Chapter 49: Seeking Trouble by Opposing the Princess

Princess Anya was notorious for her fiery temper; at this moment, her darkened face betrayed her foul mood at a glance, yet Xia Mingxuan insisted on courting disaster. Xia Jiujiang, feigning innocence, kindly clarified, “Brother Xia, you may not know, but Princess Anya is quite fond of my attire, so I gifted her the clothes.”

Princess Anya, furious, turned on Xia Mingxuan. “You meddle far too much. You’d do better to mind your own affairs. Guards, seize Xia Mingxuan!”

Xia Mingxuan was taken aback. “What does the princess mean by this? I am tasked with escorting Lady Jin to the Temple of Dali for blessings. Why do you wish to arrest me?”

Princess Anya was flustered; she could hardly confess before so many that she had heard rumors the Prince of Jin would visit Xia Jiujiang’s chambers at midnight, prompting her to dress in Xia Jiujiang’s garments and style her hair accordingly, ready to throw herself into his arms. Unable to say anything, she unwittingly allowed Xia Jiujiang’s plan to succeed.

Remembering her abduction yesterday, Princess Anya’s face turned an ugly hue. Fortunately, after the bandits captured her, they only threw her into the woodshed and did nothing disrespectful; otherwise, she would not have survived.

Enraged, Princess Anya declared, “You colluded with the bandits and abducted me—a grave crime! Tell me, why should I not arrest you?”

She was simply furious; Hei San and Xia Mingxuan had disrupted her scheme to win over the Prince of Jin, and now, unable to speak of her humiliation, she vented all her anger on Xia Mingxuan.

Xia Mingxuan exclaimed in alarm, “Princess, this must be a misunderstanding. How could I collude with bandits or allow them to harm you?”

Princess Anya’s fury soared. “Hei San’s group abducted me, but my guards discovered it and rescued me in time, capturing Hei San and his accomplices on the spot. He confessed he was bribed by you, Young General Xia, to kidnap me. I have all the evidence! You dare deny your guilt?”

Xia Mingxuan’s frantic protests were futile. At Anya’s command, her guards seized him, no matter how he struggled. Xia Yue’er’s face turned deathly pale, completely bewildered; she had expected Xia Jiujiang to be ruined, but now Xia Mingxuan was being led away.

Young monks gathered around the temple’s inner courtyard, watching the spectacle with curiosity. Xia Yue’er approached Princess Anya, bowed, and said, “Princess, could this be a misunderstanding? I believe someone is framing him…”

Before she could finish, Princess Anya slapped her hard, knocking her to the ground. “How dare you parade in front of me when I’m in such a sorry state—are you mocking the dignity of the princess?”

Xia Yue’er whimpered pitifully, “Princess, you misunderstand, I did not…”

“Still pretending to be pitiable in front of me? Get out! Or I’ll have you seized as well.” Princess Anya had no patience for Xia Yue’er’s act.

With that, Princess Anya turned and left. Her guards dragged Xia Mingxuan away, regardless of his protests. Xia Jiujiang, unharmed, crouched beside Xia Yue’er and, noticing the five finger marks on her cheek, clicked her tongue and said, “Sister, you’d best hurry back to the Chancellor’s residence and ask Father for help; otherwise, your eldest brother’s life may be in danger.”

Xia Yue’er stared at her in shock. “It was you, wasn’t it? You orchestrated all this. Hei San was supposed to abduct you, but Princess Anya ended up in your chamber, suffering the consequences. It must have been your plan—to lure her into your room and provoke her to wear your clothes!”

Princess Anya was oblivious, but Xia Yue’er saw through it; she was certain Xia Jiujiang was behind everything.

Xia Jiujiang responded, “Sister, what are you saying? Do you mean Hei San originally intended to kidnap me, not Princess Anya? Because Princess Anya switched rooms with me, she was abducted instead?”

Xia Yue’er’s gaze turned cold. “Stop pretending, Xia Jiujiang. You saw through the plot and prepared everything in advance, letting Princess Anya suffer and dragging my brother down. You truly are cunning.”

Xia Jiujiang snorted. “Your words are odd. It was Princess Anya who wanted to switch rooms and wear my clothes. Are you suggesting I colluded with her?”

Xia Yue’er exploded in anger. “You must have manipulated her into taking your place.”

Xia Jiujiang cautioned, “Sister, you should be careful with your words. Right now, Xia Mingxuan stands accused of conspiring with bandits to abduct Princess Anya; though he claims innocence, your assertions amount to admitting his involvement with Hei San.”

At this, Xia Yue’er’s face turned ghastly pale. She could not confirm Xia Mingxuan’s guilt, or he would be finished—and she would lose her chance to become an imperial consort.

Even now, Xia Yue’er thought first of herself. Xia Mingxuan, a young general with status at court, was her ticket to ascend as the emperor’s consort.

A surge of unwillingness rose within her. Why did Xia Jiujiang always manage to survive, even turning the tables?

Xia Jiujiang continued, “Moreover…you nearly claimed Xia Mingxuan intended to abduct me, not Princess Anya. If the Prince of Jin hears this and the Imperial Guards intervene, do you think Xia Mingxuan would have any hope?”

Xia Yue’er’s pupils contracted sharply, her face rigid.

Xia Jiujiang’s gaze was icy. “You should be grateful to me. I kept Xia Mingxuan from falling into the hands of the Imperial Guards. As for Princess Anya…he’ll suffer, but if the Chancellor pleads for mercy, perhaps he’ll have a way out.”

Her words admitted her role, but so what? Without evidence, Xia Yue’er could only swallow her resentment, endure Xia Jiujiang’s mocking glare, and, after much deliberation, hurried away from the Temple of Dali to the Chancellor’s residence to deliver the warning. Otherwise, Xia Mingxuan would be doomed.

Watching her departing silhouette, Xia Jiujiang’s lips curled into a cold smile—this was the price of opposing her.

Returning safely to the Eastern Courtyard, Xia Jiujiang was greeted by Green Vine, Shadow Flower, and White Fragrance, who breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing her. Their worried expressions betrayed admiration; indeed, with the Lady’s intervention, one could always expect results.

Xia Jiujiang said to Green Vine, “Pack our things—we’re leaving.”

Green Vine was surprised. “Aren’t we here for blessings?”

Xia Jiujiang chuckled, “Did you really think we came to the Temple of Dali to pray? Xia Yue’er has fled, Xia Mingxuan is arrested—there’s no reason to stay. Better hurry back, we might still buy some of the limited pastries from the Pavilion of Good Fortune.”

The mention of those pastries instantly lifted Green Vine’s spirits, and she rushed inside to pack. Shadow Flower sighed—opposing the Lady is nothing but courting misery. Why bother?