The Foolish Beauty's Road to Rebirth - Chapter 3

Chapter 9

Look at that. Truly foolish.

Who told you two to sneak around without bringing any guards or maids?

See? Now that disaster had struck, they had to shout for help themselves.

With everyone working together, the fire was quickly put out. But when the crowd saw the disheveled Crown Prince and Jiang Xia, they only wished they had gone blind.

“Younger Sister! What are you doing here?! How could you and the Crown Prince…” Elder Sister’s eyes suddenly reddened. She pointed at Jiang Xia, so choked up she could not finish her sentence.

The Crown Prince shoved Jiang Xia away and strode toward Elder Sister. “Sister Fusang! You have to believe me! I did nothing!”

Jiang Xia reacted remarkably quickly. She threw herself at Elder Sister’s feet and sobbed, “Eldest Sister, please see the truth! I was merely passing through the Imperial Garden when I discovered the Crown Prince trapped in the flames. That was why I risked my life to go in and save him.”

How had I never realized before that this younger sister of mine was such a talent?

Chapter 10

The Empress hurried over. She had merely escorted the drunken Emperor back to his chambers, yet by the time she returned, she found that her son had practically punched a hole through the sky.

“Since Your Highness has already had physical contact with her, I hope Your Highness will take responsibility.” Elder Sister looked at the Crown Prince with reddened eyes, seeming to have a thousand words caught in her throat.

When had the Crown Prince ever seen Elder Sister like this? He was utterly bewitched.

The Empress cut in forcefully, “In that case, this maid has rendered meritorious service by protecting her master. Raise her into the Eastern Palace as a concubine.”

At those words, Jiang Xia’s face instantly darkened. What maid?! She was only wearing a maid’s clothes!

Yet the Empress did not take her seriously at all. Instead, she came over and warmly took Elder Sister’s hand. “Fusang, you know the Crown Prince’s feelings for you. Don’t let a single maid ruin the affection between you two.”

Elder Sister immediately knelt before the Empress. “Empress, please forgive me. She is not a maid, but my concubine-born younger sister. The Jiang Family has an ancestral rule: sisters must never serve the same husband! It seems Fusang and the Crown Prince are fated to meet, but not to be together.”

I certainly did not recall the Jiang Family having any such ancestral rule. But after we returned home today, I could persuade Father to add it.

The Empress’s face turned ashen. Only then did she shift her gaze to Jiang Xia.

Jiang Xia knelt on the ground, delicate and pitiful, which instead stirred the Crown Prince’s desire to protect her.

“Mother, it was Xia’er… it was this young lady who saved me.”

Chapter 11

After we returned from the palace, Jiang Xia was confined to her little courtyard, ostensibly to prepare for her wedding in peace.

That day, after we were invited out of the palace, Jiang Xia was led away by my mother with two clear slap marks on her face.

A daughter of the Jiang Family, even a concubine-born one, could never possibly become a mere concubine.

Jiang Xia became a side consort to the Crown Prince.

The Empress had slapped her, but she still had no choice but to hold her nose and put in a good word for her, saying that she had saved the Crown Prince, that she was intelligent and kindhearted, and so on.

But I had no interest in caring anymore.

After all, my Brother Junhe had returned.

Brother Junhe was the chancellor’s son, and also the most talented man in the realm today.

Brother Junhe had passed the imperial examination as the top scholar at the age of sixteen. After traveling for study for two years, he had finally returned to the capital today.

Early that morning, I had my maid Zihe dress me up.

I looked at myself in the mirror with satisfaction.

If my legitimate elder sister was like a peony, noble and dazzling in her beauty, then I was like a narcissus, pure and charming.

Elder Sister always said that when my doe eyes blinked and blinked at her, she could never do anything about me.

In high spirits, I pressed rouge to my lips and changed into a pure white outfit.

Just then, Elder Sister knocked on my door.

“Elder Sister, Brother Junhe is back. Do you think I look pretty in this?”

Elder Sister gave me a forced smile. Only, at the time, I was too excited to understand the meaning behind that smile.

“Ah Zhu, go on.” Elder Sister patted my shoulder, then left without saying anything more.

I straightened my lapels, skirt, and hairpins, then boarded the carriage for the Chancellor’s Mansion.

In the past, the gates of the Chancellor’s Mansion had always been open to me at any hour. Today, however, the young servant at the entrance said he would have to go in and announce my arrival first.

A short while later, the servant invited me inside.

Before I even reached Brother Junhe’s courtyard, I heard a peal of laughter, clear as silver bells.

My face darkened as I pushed the door open, and Brother Junhe, whom I had not seen in two years, came into view.

After two years apart, he had grown even more handsome. His whole figure stood tall and straight as a pine, just like his name-Junhe, a gentleman among cranes.

“Brother Junhe!” But the one who called out was not me. It was a young girl sitting up in a tree.

“I’m going to jump down now. You have to catch me, all right?” the girl in the tree said.

“Nonsense!” Junhe said, though there was not the slightest trace of displeasure in his voice.

He looked toward me. “Ah Zhu is here. It’s been a long time. Ah Zhu has grown taller.”

I smiled and slipped my hand around Junhe’s arm. “Of course. Ah Zhu is growing up too.”

“Brother Junhe, who is this young lady?”

“My name is Mo Xue. Hello, pretty big sister.” She winked at me playfully.

My maid Zihe immediately stepped forward and rebuked her. “How dare you! This is Princess Yanzhu. Hurry and pay your respects!”

The girl pouted, putting on an innocent, coquettish look, and muttered something about feudal superstition.

Even so, she obediently performed a salute.

“No need to stand on ceremony, young lady. Since you are Brother Junhe’s friend, you are also a friend of mine, Jiang Yanzhu.”

Who would have thought that the girl would burst into hearty laughter? “What friend? I’m Chi Junhe’s good brother!”

I did not look at her. Instead, I stared at Chi Junhe. He showed no aversion at all to this girl’s closeness.

“Brother Junhe! You were away for so long. Did you bring Ah Zhu any gifts?” I forced myself to remain calm.

“Of course he did!” Again, it was that girl who answered. “When Junhe and I passed through a little town, he thought of you and spent ages picking out a round fan at a street stall!”

Before the girl could finish speaking, I slapped her hard across the face.

Damn it. She really thought I would indulge her. The fact that I had endured until now was already proof of my excellent upbringing!

“This Princess was speaking to Chi Junhe. Who do you think you are?”

Zihe threw herself forward and grabbed my hand. “My lady, you mustn’t! Leave this kind of filthy work to this servant. You mustn’t hurt your hand.”

“How can you just hit people?!” The girl’s almond eyes were filled with disbelief.

“I hit you because I wanted to. Do I need to pick an auspicious day for it?” I rubbed my wrist.

The girl suddenly looked at me suspiciously and said, “Odd changes, even stays the same?”

What chickens and ducks was she talking about?

“If Princess came here to beat people, then please go back. This humble little temple of mine cannot accommodate a great Buddha such as Princess,” Chi Junhe said coldly.

I looked at him in utter disbelief.

It had only been two years. Only two years.

When he left, he had clearly sighed and stroked my head, saying, “Ah Zhu, grow up quickly. Wait for me to come back.”

In the end, hearts changed so easily.

Even my fingertips were trembling.

He no longer liked me. There was no Ah Zhu in his eyes anymore.

In that instant, I felt the whole world spin around me.

“Brother Junhe has traveled a long way and needs to rest. Zihe, let’s go,” I said, lowering my head.