Chapter 93 - 92: The Eldest Miss as a Substitute Bride 8

Chapter 93: Chapter 92: The Eldest Miss as a Substitute Bride 8

Ji Yan tossed aside the other half of the broken sword. All the color drained from her face, her eyes filled with terror and indignation.

"I will remember what happened today!"

Ji Yan spat out the threat through gritted teeth, then turned and fled in a panic like a beaten dog.

Her steps were frantic as she stumbled out of the courtyard, oblivious to her hair coming undone and her hairpins scattering along the path.

Her maid, Chun Cui, who had been observing from the side, saw her mistress’s pathetic state and didn’t dare to linger a second longer.

She shot a terrified glance at Ji Xiaosong and Zixi, gave a trembling curtsy, and scurried after Ji Yan.

As for the servants Ji Yan had brought along to back her up, they could only stare at each other in dismay, their eyes full of fear.

The crowd scattered in an instant, each person finding an excuse to slip away. The once noisy and chaotic courtyard fell silent, leaving only a mess behind.

Ji Xiaosong gave a light wave of her sleeve, and the entire courtyard was instantly restored to its previous state. She then stored away Chu Qingyun’s betrothal gifts in her personal space.

"Zixi, let’s go. We’re going to see Lord Ji about my dowry."

’Now that I’ve put Ji Yan in her place, it’s the perfect time to strike while the iron is hot.’

The two of them went to the front courtyard, where Mr. Ji and Mother Ji were currently discussing Ji Xiaosong’s dowry.

If she were marrying into the family of an ordinary official, no one would say a thing even if they gave no dowry, or a meager one.

But this time was different. Ji Xiaosong was marrying the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince himself had specified that she must have a generous dowry.

With all the disasters in recent years, an official like him couldn’t skim as much money as he used to.

The family had already set aside funds and treasures for the marriages of their three children. If they had to give a portion to Ji Xiaosong now, the other three would inevitably feel slighted.

There was only so much to go around. Taking from any one of them would give people something to talk about.

"My lord, my lady, it’s terrible! The Second Miss went to the Eldest Miss’s courtyard to cause trouble but was driven out!"

Chun Cui ran in, flustered, which only angered the already distressed Mr. Ji and Mother Ji even more.

"Look at the state of you! Have you no decorum? You knew perfectly well that person with her is not to be trifled with, so why did you go and provoke that jinx?"

Mother Ji’s face flushed with anger. ’I just don’t get it,’ she fumed internally. ’Can’t you vent your anger in secret? Why did you have to confront her head-on?’

’You can’t even win a direct fight. Aren’t you just asking to be humiliated?’

"My Lady, the Second Miss is so frightened that she’s hiding. I beg you to go see her."

In truth, Chun Cui still hadn’t recovered from the shock. As a first-rank maid, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t witnessed her fair share of drama.

But seeing Ji Xiaosong make her move just now had scared her half to death.

In the past, she and the others had tried to poison Ji Xiaosong many times. Although she had managed to avoid it every time, there was no guarantee that Ji Xiaosong hadn’t kept a record of it all.

If Ji Xiaosong decided to retaliate in the future, couldn’t she do it in a heartbeat?

Chun Cui was truly terrified in retrospect!

Mr. Ji was also furious. Ever since Ji Xiaosong had returned to the Ji family, she had done nothing but cause turmoil in the household.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and said wearily to Mother Ji, "Wife, go have a good talk with Yanyan. Tell her not to provoke that jinx again before she’s married off. It’s only half a month. We can afford to wait."

"What about the dowry?"

"Give her whatever is standard for a Crown Princess Consort. After all, the dowry will be put on display, and we can’t have the Ji Mansion become a laughingstock. When the time comes, assign a few extra maids and guards to that jinx. During her three-day homecoming visit, have those maids and guards bring the entire dowry back under the pretext of delivering gifts to her maiden family."

"You truly think of everything, my lord. I’ll make sure it’s done discreetly so no one finds out."

With that said, Mother Ji hurried away, ready to go and console Ji Yan.

This was, after all, the daughter she had doted on since birth. How could she bear to let her truly suffer?

When Mother Ji reached the door to Ji Yan’s room, she heard no sound at all.

This terrified her. "Yanyan, Yanyan, what’s wrong?"

She rushed forward, forgetting all about her noblewoman’s composure.

"Mother, that jinx actually knows martial arts! She broke my sword with just two fingers! You’ve sent people to give her so much poison in the past, but she shows no signs of being poisoned at all. Do you think she’s known all along that we’re trying to harm her? Is she going to get revenge on us?"

Mother Ji pulled Ji Yan into her arms, gently patting her back. A vicious gleam flashed in her eyes, but her face was a mask of soothing smiles. "Yanyan, don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. She just knows a few unorthodox tricks. What can she possibly do to us?"

Ji Yan sobbed in her mother’s embrace. "Mother, I can’t just let this go! She has the Crown Prince’s backing now. I’m afraid she’ll be walking all over us from now on."

"Yanyan, don’t you worry. Doesn’t she want a grand wedding? On her wedding day, I’ll personally serve her a cup of poisoned wine. I was originally planning to give it to her during her homecoming visit, but now it seems better to just send her to hell on the day itself."

The more Mother Ji thought about it, the better the plan seemed. This way, they could also get the dowry back immediately.

She continued to coax Ji Yan for a while longer until she finally calmed down.

「A few days later, it was time for Ji Xiaosong’s "Tianxiang."」

This was a custom where, before a woman’s wedding, friends and relatives would present her with money or gifts to add to her dowry.

Before coming to the Ji Mansion, Ji Xiaosong had no relatives or friends to speak of. She had also specifically instructed her contacts across the country not to get in touch with her before the wedding.

The people of the Ji Mansion wanted to sever ties with her, and she was more than happy to oblige.

Everyone assumed that no one would show up for her Tianxiang today. But to their surprise, just after breakfast, the Ji Mansion’s entrance became as crowded as a marketplace.

The first to arrive was the Second Prince Consort. She wore a moon-white brocade gown embroidered with exquisite crabapple blossoms, her steps light and her bearing graceful.

Following her was a retinue of maids, each holding a gift box tied with an auspicious red silk ribbon.

"I heard it was Sister-in-law’s Tianxiang today, so I came to join the festivities. I’ve brought a small gift, I hope you won’t mind."

The Second Prince Consort spoke with a radiant smile, her voice gentle and pleasant, her eyes full of warmth.

Chu Qingyun was the Eldest Prince. The current Emperor had only the Empress in his harem, so all the royal princes and princesses were her children.

Mother Ji and Ji Yan, who were receiving guests at the side, had to plaster on warm smiles despite their dissatisfaction.

Ji Xiaosong, sitting to one side, could tell at a glance that the Second Prince Consort had come with sincere intentions to befriend her.

She stepped forward with a smile. "You are a welcome guest, how could I possibly mind? Besides, we’ll all be family soon."

She accepted the gift box and, after exchanging a few pleasantries with the Second Prince Consort, welcomed her into the mansion.

Before long, the Third Prince Consort also arrived.

She was dressed in a stunning rose-purple palace gown embroidered with a magnificent gold-thread pattern of a hundred butterflies flitting through flowers. The procession behind her was just as grand, carrying a dazzling array of gifts: precious jade artifacts, rare calligraphy and paintings, and priceless antiques.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, congratulations on your upcoming wedding. These gifts are just a small token of my well wishes," the Third Prince Consort said with a smile, her tone warm and familiar.

Ji Xiaosong was deeply grateful. She thanked her profusely and invited the Third Prince Consort into the mansion as well.

Mother Ji and Ji Yan were completely ignored. Only after Ji Xiaosong and the Third Prince Consort had nearly finished their conversation did Mother Ji and Ji Yan manage to chime in with a few perfunctory words.

Just as everyone was marveling at the arrival of the Second and Third Prince Consorts, a peal of cheerful laughter rang out. Princess Chaohua came skipping in, dressed in a goose-yellow silk frock. She was as adorable and lively as a blooming flower in spring.

"Sister Xiaosong, I’m here for your Tianxiang!"

Princess Chaohua took Ji Xiaosong’s hand and said in a sweet voice, "I brought you lots and lots of fun things!"

Looking at the innocent and cheerful Princess Chaohua, Ji Xiaosong felt a warmth spread through her heart. "Thank you, Princess."

Shortly after, news came from the palace. Although the Empress could not attend personally due to her busy schedule, she had specially dispatched her most capable nanny to present lavish gifts for the Tianxiang.

The members of the Ji Mansion were so shocked their jaws dropped.

The Tianxiang day that they had assumed would be completely ignored had turned into a grand royal affair.

Ji Yan had already twisted several handkerchiefs to shreds in her hands. One chest after another, filled with things that seemed to cost nothing, was delivered to Chasing Wind Courtyard. ’And all of this,’ she fumed, ’should have been mine!’

After seeing off all the guests who had come for the Tianxiang, Ji Xiaosong was about to close her courtyard gates and have nothing more to do with the rest of the Ji family, but Mother Ji stopped her.