The Supporting Female Character Enters the Game, the Crazy Crown Prince Slowly Falls Deeply in Love - Chapter 69

After the banquet concluded, Jiang Yao and Jiang Ying left the Imperial Garden together.

As they walked, Jiang Yao couldn’t help but ask quietly, “Elder Sister, didn’t you say she left ahead of time? The Autumn Banquet is over, so why don’t I see her?”

Hearing this, Jiang Ying frowned slightly, clearly also confused. “I definitely saw her heading in the direction of the Imperial Palace…”

The two were speaking in low voices when an internal attendant suddenly emerged from the corner of the palace wall. “Eldest Young Miss Jiang, our Prince requests your presence.”

It was the attendant who served Xiao Wuheng.

Jiang Ying smiled slightly upon hearing the attendant’s words. She turned to Jiang Yao: “Ya’er… why don’t you come with me?”

Seeing this, Jiang Yao quickly waved her hand and said, “I understand, I understand. Elder Sister, please go quickly. It’s only a short distance. What accident could possibly happen to me? Our carriage is waiting right at the palace gate.”

“Alright then. I’ll bring you a gift when I return,” Jiang Ying said, finally relaxing. She then turned and followed the attendant along another path.

Jiang Yao looked at Jiang Ying’s retreating figure, a smile involuntarily tugging at the corner of her lips.

Although she didn’t know why the original novel’s plot of ‘marriage first, love later’ had advanced so much, she still hoped her sister could spend more time with Xiao Wuheng before their marriage.

As it turned out, some words should not be spoken with too much certainty.

Jiang Yao looked at the three people not far away, her heart beginning to fret.

The leader was Zhao Jinyu, who wore a scarlet ruqun and had a standard look of mockery on her face.

Behind her were two noble ladies she usually associated with, all looking arrogant, clearly having come prepared.

“…”

Oh, Heaven, please distinguish between the loyal and the wicked!

Jiang Yao maintained her composure. “Oh, what a coincidence.”

Zhao Jinyu chuckled. “Who do we have here? It turns out to be the famous Third Young Miss of the Jiang family!”

Hearing this, Jiang Yao frowned slightly. What famous?

Did I do something good recently?

Seeing that Jiang Yao didn’t understand, Zhao Jinyu snorted coldly, her voice sharp. “You don’t have to hide it; we all know now, Jiang Yao! You really have cunning methods! Before you were even married, you already seduced Young Master Xie into sharing intimacy with you.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the two behind her echoed her sentiments. “Such lack of decency, yet you dare to show your face at a banquet! It’s truly eye-opening!”

“To secretly exchange affections with a man before marriage truly brings shame upon the Jiang Manor.”

“Tsk tsk, I never thought that someone who usually pretends to be dignified and virtuous is secretly so shameless!”

The group spoke in chorus, every sentence stinging.

Jiang Yao listened to these words, feeling helpless inside.

Although she had long suspected that the Regent King’s Consort would spread this matter, she hadn’t expected Zhao Jinyu to know about it directly.

Sure enough, spreading malicious rumors is the fastest way to ruin a woman.

Er… although she was the one who said it first.

Jiang Yao raised her hand and wiped non-existent tears from the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. “You all know?”

“That day, I accidentally fell into the lake by the shore. Fortunately, Young Master Xie rescued me. If it weren’t for him, I’m afraid I would have already… already…”

As she spoke, her voice choked slightly, and her eyes reddened, as if she were about to burst into tears the next second.

Zhao Jinyu was momentarily speechless. “Who wants to hear that! We are talking about you sharing intimacy with Xie Yunian! You… you mustn’t evade the important point!”

Jiang Yao still looked innocent and confused, blinking her clear eyes, her tone naive. “Intimacy? Young Master Xie saved my life and carried me ashore. Isn’t that intimacy?”

The look of mockery on Zhao Jinyu’s face instantly froze upon hearing Jiang Yao’s words, as if she had punched cotton, completely dissipating all her force.

She widened her eyes, a hint of disbelief in her expression. “You, you mean that kind of intimacy?”

“If not this, what else could it be?” Jiang Yao looked perplexed, seemingly unaware of the ways of the world.

Zhao Jinyu’s expression instantly became a kaleidoscope of emotions, as if a breath was caught in her chest, unable to be exhaled or swallowed.

“Does she truly not understand what intimacy means…”

“Uh… Young Master Xie carrying her ashore, I suppose that counts as intimacy…”

“And doesn’t that also count as a life-saving grace?”

Heh, a smile curved in Jiang Yao’s heart.

If you don’t ask, I won’t tell.

If you ask, I’ll act surprised.

Hearing these comments, Zhao Jinyu’s face grew even uglier. “Jiang Yao! Stop pretending here!”

Jiang Yao’s voice was tinged with grievance. “Miss Zhao, why are you so aggressive? It is a fact that Young Master Xie personally carried me ashore. My Elder Sister and His Royal Highness Prince Jin both witnessed it with their own eyes.”

The tears in her eyes finally slid down, slowly tracing her cheeks, making her look pitifully vulnerable.

“Zhao Jinyu!” A voice rang out from nearby. “What are you doing here?”

Everyone turned to look, only to see Princess Huaining standing there, looking over coldly.

Princess Huaining wore court attire today, her expression aloof. Her gaze swept lightly over Zhao Jinyu and the others, her tone carrying a hint of disdain. “Bullying people here truly brings shame upon yourselves.”

Zhao Jinyu hadn’t expected Princess Huaining to stand up for Jiang Yao. “Princess, Jiang Yao is the one who is utterly disgraced. Her matter has spread throughout the capital, and we are merely…”

“Merely what?” Princess Huaining interrupted her coldly. “Where did you hear these rumors? Why don’t you summon the person who said them to confront her face-to-face? How dare you spread such nasty rumors you overheard? Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?”

“If anyone dares to slander her reputation again, they will be making an enemy of this Princess!”

As soon as this was said, not only Zhao Jinyu and the others were stunned, but even Jiang Yao was bewildered.

What is Princess Huaining playing at?

Why would she stand up for her today?

Did she also suffer brain damage?

Zhao Jinyu was so angered by Princess Huaining’s words that her face turned white, but she dared not say another word.

Others might not know, but she certainly did: this matter had originated from the Regent’s Manor.

However, the Xue family, which Princess Huaining belonged to, was allied with the Empress Dowager’s faction.

Could it be that the relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Regent King has fractured now?

Zhao Jinyu gritted her teeth and could only bow her head and salute. “The Princess is right to admonish me. Your servant (subject) knows her mistake.”

Princess Huaining gave a cold snort. “Why aren’t you hurrying away? Waiting here for the palace gates to be locked?”

Hearing this, Zhao Jinyu and the others quickly bowed and retreated, their backs looking somewhat defeated.

After they had walked away, Jiang Yao finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Xue Lingqin. “Thank you for your help today, Princess.”

Xue Lingqin glared at Jiang Yao, her chin slightly raised. “You don’t need to thank this Princess. The debt between you and me is cleared.”

Cleared?

Jiang Yao was taken aback, then she realized. It must be about the reminder she gave last time.

It seems this Xue Lingqin isn’t completely stupid, just a bit…

She looked up and observed Xue Lingqin’s awkward demeanor.

Confirmed: Princess Huaining is a tsundere.