Chapter 4: Counterattack

Chapter 4: Counterattack

That Jin Xue? Mu Lan frowned, several unpleasant memories flashing through her mind.

Seeing the slight anger on Xiao Chan's face beside her, Mu Lan set down her chopsticks and said, "Call her in."

The one who arrived was Xiao Chi, whom she had only met yesterday. Xiao Chi held a rosewood box and, after paying her respects, spoke up: "Seventh Princess, my Princess said that since your marriage is imminent, she has specially prepared some jewelry to add to your dowry."

Xiao Chi wore a smile, but the gloating in her eyes made Mu Lan thoughtful.

*Adding to the dowry? This looks more like adding to the trouble,* Mu Lan thought with a secret laugh. She didn't refuse, instead taking the rosewood box and opening it. Inside was indeed a box brimming with pearls, jade, and gold ornaments.

Seeing so many valuable treasures with her own eyes for the first time, Mu Lan's eyes practically turned green. Following her principle of "if there's a bargain to be had, don't let it slip," she closed the lid and said, "I'll take these. Thank your Princess for me."

Seeing her accept them so joyfully, Xiao Chi was actually stunned for a moment. However, she quickly recovered and added, "My Princess also said she has some intimate words she wishes to share with the Seventh Princess. She has specially arranged a banquet at Yixin Garden and invites the Princess to come and chat."

This was the real point, wasn't it? Mu Lan was quite curious—what could Jin Xue possibly want to say to her? If her memory served her correctly, perfect; she had a few things she wanted to ask her as well.

"Go back and tell your Princess that I will change my clothes and arrive shortly."

Yixin Garden was located between her palace and Jin Xue's. Built along the lake, though it couldn't compare to the lush and flowery Imperial Gardens of the inner palace, its proximity to the water made it appear more tranquil and elegant.

The residences of princes and princesses were naturally separated from the inner palace. Concubines rarely visited, and the other princesses had already married, so Yixin Garden was usually deserted—making it an ideal place for conversation.

Inside the pavilion, Jin Xue remained dressed in magnificent robes, looking proud and cold. Mu Lan had also been changed into a pale green brocade dress by Xiao Chan. The two sat facing each other, and the palace maids had long since been dismissed to ten meters away.

"Seventh Sister, congratulations. Among all our sisters, you are the one who married the best. A consort of the Western Chu Kingdom—that is a title countless women in the world dream of," Jin Xue said, breaking the silence while looking directly at her with a beaming smile.

From her eyes, Mu Lan could see that she truly looked happy, yet there was always a hint of ill intent in that happiness.

The Jin Xue before her showed none of the envy or hatred one would expect from someone whose fiancé had been snatched away.

"This is all thanks to your generosity in fulfilling my wishes, Sixth Sister," Mu Lan replied with a smile, responding composedly.

Jin Xue's gaze lingered on her face for a long time, as if trying to see through her. Ultimately, however, she failed to find any of the reactions she had anticipated, leaving her feeling slightly confused and incredulous.

"Sixth Sister must be feeling very happy right now, right?" Mu Lan observed her, testing the waters. "Princess Jin Ning was vain and seduced the King of Western Chu to become his consort. Meanwhile, General Xiao Yi has been betrayed in love, and Princess Jin Xue has had her status stolen. The two heartbroken souls can just form a pair."

Jin Xue's face turned pale in an instant, but she immediately laughed even more brightly. "Indeed. I have never denied that I like Xiao Yi. I originally thought you did too, but after seeing you throw yourself into the arms of that Emperor of Dongling yesterday, I realized I had misunderstood. Isn't this a happy ending for everyone?"

Xiao Yi, the Great General of the Xia Liang Kingdom. His ancestors had been titled marquises and ministers, making him part of a lineage of loyal officials. In the memories of Mu Lan's current body, he was a handsome young man who was somewhat silent yet not lacking in tenderness.

And yet, the letter that had invited her to a secret meeting the night before had come from none other than Xiao Yi.

*So, it really was to fight over a man?*

Mu Lan was not Jin Ning, so Jin Xue's words held little destructive power over her. However, she did feel anger. Maintaining her composure, she looked directly at Jin Xue and said, "I don't care who you like. I only want to ask you one thing: was it you who designed the scheme to frame me?"

Jin Xue likely hadn't expected her to be so direct. Her eyes, which had been staring straight at Mu Lan, flickered away for a split second. Though it was only an instant, Mu Lan caught it.

Having grown up in the palace, Jin Xue's guilt vanished as quickly as it appeared. She arched her brows and said, "Seventh Sister, it is one thing for you to snatch my position as consort, but now you turn around and slander me? You are going too far."

From that momentary evasion, Mu Lan was certain that Jin Xue was absolutely involved. Thinking about how her being bullied and humiliated by Dongling Jue was entirely the result of this woman's design, Mu Lan wished she could beat this seemingly innocent Jin Xue into a pulp.

However, she was a scholar at heart, and resolving things through violence was irrational. Mu Lan's mind shifted, and she said, "Originally, if you had offered a sincere apology, I might have let it go. But now, I have decided to settle this account with you properly."

The smile in her eyes put Jin Xue on alert. Her sister's reaction today was far too abnormal. The situation should have been under her control, but now, facing that familiar face wearing an unfamiliar calm and composure, Jin Xue began to feel uneasy.

"Jin Ning, I am only refraining from holding a grudge out of sisterly affection. Do not be ungrateful."

The words "sisterly affection" were incredibly ironic coming from her mouth. Mu Lan wasn't angry; she simply said slowly, "You say I am slandering you? Then, do you want me to produce evidence? If I present that letter from Xiao Yi to Imperial Father, what do you think will happen?"

Jin Xue had calculated everything, but she had never expected this move. She could no longer remain calm and cried out, "Are you mad? Doing this will ruin Xiao Yi!"

Seeing her lose control, Mu Lan smiled. "You know about that letter? In that case, the letter really was forged by you." It seemed this Xiao Yi was indeed her Achilles' heel.

Jin Xue realized she had fallen into a trap, but she still tried to argue: "Even if I forged the letter, what does it prove? Didn't you once say that for the sake of Xiao Yi, you could give up everything? And now you are using him to threaten me?"

Mu Lan raised an eyebrow, mimicking Jin Xue's previous tone. "Have you never heard the saying: 'If I cannot have it, no one else shall'? How does the charge of a Great General seducing a Princess sound? Perhaps Imperial Father will take pity on his family's generations of loyalty and merely demote him to a commoner. But if that happens, I'm afraid his fate with you, Sixth Sister, is severed for this lifetime."