Chapter 418 Exposed

Chapter 418: Caught in the Act

Wang Er didn't think much of it—after all, Wu Jinxi was arranged by Madam Meng, and he couldn't afford to offend him either.

"Alright, let's go then!"

Taiye Lake in the eastern suburbs.

The lake was as calm as a mirror, its waters as green as jade. Sunlight slanted down, making the scenery even more intoxicating and charming.

In the Xianren Pavilion, Ji Qingqing and Luo Jingshen sat facing each other, admiring the beauty of the lake.

She brewed a pot of tea and personally filled Luo Jingshen's cup, asking softly with a gentle gaze, "Why did Your Highness have time today to invite this lowly woman out to enjoy the lake view?"

Luo Jingshen grabbed Ji Qingqing's hand and looked at her with deep affection, "Naturally because I missed you!"

Ji Qingqing blushed and lowered her head slightly, "Your Highness, you're such a tease~"

Luo Jingshen suppressed the darkness in his eyes and let out a light chuckle.

"Qingqing, I've already had the imperial matchmaker choose an auspicious date. He said tomorrow is ideal for the betrothal ceremony. I will personally come to the Marquis's residence to send over the betrothal gifts, to honor you properly."

Ji Qingqing's eyes lit up as she looked up at him in surprise.

"Your Highness, are you serious?"

The betrothal ceremony meant formally proposing and sending gifts. Ji Qingqing had thought their wedding was still about two months away, so Luo Jingshen's betrothal gifts should still be far off.

Who would've thought he'd send them this soon?

Ji Qingqing couldn't deny she was thrilled.

Luo Jingshen looked at her with deep affection, "Of course I'm serious. Have I ever lied to you?"

"I've already prepared the betrothal gifts. Tomorrow, dress your best and wait for me at the manor."

Luo Jingshen had his own ulterior motives for doing this.

He hadn't planned to send betrothal gifts to Ji Qingqing this early, but recently, Xie Liuzheng had sent over a hundred trunks of betrothal gifts to Luo Qingge. The procession, with drums and gongs blaring, paraded through the streets before being delivered to the palace in a grand display.

Those two had stolen the show with such a magnificent scene.

Every man in the capital envied Xie Liuzheng, while every woman envied Luo Qingge.

Now that the wedding was approaching, Duke Rong's residence was already bustling with wedding hall preparations. As Crown Prince, Luo Jingshen naturally refused to be outdone by that useless young lord Xie Liuzheng.

At the same time, he was curious to see what kind of dowry the Yongning Marquis's estate would prepare for Ji Qingqing.

Ji Qingqing, on the other hand, figured Luo Jingshen's barbecue shop had raked in a fortune. She thought to herself that the Crown Prince would soon return the 300,000 taels of dowry money to her.

Her heart raced with excitement, but she kept her expression in check, offering a gentle smile.

"Then I'll prepare a banquet at the residence tomorrow and await Your Highness's arrival!"

Wu Jinxi's carriage pulled up to the edge of Taiye Lake. From several dozen yards away, he spotted two figures, one in yellow, one in purple, seated across from each other.

The one in yellow was Ji Qingqing, and the one in purple was Luo Jingshen.

They'd occasionally glance up and laugh softly, steal sweet looks at each other, or clink their cups in a toast. The vibe between them was easy and intimate.

Wu Jinxi froze, staring openly at the pair.

"So this is the renowned Crown Prince, Yueyue's future husband. With that bearing and aura, he truly looks like a dragon among men, a celestial being."

"If Yueyue marries him, she'd be the Empress, second only to the Emperor, right?"

His eyes gleamed as he muttered under his breath, but Wang Er, standing beside him, couldn't make out a single word.

He wanted to warn Wu Jinxi not to gawk at the Crown Prince and the Second Miss, since it was improper and would offend them.

But when he quietly whispered a warning, he got no reply.

Wang Er looked up again, only to find Wu Jinxi had already vanished from his side.

Thinking he was too far to make out their faces, Wu Jinxi had edged closer on purpose to get a good look at the Crown Prince's face.

That way, he could go back and brag to Chen Huaxiu and his two sons about how stunningly handsome and dignified the Crown Prince was.

Luo Jingshen had naturally noticed Wu Jinxi too. Sitting there, he felt a hostile stare boring into him.

His piercing gaze shot over, landing on a middle-aged man in servant's clothes, plain-faced but flashing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

Luo Jingshen was livid. No one had ever dared to stare at him so blatantly.

And a creepy middle-aged man at that.

Luo Jingshen slammed his teacup down on the stone table and roared.

"Guards, grab that man and drag him over here!"

Ji Qingqing was baffled, only noticing that Luo Jingshen's face had suddenly turned grim. She asked, puzzled, "Your Highness, who are you grabbing?"

Luo Jingshen didn't answer, but a man's frantic shouts reached her ears.

"Let go of me! I haven't done anything wrong, why are you grabbing me?"

Ji Qingqing thought the voice sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place where she'd heard it.

Only when Wu Jinxi was dragged over by two guards and shoved to his knees before Luo Jingshen did Ji Qingqing freeze in shock!

"!!!!!"

Wu Jinxi—how could it be him!?

Wasn't he supposed to have been sent to Prince Ye's residence by her men? Why was he here?

Ji Qingqing's mind was in chaos, a thousand questions racing through it. She didn't even dare meet Luo Jingshen's eyes.

Had the Crown Prince already found out about their relationship? Was that why he'd had Wu Jinxi grabbed, to force her to confess?

Ji Qingqing was debating whether to kneel and confess, claiming Wu Jinxi had tricked her and that she was a victim too.

Suddenly, Luo Jingshen lashed out with a kick, sending Wu Jinxi tumbling to the ground.

"Who the hell are you, and why were you skulking around staring at me?"

Wu Jinxi's chest throbbed from the kick, but he didn't dare yelp in pain. He could only push himself up and kneel, kowtowing.

"Your Highness, spare me! This lowly one... no, this servant is from the Yongning Marquis's residence. Madam Meng sent me to fetch the Second Miss and take her home."

"This servant has never laid eyes on the Crown Prince before. Overwhelmed by Your Highness's bearing and appearance, I got so caught up in the moment that I couldn't look away. I didn't mean any offense, and I beg Your Highness to forgive me."

Ji Qingqing reacted quickly. She let out a sigh of relief, then raised her hand and slapped Wu Jinxi across the face.

"How dare you! The Crown Prince is a noble, and who the hell are you? A lowly servant, and you dare to even look at the Crown Prince's face?"

"Get the hell out of here, you worthless piece of trash!"

Wu Jinxi's pupils constricted slightly, and he felt a sharp sting on his cheek.

He never in his wildest dreams imagined his own daughter would slap him like that, right in front of the Crown Prince.

Worse, she used such harsh words to humiliate him.

Calling him lowly, cursing him as a disgrace.

For a moment, Wu Jinxi entertained the thought of exposing Ji Qingqing's identity, but when he saw her smiling and fawning over Luo Jingshen, that thought quickly dissipated.

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