Chapter 111: Mad Jealousy

Xiao Huanxi looked at Shen Ninghua and the hatred in her eyes gradually grew stronger. What was so good about this person? Why did Brother Junyi like her so much? Not only did he want to protect her all the time, he was also constantly practicing drawing her portrait in the study. The full scroll of manuscripts made her so jealous that she wished to destroy Shen Ninghua on the spot!

“Greetings, Prefectural Princess Zhaohua.” Madam Song went forward to greet Shen Ninghua. Seeing that Xiao Huanxi didn’t move, she hurriedly stretched out her hand and pulled her.

Xiao Huanxi suddenly restored her senses and bit the tip of her tongue fiercely. She tried to use the pain to suppress the twisted hatred in her heart. “Greetings, Prefectural Princess Zhaohua.”

“No ceremonies, Madam Song and Miss Xiao.”

Xiao Huanxi stood up and looked at Yang Yingxue. She took a step forward and hugged her arm intimately. “This must be Miss Yang. I’ve heard of your arrival at the capital long before, but you stayed in the Prefectural Princess’s Mansion and were seldom out, so I had no chance to meet you. Today, there’s finally a chance. You’re really a fairy-like beauty. Miss Yang, you’re older than me. May I address you as Elder Sister Yang?”

Yang Yingxue felt extremely flattered. She did not expect that the dignified first daughter of the Xiao family would readily express her intimacy. She forcefully suppressed the excitement in her heart and said with a calm expression, “Then I’ll gladly address you as Younger Sister Xiao.”

Xiao Huanxi looked very happy. She held Yang Yingxue’s hand and looked at Shen Ninghua. “Your Highness, forgive me if I’m a little offensive, but I really like Elder Sister Yang the moment I saw her.”

Shen Ninghua smiled lightly. “Cousin has no friends after she came to the capital. If you can help me take care of her, I’m only relieved. Why would I mind?”

Xiao Huanxi said, “That’s great. Elder Sister Yang, I’ve already arranged the seats. Hurry up and follow me.” As she spoke, she pulled Yang Yingxue into the banquet hall.

Shen Ninghua narrowed her eyes slightly, and a streak of light flashed through her eyes very quickly. Those who court others for nothing must carry an evil intention. Xiao Huanxi’s attitude was too intimate.

Because it was a birthday banquet held at the edict of the emperor, the male and female guests were not completely separated. They were simply seated in two areas without even a screen in between.

Shen Ninghua walked into the hall and saw Chu Junyi, who was dressed in gorgeous attire and standing at the side chatting with a man.

As if he had sensed something, Chu Junyi turned his head and met Shen Ninghua’s gaze. A smile immediately appeared in his eyes. “Prefectural Princess Zhaohua, you’re here. Welcome.”

“Greetings, Master Chu.” As Shen Ninghua spoke, her gaze landed on the man opposite Chu Junyi.

The man was about the same size as Chu Junyi, but was slightly more masculine than him. He wore a high-grade jade topknot on his head, and his eyebrows protruded slightly, which made him look resolute. The outline of his face was sharp, as if carved with a knife. Especially eye-catching were his eyebrows, which were slightly thicker, making his narrow and long eyes look like sharp knives. His whole figure looked like an unsheathed sharp blade shining with a cold light.

Chu Junyi introduced for her. “Your Highness may not know him. This is my eldest brother, Xiao Fengjue.”

Shen Ninghua withdrew her gaze and nodded slightly. “Greetings, Master Xiao. I’ve long heard that the Xiao family has an extremely talented and peerless General Xiao. However, I have never had the chance to see you until today. Truly, it is not in vain that you bear your name.”

Xiao Fengjue’s sharp gaze swept across Shen Ninghua. But in an instant, the sharpness in his eyes faded, and he looked like an ordinary person. “Your Highness, you’ve overpraised me. To fight for my country and to kill enemies is a man’s duty. A high reputation is a burden.”

His voice was extremely calm, with a bearing as if he wouldn’t change his face even if the mountain collapsed in front of him. People around him couldn’t help but listen carefully to him when he spoke. However, Shen Ninghua’s attention was focused on his well-controlled gaze. This person had already tempered his aura into a whole. People with a weak mind would be easily affected by him. His words sounded like he was being modest, but she felt that he was really reminding her not to pursue an empty name for herself.

Xiao Huanxi led Yang Yingxue to her seat and she subconsciously looked for Chu Junyi. Seeing that he was standing beside Shen Ninghua and smilingly introducing her to her eldest brother, she immediately felt a lump in her throat. She could neither swallow it or spit it out, which made her extremely uncomfortable.

Xiao Huanxi clenched her trembling fingers and turned to Yang Yingxue. “Elder Sister Yang, wait here first. I’ll go and see the other guests.”

“Alright.”

Xiao Huanxi went out and turned around the corridor. A man dressed as a servant limped out and said dispiritedly, “Miss, I’m useless. I failed to do what you had instructed me to do.” This servant was exactly the coachman who stopped Shen Ninghua’s carriage and asked her to think of another way.

Xiao Huanxi was furious. “You useless trash! Can’t you even do such a trivial thing?”

The servant said with a bitter expression. “The maidservant beside Prefectural Princess Zhaohua is too powerful. She startled the horse with one kick. The carriage almost hit the Fifth Prince. Fortunately, nothing happened. Otherwise, I will have no way of survival.”

Xiao Huanxi was impatient and took out a five-hundred silver note from her sleeve. “Take it and leave quickly. Never appear in the capital again.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you, Miss. I will leave now.” After the servant finished speaking, he stuffed the silver note into his chest pocket and left without being noticed.

Xiao Huanxi turned around and looked at the place where the banquet was held. A hint of determination flashed in her eyes. She leisurely tidied up her dress and walked in slowly with a smile on her face.

Yang Yingxue felt very close to Xiao Huanxi. When she saw her return, she asked, “Younger Sister Xiao, have you arranged everything?”

‘”Yes, I’ve already arranged everything here. Speaking of which, I have been too busy today. I didn’t even have the time to check on my birthday gift for my father. Do you want to come with me to take a look?”

Yang Yingxue shook her head. “No. Since it’s your birthday gift for Old General Xiao, it must be very precious. It’s inappropriate for me to see it now.”

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“What’s inappropriate about that?” Xiao Huanxi held her hand. “Elder Sister Yang, let’s go. The gift I prepared is very special. Let me show it to you.” She spoke in high spirits like a child who was eager to show off her precious treasures, without the airs of a girl from a noble family.

Yang Yingxue felt relieved. She smiled and said, “Alright, then I’ll follow you to take a look.”

When Shen Ninghua finished talking with Chu Junyi, she turned around and was about to go to her seat. However, she found that Yang Yingxue, who had been seated before, disappeared. She immediately frowned slightly. She had already instructed Yang Yingxue not to walk around. Where did she go?

At this time, Baili Anning happened to come in. She saw Shen Ninghua and hurriedly walked over. “Ninghua, you came quite early. How was it? Did you see Xiao Fengjue?”

Xiao Fengjue?

“Why would you mention him? Master Xiao is Old General Xiao’s most favored son. Of course, he is present. How could I not see him?”

Baili Anning glanced around and whispered, “Bu Jinglan knew that Xiao Fengjue’s martial arts skills are extraordinary. He prepared a birthday gift for Old General Xiao and intended to take this chance to have a contest with Xiao Fengjue.”

Shen Ninghua’s heart skipped a beat. “Bu Jinglan is also here?”

“Yes. Look, isn’t he coming in?”

Shen Ninghua looked over, and saw Bu Jinglan, who was dressed in a narrow-sleeved robe which was different from Da’an’s custom, walking in with large strides. Xiao Fengjue welcomed him. After the two of them exchanged a few words, the atmosphere seemed to be a little tense.

Bu Jinglan…As the prince of the Great Yue Kingdom, he came to congratulate an officer of Da’an on his birthday. Wasn’t he afraid of being scolded by his father when he returned?

Baili Anning looked at the empty seat next to Shen Ninghua and asked curiously, “Whose seat is this? Why is it empty?”

“It’s for my cousin Yang Yingxue.” Thinking of her, Shen Ninghua’s heart sank. She always felt that something would happen. She only hoped that Yang Yingxue would not cause some trouble that she could not handle.

The banquet was about to start, but Yang Yingxue hadn’t returned yet. Shen Ninghua turned to look at the palace maid behind Princess Anning and said, “Your Highness, may I borrow your maid to help me find my cousin? The banquet is about to start. It’s time that she went back.”

Baili Anning hurriedly nodded. “Alright, Qiu Shi, help Princess Zhaohua look for her cousin.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The palace maid named Qiu Shi quietly retreated. After nearly fifteen minutes, all the guests had arrived, but there was still no news, and the palace maid wasn’t back either.

Baili Anning also noticed that something was wrong. “Ninghua, should we send someone to look for her again? Why hasn’t there been any news?”

Shen Ninghua lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before she shook her head and said, “No need, I think there will be news soon.” She was now certain that something must have happened to Yang Yingxue as she hadn’t come back at this moment. Moreover, when she thought about the carriage blocking her way when she came here, she was sure that the plot had been directed against her.

Since that was the case, she would just wait and see.

On this side, Old General Xiao Jingran came out and smilingly greeted the guests. Just as the master of ceremony was about to announce the start of the birthday banquet, the palace maid Qiu Shi ran in with a pale face.

“Your Highness, bad news. Miss Xiao fainted.”

Baili Anning suddenly stood up and said, “What did you say? Miss Xiao fainted?”

Everyone paused and looked at Qiu Shi. They all knew that the most favored child in the Xiao family wasn’t the talented young master Xiao Fengjue, but Xiao Huanxi, the only first daughter of the Xiao family. Xiao Jingran fought in battle fields all years round. He married two wives in succession and they both died a sudden death. A fortune teller said that he had killed too many people and committed too many sins. As a result, he would bring bad luck for his wives and have very few heirs.

His first wife left behind Xiao Fengjue. His second wife had no children. He married his current wife, Madam Song, when he was nearly forty years old and had this daughter, Xiao Huanxi, when he was forty-four years old. Therefore, he cherished this daughter as a precious treasure. The moment he heard that she had fainted, he ignored the banquet and let Qiu Shi lead the way to see Xiao Huanxi.

Baili Anning asked softly, “Ninghua, many people are going to see her. Shall we go?”

“Yes, let’s go take a look.”

Qiu Shi led the way, and everyone followed closely behind. Not long after, they arrived at the room where the gifts were temporarily stored.

Xiao Jingran pushed open the door and saw Xiao Huanxi lying on the ground with a pale face. Yang Yingxue was kneeling on the ground beside her, and her face was full of panic and tears. “Younger Sister Xiao, wake up. Don’t scare me.”

Hearing someone enter, Yang Yingxue suddenly raised her head and saw Shen Ninghua. Her eyes immediately lit up. “Ninghua, quickly come and have a look. The hairpin you gave me scratched Sister Xiao, and then she fainted.”

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