Chapter 475 Shattered Hopes

Chapter 475: Hope Shattered

"All of this is thanks to you!"

Hua Feixue laughed after speaking, laughing so hard she almost believed it herself.

Of course, the Wu family matter had nothing to do with Ji Qingfeng—in reality, Hua Feixue had overheard it herself.

But she was more than happy to pin the blame on Ji Qingfeng.

Ji Qingqing had once sown discord between her and Ji Qingfeng, and now she was merely returning the favor, turning the tables on her.

Two loving siblings turning into enemies overnight—who wouldn't want to see that?

She was dying to see Ji Qingqing completely fall out with the Marquis Yongning's household, to let her taste what it's like to be isolated and helpless.

Consider it payback for Ji Yuntang!

Hua Feixue's words hit like a bomb, leaving Ji Qingqing shocked and in disbelief.

"No, that's impossible, how could it be Second Brother?"

Hua Feixue sneered, "Why not? You've been soaking up the devotion of those three young masters without ever giving anything back, always making demands on them. Your second brother may not say it out loud, but do you know what he's really thinking?"

"Ji Qingqing, do you have any clue how annoying you are? Your second brother wishes you'd get married as soon as possible and stop staying at home ruining his life."

Ji Qingqing felt like a knife had stabbed her in the heart, and tears instantly streamed down her face.

So this was how Ji Qingfeng really saw her?

So all three of her brothers hated her and wished she'd leave the Marquis Yongning's household.

Now that the household was in trouble, they probably hated her even more, right?

But Ji Qingqing felt she was just as innocent herself.

She hadn't done anything wrong—she'd happily accepted the Crown Prince's betrothal gifts, only to end up locked in a cell.

Now, even the baby in her womb couldn't be saved.

All of this was Ji Qingfeng's fault.

At that moment, Ji Qingqing's hatred for Ji Qingfeng hit its peak.

Hua Feixue could tell from her expression that her scheme to drive a wedge between them had worked. She let out a cold laugh and turned to go.

But just then, a white handkerchief slipped out of Hua Feixue's sleeve and landed right in front of Ji Qingqing.

Ji Qingqing snatched it up immediately. After looking at it, she gasped in shock, "Isn't this the handkerchief I gave the Crown Prince at my birthday banquet? How do you have this?"

Hua Feixue raised an eyebrow and noticed a small "Qing" embroidered on the handkerchief.

It was clearly hand-embroidered.

She said casually, "The Crown Prince gave it to me to toss, and I totally forgot about it. So you're the one who embroidered it—no wonder His Highness was so disgusted by it."

"Since you like it so much, I'll give it back to its owner. Don't keep bothering the Crown Prince!"

At those words, Ji Qingqing spat out a mouthful of blood. Her body grew weaker, and unable to hold on, she collapsed and passed out.

Hua Feixue clicked her tongue and walked away.

Meanwhile, in a guest room in the back of the prefect's residence.

Ji Nanchuan knelt on the ground, begging, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, since Qingqing is carrying Your Highness's flesh and blood, please spare their lives and let her go!"

Luo Jingshen knew exactly what Ji Nanchuan was after. Earlier, when Ji Qingqing had killed someone and gotten locked up, Ji Nanchuan had once wanted to wash his hands of her.

Chen Huaxiu and her eldest son had raised a stink at the yamen many times, demanding that the Marquis Yongning's household pay them a hundred thousand taels of silver as compensation, after which they'd consider dropping the case and no longer holding Ji Qingqing responsible.

But Ji Nanchuan had shown no response, playing possum at the Marquis Yongning's residence.

Now, upon learning that Ji Qingqing was pregnant with the Crown Prince's child, he'd come knocking again, begging for her release.

It was because he'd once again seen Ji Qingqing's value and what he could gain from her.

Due to a string of misfortunes, the Marquis Yongning's household had fallen into decline, getting worse by the day. Many servants had already been sold off to save money!

Madam Ji lay sick in bed, needing medicine to stay alive—at least a hundred taels of silver for just three days' worth.

Ji Qingfeng had used the money he'd earned from his business to fill the gaps, but that only solved the immediate crisis, not the long-term problem.

This was because his tea business was also bleeding money. Many people had gotten a taste for the milk tea and fruit tea from the Smoke & Fire Grill, and tea leaves weren't selling well anymore!

To make matters worse, he'd been forced to lower prices, losing nearly two hundred thousand taels of silver.

Ji Huaiche was still working at the Court of Judicial Review, but his salary was modest and he couldn't help much.

As for Ji Zihang, after getting out of the imperial prison, he'd been in a slump, locking himself in his room all day and going nowhere. He now depended on the Marquis Yongning's household to support him.

Ji Nanchuan urgently needed to latch onto the Crown Prince's coattails so he'd have a pillar of support at court.

And the child in Ji Qingqing's womb was the perfect pawn for him to climb the ladder of power and riches.

Luo Jingshen sat in the seat of honor, taking a light sip of tea, his tone unreadable.

"What the Marquis says is quite funny. I never married the Second Miss Ji, so how do you know the child is mine and not some other guy's bastard?"

"Also, she killed her own blood brother in front of so many people. The Wu family, out of consideration that she's their own flesh and blood, asked for compensation from you—why didn't the Marquis pay?"

"You could've easily gotten the Second Miss Ji out of prison yourself, yet you insist on having me do it. Are you saying your whole family hasn't screwed me over enough, and now you want me to help raise her kid?"

Ji Nanchuan panicked and quickly stammered, "No... no, Your Highness, that's not what I mean..."

Luo Jingshen cut him off with a hard slam on the table.

"I know exactly what you're getting at. You just want to save the hundred thousand taels, use me to get her out of prison, and then use the kid in her belly to blackmail me."

"But I'm afraid the Marquis is too late—I've already sent the imperial physician to deliver the abortion pills to Ji Qingqing. By now, she's probably already taken them!"

"Wh-what?" Ji Nanchuan's face went pale, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Qingqing's baby is gone?"

At noon today, he'd gotten word from the yamen that Ji Qingqing was pregnant, and he'd been overjoyed.

Ji Nanchuan had even specifically asked Madam Meng whether the baby in Ji Qingqing's womb really belonged to the Crown Prince.

Madam Meng had been absolutely certain.

She'd also said that the Crown Prince had been scared into impotence and might never be able to sire new heirs.

So, the baby in Ji Qingqing's womb was one he'd definitely protect, and Ji Qingqing would be freed as well.

Ji Nanchuan and Madam Meng both thought heaven hadn't been unkind to the Marquis Yongning's household—just when it had dealt them a heavy blow, it showed them a glimmer of hope.

------------