Chapter 221 The Incident In The Princess Pce


    "What?" Hua Jing''s words put Li Yingying in a fluster. Yingying panicked.


    The Princess continued, "I suppose you would have worn a veil when you visited the Suiyu House. But


    the veil was not enough. It only hides your identity from strangers. When people know you, they can


    easily recognize you even with a veil on. You''ve always been cautious and smart. Why did you make


    such a mistake?"


    Yingying smiled awkwardly. She tried to dismiss the allegation, "Well, I didn''t go there. The ce is


    inappropriate for an unmarried woman like me. Thedies must have mistaken another person for me."


    Hua Jing smiled coldly, "Now you''re being silly. It doesn''t matter whether you visited Suiyu House or


    not. The rumor itself is disastrous. If someone so close to you, me for example, has heard about it, then


    most of thedies in the Imperial City must know as well. You know thedies love rumors. No one


    cares about the authenticity of the rumor. Gossiping is fun to them. Thedies won''t keep quite when


    there is such an interesting story. And eventually, the rumor will be heard by your family. The Li n


    are the ones who will get hurt by the rumor."


    Li Yingying''s face paled, "Hua Jing, you''re right. Even if I im that it is only a rumor, no one will


    believe me. So what should I do now? My parents and grandparents can''t know of the rumor. It''s too


    heavy an usation for our family to bear."


    Hua Jing was amused by Li Yingying''s question. ''If she feared the consequences so much, why did she


    fight for Ya Xi so publicly in the first ce? And she was defending herself just now, as if someone had


    wronged her.


    Bitch. I shouldn''t have doubted Ya Xi. He wasn''t framing her.'' The Princess thought. When the guards


    told Hua Jing what they had seen, she wasn''t sure whether or not she should trust them. Now with Li


    Yingying''s guilty confession, Hua Jing was assured.


    Princess Hua Jing had been raised in the Pce. Her life had been free of adversities. However, in


    recent months, too many awful things had happened to her. She had even spent two months in a cold


    and damp cell thanks to Li Yingying. Thetter had never paid the Princess a visit during Hua Jing''s


    internment. And Li Yingying had plenty of excuses for not visiting. She always imed that she was


    either terrified or mentally exhausted. ''It looks like Li Yingying was busy enjoying her time with her


    lovers during my incarceration.''


    Hua Jing felt angrier when she thought about the past. ''Ya Xi is mine. Li Yingying will learn that she


    cannot covet him.''


    "Yingying, you''re twenty years old and still unmarried. No wonder there are rumors. If you like, I can


    help with that. I can ask grandmother and aunt to find you some nice young noblemen to select from. If


    you''re married, such rumors will have no basis." Hua Jing raised her hand and smiled as she studied


    her new manicure.


    Li Yingying''s face was still pale. Her expression didn''t change much at Hua Jing''s suggestion. Li


    Yingying lifted her brows, but chose not to say anything.


    Hua Jing interpreted Li Yingying''s reaction as reluctance to stop living a free and unfettered life. The


    Princess felt unhappy, "If you were a man or someone of stature like Prince Jing, people would say


    you''re a yboy, even if you stay unmarried at the age of twenty. But as a girl, you''ll receive harsher


    judgement if you remain unmarried over the age of twenty. It''s not good for your reputation. I am only


    offering help. What you do now, is your decision."


    Li Yingying sighed and lowered her head. She hesitated for a while before saying, "I guess I don''t have


    any other choice. Please let my mother and grandmother know that they should find me a husband."


    ''A husband?'' Hua Jing sneered at Li Yingying. ''You wish!'' But the Princess hid her feelings well, "I also


    suggest that you go out less these days. We can''t make sure the same rumor won''t spread again if you


    go out too often." Hua Jing nodded at her cousin before leaving. Thinking of what she had


    aplished, her heart soared with joy.


    Yun Shang was lying on the couch at Prince Jing''s Mansion. Ning Qian was reporting thetest


    updates to the Princess, "The Grand Councilor''s wife arranges events quickly. She held a banquet with


    only two days notice. But only a few people were present. Even her friends didn''t attend. They all had


    excuses for their absence. The Grand Councilor''s wife was enraged at the situation. She sent her


    servants to find out why, and learned of the rumor that Li Yingying had burnt down Suiyu House for an


    escort."


    Yun Shang smiled at the news, "Interesting. What else did she find out?"


    "She found out everything that Your Highness wanted her to know. After all, it wasn''t exactly a secret


    that Princess Hua Jing brought the most famed escort from Suiyu House to her Pce. Ya Xi is


    popr and easily recognized in the City. Besides, he went to the Princess Pce through the front


    door several times. Everyone saw him." Ning Qian smiled, too.


    "Well, the Royal cousins fought over one escort and now, they hate each other for that. What an


    intriguing story!" Yun Shang took a sip of tea. ''No wonder the civilians like to watch shows.'' The


    Princess thought. The yers on stage enact what the audience favors to amuse them. It''s said that


    watching such shows helped themoners forget about their problems. But Yun Shang had enjoyed


    customizing this show. And it was only the beginning. She had much more nned.


    "What''s more, there were several groups of people investigating Ya Xi and the Suiyu House fire. They


    have shown great interest and conducted the investigation many times. Fortunately we foresaw this


    and made arrangements in advance. Otherwise they would find out that we were behind the whole


    incident. Of the people who were interested in Suiyu House, some were from the Grand Councilor''s


    Mansion, and others had been sent by the Empress. I''m surprised that the Empress knew of it. But she


    didn''t confront Princess Hua Jing. The Empress conducted a secret investigation and then, she didn''t


    pursue it any further." Ning Qian added softly. She was confused about the Empress''s reaction.


    Yun Shang put down the teacup with a heavy thud. Even though she hadn''t fought with the Empress


    face to face many times, she knew the Empress well. Most of her understanding of the Empress came


    from her experiences in her previous life. "Of course, she won''t me Hua Jing. Hua Jing is the


    Princess of the State of Ning after all. Most Princesses are allowed to keep more than one gigolo even


    when they are married. Since it is said that Hua Jing''s husband died, this rumor will only hurt the


    Princess''s reputation a little. That''s if she had any standing in the City. We ruined Hua Jing''s character.


    So it''s not a big deal for her to have kept men. Besides, if Hua Jing stops meeting with Prince Qingsu


    due to her interest in Ya Xi, the Empress would be grateful. The Empress has done her research and is


    convinced that Ya Xi would be of no harm to Hua Jing. That''s why she let it go."


    "Your Highness is right. You knew Princess Hua Jing would make mistakes when it came to men. So


    you recruited and trained several handsome boys to trap her. You are so wise." Ning Qian smiled and


    Yun Shang smiled, too. She made such arrangements because she knew Hua Jing well. Hua Jing was


    dissolute. She fell for handsome boys easily. Yun Shang couldn''t share that she had gained this insight


    from her previous life with Ning Qian. So she kept silent.


    Ning Qian spoke again, "By the way, it was challenging to find so many attractive boys. Each boy is


    more gorgeous than the next. Each has something exciting to offer. Their beauty remains unsurpassed


    from among their peers. It''s a pity not to let them serve you. My Lady, a Princess is allowed to a little


    indulgence when ites to the matter of sex. So if you''re interested, I''ll select some boys to serve


    you. What do you think?"


    Yun Shang had been leisurely sipping her tea when she heard Ning Qian''s suggestion. The Princess


    was so shocked that she nearly spat out the tea in her mouth. After all these years of working with Ning


    Qian, she didn''t know that Ning Qian could make such an exaggerated joke. ''Did she learn it from Qian


    Yin?''


    Before Yun Shang couldpose herself and refuse Ning Qian, a cold male voice interrupted the


    women, "I''m afraid she can''t do that. A Princess Consort cannot have kept men, or else she will be


    ced in a bamboo basket and tossed in the river."


    Ning Qian recognized whom the voice belonged to, and smiled awkwardly. She bbered a quick


    apology, "Your Highness, I didn''t know you were here. I apologize for my mistake. I''ll take my leave."


    Then she ran away as fast as she could.


    Yun Shang swallowed the giggle that threatened to escape at Ning Qian''s antics. She waited patiently


    for the Prince to say something. He ambled to Yun Shang and sat opposite her. From his position, he


    could study his wife carefully. The Prince raised his brows, "Your Highness wants a kept man?"


    ''Your Highness?''


    Yun Shang frowned. The Prince never called her that when they were alone. The Princess smiled to


    Prince Jing acted as if he hadn''t heard Yun Shang''s exnation. He awkwardly rubbed his hands on


    his knees before saying, "It''s understandable. Your Highness has just had her Coming-of-age


    Ceremony. You have barely passed fifteen, while I''m already twenty-eight years old. I''m thirteen years


    older than you. While I am only getting older, you are in your prime. That would be a disadvantage to


    you. Besides, even though we have been married for half a month, you and I haven''t consummated the


    marriage. I understand if you''re feeling lonely. Though I''m stubborn sometimes, I will support your


    decision if you really want to have a kept man......"


    ''Prince Jing is talking nonsense.'' The Princess blushed a furious red at the Prince''s mention of


    consummation. Just the idea of being intimate with Prince Jing was enough to... No, no! She was not


    going to think about that. Yun Shang coughed to hide her nervousness before quickly adding, "Your


    Highness overthought. Shang''er have never thought of such thing. Never! By the way, earlier in the


    day, the chambein asked for my opinion regarding the midke pavilion. He also asked my advice


    concerning the renovated courtyard. I need to see the design drawings. I''ve spent too much time


    talking with Ning Qian. And so, I''m going to take your leave and attend to the renovation n now." Yun


    Shang almost tripped over her feet as she stood from the couch. She rushed outside without putting on


    her shoes.


    Prince Jing''s mouth curved into a smile at Yun Shang as she disappeared from his sight. His eyes


    reflected jest, "What a shy girl." Then he left Yun Shang''s room, too.


    Meanwhile, trouble continued to brew for Li Yingying. Since Li Yingying''s inappropriate behavior was


    witnessed by several civilians, her mother couldn''t me Princess Hua Jing for spreading rumors.


    Besides, the enchanting Ya Xi also testified against Li Yingying on the charge of bullying him and


    burning down Suiyu House. The fire set by Li Yingying even imed several innocent lives.


    With the crime of manughter involved, the whole issue escted. The Governor of the Imperial City


    filed the case and conducted an investigation. The Li n used their power and found a scapegoat to


    take the me for Li Yingying. No one pursued Li Yingying for her role in any of the matters pertaining


    to the Suiyu House arson.


    Though being acquitted, Li Yingying lost her standing in the City. Not a single n in the Imperial City


    wanted their son to marry her. Since Li Yingying had brought shame to the Li n and was of no value


    at all, her n sent her to a temple in the mountain. Li Yingying was sentenced to a life of praying to


    Buddha and abstaining from meat.


    After the fire in Suiyu House, most of the escorts were rendered homeless. Some of them chose to


    serve Princess Hua Jing. Even though they didn''t live in the Princess Pce, they still led a good life,


    as Hua Jing had found a spacious house for them to stay in.


    Hua Jing was really thrilled at having won this battle so easily. For the longest time, she had faced only


    failures in her ns. This was the first sess in a long time. As an added bonus, she now had plenty


    of pretty escorts to keep herpany. Hua Jing took turns to enjoy their service. She picked different


    men to sleep with each night. Whoever was chosen by Hua Jing made preparations in advance and


    waited to be taken to the Princess Pce in pnquins. If Hua Jing was in good spirits, she would call


    for more than one man to serve her in a single night. Princess Hua Jing was leading such a content life.


    Meanwhile, Prince Jing implemented his ns. In less than ten days since his discussion with Yun


    Shang, word came that the Emperor of the State of Yng had became seriously ill. Soon, the news


    spread throughout the State of Ning.


    Without doubt, Prince Qingsu was one of the first people to hear the news. The Prince had been busy


    building good rtions with the Royal ns in the Imperial City. Since Hua Jing was no longer a good


    choice to help him secure the position of Crown Prince of Yng, Prince Qingsu needed to find another


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Lady who would help him attain his political goals. He was in the midst of searching for a bride when he


    heard the news.


    Prince Qingsu didn''t buy it at first. His father had just passed the age of fifty. The Emperor should be


    strong and healthy at his age. Besides, the Emperor was in good health when Prince Qingsu left the


    State of Yng. It was odd that his father would be seriously ill all of a sudden.


    However, Prince Qingsu had to believe the news, as it was conveyed by one of his most trusted


    servants. It wasn''t long before Prince Qingsu panicked. He was worried that his second brother and


    fifth brother would take over power during his absence.


    The more Prince Qingsu thought about it, the more anxious and insecure he became. But he couldn''t


    act rashly. If his second or fifth brother decided to take advantage of his absence, they would definitely


    n ordingly. Since they knew that Prince Qingsu would return as soon as he heard the news, his


    brothers would probably ambush Prince Qingsu.


    Thinking about that, Prince Qingsu messaged his people. He wanted them to separate into different


    groups to distract attention. But Prince Qingsu didn''t have too many servants around him in the State of


    Ning. He needed more people to help him with his n and to fight his brothers.


    Then the Prince thought of Hua Jing. Though she had lost all favor and standing among the noble


    ns, Hua Jing was a Princess after all. Her safety was guaranteed by her Royal guards. At any given


    time, she was protected by more than a hundred people. If Prince Qingsu could borrow those guards


    from Hua Jing, it would increase his odds.


    Prince Qingsu decided to pay Hua Jing a visit. He waited till nightfall before making his way to the


    Princess Pce.


    It didn''t seem like the opportune time for Prince Qingsu to visit. The Princess Pce was full of hustle


    and bustle at night. Prince Qingsu felt curious when he thought about why the Princess Pce would


    be so busy at night. Loudughters and heavy breathing filled the Hall outside Hua Jing''s chamber.


    Prince Qingsu realized what Hua Jing was doing from the noises that he had heard. The Prince felt


    angry at the Princess''s absurd behavior. Even though he was a yboy, he still held a strict standard


    toward the women he slept with. He thought Hua Jing could help him achieve his political goals, so he


    had lowered his standards and chosen her, despite the fact that Hua Jing wasn''t a virgin. Now, seeing


    Hua Jing sleeping with different men, Prince Qingsu felt veins throbbing in his temples. Reminding


    himself of the ns he needed help with, the Prince suppressed his feelings and walked in.


    But he lost his temper again at the sight that greeted him as he entered. Outer clothes, tunics, and


    shoes were scattered on the ground. Several naked bodies were piled up on the bed. It was a dirty


    scene.


    Although glowering in anger, Prince Qingsu stayed silent as he watched the woman on the bed. One of


    the escorts noticed Prince Qingsu. He put on a seductive smile and spoke to the Prince, "Friend. Are


    you also here to serve Her Highness? Well, you''rete. But it doesn''t matter. Come and join us. It''s our


    honor to serve Her Highness. Am I right, Your Highness?"


    Princess Hua Jing was busy enjoying herself. She was so caught up in the throes of pleasure that Hua


    Jing kept her eyes tightly closed and moaned. Hearing the question, she didn''t think much. The


    Princess whimpered, "Yeah...... Ah...... Serve me...... Serve me well...... And you...... Ah...... You''ll be


    rewarded......"


    The escort who noticed Prince Qingsu smiled at Hua Jing''s reply. He bent and continued kissing Hua


    Jing''s neck. Hua Jing moaned out of joy.


    Prince Qingsu sneered. He silently walked to the bed. No one noticed Qingsu''s approach. "Em, " said


    the Prince as he unsheathed a hidden knife that he had brought with him. Without deliberating over his


    decision, the Prince swung the knife at the person closest to him. The escort turned just in time to see


    the knife heading toward his body. Quickly, he rolled away. Prince Qingsu couldn''t stop. As the knife


    sunk into the person below the escort, Prince Qingsu sneered. Before Prince Qingsu saw who he had


    stabbed, a scream rang through the chamber. Several people looked around and noticed the Prince''s


    violent behavior, "Ah...... Someone has been stabbed......"


    The men on the bed seemed shocked by the sudden incident and started to run around the room


    naked.


    The chaotic scene satisfied Prince Qingsu so much, that he kept stabbing the person on the bed


    without looking at the victim. The escorts kept shouting and screaming.


    Soon, the quilt was soaked with blood. When footsteps hastened toward the room, Prince Qingsu knew


    that the guards were approaching. He controlled his anger and put away the knife. No matter what, he


    couldn''t be caughtmitting a crime in the Princess Pce. What he had done would indeed have


    disastrous effects if he were caught. Prince Qingsu was needed in the State of Yng. He shook his


    head to clear his thoughts. He had no feelings for Hua Jing, so why did he be so emotional? The


    Prince frowned as he recalled how impossible it had been to control his feelings from the moment he


    stepped in the room. He couldn''t resist the thought of killing.


    Familiar with schemes and plots, Prince Qingsu knew it was a set-up targeting him. There must be


    something odd about the scent in the room.


    Prince Qingsu shook his head to clear his mind before trying to jump out through the window. But the


    Prince was stopped and dragged down by the escorts who saw him. The Prince frowned when he


    thought he''d be caught by the Pce guards. Hearing the footstepsing closer, Qingsu swung his


    knife and stabbed whoever was holding his thigh.


    The guards smashed through the door. When they saw Prince Qingsu holding a blood covered knife,


    they shouted, "Hurry! Arrest him!" Since the guards had entered, the escorts restraining Prince Qingsu


    loosened their grip. Prince Qingsu took the chance to jump out the window. He disappeared in the


    darkness.


    The guards didn''t chase the Prince. They panicked at the blood-soaked bed and shouted, "Help! Her


    Highness is hurt!"