Chapter 331: Slap in the Face

Chapter 331: A Resounding Slap to the Face

"Very well, this Princess would like to see exactly how you plan to make things difficult for me," Ji Yuntang said with a nonchalant shrug.

After all, she wouldn't be the one left embarrassed in the end, so what did she have to fear?

Ji Zihang took the dagger handed over by the servant and cut across the middle finger of his left hand.

He then let the blood drip into the bowl of clear water.

Ji Yuntang thought the dagger he'd used was dirty, so she retrieved a silver needle from her spatial storage and pricked her fingertip, letting her blood fall into the bowl as well.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on the two drops of blood in the water.

The red blood slowly dispersed in the water, and just as Ji Zihang felt a surge of delight, the two drops of blood suddenly merged together.

It happened so fast that he didn't even have time to react.

Ji Zihang was momentarily stunned, then said in disbelief, "This is impossible. Something must have gone wrong here. How could she possibly be related to me by blood?"

Their blood shouldn't have been able to mix at all.

Seeing this, Ji Huaiche took the dagger from Ji Zihang's hand and also cut his own fingertip.

His blood dripped into the water, and soon all three drops merged together.

Ji Huaiche's expression darkened like a storm about to break, his face dark as a storm cloud.

He didn't believe the water was tampered with, because Ji Zihang had always been arrogant and aloof, and he wouldn't stoop to such underhanded tricks.

In other words, even if Ji Zihang really wanted to tamper with the water, Ji Nanchuan would never allow it.

On one hand, Ji Yuntang's medical skills were superb, and he couldn't be sure that any poison in the water would escape her notice.

On the other hand, with so many people present, Ji Yuntang could have a physician summoned for inspection at any time.

If the water were problematic, it wouldn't just be a matter of suspecting Ji Yuntang—it would be the crime of plotting to harm a Princess!

If that charge stuck, it would be a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of the family.

Even if the Crown Prince stepped in, he might not be able to protect them all, and Ji Zihang would go from being justified to being in the wrong.

Ji Huaiche turned to glance at the study not far away, wondering what his father and mother must be thinking as they watched this scene.

After all, Ji Zihang's actions today had been approved by both Ji Nanchuan and Madam Meng, and they had been there the whole time—just not showing themselves!

Ji Yuntang raised her eyes slightly, a mocking smile curling at the corners of her lips.

"You wanted a blood test to verify kinship, and this Princess has cooperated. Do Heir Ji and Third Young Master Ji have anything else to say now?"

"If not, then I ask Third Young Master Ji to fulfill his promise—kneel and apologize to this Princess, and slap himself thirty times in the face."

Ji Zihang: "..."

His face flushed bright red, and his heart burned as if it were being roasted over a fire.

Ji Zihang had never imagined he would one day suffer such humiliation.

And that humiliation was dealt to him by Ji Yuntang.

Ji Zihang couldn't understand it—they were clearly two entirely different people, so how could she possibly be Ji Yuntang?

If only their blood had merged, he could have made excuses and claimed she had tampered with things.

But Ji Huaiche's blood had merged as well, which proved beyond doubt that she was indeed of the Marquis Yongning's bloodline.

That couldn't be faked.

Ji Yuntang saw him standing there with a pale, ashen face, yet still refusing to fulfill his promise.

Her patience ran out, and she said coldly, "Third Young Master Ji, if you won't do it yourself, do you want this Princess to find someone to help you?"

"That wouldn't be a problem—after all, this Princess has always been fond of helping others."

With that, she glanced at Chen Hu and instructed, "Chen Hu, come help Third Young Master Ji fulfill his promise quickly. This Princess still needs to get back for dinner with my Prince, and I don't have time to waste here with him."

Chen Hu, following Ji Yuntang's orders, had already been itching for action after paying off the street vendor's losses!

He felt deep down that those bastards from the Marquis Yongning estate had gone too far!

Just because the Night Prince's household didn't show their teeth, they thought they could treat them like sick cats?

Coming after their Princess's trouble again and again—who could put up with that?

Chen Hu rolled up his sleeves, cracked his knuckles, and strode over with a menacing look.

The moment his hand touched Ji Zihang's shoulder, Ji Zihang dropped to his knees with a "thud."

Chen Hu immediately pulled his hand back and jumped half a meter away.

He protested, "Princess, he's faking it! I hadn't even started using any strength yet!"

Ji Yuntang's lips twitched. Did Chen Hu have a misunderstanding about what "using strength" meant?

A man who could easily lift an Ice Stone Bed—his strength was hardly something a frail scholar like Ji Zihang could withstand.

One finger from Chen Hu would probably be enough to crush Ji Zihang.

Ji Huaiche's expression turned icy cold, and he stepped forward to help Ji Zihang up, but Chen Hu blocked his way.

"Heir Ji, what do you think you're doing?"

Ji Huaiche said coldly, "If you don't want to die, get out of this Heir's way!"

Ji Zihang was a scholar, and he represented the dignity of the entire Marquis Yongning household. He couldn't allow the family's honor to be trampled on like this.

Ji Yuntang let out a cold sneer. Without another word, she walked over, raised her hand, and delivered a resounding slap across Ji Zihang's face.

"Smack!" The sound rang out, and Ji Zihang's left cheek instantly swelled, leaving five clear finger marks.

He froze, staring at Ji Yuntang in utter disbelief, his expression a mix of fury and resentment.

Ji Zihang felt his face burning with pain, a numbing sensation spreading through his entire body.

More than anger, what filled his heart was humiliation.

Ji Yuntang's slap had effectively trampled his dignity into the ground, and his psychological defenses began to crumble.

Ji Zihang ground his teeth, his face twisted in fury as he glared at Ji Yuntang, wishing he could tear her limb from limb.

In all his life, he'd never once been slapped.

Even back at the Yongning Marquis's manor, he was the pampered Third Young Master, raised with nothing but love and indulgence. The old lady, Madam Meng, and Ji Nanchuan couldn't even bring themselves to scold him.

How could he have ended up like this—slapped in public by that bitch Ji Yuntang?

Ji Yuntang locked eyes with Ji Zihang, whose gaze was dripping with resentment, and let out a derisive snort.

"What? You got a problem with that?"

"Then this Princess will slap some sense into you!"

Ji Yuntang seized him by the collar and slapped him twice more.

As she struck, she said, "A grown man being all wishy-washy like this—you're worse than a woman. Since you won't do it yourself, this Princess will just have to do it for you!"

Ji Huaiche was speechless!

He was absolutely livid, roaring at Ji Yuntang in a fury, "Ji Yuntang, you stop that right now!"

He tried to rush over to stop her but was blocked by Chen Hu.

Chen Hu blocked his path like an immovable mountain, said in a chilling tone, "If Heir Ji wants to get past, he'll have to go through me first."

Ji Huaiche stared up at Chen Hu, who towered a full head above him, and felt his blood boil.

He could never forget that time he went to Prince Ye's residence to arrest Ji Yuntang and was made to kneel in front of Chen Hu, with a crowd from the Dali Temple watching.

Chen Hu had even taunted him in front of everyone.

That was the single most humiliating moment of Ji Huaiche's entire life.

What made it even worse was that he was no match for Chen Hu at all.

Chen Hu's raw, brute strength was something he simply couldn't compete with.

So Ji Huaiche could only fall back on hurling threats at Ji Yuntang.

"Ji Yuntang, if Ahang comes to any harm today, I'll make you pay dearly..."

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