Murong Jing withdrew her hand, looking at Ji Ruyue with impatience. “Stop trying to die in front of me. If you dare to die, it would be an act of defiance. Today, I will have your Ji family seized.”
Ji Ruyue sneered inwardly. So this was imperial power!
She could endure this slap, but she would not let it go in vain.
Following her father’s lead, she softened her movements, her sobs continuing as she wept pitifully.
Chen Shujin opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, then brushed his sleeves and knelt down, speaking softly, “Miss Ji did not mean to offend. Please forgive her, Your Highness.”
Murong Jing glanced at him. “You are quite devoted.”
Chen Shujin met Murong Jing’s gaze and immediately fell silent, bowing his head as he knelt. With just that one sentence, he did not plead further.
After crying for a while, Ji Ruyue’s voice gradually softened, appearing to have calmed down. Yet her words were infuriating. “Yes, it was this commoner’s recklessness. Your Highness disposing of the embroidered ball as you pleased was for my own good, right? And you even found such an excellent husband for me. It must be… it must be that the scholar was too outstanding and caught Your Highness’s eye. As for hitting me…”
“This commoner dares to say…”
Murong Jing could no longer bear to listen. “Shut your mouth!”
Ji Ruyue began sobbing again, not only failing to shut up but continuing to plead, “This commoner dares to ask Your Highness to release the young masters who spoke up earlier. Your Highness is kind-hearted and righteous by nature. Surely you can see at a glance that their mistakes were unintentional, right?”
“They are scholars who have endured ten years of hardship in their studies. It hasn’t been easy for them…”
Murong Jing was so angry she wanted to strike again!
Many of the braver onlookers, seeing Miss Ji in such a pitiful state—beaten yet still thinking of others—felt the princess was truly too tyrannical and spoke up to persuade her.
Thus, the two remained locked in a stalemate for a while longer.
Murong Jing’s attendant leaned close to her and whispered, “Your Highness, we came to Jizhou on important business. With public anger rising, you must not act rashly! They are merely a few scholars. A slight reprimand will suffice. Releasing them now could even enhance your reputation for magnanimity.”
Murong Jing knew well that scholars were countless across the land. As a member of the royal family, if she were to vent her anger on these few scholars over trivial matters, she would not only offend many scholars but also damage her own reputation.
If her father, the emperor, were to find out…
Murong Jing assessed the situation. The gazes around her were filled with suppressed anger, but what did this visible discontent mean?
How dare these commoners of Jizhou Cheng be so bold!
After weighing the pros and cons, Murong Jing forced herself to swallow her anger. “Enough. Out of benevolence, I shall spare them this once. But if they dare to offend again, I will have them killed!”
Murong Jing was a princess meticulously raised in the palace. Though her temperament was straightforward, she was well-versed in the art of scheming—she simply disdained it.
At this moment, she harbored a deep hatred for Ji Ruyue.
A murderous intent began to stir!
“I will stay in Jizhou Cheng for three days. I hope to drink at Miss Ji’s wedding celebration within these three days.”
This was an order, not a question.
Ji Ruyue’s heart tightened, knowing Murong Jing was presenting her with a difficult challenge.
But what of it?
“This commoner dares not disobey Your Highness’s command.”
Murong Jing was left speechless once more…
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Ji Ruyue’s tears had not yet dried, her eyes reddened at the corners and still misty. She appeared delicate and fragile, utterly pitiable.
Murong Jing narrowed her eyes.
This woman's cunning is truly extraordinary; she indeed cannot be allowed to stay any longer!
"Let's go!"
Murong Jing snorted coldly, waving her hand as her attendants quickly led over a sturdy, pure black steed.
With agile grace, she leaped onto the horse, holding the reins with a heroic and spirited demeanor.
Before leaving, she left a blade hanging over the Ji family's head.
"Miss Ji, Scholar Chen's family is impoverished. I hope you can arrange for his family to move into the Ji residence as soon as possible and take good care of them. Only then can he focus on preparing for the wedding banquet. Understood?"
"Yes, this humble girl obeys."
"Then I shall visit again in three days. If I find even the slightest transgression from the Ji family, its members should prepare their necks for the blade. Giddy up!"
With Murong Jing's command, the entourage departed from Ji Jia Shanghang in a grand procession.
Ji Ruyue bowed slightly, watching Murong Jing's receding figure with a sense of solemnity in her heart.
"Master Ji, Miss Ji, this humble scholar greets you."
Ji Ruyue took out a handkerchief to dab the corner of her eye, ignoring Chen Shujin's words. "Bai Mei, arrange for someone to escort Young Master Chen to Mulan Yuan for accommodation, and have Nanny Hu go to the Chen family to fetch his family."
What she meant to fetch, of course, was Chen Shujin's family of bloodsuckers.
The grievances and grudges from her past life were etched deeply in Ji Ruyue's heart, not a single detail forgotten.
Some people must be kept under close watch, for only then can one feel at ease while grinding them down!
With that, Ji Ruyue gave a slight nod to Chen Shujin, her attitude cold and distant, leaving him somewhat bewildered.
"Thank you, Miss Ji."
Master Ji, witnessing all this, felt a deep depression in his heart. He slumped into a chair, taking a long while to recover, clutching his chest where a dull ache lingered.
The matter was already settled—how could he not be furious?
He felt even more remorseful, believing he had failed his daughter.
"Yue'er…"
A gentle smile appeared on Ji Ruyue's face as she lightly patted Master Ji's back, softly comforting him, "Father, I am fine. Please do not take it to heart. You must take care of your health. I… only have you left."
Master Ji's eyes reddened, his heart aching even more.
As he looked up, the figures of Wei Zizhang and the others came into view once again.
Ji Ruyue leaned close to Master Ji's ear and whispered a few words.
Master Ji looked doubtful but nodded in agreement nonetheless.
"Bai Mei, let's return."
Bai Mei immediately stepped forward to support her.
Before leaving, a glimmer of emotion flickered in Ji Ruyue's eyes as she bowed to the young gentlemen in gratitude. "Today, I am deeply indebted to all of you for your righteous assistance. The conduct of you gentlemen truly reflects noble character and is admirable. This humble girl is endlessly grateful."
Before anyone could respond, she turned gracefully and departed, leaving behind only a fleeting silhouette.
Wei Zizhang, seeing this, slightly opened his mouth as if wanting to say something but ultimately failed to speak in time.
He merely shook his head with a light smile, not bothering to explain further.
He was, in truth… just passing by.
Master Ji, noticing this, gave the steward a meaningful glance.
The steward understood immediately, stepping forward to address the onlookers with a cupped-hand salute. "Today's matter has concluded. Thank you all for coming and for speaking out in support. As a token of gratitude, Ji Jia Shanghang has prepared an exquisitely crafted lantern for each of you. Additionally, there are fruits and pastries for everyone to enjoy."
Although the Ji family had suffered a significant and silent loss today, they handled the aftermath with considerable grace. Not only did they gift lanterns, but they also provided an abundance of fruits and pastries for everyone to partake freely.
Perhaps it was a sense of shared sorrow and empathy that stirred sympathy for the Ji family among many of the onlookers.
Especially the slap that the Ji family young lady received left many admirers heartbroken over her.
Regarding this incident, some scholars even prepared to return home and take up their brushes to compose poetry.
Each poem and verse was entirely dedicated to describing the events of that day.
The reputation of Changle Gongzhu for using her influence to bully others in Jizhou Cheng also spread increasingly far and wide.
Emperor Anzhao had always governed with benevolence and could least tolerate those who used their power to oppress and humiliate the common people.
When this matter reached his ears, the punishment Murong Jing would face was imaginable.