After exchanging pleasantries at Bamboo Brook Garden for quite a while, Ji Wanxin returned home.

However—

Just as one foot stepped into the General’s Manor, a basin of ice-cold water came splashing toward her.

Her entire body was instantly soaked through.

Ji Wanxin froze as well, standing there dumbly, her hair disheveled and dripping with water that kept flowing down.

She looked utterly bedraggled!

Accompanying this was Ji Muqing’s sinister laughter.

She threw the basin in her hands heavily to the ground, curling her cold lips as she circled around Ji Wanxin, looking her up and down.

She said viciously, “Before coming to the capital, I already told you not to associate with that worthless hussy. Did you simply not hear my words? Or did you not take my words to heart?”

Ji Wanxin remained silent!

The next moment, Ji Muqing grabbed her chin with one hand and lifted it up.

Forcing her weak, sickly eyes to meet her own gaze.

“Today is just a lesson for you. Next time, what’s poured on you won’t be cold water, but scalding oil.”

Her fingertips tightened, then she flung her away forcefully.

The force was great, and Ji Wanxin’s body was weak. She was immediately thrown to the ground, the palms of her hands scraped raw and bleeding. The pain was burning and intense.

Ji Muqing then left with satisfaction—

After lying on the ground for a long while, Ji Wanxin finally moved slightly, coughing, her chest extremely uncomfortable.

Those slender, pale hands also clenched tightly into fists at this moment.

Yet on her sickly face, there remained only calmness.

It wasn’t until the maid serving her helped her up that she felt cold all over her body.

“Miss, are you all right?” The maid was crying.

She quickly helped her back to her room, lit the warming brazier, added cotton quilts, and went to fetch a physician.

Yet she still fell ill—

For several days in a row, she couldn’t get out of bed.

Ji Muqing also finally entered the palace after a few days.

It was said that after arriving at Chuxiu Palace, she was insufferably arrogant, occupying the best room and demanding four palace maids to attend to her.

Furthermore—

She boasted and exaggerated shamelessly, using every trick she could to show off. Of course, what she was most proud of was the jade hairpin that Consort Xiao had given her.

When the young ladies from various families saw it, they offered a few flattering words on the surface, but secretly, they all detested her.

On this day, hearing that the flowers in the Imperial Garden had all bloomed, she changed into new clothes and dragged two palace maids along to accompany her.

Carrying a basket, she picked many flowers.

Spring was a season of renewal, and in the Imperial Garden, there were also more people admiring the flowers.

When encountering the more courteous consorts, they would at least exchange a few words with her.

But when meeting those who were disdainful, they naturally couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge her.

“When I become Empress in the future, those old women will only be able to stay in the Cold Palace.”

Ji Muqing snorted and continued picking flowers.

When she saw a purple Elegant Stem Flower, her eyes lit up. Elegant Stem Flowers had always been red—where had anyone seen this purple variety?

So she was filled with joy and was about to pick it, but was stopped by two palace maids.

“Miss, you mustn’t pick this flower!”

“Why not?”

“This flower is…”

Before the palace maid could finish speaking, Ji Muqing had already pushed them aside, her hands moving swiftly and decisively.

She picked the purple flower!

Bringing it to her nose, she sniffed it—refreshing and delightful!

“Audacious!”

At that very moment, a sharp and fierce voice came through.

The two palace maids were terrified. The basket in their hands dropped to the ground with a thud, and the flowers spilled out.

They immediately knelt on the ground, prostrating themselves and begging for mercy: “Princess, spare us! We servants deserve death.”

Looking completely bewildered, Ji Muqing turned to look, not yet comprehending what was happening.

Smack—

A slap landed viciously on her face.

The purple Elegant Stem Flower in her hand was also snatched away by the newcomer.

Jing Xuan looked heartbrokenly at the Elegant Stem Flower she had spent two whole years cultivating, then stared at Ji Muqing in furious exasperation.

“What backwoods woman dares to pick this Princess’s flower? Such audacity!”

Having been slapped, Ji Muqing’s anger also flared up. Where did she have the presence of mind to care about anything else? Covering her face, she shouted, “Backwoods woman? Do you know who I am?”

“This Princess doesn’t care who you are! Picking this Princess’s flower deserves a beating!”

Smack—

Another slap!

Ji Muqing’s face—who knew whether it was red from being struck or red from anger.

The showdown was on? The showdown was on!

“You dare hit me? You…” She said while raising her hand, preparing to strike back.

But she was caught by the palace maid beside Jing Xuan, who flung her away forcefully. As if taking bullets for her master, she said, “This is a Princess. Who do you think you are? You picked the flower the Princess cultivated, and now you want to hit the Princess? Do you not value your life?”

Indeed, an arrogant master would have an arrogant servant.

Ji Muqing suppressed her anger, tears welling up in her eyes.

Jing Xuan wasn’t about to let this go so easily. Touching her Elegant Stem Flower tenderly, tears were about to come out as well.

Glaring at the two palace maids on the ground, she commanded, “You two, seize her. I’m going to bury her in the ground to be a burial offering for my flower.”

The two palace maids trembled as they raised their heads, looking rather troubled.

Jing Xuan was furious: “Why aren’t you moving? Do you expect this Princess to do it myself?”

“We obey your command.”

With that, the two palace maids stood up, preparing to seize Ji Muqing.

But they were met with Ji Muqing’s rebuke: “You dare!”

“Miss Ji, we servants…”

Before they could finish speaking, Jing Xuan directly pushed those two aside and took matters into her own hands.

“They don’t dare, but this Princess dares!”

Just as she grabbed Ji Muqing’s clothing, Jing Yi appeared.

“Jing Xuan, stop.”

Jing Yi walked over, his expression calm yet tinged with cold severity, emanating a uniquely masculine air. Combined with that handsome face, it truly made people unable to look away for a moment.

Jing Xuan immediately pulled at Jing Yi to complain, opening her hand to show the Elegant Stem Flower: “Imperial Brother, look! This is the flower I planted in the Imperial Garden two years ago. This year it finally bloomed, but it was picked by some backwoods woman from who knows where.”

“If it’s picked, it’s picked. It’s just one flower. Why are you taking out your anger on people?”

“Imperial Brother…”

“Enough, stop making a scene.” After Jing Yi finished speaking, he instructed the maid beside Jing Xuan, “Escort the Princess back to her quarters.”

“Yes!” The palace maid bowed and tugged at Jing Xuan. “Princess, let’s go.”

Shaking her off forcefully, she shouted indignantly, “Imperial Brother, why are you siding with an outsider? I’m your real younger sister!” Then she yelled at Ji Muqing, “You’d better watch yourself. Next time I run into you, I’ll skin you alive!”

After dropping these harsh words, she left.

Meanwhile, Ji Muqing had been staring at Jing Yi from the moment he appeared, not even blinking.

Jing Yi glanced at her, his tone cool yet laced with concern, asking, “Does your face still hurt?”

She shook her head numbly, then quickly performed a curtsy, biting her lip as she spoke in a bashful tone.

“It no longer hurts. You must be Prince Yi, I presume? This humble woman is the legitimate daughter of the Ji family, Ji Muqing. I pay my respects to Prince Yi.”