"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 170

 Ji Ling Xue looked sympathetic, pointing at the pillow in Xiao Yi Chen's hand: "Why isn't prince going back to accompany imperial concubine Yi Yun?"

"Xue Er..." Ji Ling Xue bowed her head in greetings, "Prince, if there's nothing else, I will leave."

Xiao Yi Chen felt like there was no way to argue with her, he opened his mouth wanting to say something, Ji Ling Xue rolled her eyes, she had already entered Yilan courtyard, the courtyard door closed with a bang.

Xiao Yi Chen sighed looking at the tightly shut door, raising his hand he rubbed his forehead then turned and walked into his study, he still had a lot to do.

Ji Ling Xue had just returned to her room, Mo Xiang walked over with a lit candle, pulling Ji Ling Xue into a circle in delight, "Mistress you've returned, that's great!"

Ji Ling Xue's gaze fell on Mo Xiang's face. 

"Mo Xiang, what happened to your face?" Ji Ling Xue raised her hand to feel Mo Xiang's face.

Mo Xiang hurriedly took a step back, "Mistress, my face, it's nothing..."

"Trying to hide it makes it more conspicuous?" Ji Ling Xue raised her hand rubbing at Mo Xiang's face with her handkerchief, despite Mo Xiang using rouge and powder to conceal it, her sharp perception saw that part of her skin was different from the rest of her face.

"Mo Xiang why is your face bruised, what happened?" Ji Ling Xue frowned, 

Mo Xiang covered her cheek smiling: "I...I wasn't careful and fell over."

Ji Ling Xue frown deepened, that lie was too incredulous, she didn't believe it.

It's possible to be badly battered from falling over while walking? Mo Xiang wasn't a careless person.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Mo Xiang, you never lied to me, we grew up together relying on each other, what can you not tell me, who bullied you while I wasn't here, Ji Yu Qing or Yi Yun?"

Mo Xiang lowered her head not daring to look into Ji Ling Xue's eyes, she didn't want to make a big fuss out of it, but how could she escape from her mistress' perceptive eyes, Mo Xiang said: "It's the maid of imperial concubine Yi Yun..."

It started yesterday morning, when Ji Ling Xue and Xiao Yi Chen left the residence, after the new year Mo Xiang returned to the residence and was stopped at the rear door by Yi Yun's maid Ling Lan where she was mocked and ridiculed.

This new year only Mo Xiang and An Ge in Ji Ling Xue's courtyard was given a red envelope and time off to spend with their families, no secret can be kept forever on earth, the other maids and old maids in the residence hated and envied Mo Xiang, quite a few people wanted to bribe Mo Xiang, wanting to be accepted into Ji Ling Xue's courtyard.

Unfortunately Ji Ling Xue liked peace and quiet, Mo Xiang naturally turned them down politely, to the other maids and old maids Mo Xiang was acting above them, not caring about others because her mistress was the princess, thus several jealous maids and old maids surrounded Mo Xiang at the rear door and taught her a lesson, snatching the bits of silver and pastries off her.

Mo Xiang had wanted to complain to Ji Ling Xue, only after returning to Liyan courtyard did she find out Ji Ling Xue and Xiao Yi Chen had secretly left the city, she could only deal with this matter herself.

Ji Ling Xue sneered, "A mere maid doesn't have the ability to bully my people, it's clear there's a mastermind inciting it?" She didn't want to cause trouble for Yi Yun, but she came at her.

The next morning, Ji Ling Xue took Mo Xiang to Yi Yun's courtyard early in the morning, hearing Ji Ling Xue had arrived, Yi Yun had no choice but to drag her sick body out of bed, after getting Ling Lan to help her tidy up she then went to welcome her, this was the basic etiquette towards a princess.

Yi Yun walked over to Ji Ling Xue with support, "Greetings older sister princess...cough, cough...why did you come? Excuse this younger sister for not coming to meet you..."

Ji Ling Xue sleeves were lowered, a round as a ball soybean was fell from inside the sleeve, Yi Yun didn't notice it, she stepped on the bean, her body fell forward, she heavily sprawled onto the ground, her knees and elbows were in extreme pain.

With such a fall, Yi Yun scared the Ling Lan to cry out, helping Yi Yun up in a fluster.

Ling Lan: "Imperial concubine Yun...are you alright?"

This courtyard had been swept this morning, how could she randomly fall over?

Ling Lan lowered her head, a golden bean entered her eyesight, a cold sweat broke out on her back.

Ji Ling Xue said with dissatisfaction: "Imperial concubine Yun what are you doing, you don't have to give such a big greeting, you're still unwell."

Yi Yun's complexion was deathly pale as she couldn't stop coughing, "Older sister is visiting, younger sister must give a big greeting...cough, cough..." She knew what happened, but she could only follow Ji Ling Xue, she had the power.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Imperial concubine Yun, this princess came today to ask you if you knew my senior maid Mo Xiang had been bullied by your personal maid Ling Lan?"

Yi Yun tilted her head looking at Ling Lan beside her, the mistress and servant exchanged looks, Yi Yun said: "Younger sister doesn't know, Ling Lang has always been gentle, I'm afraid there must be a misunderstanding somewhere..."

Ji Ling Xue walked to Ling Lan, Ling Lan has always been a coward, her legs felt weak and she immediately knelt on the ground, confessing without being pressed: "Prin...princess...this servant had no intention of bullying older sister Mo Xiang, it was the old maid in the kitchen who incited me...princess let me atone for my crime, princess let me atone for my crime."

Ji Ling Xue raised her hand, a resounding slap rang out, Ling Lan covered her hit cheek, looking at Ji Ling Xue with red eyes, there was some reverence and fear in them, this usually very low-key princess actually hit her.

Ji Ling Xue said: "This slap was for hitting Mo Xiang, this princess has paid you back for her." Having spoken she then slapped her twice more, "I wonder if you heard of a saying, if you hit a dog you should see who their master is, if you bully this princess's maid you're bullying this princess, this princess wants you to learn this lesson."

After three slaps, Ling Lan's face was red and swollen like a pig's head, she wasn't as lovable looking as before, tears filled her eyes, anxiously she looked at Ji Ling Xue.

"Princess, she's only a maid, she know she was wrong, can you forgive her?" Yi Yun said.

Ji Ling Xue turned to look at Yi Yun coldly: "Imperial concubine Yun, your maid isn't obedient, this princess will act for you and give you two obedient ones." She finished speaking and turned walking away.

Ling Lan was also dragged away, Yi Yun covered her chest with a pale face, coughing from time to time, her eyes filled with unwillingness.

Ji Ling Xue, you dare to get rid of the maid I took the time to nurture? She wasn't resigned, facing Ling Lan's distress and helplessness.

Yi Yun quietly stood in the wind, watching Ling Lan's figure gradually disappear.

After Ji Yu Qing heard about this, she hurried to Yi Yun's room to express her sympathy, "Younger sister Yi Yun, you need to accept it and move on, Ji Ling Xue also used this method against me before, see, my current maid is a lot more obedient than the previous one."

Yi Yun coughed: "Cough, cough, Ling Lan isn't the same, she grew up with me...Ji Ling Xue transferred her as she wanted, using her princess position..."

Ji Yu Qing said: "Prince has indulged her, us imperial concubines have to live based on her mood, ai, you also, how could you spoil Ling Lan so much that she would arrogantly go find trouble with Mo Xiang."

Yi Yun sighed, forget it, there was no use in blaming anyone right now.

Xiao Yi Chen had left early to morning court and only returned when it was dark, as soon as he came back he went to Ji Ling Xue's courtyard.

Ji Ling Xue couldn't help frowning when she finished listening to why Xiao Yi Chen had come, "The emperor isn't willing to reconcile with Dayan, what happened?"

What emperor didn't want to have peace and prosperity, why is Xiao Yi Mo so different?

Xiao Yi Chen said: "Yuchi Gong Ru's chain murders of women caused a lot of anxiety in the capital at the end of last year and challenged the imperial honour, now Dayan took the initiative to propose peace, of course imperial brother has to put on an act of arrogance."

Ji Ling Xue lowered her eyes, "So that's the reason, it would be dangerous of sworn brother to come to the capital this time."

Yuchi Gong Ru wished for the world to be in chaos, he had the intentions of coming to Dongqi once more, so he wouldn't allow Yuchi Ru Ge to travel smoothly; and on this side Xiao Yi Mo wasn't keen on peace negotiations, of course he had to make things hard for Yuchi Ru Ge, preventing him from coming to Dongqi.

Xiao Yi Chen nodded: "Also, there's something I want to talk to you about..."

Ji Ling Xue earnestly looked into Xiao Yi Chen's eyes, waiting for him to continue.

Xiao Yi Chen said: "Someone deliberately started a rumour about your identity, imperial brother summoned Ji Bai Chuan into the palace, he has admitted you're not his biological daughter, imperial brother summoned me into the palace today...wanting me to change princess."

Ji Ling Xue stared at Xiao Yi Chen coldly: "Then prince what are you saying?"

Xiao Yi Chen raised both arms gathering Ji Ling Xue into his embrace, "Xue Er...so many pairs of eyes are on us, I need to put on an act, I know what I'm going to do will make you suffer, but you have to believe me...I love you..."

Ji Ling Xue closed her eyes gradually not saying anymore, Xiao Yi Chen kissed her forehead, but she moved her head away.

Ji Ling Xue smiled: "Xiao Yi Chen, should I trust you?"

Xiao Yi Chen held Ji Ling Xue's hand tightly, a cold wind entered the window, Ji Ling Xue felt an indiscernible coldness in her heart...

The next afternoon, Xiao Yi Chen gathered everyone in the residence, with the reason for her not producing an heir in three years, Ji Ling Xue had been demoted to concubine.

Ji Ling Xue had her head lowered without saying a word, until Xiao Yi Chen turned and left, Ji Yu Qing's mocking laugh entered her ears: "Older sister, are you alright?"

Ji Ling Xue looked up at Ji Yu Qing, she took a hairpin from her hair and threw it onto the ground: "Oh, why did my hairpin fall out, older sister, can i trouble you to pick it up for me."

Ji Ling Xue reached out to pick it up, it was then Ji Yu Qing viciously stood on Ji Ling Xue's hand, a cold smile on her lips.

Ji Ling Xue, your day has come, I've waited for this day for so long, before you were arrogant, now how do you feel being stepped on by me?

Ji Ling Xue couldn't move her hand, she clenched her teeth in pain with her head lowered, until Ji Yu Qing moved her foot away, only then could she rub the back of her red hand with a footprint.

Ji Yu Qing was very content with Ji Ling Xue's calm and unresisting attitude, she laughed twice then swaggered off.

Mo Xiang ran to Ji Ling Xue's side, saying with red eyes: "Princess, are you alright?"

Ji Ling Xue curled her lips: "I'm not the princess now, don't call me that randomly from now on."

Mo Xiang said: "Is status so important,  just because of the emperor's word, has the affections  of prince and princess over the three years just disappear, how can he treat you like this...boohoo.."

Ji Ling Xue slowly stood up, patting out the creases in her clothes: "Enough, don't be sad, let's go back."

Mo Xiang sullenly said: "The housekeeper just chased this servant out of Yilan courtyard, he said we ought to return to the side courtyard."

The side courtyard was indeed where they used to live, afterwards it was struck by lightening, it was rebuilt.