Chapter 666 - Complain
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Chen Xiang's words infuriated Ji Muqing and tears of rage pooled in the corner of her eyes.
Her hands clenched around the blanket. . However, she knew that rage was not going to do her any good now. Her logical side prevailed and suppressed her impulses. Now that that she was the princess consort, her every action was under scrutiny, with many people waiting to see her make a fool of herself, especially this woman standing before her.
No! I have to stay calm! Slowly, she tried to ignore and suppress her anger. Then, she spoke with a controlled tone, “You've seen that this princess consort is alright. You can leave now.”
Isn’t that too quick a change in attitude?
Chen Xiang seemed to be plotting something as she said, “But Cailan told me that you had a bad fall. Sometimes, a fall can lead to a very serious outcome. Regardless, we should call a physician over.”
“There's no need for that.”
“It's better to consult one. What if…”
“I said no need!” Ji Muqing raised her tone and pointed at the door. “Leave, now.”
“Younger Sister, why are you so stubborn? You don’t have to feel embarrassed just because you fell down. Don’t worry, I won’t tell His Highness or anyone else, even if you have scratched your face during the fall.”
“Stop bugging me!” Ji Muqing was extremely annoyed. She pushed away her blanket and got out of her bed, then stomped toward Chen Xiang and snapped, “See! I'm alright!”
Upon seeing Ji Muqing's reaction, Chen Xiang burst out laughing. This woman is not fit to be a princess consort. I’m far better than her.
No, that’s actually an understatement . She’s completely no match for me.
She is merely a fool.
She lifted her handkerchief to cover the smile that was carved on her lips. Then she replied, “As long as Younger Sister is doing fine.”
“You can leave now.”
“If that’s what you want, I will not disturb you any further.”
Ji Muqing glared at Chen Xiang, then intended to get back into her bed again. She never expected that the moment she let her guard down, Chen Xiang secretly reached out a foot to trip Ji Muqing up.
"Ahh!” Ji Muqing shouted as she fell forward. Unfortunately, there was nothing around her that she could hold onto, causing her to fall on her face.
They heard a loud thud. Ji Muqing's head hit right at the bed’s post before she dropped to her knees, and created another dull thump.
Chen Xiang, who was the nearest to her, pretended to help her up. But before Ji Muqing could get a stable footing, Chen Xiang let go of Ji Muqing.
With that, Ji Muqing fell flat onto the ground again. This time, her shoulder hit the corner of the bed, and the others could actually hear her bones cracking.
Even without witnessing this ghastly scene, the loud thump itself was enough to dismay the onlookers.
All the maids in the room were appalled by the scene. They gaped at their master as she fell down twice in a row.
“Ah!” Ji Muqing sat on the ground, and her eyes had turned red as she suffered the excruciating pain.
When the maids finally recovered from shock, they quickly went forward to carefully help her up. “Princess Consort, are you alright?”
She felt dizzy after the fall, and was seeing stars and flashes of lights. Her legs felt weak and she could not stand on her own.
Then, she collapsed and became unconscious.
All the maids were terrified.
However, Chen Xiang was laughing secretly.
Before long, the news had spread across the entire residence. A few physicians hurried to Ji Muqing's room to check on her. They prescribed a lot of medicines for her, and she was fed one bowl after another.
Naturally, the news reached Jing Yi. Initially, he had no intention of visiting Ji Muqing. However, considering that everyone in the residence had already learned about the incident, it seemed rather inappropriate if he did not show any concern. Left with no choice, he sauntered to Ji Muqing's room.
When he entered the room, he saw Chen Xiang by Ji Muqing's bed. She seemed concerned as she looked at the unconscious Ji Muqing.
The moment she saw Jing Yi, Chen Xiang immediately went forward. “Your Highness, I feel so sorry for Younger Sister. Despite having already fallen down, she insisted on getting out of her bed. She failed to get a stable footing, and this happened. Fortunately, the physician checked her condition, and said that she was fine. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have known what to do!”
Jing Yi threw an indifferent glance at the lady on the bed. “As long as she’s still alive,” he said coldly.
Of course, it’s better for him to keep her alive. Otherwise, he would not be able to exploit the Ji brothers’ power in the future.
Chen Xiang grabbed him by his arm. “Your Highness, why don’t you stay? Younger Sister will be glad if she can see you right after she wakes up.”
He was only here for an act, and did not have the leisure time to keep this woman company. When he was about to turn her down, Ji Muqing woke up!
“It hurts so much!” She knitted her brows together, then reached out to touch her forehead. She felt a bandage wrapped around her forehead, and was not able to move her other hand.
Chen Xiang quickly went forward, “Younger Sister, you're awake.”
“Go… go away!” Ji Muqing looked as if she just saw her nemesis. She turned her head and saw Jing Yi who was standing by her bed. At that moment, she felt like she had finally found a life-saving rope to get out of this situation. “Your Highness, you must help this humble concubine!”
She burst out in tears due to the injustice she suffered as she struggled to sit up straight.
Jing Yi had no other option but to ask, “How are you feeling, my princess consort?”
“Your Highness, this vicious woman tripped me.” She pointed her finger directly at Chen Xiang, who was still sitting by her bed.
Chen Xiang was taken aback by Ji Muqing's claim. She furrowed her thin and long brows, acting as if she was wronged. Appearing surprised, she leaned back and said, “Younger Sister, what are you saying? Why would I trip you?”
“You were the one who stretched out your leg and tripped me.”
“How can you accuse me groundlessly? When you fell, I even grabbed you to stop your fall.”
“You grabbed me? You were obviously trying to hurt me!” She looked at Jing Yi before she continued, “Your Highness, this humble concubine is speaking the truth. Please help me!”
Chen Xiang was weeping too. She sobbed coyly with her head lowered and dabbed off her tears with a handkerchief. At that moment, she bore a resemblance to Xi Shi and one look at her could easily wrench a man's heart.
However, Jing Yi continued to wear a straight face. He could not be biased towards either of these two women, at least not when so many eyes were watching them.
He asked Ji Muqing, “Can you prove it?”
“Cailan witnessed it.” She shot a glance at Cailan, who was standing not far away. “You must have seen it just now. Tell His Highness what you saw. It was definitely this woman who tripped me.”
Cailan did not expect herself to be dragged into this.
A quivering Cailan stepped forward. Eyes filled with fear, she lifted her gaze to look at the princess consort. Then, she turned to look at the weeping Chen Xiang.
For a long moment, there was a heavy silence in the air.
Ji Muqing was perturbed. “Speak! Tell His Highness that you saw her tripping me.”
Jing Yi added, “Tell me what actually happened.”
“This humble one…”
At that moment, several things ran through Cailan’s mind. She was standing very close to the two consorts at that instant. Indeed, she saw Chen Xiang trying to trip Ji Muqing up. However, if she said what she truly saw, she would offend the side consort. Meanwhile, if she said that she witnessed nothing, she would offend the princess consort.
She could not bear the consequences of offending either of them.
Then, she thought from another perspective. When she was on her way here, Chen Xiang held her hand as if they were intimate friends. In any case, Chen Xiang certainly treated her better than Ji Muqing, who had slapped her in the face.
After much contemplation, she spoke through her clenched teeth, “Your Highness, this humble one saw nothing just now.”
What? Ji Muqing was dumbfounded. She stared at her personal maid in disbelief. Cailan had grown up by her side. Not only did she bring Cailan along when she moved from Jinjiang to the capital, but she also brought her from the General's mansion to Prince Yi's residence.
This lass is looking for trouble! “Cailan, what did you just say? You certainly saw what happened!”
“Princess Consort, this humble one saw nothing. I only knew you fell, and the side consort reached out to help you. However, you pushed her away, and fell again,” she answered eloquently. She did not even fumble for words, as if what she said was nothing but the truth.