She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Shao Yunting's gaze then turned to Jiang Ruining.

Although the pearl-embroidered gauze curtains filtered out the sunlight, making the vast space feel soft, she felt strangely dazzling for some reason.

Perhaps it was because her poems were so brilliant, and her performance was so brilliant.

In just a few words, she managed to get so many people on her side; where was the reckless and impulsive person she had been before?

Was her previous act of feigning foolishness and recklessness merely to avoid stealing the spotlight, or did she harbor some unknown motive?

For example, using stupidity as a pretext to spy on someone's secrets?

As he was thinking this, Princess Anyang's gaze fell upon him, and she too was making her own guesses.

Jiang Ruining kept pestering him. Was it because she truly loved him, or was she trying to convey some secret that couldn't be told to outsiders?

Now that Jiang Ruining has become involved with Xiao Che, could it be that he is ostensibly neutral but has actually already sided with the Regent?

Xiao Che sat in a high position, taking in everyone's reactions.

Observe, and manipulate the whole situation without leaving a trace!

Jiang Ruining stared intently at the two stone apricots, refusing to look up despite the four gazes that seemed to have impure intentions.

The script she received was bad enough, but these two insisted on making her life even more difficult. They're really... sick!

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

She walked around the long table and kicked Sun Langjun hard: "You were in the wrong for being so foul-mouthed, and you still dared to act so violently in front of the Regent and the Princess! How shameless!"

"You just wait! When my father returns, he will definitely go to the Sun family and demand justice for me!"

He turned to look at Ruan Zhenzhen.

He gave a cold, mocking smile.

"Miss Ruan, you should be glad I'm not like you. I never make things difficult for women without reason! Otherwise, this would be your fate!"

Ruan Zhenzhen's face was full of shock and disbelief.

Her statement, "I never make things difficult for women without reason," was like a slap in the face, a hard blow to her cheek.

Because she was deliberately making things difficult for Jiang Ruining!

She gritted her teeth in hatred at the cold stares coming from all directions.

She clearly stole Chu Jin's poem, but because Chu Jin was good-natured and didn't expose her, she still dared to be so smug. She's shameless!

"Then I really must thank Miss Jiang!"

Jiang Ruining glared at her: "Stop your sarcastic tone. Who do you think you are? You're probably not even good enough to be a pawn in the game of justice!"

Zheng Lingyi nodded vigorously: "That's right! You're not qualified!"

Ruan Zhenzhen was so angry that her chin was trembling.

Chu Jin was in a dilemma.

One is her friend who protects her, and the other is her cousin whom she owes a debt to; siding with either one means offending the other.

She could only plead with both sides: "For my sake, please stop arguing, okay?"

Jiang Ruining turned her face away and didn't say anything more.

Ruan Zhenzhen could only shut her mouth, holding back her anger.

Cui Jingwei took a deep breath, suppressing the surging anger and murderous intent in her heart. She put on a smile and stepped in to be the peacemaker: "Alright, we've talked it out, so neither of you are allowed to be angry anymore!"

Jiang Ruining's brow twitched slightly.

It felt like my hand was being held by a pile of shit.

Before we could discipline her, she eagerly sought out a beating!

I closed my eyes briefly.

When I opened my eyes again, all that remained was deep sadness and incomprehension.

He withdrew his hand.

Cui Jingwei was still seething with anger at her for stealing the championship, so she withdrew her hand, but her face was still full of concern: "What's wrong, Ning-meimei?"

Jiang Ruining took two steps back, creating some distance between them.

The soft, gentle light filtered through the pearl gauze enveloped her sad and disappointed face, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears as she stared intently at Cui Jingwei.

"Sister Jingwei, I've always thought you were the one who understood me the most and protected me the most, so I never try to steal your thunder. Whenever others criticize you, I'm always the first to stand up for you."

"But just now, you said I 'wanted to improve, but my methods were wrong,' wasn't that accusing me of plagiarism and stealing poetry? I don't care if others wrong me without evidence, but why are you treating me like this too?"

"Aren't we...best friends?"

She spoke in a hurt, choked voice.

This puts Cui Jingwei in the eye of the storm.

Princess Xinyang, who couldn't stand Cui Jingwei, sneered, "You treat her as a friend and don't try to steal her thunder, but she's keen to use your incompetence to highlight her literary talent and demeanor."

"Your poem today was stunning, and it threatened her pride and joy in literature. Of course, she has to crush you! Otherwise, she, once the most talented woman in the capital, will become third!"

She walked up to Jiang Ruining, wiped away her tears, and concluded with a single sentence: "Silly Ningning, true friends will only carefully protect your weaknesses and praise your strengths, not constantly make trouble for you in public and embarrass you."

"Look at her, look at Lingyi, look at how they treat you on a daily basis, and you'll know what a true friend is."

Cui Jingwei's gentle composure was pierced by these sharp words, and she almost lost her composure.

I want to say something.

Jiang Ruining covered her face and ran away.

"Ningning!" Chu Jin chased after her worriedly.

The pearl-embroidered curtains were quiet for a moment, then became lively again.

Almost everyone's eyes were on Cui Jingwei's face.

Some offered comfort, some ridiculed, and some simply watched from the sidelines, treating it as a spectacle.

The sun shone brightly, its brilliance filtered by the gauze curtains, still illuminating Xiao Che's phoenix eyes and concealing the fleeting, dark killing intent within them.

Princess Anyang and Shao Yunting observed the subtle expressions on his face from different positions, but ultimately gained nothing.

Princess Anyang gave a wink to the maid beside her.

The maid understood and immediately carried the tray to Xiao Che's side, bowing respectfully: "Your Highness, your tea has gone cold. Let me get you a fresh cup!"

The hand holding the teacup trembled violently as a flock of pigeons suddenly flew overhead, and with a gasp, the teacup tilted towards Xiao Che's waist.

Xiao Che remained completely still.

A folding fan was thrust in from the side, knocking the teacup away.

罄！

The teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Not a drop of tea splashed onto Xiao Che's robes.

next second.

With a soft cracking sound emanating from between the maid's skin and flesh, she screamed, her knees buckled, her face turned deathly pale, and she fell heavily to her knees!

My wrist is broken!

The huge pearl-embroidered gauze curtain instantly became extremely quiet.

All eyes were on the maid who was groaning in pain.

"What happened?"

Princess Anyang's eyes flashed with regret upon seeing her plan fail.

When Xiao Che's ambiguous smile swept over her again, her heart sank.

She had seen that look in his eyes many times before.

Each time, it was accompanied by slaughter.

Last time, it was Cui Taifu's younger brother who sent someone to assassinate Xiao Che's trusted son. Not long after, the entire branch of Cui Taifu's younger brother's family was killed, leaving no one alive.

Anyone who tried to stop them or plead for them would have their title stripped or be exiled, and they would all suffer the same fate.

What does it mean when he smiles at her like that? Does he want to kill her?

Did he see through her intentions and think that the assassination was also related to her, and thus harbor murderous intent towards her?

She couldn't help but feel terrified. Back then, the court was entirely controlled by Grand Tutor Cui, and in the end, he forced them to step down from their high positions and made him the regent. How much more so for her, who only had a title and honor?

"Brother!"

Xiao Che slowly got up and walked away.

Princess Anyang caught up with him: "Brother, you misunderstand! I meant no harm!"