Chapter 38 – The Crown Prince Has Arrived

Shu Ruohua pulled Qian Ning behind her.

She tried hard to stay calm, making her gaze sharper as she walked toward the doorway.

Consort Jing’s face bore an air of arrogance.

When she saw Shu Ruohua come out, her expression became even more haughty.

She raised her chin proudly and said, “Oh, did Elder Sister know we were coming and came out especially to greet us?”

She sneered and gave the other consorts behind her a knowing look.

The consorts immediately began to jeer and giggle.

Shu Ruohua ignored them.

She looked coldly at Consort Jing and responded with a question instead of an answer. “Why are you here again?!”

Consort Jing’s smile froze momentarily.

But with the support of the other consorts behind her, she quickly regained her composure.

She sneered, “Elder Sister, are you saying we’re not welcome?”

She deliberately included the other consorts in her phrasing to stir up discontent against Shu Ruohua.

And she succeeded.

At her words, a consort in a beige dress stepped forward.

“That’s not very proper, Elder Sister. We’ve come to visit you—how can you not welcome us?”

The other consorts chimed in, “Exactly, exactly…”

…

At that moment, Qian Ning stood anxiously inside the inner room.

She wanted to go out to help her mistress, but a single glance from Xiao Che froze her in place, not daring to move.

Meanwhile, at the doorway—

Shu Ruohua said bluntly, “Yes, I’m not welcoming you.”

She had been holding this in for a long time and had always wanted to say it.

Consort Jing: “…”

All the consorts: “…”

Everyone was momentarily speechless.

Consort Jing was livid. “Shu Ruohua, don’t push your luck!”

This wasn’t the first time Shu Ruohua had humiliated her like this.

Previously, when she came over with Qiu Yue, Shu Ruohua had acted the same—like an annoying little wench.

And now, even with so many consorts backing her up, Shu Ruohua still slapped her face in public.

How was she supposed to save face?

Shu Ruohua remained unmoved, ignoring her words completely.

That only made Consort Jing even more furious.

Her face turned bright red, and just as she was about to say something, she suddenly realized—Qian Ning was missing.

And that made her remember the incident with the poisoned food.

Qian Ning must have gone to get rid of the poisoned dishes!

No—she had to rush in and catch Shu Ruohua red-handed!

She glanced arrogantly at Shu Ruohua.

Then turned back and gave the consorts a signal with her eyes.

Immediately, they all rushed toward the inner room.

Shu Ruohua was startled.

She had originally planned to deal with them at the doorway, especially since Xiao Che was still inside eating.

She didn’t want him to get dragged into this mess.

But she hadn’t expected Consort Jing to charge straight in.

She’d miscalculated.

With that thought, she quickly ran after them, trying to block them.

But just as she stepped into the room—

A neat chorus of voices suddenly echoed from within.

“We pay respects to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Shu Ruohua froze in her tracks.

“His Highness the Crown Prince?!”

A wave of astonishment surged through her heart.

The Crown Prince… had come to Lengfeng Pavilion?

When did he arrive?!

She stood rooted in place, stunned for a moment.

Then a figure flashed through her mind—Xiao Che!!

He had been the only one inside the room. But after those women went in, they called out to the Crown Prince?

Could it be that Xiao Che was actually…

A strange rush of energy surged in her chest, and she ran into the room to confirm it.

And when she saw the tall, slender man standing inside—

…

…

(End of Chapter)