Chapter 185: It Just Looks Similar, But It’s Not
He Sheng also knew that the person in front of her was not someone she could afford to offend, so she could only suppress the suspicion in her heart and smile as she said, “Miss Ling, please forgive me. I think you miss my Second Brother’s Wife too much, so you mistook someone else for her.”
“First Madam Lin is too serious. I can understand your deep sister-in-law affection, mistaking someone for her momentarily. I just hope First Madam Lin will look clearly before calling out. If you mistake someone again, who knows if others might think First Madam Lin is mocking her. At that time, who knows if the Lin Family can bear it.”
This overt and covert warning also let everyone know.
The woman in front of them, who appeared soft and weak, was not as easy to bully as imagined.
He Sheng’s face also paled.
The Ling Family was not someone she could afford to offend.
“Thank you, Miss Ling, for the reminder.” He Sheng pretended to be calm as she said.
And the Fifth Princess, with her new favorite, had just gotten off the carriage not far away.
Watching the scene not far away.
The corners of her mouth couldn’t help but reveal a meaningful look as she gazed at the man in front of her. “Gongzi Su, don’t you think that Miss Ling looks quite like Second Madam Lin?”
The man wearing the mask glanced over, then withdrew his gaze and said indifferently, “She just resembles her, but she is not.”
A shallow smile appeared on the Fifth Princess’s opulent and noble face. “Oh, really not?”
The man wearing the mask did not speak, but the Fifth Princess was not angry either.
She linked arms with Gongzi Su and walked forward. “It’s so lively. It’s not early anymore. Everyone, if you keep watching the excitement here and arrive late, do you think the Empress will be angry?”
The crowd saw the Fifth Princess, in broad daylight, behaving so licentiously with the man, but they all seemed accustomed to it. After paying their respects to her, they all entered the Imperial Palace.
The scene at the Imperial Palace gate naturally reached the Empress’s ears.
The Empress frowned slightly. “Is it true what was said? Eldest Daughter Ling really resembles Second Madam Lin?”
“This servant saw some resemblance, but there is also a slight difference. If not for that mole on her face, she would look seventy to eighty percent similar.”
Even between mother and daughter, the resemblance is only fifty to sixty percent. For one person to resemble another to seventy to eighty percent.
Apart from twins, probably only she herself knew.
The Empress’s gaze flickered. “Miss Ling will be this palace’s future daughter-in-law no matter what. This is her first time entering the palace, so she will surely feel unaccustomed. How about this: the Crown Prince is in the front courtyard discussing matters with the Emperor. Go invite the Crown Prince here in a moment.”
“Yes, this servant obeys the Empress’s decree.”
Although He Sheng had already clarified Jiang Ruanxi’s identity, they were too similar after all, so even after she entered and sat in an inconspicuous corner, she still drew frequent glances from others.
Jiang Ruanxi still maintained a shallow smile, neither humble nor arrogant.
The Fifth Princess saw her acting that way, head lowered drinking tea, but in a glance, she caught Gongzi Su’s gaze always falling on Jiang Ruanxi. She was consumed by jealousy and felt quite displeased.
So she beckoned a maid and whispered a few words in her ear.
“I brought you here to see the world, not to look at women.” The Fifth Princess gripped the teacup with great force.
Gongzi Su withdrew his gaze. “Fifth Princess, you are mistaken. You are the noblest and most elegant woman in the world. No one can compare to even one of your toes.”
The Fifth Princess gazed at his sexy Adam’s apple, her eyes surging with heat, her heart aflame. “Come with me.”
With that, without caring if he was willing, she headed toward the back garden.
Gongzi Su pursed his lips, a flash of disgust passing through his eyes, but he still followed.
The Empress was late in arriving, and Jiang Ruanxi felt bored sitting there, so she instructed Yushui, “I’ll go out for some air. If the Empress arrives, notify me.”
“Yes.”
Jiang Ruanxi was not very familiar with the Imperial Palace, so she didn’t dare walk far.
The place just beyond the wall was specially for these young ladies to rest, but now most people were in the Imperial Garden, so there were fewer people here.
“Mm…”
“Su…”
“You’re so good!”
Intermittent, coquettish voices came from the dim room.
Jiang Ruanxi was secretly shocked.
The Fifth Princess was licentious by nature and dissolute.
She had only heard rumors before and thought that for a woman to be associated with such words, it was mostly rumor.
But now hearing it with her own ears, she understood that rumors are not groundless.
The Fifth Princess was not only wanton but also bold.
The Empress was holding the flower appreciation banquet in the adjacent Imperial Garden, yet she dared to do such illicit things here.
Jiang Ruanxi’s identity was special, and she did not want to cause trouble, so she turned to leave.
But who knew, as she turned, she bumped into He Sheng.
“Miss Ling, just now…”
“Cough cough cough…”
Jiang Ruanxi interrupted her and subconsciously glanced toward the dim room.
“First Madam Lin, I already said the matter just now was just a misunderstanding.” Jiang Ruanxi said softly.
After speaking, she went around her and headed to the Imperial Garden.
He Sheng did not know what had happened inside, her hands at her side clenched tightly.
She had only wanted to take the private opportunity to bow her head to the Ling Family, but this Miss Ling seemed unwilling.
Her mind turned over various thoughts, and she followed along.
Meanwhile, inside the room, the Fifth Princess’s clothing was half-draped on her body, her lower half still hanging on Gongzi Su.
But after hearing the voices outside, Gongzi Su did not move another inch.
The Fifth Princess, whose mood was ruined, lost interest and kicked Gongzi Su off the bed.
A flash of killing intent passed through Gongzi Su’s eyes, but it quickly vanished.
The Fifth Princess did not notice, thinking in her heart how to punish Jiang Ruanxi for ruining her mood.
**
When Jiang Ruanxi returned to the flower appreciation banquet, the Empress had already arrived at the banquet.
She looked much more ordinary than Madam Yu, appearing dignified, but thinking that she had taken Madam Yu’s life, for some reason, she could not bring herself to like her.
And the so-called flower appreciation banquet was merely an occasion for unmarried and married women of the Capital to exchange with each other.
Jiang Ruanxi was a bit unaccustomed to such an occasion.
She found an excuse of feeling unwell and did not chat or compete in talents with them.
The Empress did not make things difficult for her and considerately said, “Since you are unwell, this palace will have someone prepare a room for you. Go rest first.”
Jiang Ruanxi was delighted and stood up. “Your servant thanks the Empress.”
Jiang Ruanxi followed the Empress’s palace maid Wan Bi. Halfway there, they bumped into the Fifth Princess.
Jiang Ruanxi did not want to cause trouble, curtsied to her, and walked to the side, but the Fifth Princess directly blocked her and said arrogantly, “Miss Ling, stop.”
Before she could speak, Wan Bi stepped forward. “Fifth Princess, Miss Ling is unwell. The Empress instructed Miss Ling to go rest.”
