisfied. Clenching her fists, she warned her again: “Wanxin, you must listen carefully. That wretched girl is our enemy, our foe. When you see her, you’d better know how to distinguish clearly.”

She didn’t speak.

So Ji Muqing continued, “Elder Brother already wrote saying she’s now at Prince Rong’s manor.”

“Hm?”

“Elder Brother also said she’s solved two major cases in the capital, and even the Emperor knows about her.” After speaking, she snorted: “How truly interesting. Apparently now she’s helping Prince Rong investigate some ‘Linjing Case.’ Clearly she’s found herself a powerful backer. Who knows what poison she fed that Prince Rong to make him protect her so much—it was so in Jinjiang, and it’s the same in the capital.”

Her words clearly mixed with a trace of jealousy.

Ji Wanxin beside her appeared to be tidying things, but when she heard about Ji Yunshu and Prince Rong, her gentle eyes were suddenly covered with a layer of coldness.

The hand holding the teacup also tightened!

However, Ji Muqing didn’t notice at all. Instead, she nudged her with her elbow, wearing a sinister smile.

She said, “By the way, Shen Changqin, the son of the Minister of Rites, probably knows you’re entering the capital too. After I become Crown Princess, Father will make arrangements for you. Once we reach the capital, you should meet with that Shen Changqin.”

“What nonsense are you spouting!” Ji Wanxin turned away.

“Why be shy? He’ll be your husband sooner or later. It’s perfectly normal for you to meet first, isn’t it? Besides, isn’t that the purpose of Father having you enter the capital with me this time?”

Ji Muqing’s tone was truly strange and mocking.

It made Ji Wanxin quite displeased!

“My affairs with him are none of your concern.” As she spoke, she simply moved to sit at the side of the carriage, saying coolly, “You’d better think about yourself.”

“Myself?” Ji Muqing pointed at herself with her finger.

Arching her willow-leaf eyebrows, wearing an arrogantly confident expression, she smiled: “What do I need to think about? In any case, my position as Crown Princess is secured. No one can shake it. After all, it was already determined when the Empress was still alive. The Empress was the Crown Prince’s birth mother, and the Emperor keeps his promises—there won’t be any changes.”

Yes!

There definitely won’t be.

Yet Ji Wanxin still worried and added: “But there are quite a few others entering the palace for the consort selection this time. If something unexpected happens, then you…”

Before she could finish speaking, Ji Muqing spat “Ptui, ptui, ptui” several times.

She glared fiercely at Ji Wanxin, displeased: “What nonsense are you spouting? What unexpected event? What could possibly go wrong? What was decided long ago naturally won’t change. This consort selection is only in name—just a formality. Besides, don’t you know what influence Elder Brother and Second Brother have in the court?”

She had only said a few sentences, but Ji Muqing had said dozens!

Ji Wanxin explained, “I’m merely reminding you to prepare yourself as well, lest…”

“Enough, I know. I don’t need your reminders. If I’d known, I shouldn’t have let you come with me. What a nuisance!”

Her face full of disdain!

Ji Wanxin was already used to it.

The two maintained this silence, not saying another word.

The carriage’s speed increased more and more. After passing through Yuzhou, they would reach the capital in two days.

The whirlpool within the capital would only grow larger and larger!