Chapter 44
Chapter 44 – Rivalry
They were prestigious princesses that seldom left the palace. However, because of the tournament hosted by Ji family, they obtained permission from the Emperor to leave the palace during the duration of the competition.
Therefore, Princess Huiling came here for lunch with her sisters. Hearing that Ji Feng was here too, she asked for the waiter to point her the way.
She did not expect to see Hua Qiyue with Ji Feng. Thus, Princess Huiling snorted coldly. “Brother Ji, you really did went to catch frog with this idiot?”
“Yes, yes.” Ji Feng did not elaborate, responding briefly.
Ji Jing glanced coldly at Princess Huiling. She did not like this woman at all but she could see that the woman was interested in her brother, however, she did wish for the disappearance of this woman.
Tianci saw Princess Huizhen and Zhou Zhicheng, and he was scared beyond his wits. Hua Qiyue held his hand lightly, calming Tianci down.
Of course, this made Hua Qiyue decide to strike and deal with the b*stards Zhou Zhicheng and Princess Huizhen!
“Tianci, do you not greet your father?” Seeing the beautiful face of Hua Qiyue, Zhou Zhicheng’s heart swayed with infatuation. He chatted with the rest before smiling gently at Tianci.
However, Tianci only looked at him coldly before rubbing Hua Qiyue’s hand.
Zhou Zhicheng was furious. The little b*stard called him dad affectionately in the past, but he now seemed to have forgotten about him.
That was barely strange as when Tianci was tortured, Zhou Zhicheng did not even bother looking at him.
“So you are Mr. Zhou. Nice to meet you! Tianci had just lost a small top and is in a bad mood. I apologize for his behavior, Mr. Zhou.”
Hua Qiyue smiled gently and replied.
Princess Huiling and her sister stared at Hua Qiyue in shock. When they saw the woman yesterday, they all felt that she was mentally retarded.
Why was she now so eloquent?
“Everyone, sit, sit! There is enough space here! Ask for another table!” Hua Qiyue smiled as she anticipated a good show tonight.
Ji Jing did not like this group of people too. However, constricted by politeness, they didn’t say much.
“That’s not necessary. The table is wide, we just need to ask for more chairs.” Zhou Zhicheng smiled. Princess Huizhen glanced at Zhou Zhicheng, dismay in her face. However, she didn’t say much.
Princess Huiling only wanted to get along with Ji Feng and she thus pushed Hua Qiyue away. “Hey, come up and give me space! Your space belonged to me!”
Ji Jing was furious at her words but Hua Qiyue calmed her down. She stood up gracefully. “Rightfully, princess. I apologize.”
Hua Qiyue stood up with Tianci grabbing her hand tightly. Luckily, the waiter brought a chair here. Hua Qiyue quickly sat down next to Ji Jing.
She was separated from Ji Feng by Princess Huiling.
Everyone sat down. Even though it was a bit crowded, that was no big deal. The waiter added more chopsticks and bowls before heaving a sigh of relief.
Damn, the sudden influx of prestigious guests made everyone here scared yet flattered.
“Brother Ji, this dish is called Yellow Flower Fish. It’s extremely delicious, please have more of it!” Princess Huiling placed a piece of fish into Ji Feng’s bowl enthusiastically.
Ji Feng’s face turned gloomy. He did not like Princess Huiling but it was impolite to refuse it.
“Thank you, Princess.” Ji Feng laughed politely. “As part of the imperial family, you should not be doing this to a peasant like me. I’m afraid that it will not be befitting of your status.”
Ji Feng did not make his words direct but everyone could understand what he meant. However, Princess Huiling thought he was merely being polite. “Don’t worry. In my eyes, peasants and the imperial family are all humans! There is no difference in status between you and me.”
Princess Huizhen heard it and snorted. “How is that possible. If my sister does think that it is true, let our father demote you to a peasant, and see if it is the same?”
Princess Huiling only said that to Ji Feng to patronize him, and she did not expect Huizhen to rebut her. Thus, she stared at her sister furiously. “Sister, I did not talk to you!”
Princess Huiling had been a spoilt woman since young, and Princess Huizhen was as mischievous and self-entitled. No matter where they were, they would oppose each other.
Now, they ignored those beside them and stared at each other with resentful eyes.
Zhou Zhicheng coughed slightly and passed a nearly transparent piece of chicken to Princess Huizhen’s bowl. “Don’t be angry, Princess. It is not worth it for anger to damage your body.”
Huizhen snorted. To begin with, she had a feud with Princess Huiling. Seeing that she was sitting with Ji Feng, she was angry, hateful and jealous. After all, Ji family is a big family that held a position no lower than a normal king.
In addition, Ji Feng was extremely handsome, making Zhou Zhicheng old and ugly in comparison. Even though Zhou Zhicheng was still handsome, he seemed less impressive when compared to Ji Feng and Yun Shimo.
Thus, Princess Huizhen rebutted even though there were strangers around.
Princess Huiling’s eyes rolled as she focused on Princess Huizhen and Zhou Zhicheng.
Tianci’s hand trembled. However, Hua Qiyue seemed oblivious to the surroundings. She caressed Tianci’s back and whispered, “A true man should be calm even in the face of danger. Tianci, be brave.”
Tianci looked at Hua Qiyue shockingly as he felt that all his thoughts were seen through by her new mum. However, Hua Qiyue’s determined sight gave him great encouragement.
To begin with, Zhou Zhicheng did not care about Tianci. Now that he was no longer close to him, he did not want to pay any attention at all.
In other’s eyes, he had already let Hua Qiyue adopt Tianci. If he continued being nice to his “son”, it would be abnormal.
Yun Shimo and Ji Feng stared at each other. They both moved their chopsticks to eat while remaining silent.
For an instant, the atmosphere became somewhat depressed on the dining table.
Lv Xin and Youshui stood beside her frightfully. This incomprehensible and frustrating princess was once again here. Could our master get herself out of the mess this time?
“Tsk, tsk, sister. You have not been married to Mr. Zhou and yet y’all display your intimacy so openly. What a disgrace to the royal family! According to me, you should be demoted as a peasant!”
Princess Huiling sneered and glanced at Zhou Zhicheng.
Zhou Zhicheng was picking a fishbone for Princess Huizhen as all the fishes here were steamed whole to preserve the succulent nature of it.
Having been scolded by Princess Huiling, he did not know whether he should continue or stop.
Princess Huiya and all stared at the scene silently as they were afraid of offending this intractable Princess Huiling.
Princess Huizhen had her sore spot exposed. Zhou Zhicheng loved her as much as himself, always pampering her and tending her needs. He always orders his chefs to make delicacies that she enjoyed, and made poems for her, things that only Zhou Zhicheng would do.
Other guys had never treated her as such. Thus, Princess Huizhen insisted on marrying Zhou Zhicheng. However, the Emperor disallowed her marriage and thus it had dragged on.
Now that she was twenty and unmarried, her situation became awkward.
Now that Princess Huiling exposed her and mocked her in front of everyone, she could not help but be angry.
“Huiling, what do you mean by this?”
Princess Huizhen suddenly slammed the table, scaring Princess Mingzhu beside her. Princess Huiya lowered her head, with her palms sweating. However, Hua Qiyue and the rest were as still very calm.
Zhou Zhicheng was anxious. “Princess, it’s all my fault. I love you too much and thus people have such a misunderstanding about you!”
Zhou Zhicheng retracted his chopsticks hurriedly while Hua Qiyue snorted inside her heart.
Looks like these b*stards were having a bad time too.
Princess Huizhen was even angrier as she pointed at Princess Huiling and mocked. “How are you better than me? All the men that you like are afraid of you? They are afraid that you will be a living Buddha in their house and make them suffer!”
Huiling was immediately furious while the rest remained silent. For everyone else, the feud between the two princesses was none of their business, and they intended to stay that way.
“Sister, what do you mean? Make them suffer?” Princess Huiling was mad with fury. The two sisters who were mocking each other had become rivals!
Zhou Zhicheng and the rest were pale with fright. However, no one dared to hold them back except for Zhou Zhicheng, who pulled Princess Huizhen’s sleeve. However, she twisted away from his grasp and snorted. “Why will I harm them? With your irritating and self-entitled attitude, with your arrogant persona and your cruel character, who will accept you as a wife?”
The fight between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had been going on for centuries. Even when a princess got married, such fights were not uncommon. That was because princesses were arrogant creatures, and mothers-in-law usually did not want to endure their arrogance, especially since she had been master of the household for tens of years. How could one stand it when a young one was suddenly here to grab power
There had been many in Changjing Kingdom who had their reputation ruined due to conflicts with their mothers-in-law. In the end, many princesses were demoted under the wrath of the Emperor.
“Sister, anyone will regret marrying you! Are you not cruel and heartless? Hmpt, the little kid opposite the table was rumored to be tortured by a maidservant, blah! I think you were the one behind it. Hmpt, as the princess of a country, how cruel are you to poison a kid! You are not fit to be a princess!”
Princess Huiling jumped up too, disregarding the fact that her crush was in front of her.
As her anger had taken control of her body, the maidservant next to her tried pulling her away. “Princess! Please mind your words! This is…”
“Slap!”
“F*ck off!”
Both maidservants were chided by the two princesses and thus retreated to the side. Princess Huizhen refused to lose and screamed. “And Princess Huiling is kind and generous? Haha, I personally saw you cutting the face of a small maidservant and pushing her into burning water to burn her alive. Who is the cruel one now?”
The two princesses revealed dark secrets of each other. All were shocked that the two princesses were capable of such terribly cruel things!