She had known all along that Imperial Consort Xiao harbored ill intentions!

But she hadn’t expected this malicious heart to be quite this rotten!

Ji Yunshu lowered her gaze, sitting calmly and composed, as if she had plucked Imperial Consort Xiao’s words right out of her ears.

Neither responding nor answering.

“Master Ji, is there some difficulty?” Seeing her hesitant and undecided, Imperial Consort Xiao raised her arched brows and asked.

In her words, there was clearly an ill-intentioned flavor.

A woman among the seats also chimed in, “Could it be that Master intentionally conceals your appearance because it’s unsightly? But I see that the half of your face that’s visible exudes a heroic air. Naturally, you must be a handsome talent among men.”

Ancient people truly loved to flatter others with high hats!

Ji Yunshu raised her eyelids and sized up that woman—rosy complexion, beautiful features, lips like rouge. She could be considered delicate. It was just a pity that those eyes that looked down on everything couldn’t be concealed.

“Miss overpraises this humble one. I’m merely an ordinary person. No matter how well this half of my face looks, it ultimately cannot make up for the defects of the other half.”

“Master’s meaning is that the other half of your face is disfigured?”

“Yes!”

A frank answer!

The woman immediately turned her head away, raised her embroidered hand to her nose, and wrinkled her brow.

Displaying a look of disgust!

Ji Yunshu caught the woman’s movements and expression in her peripheral vision, and couldn’t help but smile contemptuously at the corner of her mouth.

Though rouge was rouge, this was a box of common powder!

Imperial Consort Xiao glanced over vaguely and interjected, “Whatever Master’s appearance may be, remove the mask and it will naturally be clear at a glance. Among the young ladies from various families present, whichever one Master takes a fancy to, this palace will naturally arrange the match for you.”

Ji Yunshu cupped her hands, planning to refuse. “This commoner…”

Before she could speak, Imperial Consort Xiao waved her sleeve, cutting off her words, and said, “Master needn’t decline.”

How truly aggressive!

Ji Yunshu understood very clearly that at this moment she was like a caged bird, able only to let Imperial Consort Xiao’s bamboo stick prod at her arbitrarily.

Forget it—if they want to see, let them see!

Perhaps after these rouge beauties saw her appearance, they’d all be frightened half to death. That would be good too!

She nodded and swept her gaze across the seats.

“Since all the young ladies wish to see, and Imperial Consort Xiao has commanded it, then I shall remove this mask.”

Imperial Consort Xiao nodded with great satisfaction!

Yet her vermilion lips secretly curved upward as she watched Ji Yunshu raise her slender fingers, hook them on that half golden mask, bend her knuckles, apply slight force, and begin to lift that mask bit by bit.

Everyone’s gaze focused intently.

Each filled with anticipation!

Filled with desire!

Ji Yunshu’s appearance was gradually being revealed. Just at this moment—

“Mother Consort!”

Jingxuan lifted her newly changed skirt hem and ran in with flying steps, beside herself with joy.

Because of this, Ji Yunshu pressed the not-yet-fully-removed mask back onto her face and sat quietly.

Everyone sighed in disappointment and displeasure!

“Xuan’er? Why have you come?” Imperial Consort Xiao asked with a pinched expression.

“This daughter heard from the palace attendants that Mother Consort was hosting a banquet in the great hall and had invited young ladies from prominent families in the capital. This daughter also wanted to join the excitement.”

“This banquet has nothing to do with you. Withdraw,” Imperial Consort Xiao said sternly.

But Jingxuan acted as if nothing had happened and looked toward Ji Yunshu. Immediately her spirits lifted as she joyfully walked to her side.

Smiling broadly, she said, “So Master Ji is here too.”

Ji Yunshu stood and cupped her hands. “Princess.”

“Between you and me, there’s no need for formalities.” Having said this, she grasped Ji Yunshu’s sleeve corner, pressed her body close, pursed her small mouth, and complained, “Mother Consort is really something—not even telling me that Master is here. If I had known you were coming, I would have gone to the palace gates to greet you.”

This…

Ji Yunshu broke out in a cold sweat.

She wanted to pull her sleeve back from Jingxuan’s grip, but Jingxuan held tight and wouldn’t release it no matter what.

Smack—

Seeing this, Imperial Consort Xiao slammed one hand fiercely on the armrest of her gold-lacquered, jade-carved ivory chair and rose angrily.

“Someone, take the Princess away.”

“Yes!”

Palace attendants came forward, attempting to pull Jingxuan away.

Jingxuan twisted her body and pushed the palace attendants aside. With a stubborn air, she said to Imperial Consort Xiao, “Mother Consort, why can’t I attend this banquet? This daughter hasn’t seen Master for many days. If Mother Consort won’t allow me to stay at the banquet, I’ll take Master to the rear hall for a gathering.”

“Nonsense! As a princess, to speak such shameful words.” Imperial Consort Xiao spoke sharply and severely.

“This daughter has always been this way, speaking directly. Since Mother Consort is hosting a banquet, this daughter won’t disturb you.”

Having said this, Jingxuan pulled Ji Yunshu toward the hall exit.

“Xuan’er!”

Completely ignoring Imperial Consort Xiao’s rebuke from behind, Jingxuan pulled Ji Yunshu quickly out of the great hall.

Ji Yunshu’s steps paused as she withdrew her hand.

Jingxuan turned to look at her, then glanced back at the great hall. Seeing no one pursuing, the corner of her mouth lifted in a triumphant smile.

She said, “How could those common rouge powders view your appearance before this Princess? If anyone’s to see, naturally this Princess should see first.”

So that was it!

However, if it weren’t for Jingxuan’s sudden intervention, tonight would likely have produced many complications. Not only would her appearance have caused a commotion, but if Imperial Consort Xiao disregarded her disfigured appearance and insisted on arranging a match, forcing a wife upon her…

If she refused, she would openly offend Imperial Consort Xiao!

If she agreed, but her identity was actually…

Just thinking about it made her realize how meticulously calculated Imperial Consort Xiao’s scheming was!

Fortunately, her abacus had just been opened when Jingxuan suddenly burst in and disrupted it entirely.

How frightening!

If she fell into Imperial Consort Xiao’s hands before even investigating the Linjing Case, it would be too unworthy.

Seeing Ji Yunshu remain silent for so long, Jingxuan suddenly linked arms with her intimately. “Since we’ve already come out, why not accompany this Princess to the rear hall?”

“Thank you for the Princess’s kind invitation, but the hour is already late. I take my leave.”

Withdrawing her arm, Ji Yunshu prepared to leave with an expressionless face.

The next moment—

“Could it be that Master doesn’t want to see Wei Yi anymore?”

Hm?

“What did you say?” Ji Yunshu’s steps halted as she turned to ask.

Disappointment fell across Jingxuan’s face. “So the person Master is most concerned about in her heart is Wei Yi!”

“Why mention him? What exactly have you done?”

“Aren’t you in a hurry to leave the palace?” She turned away, crossing her arms, throwing a small tantrum.

Ji Yunshu’s heart tightened as she said seriously, “Princess, if you wish to make things difficult for me, please do as you wish, but don’t harm Wei Yi.”

“When did this Princess ever say I’d harm him? I merely sent someone to bring him into the palace. That young fellow is currently in the rear hall leisurely eating pastries. So now, are you willing to accompany me to the rear hall?”

Ji Yunshu’s expression became anxious. Without a moment’s hesitation, she said, “Take me to find him.”

“Good!” Jingxuan was extremely satisfied.

Thus, Jingxuan pulled her along, hurrying to the rear hall.

Along the way, Jingxuan also expressed some concern.

She said, “Last time when I told Mother Consort about you and Imperial Brother discussing the missing persons case, upon hearing it, for some reason, Mother Consort actually confined me to the palace, not allowing me to leave. I heard you and Imperial Brother were injured—I was desperately anxious.”

Her tone was full of worry.

So it was—

“It was you?” Ji Yunshu was astonished.

Jingxuan didn’t understand. “What was me? I actually want to ask you—how badly were you injured?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine!”

Her tone was cold to the extreme!

Who would have thought it was this young girl Jingxuan who had overheard and then confusedly told Imperial Consort Xiao, which led to Prince Yi seizing the opportunity to capture Gan Chouliang first!