Chapter 212: But Who Exactly Is It?
Lowering her eyes to hide the discomfort in her heart, Jiang Ruanxi felt a chill deep inside.
On the day of her rebirth, she understood that sooner or later she would have to face Jiang Kui.
When Jiang Ruanxi lifted her face and met his gaze again, she showed no sign of retreat. “Imperial Advisor, are you teaching this Crown Princess how to conduct herself?”
The Imperial Advisor had not expected that she was not afraid of him at all.
That was truly rare!
One must know that in this Imperial Palace, aside from Emperor Qin, even the Empress Dowager had to show him some respect when seeing him.
A mere Crown Princess like her—he truly had not taken her seriously at first.
“No matter how formidable the Imperial Advisor is, he is still just an outsider. In terms of relationship, I am the Crown Princess, a daughter-in-law of the Royal Family. When it comes to closeness, I am even one step closer to His Majesty than you are. I wonder when the Imperial Advisor, instead of staying properly in your Tianming Pavilion to pray to the great Emperor for the national fortune to prosper, started meddling in matters of the Imperial Palace, even trying to interfere in His Majesty’s family matters.
Tell me, who exactly is not doing their duty properly?
Or has the Imperial Advisor been in a high position for so long that you think you can manage everything?”
In just a few words, she turned from passive to active.
Even the breeze seemed to stop, the air so still it felt suffocating.
Jiang Kui stared at her fixedly, the light reflected in his pupils shocking him to the core.
“Jiang Ruanxi?”
Jiang Ruanxi met his gaze.
“Has the Imperial Advisor become muddled? Why bring up a dead person at a time like this? This Crown Princess has heard that when Second Madam Lin died, the Jiang family members did not seek justice for her and even handed over her corpse without a fight. Could it be that you feel indebted in your heart?
Do you think this Crown Princess looks extremely similar to that Second Madam Lin, so you mistook me for her? That is truly a pity. This palace is indeed not your Second Sister. If the Imperial Advisor truly regrets it, you should go down personally to apologize to her.”
The air was not only frozen but seemed to be starting to burn.
Yushui saw the man-eating look in the Imperial Advisor’s eyes, as if he would swallow someone whole in the next second. She was scared into a cold sweat and did not dare make a sound.
Jiang Ruanxi knew very well deep down that Jiang Kui had recognized her.
But so what?
She was now a daughter of the Ling Family and also the Crown Princess.
Even if the Jiang family members knew her identity, they had no evidence.
Even if it were brought before Emperor Qin, it would be of no use.
“Imperial Advisor, it is broad daylight now, and we are still in the Imperial Palace. If you wish to make a move, you must still be careful and cautious.”
The murderous gaze in Jiang Kui’s eyes finally softened, hiding all his emotions.
“The Crown Princess is right. It is I who was inconsiderate.” Jiang Kui’s voice was indifferent, with little inflection, as if the aggressive scene just now was merely an illusion of bystanders.
“This official was merely kindly reminding you, with no other intention.”
Was this considered showing weakness?
Jiang Ruanxi had no intention of letting him off like this. “This palace understands the Imperial Advisor and will not hold it against you. But I still need to remind the Imperial Advisor that no matter how high and powerful your position is, to the Royal Family you are still just an outsider. To His Majesty, you are merely a subject, even a servant. Do not think too highly of yourself as precious or noble…”
Every word precisely turned into a knife, stabbing straight into Jiang Kui’s heart.
Though Jiang Kui’s heart was surging with massive waves, his surface remained calm as still water, only the hand at his side betraying his feelings.
Jiang Ruanxi merely watched coldly, now letting out a cold smile.
“The Crown Princess’s lesson is noted. This minister will keep it in mind.” Jiang Kui said through gritted teeth.
Jiang Ruanxi left smugly, and Jiang Kui’s eyes narrowed slightly, emitting a light as sharp as a blade.
The armrest of the wheelchair was instantly crushed.
The servant serving him trembled in fright. “Grand Tutor…”
“Send someone to Lingnan at once. Be sure to find the Crown Princess’s flaw.” Jiang Kui had never suffered such great humiliation in his life. He now only wanted to kill Jiang Ruanxi. “Also, have someone investigate the matter of the Li family daughter.”
He refused to believe that Grand Tutor Ling did not know about Jiang Ruanxi’s identity.
That explained why Wei Chang had lived past twenty years old. So that was it!
In that case, Wei Chang was also in the know.
Jiang Kui’s face was like cold frost.
After leaving the Imperial Palace, Jiang Ruanxi got into the carriage and immediately collapsed limply.
Wei Chang came over and saw her like this, unable to help laughing.
Once up, he pulled her into his arms onto his lap. “When you were facing Jiang Kui just now, you weren’t acting scared like this, were you?”
Seeing that even at this moment he still had the mind to joke with her, Jiang Ruanxi angrily turned her head aside in anger. “So is Your Highness mocking me right now?”
Knowing she was angry, Wei Chang put away his joking expression and said gravely, “How could I? When I knew Jiang Kui was going to see you, you don’t know how flustered I was inside. I hurried over here right after coming out of Father Emperor’s Imperial Study Room.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ruanxi only then noticed that his hair was somewhat disheveled and his breathing unsteady.
As the Crown Prince, he always paid great attention to etiquette.
On the way here just now, how fast he had walked—she could almost feel it.
“There was actually no need. In broad daylight, no matter how muddled Jiang Kui is, he would maintain the proper attitude on the surface and not be so foolish as to attack me directly.” A wave of sweetness filled Jiang Ruanxi’s heart, and she was deeply moved.
“Besides, if someone saw you like this, wouldn’t it become a joke?”
“I am the Crown Prince. Who would dare to laugh at me?” Wei Chang held her tightly. “As long as you are safe and sound, what does it matter if I become a joke?”
Jiang Ruanxi’s heart melted into a puddle.
The mutual devotion between them was truly wonderful. From now on, she would never be alone again.
But now was not the time for lingering. Recalling the matter with Consort Yan, she said, “Your Highness, Consort Yan said that jade pendant was given to her by the Empress Dowager.”
Wei Chang’s gaze turned grave. “Do you believe that statement?”
“I believe the words themselves. Consort Yan has no reason to deceive me at this critical juncture.”
After all, for such a matter, she could just obliquely ask the Empress Dowager to find out.
“But I absolutely will not believe the mastermind behind it is the Empress Dowager.”
For the Empress Dowager to put a cuckold on her own son—even if she were truly senile, she would not do such a thing.
Wei Chang nodded. “So someone is using the Empress Dowager? But who exactly?”
Jiang Ruanxi thought of the scene where she encountered Jiang Kui today. “Could it be Jiang Kui?”
Wei Chang frowned. “It’s not impossible, but there’s one thing I can’t figure out. Jiang Rui is Jiang Kui’s man—they are brothers, originally on the same boat. If it really was Jiang Kui who struck ruthlessly, why?”
For Jiang Kui, who was not a fool, to do something so damaging to others without benefiting himself—how could he possibly do something so outrageous?
Jiang Ruanxi also could not figure it out.
