Chapter 79 The Sharp-Tongued Princess Luo Qingge

Ji Yuntang looked at him acting so protective of her, sneering inwardly. "Heir Ji, are your two eyes just for decoration? When did you ever see me, this princess, bullying her?"

"I was sitting here drinking tea, and she came running over like a fool to disturb me. Can't you control your precious sister, yet you rush over without knowing the facts, trying to teach me how to behave?"

Ji Huaiche then noticed Ji Yuntang's face.

Ji Qingqing had spent a full hour primping at home before leaving today, her head and body adorned with jewelry handpicked by Madam Meng, all to dazzle the crowd at the palace banquet, take first prize, and win the Crown Prince's favor.

In contrast, Ji Yuntang wore just a dusting of powder on her face, casually pinned two hairpins in her hair, and had no other extra ornaments—as simple as could be.

Even her clothes couldn't compare to Ji Qingqing's.

Yet why did Ji Yuntang look way more striking than Ji Qingqing, completely outshining her?

Just then, a woman in a flowing red gauze dress walked over. Her features were delicate and pretty, her skin cold and white as snow, and she said with a sweet smile.

"Oh, so this is the illegitimate daughter and ugly freak that Second Miss Ji was just gossiping about? This princess thinks she's at least three times prettier than Second Miss Ji herself!"

The newcomer was the Empress's daughter, the Ninth Princess herself, Luo Qingge.

She cheerfully approached Ji Yuntang, her bright, sparkling eyes smiling at her.

"Hey, Third Sister-in-law! I'm Ninth Princess Luo Qingge. I heard from my mother the Empress that last time in the back garden, you saved my seventeenth brother. I've wanted for ages to thank you in person but never had the chance to get out of the palace."

Then Luo Qingge's gaze turned sharp as she swept over Ji Qingqing and the noble ladies watching the drama, curling her lips in a cold smirk.

"These girls were just badmouthing you as the illegitimate daughter of the Marquis Yongning's estate, an ugly freak too scared to even step outside, not even worth a hair on Second Miss Ji's head."

"Second Miss Ji came over to show off her purple silk embroidered gown and her golden cloud-hairpin with dangling ornaments, but... tsk tsk, her precious beauty can't hold a candle to Third Sister-in-law's. How embarrassing, huh?"

Ji Qingqing: "!!!"

All the noble ladies: "!!!"

Oh crap! How did the Ninth Princess hear that?

And she blurted it all out without any mercy.

So embarrassing they wanted to die... Everyone just wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

Ji Qingqing's lips trembled, and her face went deathly pale in an instant, almost fainted.

Today's blow from Ji Yuntang was already bad enough, and now even the Empress's favorite Ninth Princess had to butt in and defend Ji Yuntang.

First Xie Liuzheng, now Luo Qingge.

What kind of spell did she put on them to make them all take her side?

Ji Yuntang listened to the girl's fiery speech and breathed a sigh of relief. So, she's on my side!

She was afraid Ninth Princess Luo Qingge might be just as annoying as Tenth Princess Luo Qianxue.

But the two couldn't be more different.

Ji Yuntang quietly stashed away the stink powder hidden in her sleeve—she'd almost accidentally hit a friend.

Meeting Luo Qingge's sparkling eyes, Ji Yuntang gave a slight smile.

"Ninth Princess, you're too kind. The Seventeenth Prince is blessed and lucky, clever and adorable. Even if it weren't me, anyone passing by would have saved him."

"And thank you for helping me out today."

Luo Qingge was a natural extrovert. The moment she saw Ji Yuntang, she felt an inexplicable fondness and immediately clung to Ji Yuntang's arm, acting spoiled.

"Third Sister-in-law, you don't need to be so polite with me. Those scheming types call me Ninth Princess; you just call me Qingge."

"My mother the Empress said to hang out with good-looking people to become good-looking yourself. And I have no other hobby—I just love looking at beauties like you, Third Sister-in-law. So, are we friends now?"

Ji Yuntang had never had a girl cling to her and act spoiled before. She felt the other girl rubbing against her like a little kitten, but she didn't dislike it.

"Alright, since Qingge doesn't mind, I'll accept you as my friend."

Luo Qingge instantly beamed, happy as a three-year-old child. She looked at everyone and said, "Did you hear that? Third Sister-in-law is friends with this princess now."

"From today on, this princess's friend is under my protection. Anyone who dares bully my Third Sister-in-law is bullying this princess. You'd better show her respect when you see her."

As she said this, Luo Qingge's beautiful eyes deliberately swept over Ji Huaiche and Ji Qingqing's faces, the warning clear.

Their faces instantly turned green.

With Luo Qingge protecting her, it was like having the Empress's backing. Ji Yuntang was truly skilled.

Ji Qingqing gritted her teeth in fury inside but kept a gentle smile on her face.

She remembered how, to get close to the Crown Prince, she had tried more than once to flatter and please Luo Qingge, only to be verbally torn apart and sent away in disgrace.

In contrast, Tenth Princess Luo Qianxue was easier to get along with and would even stand up for her.

Unfortunately, Luo Qianxue was Luo Junhe's sister, and the one Ji Qingqing wanted to marry was always the Crown Prince.

At least Luo Jingshen had some goodwill toward her, which kept Ji Qingqing from feeling too miserable.

Just then, a eunuch's shrill voice rang out in everyone's ears.

"The Emperor arrives! The Empress arrives!"

Everyone knelt and bowed. "Your subjects and daughters pay respects to the Emperor and Empress. May the Emperor and Empress be blessed with peace and prosperity."

Behind them followed Consort Ning, Consort Li, the Crown Prince, Prince Qi, Prince Chen, Tenth Princess, and a large crowd.

Ji Yuntang looked up and swept her gaze over them. The leader wore a bright yellow dragon robe, over forty but tall and imposing, bearing a five-tenths resemblance to Luo Junhe.

Standing at the back, she didn't want to kneel but couldn't stand out too much, so she crouched down, covering her bent knees with her long dress.

Emperor Jingyang waved his hand grandly, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd, his voice cheerful and pleasant.

"Rise, everyone. At today's palace banquet, there's no need for excessive formality or restraint. You young people just eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves freely."

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." Everyone stood up.

Ji Yuntang had learned on the way that the palace banquet was hosted annually by the Empress. Nominally, it was to unite the families of the court's upper echelons, but in reality, it was a large-scale matchmaking event under the guise of a banquet.

Those invited were mostly unmarried noble ladies and young masters.

Ji Yuntang could attend only because Consort Li had given her a special pass.

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