Chapter 221 The Incident In The Princess Palace (1/2)

”What?” Hua Jing's words put Li Yingying in a fluster. Yingying panicked.

The Princess continued, ”I suppose you would have worn a veil when you visited the Suiyu House. But the veil was not enough. It only hides your identity from strangers. When people know you, they can easily recognize you even with a veil on. You've always been cautious and smart. Why did you make such a mistake?”

Yingying smiled awkwardly. She tried to dismiss the allegation, ”Well, I didn't go there. The place is inappropriate for an unmarried woman like me. The ladies must have mistaken another person for me.”

Hua Jing smiled coldly, ”Now you're being silly. It doesn't matter whether you visited Suiyu House or not. The rumor itself is disastrous. If someone so close to you, me for example, has heard about it, then most of the ladies in the Imperial City must know as well. You know the ladies love rumors. No one cares about the authenticity of the rumor. Gossiping is fun to them. The ladies won't keep quite when there is such an interesting story. And eventually, the rumor will be heard by your family. The Li Clan are the ones who will get hurt by the rumor.”

Li Yingying's face paled, ”Hua Jing, you're right. Even if I claim that it is only a rumor, no one will believe me. So what should I do now? My parents and grandparents can't know of the rumor. It's too heavy an accusation for our family to bear.”

Hua Jing was amused by Li Yingying's question. 'If she feared the consequences so much, why did she fight for Ya Xi so publicly in the first place? And she was defending herself just now, as if someone had wronged her.

Bitch. I shouldn't have doubted Ya Xi. He wasn't framing her.' The Princess thought. When the guards told Hua Jing what they had seen, she wasn't sure whether or not she should trust them. Now with Li Yingying's guilty confession, Hua Jing was assured.

Princess Hua Jing had been raised in the Palace. Her life had been free of adversities. However, in recent months, too many awful things had happened to her. She had even spent two months in a cold and damp cell thanks to Li Yingying. The latter had never paid the Princess a visit during Hua Jing's internment. And Li Yingying had plenty of excuses for not visiting. She always claimed that she was either terrified or mentally exhausted. 'It looks like Li Yingying was busy enjoying her time with her lovers during my incarceration.'

Hua Jing felt angrier when she thought about the past. 'Ya Xi is mine. Li Yingying will learn that she cannot covet him.'

”Yingying, you're twenty years old and still unmarried. No wonder there are rumors. If you like, I can help with that. I can ask grandmother and aunt to find you some nice young noblemen to select from. If you're married, such rumors will have no basis.” Hua Jing raised her hand and smiled as she studied her new manicure.

Li Yingying's face was still pale. Her expression didn't change much at Hua Jing's suggestion. Li Yingying lifted her brows, but chose not to say anything.

Hua Jing interpreted Li Yingying's reaction as reluctance to stop living a free and unfettered life. The Princess felt unhappy, ”If you were a man or someone of stature like Prince Jing, people would say you're a playboy, even if you stay unmarried at the age of twenty. But as a girl, you'll receive harsher judgement if you remain unmarried over the age of twenty. It's not good for your reputation. I am only offering help. What you do now, is your decision.”

Li Yingying sighed and lowered her head. She hesitated for a while before saying, ”I guess I don't have any other choice. Please let my mother and grandmother know that they should find me a husband.”

'A husband?' Hua Jing sneered at Li Yingying. 'You wish!' But the Princess hid her feelings well, ”I also suggest that you go out less these days. We can't make sure the same rumor won't spread again if you go out too often.” Hua Jing nodded at her cousin before leaving. Thinking of what she had accomplished, her heart soared with joy.

Yun Shang was lying on the couch at Prince Jing's Mansion. Ning Qian was reporting the latest updates to the Princess, ”The Grand Councilor's wife arranges events quickly. She held a banquet with only two days notice. But only a few people were present. Even her friends didn't attend. They all had excuses for their absence. The Grand Councilor's wife was enraged at the situation. She sent her servants to find out why, and learned of the rumor that Li Yingying had burnt down Suiyu House for an escort.”

Yun Shang smiled at the news, ”Interesting. What else did she find out?”