Chapter 52 Have You Ever Seen a Rose Without Thorns?

Chapter 52: Have You Ever Seen a Rose Without Thorns?

"Ji... Third Sister-in-Law, you can't be here. Get down now."

Luo Sinian stepped forward to yank Ji Yuntang off her seat, but she dodged him easily.

"Prince Chen, I'm your sister-in-law. Even if you like me, you shouldn't be grabbing me in front of all these people, right?"

"Show some respect, Prince Chen!"

Luo Sinian's face went green.

Him liking an ugly chick like her? What a joke!

He was scared this ugly woman Ji Yuntang would embarrass his third brother, wasn't he?

Prince Qi, Luo Feizhou, narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between them, then said slyly, "Eighth Brother's always stayed away from women. Turns out he likes women who look like Princess Ye. In that case, I'll help you find more like her outside, just to spice up your backyard."

Luo Sinian wanted to punch Luo Feizhou right in his smug face. He snorted coldly, "Who I like is my own business, Fifth Brother doesn't need to bother."

In the crowd, a graceful woman in a soft yellow gauze dress stared at Ji Yuntang in the middle of the square, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Second Brother, isn't that our sister? What's she doing here?"

Ji Qingfeng didn't expect that just taking Ji Qingqing out for a walk would lead him to run into Ji Yuntang at the medical competition.

The young girl wore a spotless white dress with a begonia hairpin in her hair. Her profile was bathed in a thin layer of golden-pink sunlight, like a lotus blooming in clear water—pure but with a hint of coldness.

Ji Qingfeng was stunned for a moment.

How come Ji Yuntang had gotten so beautiful, beautiful enough to make people overlook the dark spot on her left cheek?

Seeing Ji Qingfeng staring at Ji Yuntang without blinking, Ji Qingqing felt a surge of anger inside, but she kept a gentle smile on her face.

"Second Brother, everyone knows sister doesn't know anything about medicine. If she ends up embarrassing herself later, it won't just be her own face she loses, but our Marquis Yongning's too. Since the competition hasn't started yet, why don't we find a way to call her down?"

Ji Qingfeng shuddered, as if snapped awake. Regret filled his heart as he came to his senses.

Damn it, Ji Yuntang had caused so much trouble for their Marquis Yongning, and he'd almost been captivated by her. What was wrong with him today?

But Ji Qingqing was right. Whether Ji Yuntang had cut ties with Marquis Yongning or not, to outsiders, she'd always be a Ji. That could never change.

What's more, with so many princes here, Princess Ye's embarrassment would have an even bigger impact. He didn't want one storm to pass only for another to start.

"Ji Yuntang, Prince Chen's right. If you know what's good for you, get down from there now. This kind of occasion is no place for a village... a woman from the back chambers. Don't take on a job without the right tools. This is a serious medical competition. Are you just messing around by going up there?"

Hearing someone call her name in the crowd, Ji Yuntang looked up and met Ji Qingfeng's burning eyes. The anger in the young man's eyes was almost real.

Ji Yuntang curled her lips in sarcasm. "Calling a princess by her name so casually—is that the upbringing of your Marquis Yongning?"

"I, this princess, don't know you. How do you know whether I have the right tools or not? Even the Crown Prince hasn't said anything, so who are you, Ji Qingfeng, to tell me what to do here?"

With that, Ji Yuntang turned her face away, not giving him another look, which pissed Ji Qingfeng off.

"This bitch, she really thinks she's all that! Our marquisate went to great lengths to bring her back, yet she does whatever she wants, never thinking about the marquisate. A bitch like her is nothing but trouble, just like the farmer and the snake in those folktales."

As Ji Qingfeng finished cursing, a mocking voice sounded softly in his ear from behind him.

"Why should she consider you? Has anyone in your Marquis Yongning ever considered her?"

Xie Liuzheng had appeared behind Ji Qingfeng at some point. Holding a folding fan, he glanced at Ji Qingfeng and Ji Qingqing with a half-smile.

"Second Young Master Ji, it's fine if your head's empty, but don't let it get waterlogged. If you haven't been through her hardships, don't preach kindness. If you'd been through what she has, you might not be as kind as she is."

"And besides, have you ever seen a rose without thorns? I'm afraid only the white lotus next to you has none!"

Xie Liuzheng was already a notorious playboy in the capital, and his words directly insulted both Ji Qingfeng and Ji Qingqing.

He had only come to watch the excitement at the medical skills competition at Green Dragon Square today, but when he overheard Ji Qingfeng's heartless remarks, he couldn't help but retort.

Xie Liuzheng couldn't understand why Ji Qingfeng would abandon such a good sister like Ji Yuntang and instead dote on that affected Ji Qingqing. Had the people of Marquis Yongning been kicked in the head by a donkey?

Although he wasn't familiar with Ji Yuntang and had only met her once, Xie Liuzheng felt she wasn't the type to act without some skill.

If she dared to go on stage, she must be confident of winning.

Perhaps, in today's competition, Ji Yuntang would be the biggest dark horse among the thirty participants.

Ji Qingfeng's face burned with shame. He clenched his fists and sneered.

"Heir Xie is such a grown man, yet he has the habit of eavesdropping on others' conversations. Truly an eye-opener."

Xie Liuzheng wasn't angry. He closed his fan and raised an eyebrow with a smile. "You're standing in the square, and your voice is so loud. I think anyone with functioning ears could hear what you said, right?"

As he spoke, many people turned to look at Ji Qingfeng, nodding in agreement.

"That's right. Not just Heir Xie, even this old man over seventy heard it."

"A woman's reputation is the most important thing. Second Young Master Ji, even if you don't like Princess Ye, you shouldn't call her a bitch and wish her dead. Isn't that just as heartless?"

"Exactly. If I were Princess Ye, I wouldn't acknowledge you as a brother either."

"..."

The words of the common people fell on Ji Qingfeng's ears like slaps to his face, one after another, leaving him red-faced and mortified.

Ji Qingqing lowered her head, biting her lower lip, her body swaying slightly. Under the direct gaze of hundreds of eyes, she wished she could dig a hole and crawl away.

She was seething inside, unable to believe that Heir Xie of Duke Rong's mansion would speak up for that bitch Ji Yuntang.

And now, he had turned all the blame onto them.

Just then, a thunderous voice rang out in everyone's ears, rescuing them.

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