Chapter 66

Chapter Sixty-Six: Matching Clothes or Matching Couple’s Outfits Ling Jiayue was sitting there listlessly, listening to the court ladies around her exchange pleasantries with Madam Liu. Meanwhile, the jealousy radiating from Madam Wan was so strong that even someone a full mile away could have smelled the vinegar. Ling Yuwan continued to stare at Ling Jiayue with a gloomy expression. At that moment, a eunuch announced, “The Third Prince and the Seventh Prince have arrived.” Ling Jiayue, Madam Liu, and the others all rose and bowed. “Greetings to the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince.” So many people saluted at once that the display was truly imposing. “Everyone, dispense with the formalities. Please rise,” Mu Yuheng said. Mu Yuyang, however, had already snorted and taken his seat. The difference between the two princes was immediately apparent. Only then did everyone rise. But when they saw the clothes on Seventh Prince Mu Yuheng, they all felt a sense of déjà vu. Almost instinctively, they looked toward Ling Jiayue, and at once noticed the oddity between the two of them. Although Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng’s clothes were different in color, the patterns on them were clearly designed by the same person—equally intricate and noble. Though the two were standing far apart at the moment, they still looked like a perfectly matched couple, making it impossible for anyone to look away. The moment Ling Jiayue saw Mu Yuheng, she understood why he had asked Danyun to bring the clothes back. Grinding her teeth, Ling Jiayue thought, This Mu Yuheng said he was helping me ward off unwanted admirers, but now he deliberately put on clothes like mine. Are these matching clothes or matching couple’s outfits?! He clearly wants to make sure I’ll never be able to clear my name! Ling Jiayue was itching with anger, and she glared at Danyun. Danyun had not expected that Mu Yuheng’s purpose in having her bring the clothes back was this. She also felt rather guilty. Under Ling Jiayue’s furious stare, she lowered her head and did not dare look at her, afraid that Ling Jiayue would vent her anger on her. But Mu Yuheng was determined to make matters worse. In full view of everyone, he gazed at Ling Jiayue with deep affection, driving her even crazier. Surrounded by the watching madams and young ladies, Ling Jiayue felt as though her face were about to burn red. When Ling Jiaxuan saw Mu Yuheng enter, he carefully compared the clothes worn by the Seventh Prince and his own sister. Then, seeing Mu Yuheng gaze at Ling Jiayue with such affection, he thought, This is bad. She just broke off her engagement with the Third Prince, and now she’s wearing similar clothes to the Seventh Prince. Madam Liu had originally been pleased by Ling Jiayue’s outfit that day, but now she could no longer feel happy about it. She had thought that her daughter had finally become enlightened and had specially had the clothes made for this occasion. Who would have thought she would end up “matching clothes” with the Seventh Prince?! Madam Liu quietly asked Ling Jiayue, “Yue’er, what is the meaning of these clothes?” “Mother, I had them made outside. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have worn them.” But Madam Liu no longer cared where Ling Jiayue had had the clothes made. She said anxiously, “Find an opportunity later and change out of them.” “Yes, Mother.” Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng’s clothes, as well as the deep affection in Mu Yuheng’s gaze, had long since been noticed by the Third Prince, Mu Yuyang. “I was wondering why Miss Ling insisted on breaking off her engagement with me,” the Third Prince sneered. “It turns out she had her eye on my Seventh Brother. Miss Ling must have found this prince too crude and decided to cling to a higher branch instead.” The Censor’s Wife and the Attendant’s Wife, who had just been intimidated by Madam Luo and Ling Jiayue, now began to laugh gleefully. The Censor’s Wife added sarcastically, “Miss Ling is so noble, of course she has to find someone who is ‘well matched in family background and pleasing to her heart.’” The Seventh Prince was the Empress’s legitimate-born son and the Crown Prince’s full brother. The Third Prince, on the other hand, was merely the son of a low-ranking Noble Consort. In terms of status, he could never compare with Seventh Prince Mu Yuheng. When the Third Prince heard the Censor’s Wife’s words, the anger in his heart was immediately fanned into flames. “Yes, Miss Ling is truly an intelligent and clever young woman.” Madam Wan, who had still been consumed by jealousy, burst out laughing when she heard the Third Prince say this. Ling Yuwan and Madam Chen also smiled broadly at the sarcasm from the Third Prince and the Censor’s Wife. These people had completely forgotten that Ling Jiayue was one of them, and that they all prospered or suffered together. When Ling Jiaxuan heard the Third Prince and the Censor’s Wife mocking Ling Jiayue, he could not hold back any longer. He rose to his feet and argued on her behalf. “Third Prince, you have that backward. It was you who looked down on Yue’er and broke off the engagement in the first place. How can you say that Yue’er was the one who abandoned you to climb a higher branch?” The Third Prince, Mu Yuyang, snorted and ignored Ling Jiaxuan. Ling Jiaxuan continued, “Censor’s Wife, your words are even more baseless. My sister is merely the Prime Minister’s daughter; she would never dare presume to marry into the imperial family. Besides, Yue’er and the Seventh Prince are only wearing similar clothes. So what?” Ling Jiaxuan swept his gaze around the room and spoke each word clearly. “My Ling family has always been a distinguished and honorable household. If anyone insults my sister in front of me—or insults the hundred-year reputation of my Ling family—then I, Ling Jiaxuan, absolutely will not tolerate it.” When Ling Jiayue heard this, her heart filled with warmth. In her previous life, her three brothers had doted on her endlessly. Even when she was the one bullying others, they still worried that she might suffer a loss. And Ling Jiaxuan was no different. How fortunate she was that, in both her lives, she had such an older brother. When Madam Liu saw Ling Jiaxuan rise and make such a forceful declaration, she felt deeply comforted. Her son had clearly become more responsible and dependable. The Ling Residence would have someone to carry on its legacy. Mu Yuheng, however, was thinking, If two people wear similar clothes, they ought to be together. But Ling Jiaxuan is, after all, my future brother-in-law. I’ll humor him for now. Once I’ve married Ling Jiayue, I’ll have a proper discussion with him about this matter of wearing similar clothes. Mu Yuheng also spoke up. “Young Master Ling is correct. Ling Girl’s engagement with Third Brother was not something she wished to end in the first place. She is merely a young woman from a sheltered household. Why must everyone maliciously slander her?” He paused, then continued, “If anyone maliciously spreads rumors about me and Ling Girl, then let alone Ling Girl—even I, this prince, will never easily forgive them.” Mu Yuheng was far too skilled with his words. He kept saying that he and Ling Jiayue had no relationship, yet every word and gesture was protective of her. His ambiguous attitude was truly impossible to decipher. Feng Yan sighed inwardly. Master, go ahead and keep being ambiguous. By deliberately creating this uncertain attitude, you’re only making everyone speculate even more wildly about your relationship with Miss Ling. You really will use any scheme at all to marry Miss Ling. Ling Jiayue had still been immersed in the emotions Ling Jiaxuan had stirred in her when she heard Mu Yuheng’s speech. She felt as though the black lines on her forehead were about to spill over. Wasn’t Mu Yuheng only making things worse by trying to explain? The clothes Danyun had brought over were obviously matching couple’s outfits! Ling Jiayue glared furiously at Mu Yuheng. Sensing her gaze, Mu Yuheng raised his brows at her and flashed her a smile. Ling Jiayue felt that she would never be able to clear her name now.