Chapter 44: Rivalry

The princesses seldom left the palace, but the Emperor had given them permissions to leave for the duration of the tournament, so they finally had an excuse to wander around.

Princess Huiling had heard about Wangyue's sterling reputation and brought her sisters along. When she'd heard that Ji Feng was also there, she'd asked the waiter to show her to his table.

What she hadn't expected was for Hua Qiyue to be there, as well.

She snorted in disbelief. "Brother Ji, did you really catch frogs with this idiot?"

"Yes." Ji Feng responded simply.

Ji Jing glanced at Princess Huiling in annoyance.

Tianci saw Princess Huizhen and Zhou Zhicheng, and began trembling. Hua Qiyue held his hand.

"Tianci, aren't you going to greet your father?"

Zhou Zhicheng's face briefly lit up as he saw Hua Qiyue, then seemed to remember the princess beside him. He smiled gently at Tianci, but the boy only looked at him coldly before clinging tightly to Hua Qiyue's arm. Zhou Zhicheng's expression slowly shifted from a smile to a scowl.

Hua Qiyue smiled. "So, you are Mr. Zhou. Nice to meet you! I apologize for Tianci's behavior. He just lost a toy and is in a bad mood."

Princess Huiling and her sister stared at Hua Qiyue in shock. When they saw the woman yesterday, they were sure she was an oblivious idiot with no social graces to speak of.

Why was she now so eloquent?

"Everyone, sit, sit! There is enough space here! Ask for another table!" Hua Qiyue smiled in anticipation of a good show.

Everyone at the table shifted uneasily at the thought of the unpleasant group joining them.

"That's not necessary. We just need to ask for more chairs." Zhou Zhicheng smiled. Princess Huizhen shot him a dismayed look, but kept her thoughts to herself.

Princess Huiling forced herself between Ji Feng and Hua Qiyue. "Move aside! I think you'll find this is my spot!"

Ji Jing clenched her fist in fury, but Hua Qiyue placed a calming hand on her shoulder.

Hua Qiyue stood up gracefully. "Of course, princess. I apologize."

Hua Qiyue moved one seat toward Ji Jing.

Everyone sat down. It was a bit crowded, but manageable. The waiter added more chopsticks and bowls before heaving a sigh of relief.

Princess Huiling placed a piece of fish into Ji Feng's bowl. "Brother Ji, this dish is called Yellow Flower Fish. You should try some — it's delicious!"

Ji Feng barely hid a grimace. He found Princess Huiling grating, but it would be impolite to refuse.

"Thank you, Princess." Ji Feng said politely. "As part of the imperial family, you should not be serving a peasant such as myself. I'm afraid it isn't befitting of your status."

Despite his dislike of her being obvious to everyone else, Princess Huiling thought he was 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 snorted. "Let father demote you to a peasant, and we'll see if you still think they're the same!"

Princess Huiling stared at her sister furiously. "Sister, I wasn't talking to you!"

They glared at each other across the table.

Zhou Zhicheng coughed slightly and passed a nearly transparent piece of chicken to Princess Huizhen's bowl. "Don't be angry, Princess. She's not worth it."

Huizhen snorted again. Zhou Zhicheng was handsome, but next to Ji Feng and Yun Shimo, he seemed old and ugly in comparison.

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 brave man can be calm in the face of danger. Can you be brave for me, Tianci?"

Tianci took a deep breath, looked up at her, and nodded.

At least Tianci didn't have to fear more attention from Zhou Zhicheng. He had already let Hua Qiyue adopt Tianci, so if he continued being nice to his "son," it would be considered odd. Besides, Zhou Zhicheng had been ignoring Tianci for years. Why would he change now?

Yun Shimo and Ji Feng stared at each other while eating silently.

A depressed atmosphere settled over the dining table.

Lvxin and Youshui stood beside Hua Qiyue fearfully. Would Lady Qiyue be able to get them out of this situation unharmed?

Princess Huiling sneered, glancing at Zhou Zhicheng. "Tsk, tsk, sister. You have not been married to Mr. Zhou and yet you display your intimacy so openly. What a disgrace to the royal family! If you ask me, it's you who should be demoted to peasant!"

Zhou Zhicheng paused as he reached for more food to serve to Princess Huizhen. He didn't know whether he should continue or stop.

Princess Huiya and the rest pretended to ignore the scene, as they didn't want to get involved.

But Huiling had hit Huizhen's sore spot. Zhou Zhicheng was always pampering her and tending to her needs. He ordered his chefs to make delicacies that she enjoyed, and made poems for her. No other man had gone to such lengths to please her, but the Emperor had forbidden the marriage.

Now that she was twenty and unmarried, her situation had become awkward.

Princess Huizhen suddenly slammed the table, scaring Princess Mingzhu beside her. "Huiling, what did you say?"

Princess Huiya lowered her head, with her palms sweating. However, Hua Qiyue and the rest were appeared calm.

Zhou Zhicheng, though, was anxious. "Princess, it's all my fault. I love you too much and people can tell!"

Hua Qiyue hid a smile behind her hand. It looked like these bastards weren't having an easy time.

Good.

Princess Huizhen was even angrier as she pointed at Princess Huiling. "How are you better than me? All the men that you like are afraid of you!"

Huiling fumed while the rest remained silent. "Afraid of me?! I think you're mixing me up with yourself, dear sister!"

Zhou Zhicheng put his hand on Princess Huizhen's arm, but she twisted away from his grasp and snorted. "Oh, maybe it's your irritating, self-entitled, arrogant attitude and cruel demeanor that puts them off?"

"Sister, any man would regret marrying you! Cruel. Heartless. Hell, the little boy over there was rumored to be tortured by a maidservant, but I think you were the one behind it. You call me cruel, but you're the one who poisoned a child! You aren't fit to be a princess!"

Princess Huiling jumped up too, completely forgetting about Ji Feng in her anger.

The maidservant next to her tried pulling her away. "Princess! Please mind your words! This is—"

She was cut off as the princess slapped her across the face.

"Let go of me!"

Princess Huizhen screamed, "And Princess Huiling is kind and generous? Haha, I personally saw you cutting the face of a maidservant and pushing her into boiling water to burn her alive. Who is the cruel one now?"

Everyone at the table sat frozen in place.