Chapter 18 (Revised)
At a banquet like this where celebrities from Beijing gathered, it was very rude for young girls to quarrel in front of the host, which was why Jiang Yingyue wanted to settle the matter as soon as possible.
But there was someone who was deliberately targeting Chu Miaomiao and was determined to make a big deal out of this matter.
Jiang Qiyue is one, and Cheng Sian is also one.
Cheng Sian, daughter of the Imperial College's chief academic officer, has been well-read since childhood, possessing considerable talent in poetry and song. However, even more widely known than her reputation as a talented woman is her obsession with the Crown Prince.
Wei Zhen, who was just a prince at the time, shined brightly at a polo match. Cheng Sian was deeply attracted to him and even asked people to dedicate his poetry collection to Wei Zhen several times, hoping to establish a relationship with Wei Zhen through poetry.
It is said that Wei Zhen only looked through the first three poems and left a four-word evaluation - pretentious.
To the point, without any hesitation.
But even so, Cheng Sian not only did not have the intention of retreating, but became even more infatuated with Wei Zhen, and was confident that "I am the only one who can be the Crown Princess."
When she saw Wei Zhen giving Chu Miaomiao a gauze lantern with her own eyes that night by the Cangming Lake, she discovered that Wei Zhen, who always appeared indifferent and aloof, was smiling when facing Chu Miaomiao, as if a banished immortal had been exposed to the mortal world and had gained warmth.
She had spent countless nights imagining that she was the one who warmed the cold Wei Zhen, and that Wei Zhen's joys and sorrows were solely for her. But now, a Princess Pingyang who had appeared out of nowhere had replaced her, making her infatuation seem so ridiculous. How could she not resent him?
The weeds of jealousy grew wildly in Cheng Sian's heart, almost devouring her sanity.
Since she can't get the prince, Princess Pingyang can forget about it either!
"Sister Qiyue only took the initiative to greet the princess, but she didn't intend to invite the princess's humiliation. The princess is bullying others by taking advantage of her power. I really feel sorry for Sister Qiyue."
Cheng Sian portrayed Chu Miaomiao as an unreasonable and rude person in just one sentence, but what she said was also the truth. Before Jiang Yingyue covered her mouth, she only said that sentence, "Isn't that Princess Pingyang?"
However, everyone present had heard the rumor that Chu Miaomiao had been in and out of Yiheju. Jiang Qiyue's words were deliberately drawing everyone's attention to Chu Miaomiao, allowing those people to humiliate her with mocking and harsh eyes.
Chu Miaomiao narrowed her eyes slightly, thinking this person wanted her to be mute. If she dared to reveal the reason for targeting Jiang Qiyue, she would confirm the rumors about her frequent visits to Yiheju. Oh, these people's care for her was enough to move her to tears.
Draw a trap for her to fall into? Well, don't worry, there's still time to talk about this matter.
"You said it was a greeting, so this princess is curious, do you usually greet others in a provocative tone like Miss Jiang?"
Jiang Huan, who was watching the show with great gusto, immediately raised her hand: "I can attest that Jiang Qiyue's words weren't even a greeting; they were a clear provocation."
With Jiang Huan's support, Chu Miaomiao straightened her back even more. She spread her hands and looked at Cheng Sian jokingly: "Look, girl, this world is not full of people who pretend to be deaf and dumb and don't know right from wrong."
If it weren't for the strange atmosphere, Jiang Huan would have applauded and cheered for Chu Miaomiao. She wasn't just scolding Cheng and Jiang; she was scolding the majority of the people present who had simply stood by and watched the fun.
King Huai watched the women's drama with great interest. King Su, who found the women's quarreling extremely annoying, said impatiently, "It's just a small quarrel, but it has been escalated into such an unbelievable situation. Pingyang is a princess personally appointed by the court, how can she not even have this little tolerance?"
Prince Su's words clearly accused Chu Miaomiao of being ignorant. If his comments were spread, it would undoubtedly harm Chu Miaomiao's reputation. Not only did Jiang Yingyue and other admirers of Chu Miaomiao take notice, even the Crown Prince and Princess Yu's expressions changed slightly.
Princess Yu was about to say, "Mind your own business," when the Crown Prince interrupted her: "Knowing that Pingyang is a princess of high rank, yet still dares to provoke her with words, has all the education Miss Jiang has received been wasted?"
Princess Yu tried hard to control her facial expression, not smiling too obviously for fear of adding fuel to the fire. At the same time, she looked at Wei Zhen again as if she were meeting him for the first time today. She really couldn't imagine that one day he would speak up for a girl.
Prince Su also looked at the Crown Prince, wondering if he was going to confront him over such a small matter? Was he simply standing up for Princess Pingyang, or was he deliberately targeting him?
King Huai became even more excited, and he wished that the Crown Prince and King Su would quarrel so much that the sage would dislike him.
The two wives of Zhongshu Ling Jiang's family felt embarrassed. Jiang Huan, Xu Ling and others looked at Jiang Yingyue with sympathy. Jiang Yingyue, who was accidentally injured, looked up at the sky speechlessly. Jiang Qiyue, who was embarrassed and annoyed, blushed. The others looked at the Jiang sisters as if they were laughing at them.
Chu Miaomiao glanced at Wei Zhen in surprise. She didn't expect him to speak for her. It seemed that working for the prince had some benefits.
Cheng Sian looked at the Crown Prince with resentment, feeling even more dissatisfied. "Your Highness, you are too kind. Sister Qiyue may have been impolite. But when it comes to upbringing, Princess Pingyang also has her shortcomings. Your Highnesses may not know that Princess Pingyang is a frequent visitor to Yiheju!"
Everyone was in an uproar. Wei Zhen tightened his fingers, his joints turning blue and white, and there was a sharp coldness in his eyes as he looked at Cheng Sian.
Chu Miaomiao couldn't help but clutch the edge of her skirt. She knew that these people would not give up unless this matter was exposed in public.
She tried to calm herself down. Although she was asking Cheng Si'an, her eyes were fixed on Wei Zhen: "What evidence do you have that you dare to speak nonsense here?"
She was not asking Cheng Sian, but confirming with Wei Zhen whether the follow-up of the Yiheju incident that day had been properly handled.
The moment their eyes met, Wei Zhen immediately understood what Chu Miaomiao meant. He nodded slightly, indicating that Chu Miaomiao could rest assured.
Chu Miaomiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she insisted there was no evidence, this matter would be nothing but a rumor, and Cheng Sian's words would be nothing but slander.
"Of course not." Cheng Sian thought he had something on Chu Miaomiao that could trap her completely, so he said impatiently, "Bai Xiaoyan from the Anchang Marquis's Mansion can testify."
Bai Xiaoyan, who was already fidgeting, was suddenly called out and subconsciously retorted, "No, no, I didn't..."
It was indeed her brother who privately told them that Princess Pingyang had been to Yiheju, but her brother later repeatedly reminded them not to disclose the matter, otherwise Princess Yukang would not let them go.
On the Lantern Festival, Bai Xiaoyan, dissatisfied with the Crown Prince's special treatment of Princess Pingyang, impulsively brought up the matter. She hadn't expected it to escalate to this point, and even implicate herself.
"You!" Cheng Si'an was surprised that Bai Xiaoyan suddenly denied it. "You clearly said it yourself that day!"
"You must be confused! I never said those words!" Bai Xiaoyan, who was determined to get herself out, denied it flatly.
"There were quite a few people standing around you when you spoke that day, and they all heard it!"
Seeing a good show of biting each other started, Chu Miaomiao lifted the loose hair on her forehead, crossed her arms, and watched them leisurely.
Look, look, who was trying to set a trap for others but ended up getting himself caught in it?
"I heard it." Jiang Yingyue, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up. "Miss Bai did mention that she had heard her brother mention this matter that day."
Jiang Yingyue was known for her kindness and had a wide network of friends among the girls in the boudoir. As soon as she spoke, someone immediately agreed. Several girls present at the time repeatedly agreed, confirming that Bai Xiaoyan's story about Chu Miaomiao entering and leaving Yiheju was indeed true.
Chu Miaomiao looked at Bai Xiaoyan innocently, her tone extremely aggrieved. "I don't even know you, why are you slandering me like this? You've put me in such a desperate situation with just a few words. Are you deliberately trying to make me die in the face of public gossip?"
Chu He, who was originally worried about her princess, was stunned. She thought to herself, "Princess, if you had used your acting skills earlier, would you have had to confront the prince head-on?"
Chu Miaomiao seemed to feel that her previous emotions were not full enough. She secretly twisted her thigh hard, and tears of pain immediately burst out. She asked in a slightly trembling voice: "Do you really want me to die to prove my innocence?"
Seeing Chu Miaomiao's aggrieved and delicate appearance, most people felt sorry for her. Jiang Yingyue and Jiang Huan both took the initiative to step forward and gently comfort her.
Shi Yuanyuan looked coldly at the flustered Cheng Sian and said coolly, "Everyone knows that Bai Xiaoyan rarely speaks the truth. You are foolish enough to believe it and force Princess Pingyang to admit such a baseless rumor. You are stupid and evil, and your heart is damnable."
Xu Ling secretly gave her friend a thumbs up.
Cheng Sian looked at Princess Yu and the Crown Prince, and even Prince Su and Prince Huai, as if asking for help, hoping that someone would stand up and speak for her.
Unfortunately, no one was willing to speak up for her.
She slandered Princess Pingyang like this today, who knows if she won't plot against me tomorrow. She smiles affectionately on the surface, but stabs me in the back. Who would want to be friends with such a person?
Chu Miaomiao felt that the matter was almost over and it was time to end it, so she wiped away her tears and sniffed: "Your Highness Prince Su just scolded Pingyang for being ignorant and intolerant."
Prince Su was puzzled and didn't know why Chu Miaomiao wanted to involve him.
Chu Miaomiao said aggrievedly, "Pingyang dared not disobey His Highness's teachings. Pingyang knows he was wrong. The truth behind the rumors is already clear. Pingyang will be satisfied if he can clear his name."
As she spoke, Chu Miaomiao twisted her thigh again, and tears fell uncontrollably. Everyone could see that she was swallowing her anger for the sake of Prince Quan Su's face.
"Pingyang only hopes that the girls will be more careful with their words and actions in the future. This kind of vicious rumor will only hurt Pingyang."
Didn't she have to be magnanimous? Sure, no problem. If this matter were ever brought up again, everyone would only remember her grievance and magnanimity, while Cheng Sian, Bai Xiaoyan, and Jiang Qiyue would forever be subject to the public's contempt and sighs.
Thank you Prince Su, thank you for speaking out.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
