Chapter 143 Ji Chen Wants to Stir Up Trouble Again
Ji Chen looked somewhat embarrassed, clenching his fingers hidden in his sleeve. Sooner or later, he would make the whole world know him. What was there for a young master from the Ministry of Rites to be so arrogant about? He was just born into a good family.
He was extremely resentful inside, but on the surface he was all smiles and said, “It doesn’t matter that we didn’t know each other before. We will be friends from now on because we have a common enemy—the Jiang family.”
Li Cheng immediately perked up, a playful smile playing on her lips. "Did that Jiang guy dig up your ancestral graves, kill your parents, or steal your woman?"
Ji Chen was stunned, then added fuel to the fire, "They didn't steal my woman, but I know Jiang Jinyan stole Lord Li's woman. Lord Li is blocking the road between the Jiang and Zhang families so early in the morning, drinking alone. Watching the woman he loves marry someone else must be hard for him!"
He looked at the wedding procession on the street. "Jiang Jinyan is about to have a beauty in his arms, but Young Master Li is drinking alone here. Why does Jiang Jinyan get all the good things?"
Li Cheng's eyes blazed with fury, veins bulging in his veins. He smashed the wine glass in his hand to pieces. "Why? Zhang Yumo is my woman. Why did Jiang Jinyan steal her away?"
Li Cheng could only curse a few times in private and vent his anger, but he didn't dare to really do anything to Jiang Jinyan. After all, Jiang Jinyan was backed by Prince Heng, who was currently enjoying the Emperor's favor. Jiang Jinyan had gained Prince Heng's appreciation and had also made meritorious contributions to flood control, which the Emperor greatly admired. Now, the Emperor had even bestowed a marriage upon him and Zhang Yumo.
If it weren't for His Highness Prince Heng interfering, he wouldn't have broken off his engagement with Zhang Yumo, and he wouldn't have come here to drink alone so early in the morning.
His father had warned him not to make enemies of Prince Heng, because they couldn't afford to offend him.
A sinister glint flashed in Ji Chen's eyes, his mind brimming with malice. "I've heard about what happened last time. It was clearly Jiang Jinyan who set a trap for you, sir, to snatch Zhang Yumo away. That day, the Duke of Zhang's mansion held a birthday banquet. You, Young Master Li, didn't attend, but you did. Jiang Jinyan kissed and groped Zhang Yumo in public. His behavior was lewd and depraved, which is why the Zhang family had no choice but to marry their daughter to him. Otherwise, with a family like the Jiangs', how could the Duke of Zhang possibly betroth their daughter to him? The Jiang family is truly cunning, especially his sister, Jiang Fenghua. Relying on becoming the Princess Consort of Heng, she acts recklessly and is extremely scheming."
Li Cheng felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He suddenly became interested, "Does Young Master Ji have a grudge against Princess Heng?"
Ji Chen started playing the victim again, "To be honest, I was staying at the Prince Heng's residence a few days ago."
"Oh, you're really capable of living in the Prince Heng's mansion. You must be lying!" Li Cheng knew that Prince Heng didn't like to associate with the young masters of noble families in the capital. He always preferred to be alone, and even among the princes, he rarely interacted.
“His Highness Prince Heng and I were sworn brothers. I had been living in the Prince’s mansion preparing for next year’s imperial examination. It was because of Jiang Fenghua’s interference that Prince Heng lost his trust in me, which is why I moved out of the mansion,” Ji Chen said.
Li Cheng knew these scholars all too well; they were self-righteous and loved to pretend to be high-minded. He mocked, "You married a maid from the Prince Heng's mansion, but you probably slept with her, didn't you?"
The news that Ji Chen had married a maid from the Prince's mansion had already spread. No one cared who he was; they just treated it as a romantic affair to gossip about over tea.
Everyone is speculating: what would a scholar and a maid possibly do if he married a maid and moved out of the palace? The twists and turns of the story are something everyone can imagine.
Anger flashed in Ji Chen's eyes. "The truth is that Jiang Fenghua also orchestrated this. Because I had some connection with Consort Su of Prince Heng, she was unhappy that I was living in Prince Heng's residence. Consort Su originally had a very good relationship with the Prince, but it was Jiang Fenghua who arranged for her to lose the Prince's heart..."
Ji Chen brought up Su Tingwan's matter again, twisting the truth and making it all accusations against Jiang Fenghua and sympathy for Consort Su.
"Is she really that vicious?" Li Cheng had met Jiang Fenghua once before. At first glance, she was stunningly beautiful, the kind of woman who could bewitch a man. No wonder Prince Heng fell in love with her so quickly.
"According to you, your original intention was not to marry that maid, but Princess Heng plotted to make you marry her. The maid wanted to seduce Prince Heng to ascend the throne, and Princess Heng used you to get rid of the maid," Li Cheng said.
Ji Chen nodded. "Exactly."
Li Cheng laughed and said, "You're really unlucky. You're the sworn brother of Prince Heng, and wealth and honor should be within your grasp, but now you're so down on your luck. The woman you married has another man in her heart. It's certainly frustrating, but what does that have to do with me?"
Li Cheng is not a fool, nor is he brainless. The Li family cannot afford to offend Prince Heng.
Ji Chen said, "My affairs are indeed none of your business, but Jiang Jinyan took away the wife who originally belonged to you. Don't you really hate him?"
A fierce glint flashed in Li Cheng's eyes. He had been beaten up by Jiang Jinyan and had also been robbed of his wife. Of course he hated him. Sooner or later, he would make Jiang Jinyan wish he were dead.
He didn't really like Zhang Yumo. There was no need for him to bother with an old maid like her. He just wanted to play around with her. He was only attracted to her because she was indeed pretty.
Li Cheng's face finally softened into a gentle expression. "Young Master Ji, you didn't come to me just to chat about your romantic affairs, did you? The person you're targeting is Princess Consort Heng, which is tantamount to making an enemy of His Highness Prince Heng. You've got some nerve!"
“Jiang Fenghua will receive the punishment she deserves. I am indeed indignant on behalf of Lord Li. It was she who spread all of Lord Li’s bad reputation, right there at the banquet held by the Zhang family that day. If you don’t believe me, go ask your mother.”
Madam Li was driven away, lost face in public, and was so angry that she was nearly dead. She had already complained to Li Cheng about it when she returned home.
However, Jiang Fenghua is the Princess Consort of Heng, and given her status, who would dare to touch her?
Even if he hated Jiang Jinyan, he wouldn't be foolish enough to offend Prince Heng and Princess Heng. Prince Heng had already warned him, both openly and secretly, not to touch Jiang Jinyan, otherwise he would be making an enemy of the Prince Heng's mansion.
Li Cheng had been feeling frustrated about this for a long time. If he could use Ji Chen to deal with Jiang Jinyan and the Jiang family, that would be the best thing ever.
Both of them had their own agendas and were scheming against each other, just to see who had the more cunning and despicable methods.
Li Cheng generously offered, "It's my treat today, please make yourself at home."
Ji Chen smiled, but he was also wary of Li Cheng. He sat down generously and looked at the crowded street scene. It was really lively!
He raised his wine cup to Li Cheng, saying, "I would like to offer you a toast, Lord Li, with a cup of your wine."
His eyes remained fixed on the wedding procession on the street. "Please."
The two of them started drinking again, one cup after another.
"The Jiang family is only now heading out to greet the bride. There's still a long way to go from the Jiang residence to the Duke of Zhang's mansion. The weather is cold; if it gets any colder, will it snow?" Ji Chen teased. "Didn't the Jiang and Zhang families send invitations to the Li family?"
Li Cheng glanced at him.
Ji Chen added, "They didn't even send an invitation to the Su family. They're so arrogant."
Just then, a funeral procession suddenly appeared on the street and blocked the way for the Jiang family's wedding procession.
Neither group was willing to give way, and the people carrying the coffin even placed it at the front to block their way, refusing to back down no matter what.
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