"Let me tell you, this is what happens when you mess with His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Cui Yingying clapped her hands and chuckled.
"The position of Crown Princess belongs to Wanqiu. If you dare to get involved with His Highness again, you'll be in big trouble!"
She looked at Jiang Wan, who was soaked to the bone, and raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, why aren't you saying anything?"
The woman opposite him was soaked through, water droplets streaming down her forehead and chin, looking utterly disheveled.
His eyes, however, were calm and serene, with a hint of coolness.
Cui Yingying felt a sudden tremor in her heart for no apparent reason.
"Yingying, you've gone too far. I warned you just now not to act impulsively."
At this moment, Guo Wanqiu spoke up. She gently scolded Jiang Wan, then walked over to her side and took out a handkerchief to help wipe her face.
"Madam Jiang is a second-rank imperial consort. If this is investigated, you are committing insubordination!"
Cui Yingying let out a short "Ah," her face showing a moment of stunned silence.
After hearing Guo Wanqiu's words, she was so angry that she wanted to play a prank on Jiang Wan and teach her a lesson.
After all, although Jiang Wan wore a woman's hairstyle, she looked very young and was clearly the same age as him.
For a moment, Cui Yingying forgot that the person standing in front of her was a second-rank imperial lady, a woman of high status.
Her voice trailed off: "But, but it was clearly you..."
"Madam Jiang."
Guo Wanqiu interrupted her, took a few steps back, and gave Jiang Wan a deep bow.
“Yingying offended you because of me. I apologize on her behalf. If you want to punish her, I am willing to accept it on her behalf.”
"Wanqiu..."
Cui Yingying's eyes reddened.
Seeing her friend bow her head and admit her mistake for her sake, she was deeply moved, and her gaze toward Jiang Wan became even more hostile.
She pulled Guo Wanqiu up and said, her neck stiff.
"This has nothing to do with Wanqiu! One should take responsibility for one's own actions. I couldn't stand your arrogance, so I took it upon myself to act. If you have any problems, come at me!"
Jiang Wan took in their every move and sneered inwardly.
This Miss Guo is truly cunning.
With just a few words, they could coax someone into willingly taking the blame.
"Why does Miss Cui think I'm arrogant?" Jiang Wan asked. "We didn't know each other before."
"I... I just don't like the look of you, so what?"
Cui Yingying had a determined look on her face, clearly ready to defend her friend.
Jiang Wan gave her a cold look, then said, "If I remember correctly, Miss Cui is here with her parents for the banquet today, isn't she?"
"You...you want to go and complain to my father?" Cui Yingying's eyes widened.
The Cui family has strict discipline, and her father is particularly tough and stern. If he finds out she's causing trouble here, she'll be in big trouble.
Jiang Wan had already walked towards the courtyard gate.
Cui Yingying panicked and quickly caught up with Jiang Wan, grabbing her forcefully: "Come back! What kind of skill is it to tattle, you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Wan suddenly turned around and shook off her hand.
She lost her balance and staggered back a few steps before falling to the edge of the well.
Just as she steadied herself by holding onto the edge of the well, Jiang Wan kicked her into the well with one foot.
"ah-"
Before Cui Yingying could call for help, she fell into the deep well with a "plop".
Guo Wanqiu, who was standing under the eaves, covered her mouth, terrified.
She had expected Jiang Wan to not give up easily, but she never imagined that the other party would be so ruthless.
The well in the courtyard had been abandoned, but she could clearly hear the sound of water. Before long, Cui Yingying would drown.
She ran to the well to check on Cui Yingying, but was stopped by Jiang Wan.
"Madam Jiang, what are you doing? You'll cause a death!"
"She dared to mess with me, she should know the consequences." Jiang Wan sneered, her voice brimming with arrogance.
"You...you're insane!"
Guo Wanqiu didn't want to argue with her and immediately went to call for help.
"Miss Guo, please go find someone. If they arrive in time, they might be able to save your good friend," Jiang Wan said lightly.
Guo Wanqiu frowned: "Aren't you going to stop me?"
"She was the one who disobeyed first, so what's wrong with me punishing her?"
Jiang Wan curled her lips into a smile, which deepened as she looked at her with a hint of arrogance.
"Even if His Highness finds out... given our relationship, he will still side with me."
Guo Wanqiu gripped the handkerchief tightly.
As expected! Jiang Wan admitted it herself; she had an affair with the Crown Prince.
How dare she be so arrogant in front of me when I am the Crown Princess!
What is this if not a provocation?
"Aren't you going to call for help?" Jiang Wan chuckled, fanning herself. "If we had been any later, Miss Cui would have been dead."
Guo Wanqiu then realized with a start that the wellhead had become quiet at some point.
Just a moment ago, you could still hear Cui Yingying choking on water and struggling, but now there's nothing left.
It was as if the place had fallen into a deathly silence.
Guo Wanqiu turned pale with fright.
But a crazy idea began to sprout in his mind.
Jiang Wan is right. Cui Yingying was the one who made the mistake first, and now she is just retaliating. It is not a crime at all.
But if Cui Yingying is seriously injured, or even...dies, then Jiang Wan would be guilty of premeditated murder.
No matter how she tries to explain herself, she won't be able to escape.
The Empress will despise her, and the Crown Prince will see through her vicious true nature and will never feel any affection for her again.
As for herself, she would sit comfortably as the Crown Princess and enter the Eastern Palace.
Guo Wanqiu hardened her heart, turned her head away, her lips trembling, and dared not look at the well opening.
"You killed Yingying, I will definitely avenge her!"
After saying that, he turned and left the courtyard.
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