Chapter 180: Injured

Only fourteen years old, the young girl’s cheeks were flushed red from the alcohol, and the rising and falling of her chest revealed her current agitation.

Princess Yi'an's tone was much colder than usual: "Is there something the matter?"

"Sister, I have something to say to you."

Princess Yi'an frowned instinctively, her peripheral vision darting quickly toward Princess Lingque: "I am currently accompanying a distinguished guest. Whatever it is, we can speak later."

In the past, if she had heard her sister say such things, Kou Wan would have retreated immediately. But now, the intoxication stirred her restless heart, magnifying her emotions several times over. She lifted her chin slightly, her tense expression showing a hint of stubbornness: "I will only say a few words."

Princess Lingque's curious gaze made Princess Yi'an wish Kou Wan would vanish from her sight immediately. Seeing that she had clearly had too much to drink and wanting to avoid a scene, she could only agree: "Let's go over there to talk."

She offered an apology to Princess Lingque and stepped off in a certain direction.

Kou Wan lifted the hem of her skirt and hurried to follow, but as she walked, her pace slowed.

Princess Yi'an was walking toward a rockery.

The rockery was shaped in a precarious and strange manner, with water flowing down its walls, splashing against the smooth stones with a rushing sound.

As if possessed by some strange impulse, Lin Hao's words echoed in Kou Wan's ears: "This is an omen of impending bloodshed. It would be best to avoid places with rocks and mountains today..."

There were so many beautiful sights in Fragrant Garden; she would never have gone to look at a pile of stones, yet her sister had specifically headed toward the rockery—

This hesitation made Princess Yi'an lose patience: "What are you still standing there for?"

"I—" Kou Wan snapped back to her senses, cursing herself inwardly for being foolish enough to take Lin Hao's nonsense seriously.

Just as she raised her foot to move forward, a voice sounded by her ear: "I haven't had the pleasure of asking your name, Miss. Which household do you belong to?"

Princess Lingque had arrived by Kou Wan's side at some unknown moment. A pair of beautiful, curious eyes scrutinized her, before her eyes widened slightly as if she had discovered something: "Oh? This young lady looks somewhat familiar—"

Princess Yi'an's heart skipped a beat. In her urgency, she blurted out: "Princess Lingque, do you know where the stones for this rockery were transported from?"

She did not want Princess Yuliu to question her face-to-face about why she, a princess, was biological sisters with a daughter of the Marquis of Wei'wu's household.

Princess Lingque gave Kou Wan a half-smile and walked gracefully toward the rockery, saying with a beaming smile: "Since you ask such a thing, Sister, it must mean the origin of these stones is quite extraordinary..."

Kou Wan froze in place, staring blankly as Princess Yi'an and Princess Lingque chatted and laughed. Her heart was filled with nothing but regret and frustration.

She had finally found an opportunity to speak her heart to her sister, only to lose it because of Miss Lin's nonsense.

She hesitated, not daring to approach again; the courage she had felt earlier had vanished without a trace.

Kou Wan pulled at the corners of her mouth. Just as she prepared to turn around, she couldn't help but steal one more glance toward that direction, and her eyes suddenly bulged.

"Watch out—!"

As those words left her lips, a stone flew down from the rockery, hitting Princess Lingque squarely on the head by sheer coincidence.

A blood-curdling scream pierced the air, drawing the attention of nearby people.

What happened?

It sounded like it came from the direction of the rockery.

Some were curious, some were uneasy, and many began rushing toward the rockery.

Looking at Princess Lingque, who was clutching her head as blood flowed through her fingers, Princess Yi'an was struck dumb with terror. After a brief moment of stupor, she cried out: "Someone, come quickly! Fetch the imperial physician!"

Hearing the shout, even more people surged forward like a tide.

Kou Wan stared blankly as countless people passed by her. Her ears were filled with various sounds, creating a sense of absurd unreality.

Princess Lingque had been hit in the head by a stone...

She stared fixedly at the unconscious Princess Lingque, who was being supported by her maids, and realized one thing: if she hadn't hesitated just now—if she had walked over to speak to her sister—she would have been standing exactly where Princess Lingque was. In other words, the one hit in the head should have been her...

Miss Lin was telling the truth!

Miss Lin was actually telling the truth!

Kou Wan turned her head sharply, searching for that figure.

There were too many people; she couldn't see Lin Hao at all. Soon, several people pushed past her, squeezing Kou Wan out of the circle of onlookers. Because of this, she actually saw Lin Hao standing not far away.

Her legs moved uncontrollably as Kou Wan walked step by step toward Lin Hao.

Qi Qiong was standing right beside Lin Hao, but at this moment, Kou Wan's eyes held only Lin Hao: "Miss Lin... what you said was true..."

Lin Hao patted Kou Wan's arm, using a bit of strength: "Miss Kou, have you had too much to drink? What are you talking about?"

"You just—" Kou Wan's voice rose, but meeting Lin Hao's clear, calm gaze, she suddenly regained some composure. Only then did she notice the little County Princess right in front of her, and saw more people rushing toward this side.

She slowly turned her head, but under the heavy encirclement, Princess Lingque's figure was no longer visible.

"Is Miss Kou frightened?" Lin Hao's voice was gentle.

Kou Wan clenched her fists tightly. The stinging pain of her nails digging into her palms made her even more lucid. She lowered her voice extremely low: "Miss Lin, can you really read fortunes?"

Lin Hao smiled: "Just the basics, merely the basics."

What had happened? Why was it Princess Lingque who ended up with a head wound?

"Miss Kou, how did you avoid it?" Lin Hao asked in a low voice.

They had been far away and only followed after seeing many people rushing this way; by the time they arrived, they hadn't even seen a trace of Princess Lingque.

Shock, lingering fear, confusion—all sorts of emotions intertwined, making Kou Wan forget her cold relationship with Lin Hao: "Sister was standing by the rockery. Before I could get to her, Princess Lingque walked over, and then a stone fell from the rockery..."

A slightly cool hand grasped Kou Wan's wrist. Lin Hao looked solemn: "Miss Kou, you cannot say such things to people lightly. Otherwise, others will think Princess Lingque was injured in your place!"

Kou Wan covered her mouth with one hand and nodded vigorously: "I know, I know!"

Qi Qiong, who had been silent this whole time, could no longer hold back: "You two—"

Only then did Kou Wan remember the little County Princess was there. She hurriedly pulled her hand back and looked at her uneasily.

Lin Hao's tone became even more tender: "Don't worry, Miss Kou. The County Princess will keep your secret."

Under the gaze of the two, Qi Qiong nodded instinctively.

Kou Wan breathed a sigh of relief. As if afraid of being discovered talking to Lin Hao, she hurriedly squeezed into the crowd.

Qi Qiong stared fixedly at Lin Hao: "A-Hao, you said before that you were just making things up—"

Lin Hao remained expressionless: "I was just bored and read a book about physiognomy. Seeing Miss Kou recite a few lines from it, I never expected—"

That I would get it right!

The shocked little County Princess thought to herself, only to hear her friend sigh with emotion: "I never expected I would be so talented."

Qi Qiong: "..."

Today's banquet in Fragrant Garden was divided into two sessions by a stone bridge. On one side, the noble ladies led by Princess Yi'an were hosting Princess Lingque; on the other, the noble young men led by Prince Wei were hosting Prince Yuliu. The news of Princess Lingque's injury quickly spread to the other side.

(End of Chapter)