Chapter 518: The Boat Banquet Disturbance

Chapter 518: Chapter 518: The Boat Banquet Disturbance

Qi Xiuwei’s lovely face held a cold arrogance it never had before.

She followed Mo Lingwei aboard the boat.

Mo Lingwei pressed his lips together, his expression neutral. His words seemed more like an explanation to the crowd.

"Princess Funing and Miss Qi were once very close. They had a falling out over a groundless conflict, which I find to be a great shame. Therefore, I took the opportunity of today’s boat banquet to invite Miss Qi to come with me and resolve their enmity."

The crowd understood, but their gazes remained complicated.

Shen Ningning was the first to offer Qi Xiuwei an olive branch.

"Xiao Wei, it’s so good you could come. I thought... you were still angry."

Qi Xiuwei looked up, her expression cold. "I didn’t want to come. The Princess has ruined my life, and I wish we would never have to see each other again."

"But since the Crown Prince himself invited me, how could I refuse? Princess, let’s not keep everyone standing on the deck. We can talk inside."

Hearing her words, those standing nearby gasped audibly.

’How could she speak to Princess Funing like that!’

Shen Ningning’s expression fell, but she endured it.

Mo Lingwei, however, frowned.

Lu Shaoyuan couldn’t hold back. "Miss Qi, you’re here, so what’s with the temper? This is Ningning’s boat banquet. We’re all here to have a good time, not to watch you scowl."

Shen Ningning shook her head at him. "Lu Shaoyuan! That’s enough."

Qi Xiuwei pressed her lips together, a strange smile on her face.

"Did you hear that, Mr. Lu? Princess Funing knows she owes me."

Mo Lingwei finally spoke up. "That’s enough. I am still here. Do you think you can speak to Shen Ningning that way right in front of me, as if I were dead?"

Only then did Qi Xiuwei fall silent.

The tension between them was palpable. The Crown Prince shielded Shen Ningning as they walked ahead.

Everyone began whispering amongst themselves, their murmurs unceasing.

"It seems the rumors were true."

"What rumors?"

"Oh, you haven’t heard? Princess Funing helped the envoy from Changliu Country reveal Qi Xiuwei’s true origins!"

"What? Qi Xiuwei is the Tenth Princess of Changliu Country? No wonder. To suddenly go from one of our own to a citizen of an enemy nation, and of Changliu blood at that... It’s..."

"I heard Mrs. Qi fell ill from the shock, and Qi Xiuwei hasn’t gone to see her even once. How ruthless."

"You can’t blame Ningning for that!" Ye Shangyi overheard their discussion and immediately retorted.

Even though she was walking behind them, Ye Shangyi was blunt by nature. For Shen Ningning’s sake, she raised her voice and said, "Stop wagging your tongues behind her back!"

"If Ningning hadn’t done it, was she supposed to just stand by and watch Miss Qi go to prison?"

A soft female voice drifted over, carrying a hint of subtle provocation.

"Did the Princess ever ask Miss Qi what she wanted? What if she would have rather spent ten years in prison than have her identity as a princess of Changliu Country exposed?"

All eyes turned toward the voice, landing on Su Zhirou, who stood at the back of the crowd.

Seeing that all eyes were on her, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand and lowered her head in a display of feigned demureness.

"I’m sorry, I spoke out of turn. Please, don’t mind me."

Ye Shangyi was about to lose her temper with her when Qi Xiuwei’s icy voice came from the front. ℯℯ𝘭.

"Why is *she* here?" she asked Shen Ningning, pointing at Su Zhirou.

Shen Ningning blinked her wide eyes. "I invited her. No matter what happened in the past, it’s best if we can clear the air now."

Qi Xiuwei’s brows furrowed. "Miss Su and I don’t get along, and I have no desire to see her. Shen Ningning, if you truly want to make up with me, then throw her off this boat!"

Su Zhirou’s face went pale. Shen Ningning pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

Everyone felt that Qi Xiuwei’s demand was outrageous.

Even if Su Zhirou was generally disliked, there was no shore nearby. Kicking her off the boat would be the same as pushing her into the water.

"Miss Qi, as far as I know, there has never been any enmity between us. Why must you torment me like this!" Su Zhirou’s eyes were already red.

She looked at Shen Ningning, but the princess was frowning and showed no intention of intervening on her behalf.

Su Zhirou’s heart sank.

’The conflict between Shen Ningning and Qi Xiuwei has caused a huge stir.’

’She wouldn’t actually throw me into the water just to make up with Qi Xiuwei, would she?’

When Mo Lingwei saw that Shen Ningning didn’t object, he tilted his chin toward a nearby guard.

Su Zhirou panicked.

"Your Highness, Princess... I only came to this banquet today because I was invited! I haven’t done anything to offend Miss Qi. How can you condone her humiliating me like this?"

She burst into tears as she spoke, the humiliation stinging all the more under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Shen Ningning looked at Qi Xiuwei, clearly troubled.

"Xiao Wei, can’t we just let it go? This... This really isn’t right."

Qi Xiuwei lifted her chin. "Let it go? Impossible. Have you forgotten how she used to bully us? Or can you forgive anyone except your own friends, whom you only know how to hurt!"

The moment she said this, before Mo Lingwei could even reprimand her, someone in the crowd could no longer bear it.

"Enough!" a sharp voice cut in.

Everyone looked over to see Pei Yin step forward, his face dark.

"Miss Qi, how could you be such a person?" he asked, looking at her with disappointment.

When Qi Xiuwei saw Pei Yin, a flicker of sorrow crossed her eyes, but it vanished in an instant.

Her pretty face was a mask of cold detachment.

"Lord Pei, I don’t understand what you mean. The Crown Prince invited me to this boat banquet, which is the only reason I am here. Shen Ningning said she wants to reconcile, so I want to see her sincerity."

"Therefore, I do not wish to see Su Zhirou, a person with whom I have a history of grievances, on this boat. How is that an unreasonable request?"

Pei Yin swallowed, his gaze a mixture of complex, unspoken emotions.

After a long moment, he cupped his hands in a salute to Shen Ningning. "Your Highness, in that case, please allow me to escort Miss Su away."

Shen Ningning was taken aback, and even Qi Xiuwei’s eyes turned cold and dark.

"But..." Shen Ningning hesitated.

Su Zhirou’s eyes darted, and she hid behind Pei Yin, crying.

"Lord Pei... Thank goodness you’re here. Otherwise, I..." She choked back sob after sob.

Su Zhirou was deliberately using Pei Yin to provoke Qi Xiuwei.

’Qi Xiuwei must be feeling awful right now, right?’

’Her former friend betrayed her, and the man she fancies is utterly disappointed in her.’

Shen Ningning sighed and finally relented. "Very well, Lord Pei. I’ll trouble you to escort Miss Su away."

Without another word, Pei Yin lowered a small boat from the painted boat. Then, grabbing Su Zhirou by the collar, he leaped with his Qinggong and landed steadily in the skiff.

With a stony expression, he poled the boat away, the painted boat gradually shrinking in the distance.

Su Zhirou wiped away her tears and looked back, seeing the figures of Shen Ningning and Qi Xiuwei standing together at the bow.

It looked as if they were watching them leave.

She didn’t dwell on it, merely sensing an excellent opportunity.

Su Zhirou feigned a stumble and fell into Pei Yin’s arms.

"Ah—" she cried out delicately, deliberately letting her hand rest on Pei Yin’s neck before hastily pulling away and steadying herself, her face flushing red.

"I’m so sorry, Lord Pei. I was so frightened my legs gave out, and I fell..."

"It’s nothing." Pei Yin’s jaw tightened. He brushed at his clothes as if to flick away imaginary dust.

Su Zhirou glanced out of the corner of her eye toward the distant painted boat.

Shen Ningning and the others were no longer standing at the bow.

She sneered inwardly, filled with secret delight.

’Qi Xiuwei must be furious, right?’

’Shen Ningning let Pei Yin escort me away in front of everyone. There’s no way Qi Xiuwei will ever reconcile with her now.’