The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 63

Chapter 63: Punishment

If she had heard these words before, Pei Lingyi would have been overjoyed. However, now, her heart remained calm, and she felt no ripples. The experience in her dream had made her realize that men were the most unreliable.

The only person she could rely on was herself.

But in this era where imperial power reigns supreme, if she wanted to protect herself and make the Pei family prosperous, she needed to grasp these men firmly in her hands.

Romance was nothing to her, but if used properly, it could be a deadly blade to these people.

When Mo Chi returned, he saw this scene.

The slender figure of the woman stood with her back to the Crown Prince, while the Crown Prince seemed to have his soul taken away, staring blankly at her without daring to take a step closer.

The atmosphere felt strange.

The closer he got, the more Mo Chi realized that his master had a red mark on his face, likely from being slapped…

Could it be…

Mo Chi subconsciously wanted to look at the figure but was stopped by Xiao Huaijin’s gaze. “Did you bring them?”

The man’s voice was low and cold, with an innate nobility that made Mo Chi dare not think of anything else. He replied respectfully, “Your Highness, Eldest Miss Xue is waiting outside the courtyard.”

“Let her in.”

Mo Chi didn’t suspect anything and knew that tonight would likely be a disastrous night for the person involved.

When Xue Baohua heard that the Crown Prince wanted to see her, her heart sank. She thought that Li Miaozhu’s plan had been foolproof and would surely ruin Pei Lingyi’s reputation.

But unexpectedly, Pei Lingyi was unscathed, and instead, she had implicated herself. It wouldn’t take long for the entire capital to find out.

By then, even the National Duke’s mansion wouldn’t be able to protect her.

She should have made other plans and decided whether to continue allying with him.

However, looking at the man with a gloomy face in the courtyard, she knew she had to get through this first.

“Greetings, Your Highness. What did you call me for tonight?”

Her voice was calm, without a hint of panic, as if she knew nothing about the events of the night.

Xiao Huaijin hadn’t spoken yet, but Pei Lingyi couldn’t hold back anymore.
Her eyes turned red, and her voice trembled slightly, “What business? Eldest Miss Xue hurt my cat so badly, and now you’re going to let it slide with just one sentence?”

Xue Baohua had never seen Pei Lingyi lose her composure like this. Her eyes were blurry with tears, and she looked like a pear blossom in the rain, evoking pity. Even the Crown Prince, let alone Xue Baohua, couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

Although Xue Baohua thought her beauty was comparable to Pei Lingyi’s, she had to admit that Pei Lingyi had a stunning appearance. Even in the bustling capital city, she stood out like a unique flower.

However, Pei Lingyi’s current state made Xue Baohua feel cold all over. The cat seemed to be incredibly important to her. Xue Baohua couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Huaijin’s expression.

Just one glance made her feel like she was plunged into an icy cave.

The man didn’t speak, but his gaze was fixed on her, and the pressure was overwhelming. His eyes, usually gentle and jade-like, were now cold and frosty.

“Thud—”

Xue Baohua finally realized that the atmosphere was not in her favor.
She could bend and stretch, so she directly knelt down and said, “Please, Your Highness, investigate the matter. I only wanted to play with the cat because it was so cute and snow-white.”

“At the time, Miss Pei wasn’t there, so I took the liberty of picking it up. If the cat hadn’t wanted to follow me, would I have forced it?”

She thought she had a valid reason and spoke confidently while kneeling, but her body was trembling slightly. She wasn’t as calm as she appeared.

She was stupid to think that Pei Lingyi would be ruined tonight and couldn’t wait to mock her and harm her cat.

The truth was that the cat didn’t want to follow her and scratched and clawed at her. She was angry and ordered her servants to beat it to death. However, she couldn’t bring herself to do it and told them to just throw it away.

But she didn’t expect Pei Lingyi to find it.

She had done it without hesitation, thinking that even if Pei Lingyi came after her later, her reputation would already be ruined. As the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, she wasn’t afraid of Pei Lingyi.

However, the situation had developed in an unexpected way. The cat had been found, and the Crown Prince had been summoned.
It seemed that things wouldn’t end well.

“Are you still going to deny it now? I didn’t know that Minister Xue had a daughter who was so shameless.”

She suddenly looked up, wondering what the Crown Prince meant.
Hadn’t he listened to a word she said?

Xiao Huaijin’s face was gloomy as he gazed at her. Perhaps he had been too good-natured, and these people thought he couldn’t distinguish right from wrong and could be fooled with a few words.

“Guards, take Eldest Miss Xue back to the Xue mansion tonight and clearly inform them of what happened. If he can’t teach his daughter well, I’m more than happy to teach her myself!”

The man’s voice was low and imposing, with an undeniable authority.

Xue Baohua had never seen the Crown Prince like this before. Usually, Xiao Huaijin was like a gentle piece of jade, but tonight, he seemed to radiate a cold aura, like the calm before a storm, sending chills down her spine.

Could it be… was he also bewitched by Pei Lingyi’s beauty, not giving her a chance to explain?

No… she couldn’t be sent back to the mansion. If she was really sent back tonight, tomorrow morning, the entire capital would know that she had angered the Crown Prince. Her father would be disappointed, and the Xue family would be looked down upon. Her mother would be neglected, and her authority would be diminished.

From then on, she would be humiliated among all the noble daughters, abandoned by her family, and would never experience the glory of being a legitimate daughter again.

No… she didn’t want that!

Xue Baohua thought about the future and was overcome with grief. How could this be? She didn’t want this.

“Wuhu… Miss Pei, Miss Pei, please forgive me… forgive me.”

She grabbed Pei Lingyi’s skirt, breaking free from the guards’ restraints, her breathing rapid, and her shoulders shaking.

“Bang bang bang.” She kowtowed repeatedly, and soon, her delicate forehead was bruised and bleeding, showing the force of her kowtows.

Pei Lingyi just watched her coldly, seeing her pitiful state, and felt that it wasn’t enough.

“Wuhu, Miss Pei, you have a kind heart, please forgive me. I will be killed by my father if I’m sent back… wuhu.”

Seeing the woman’s indifference, Xiao Huai Jin knew she was still angry. With a slight raise of his hand, the young servant approached again and restrained Xue Baohua, prying her hands off Pei Lingyi’s skirt.

“No… don’t.”

Seeing that Pei Lingyi showed no intention of saving her, Xue Baohua’s heart hardened, and she shouted, “It was all Li Miaozhu’s idea!”

“What did you say!”

Xiao Huaijin’s gaze changed, and he instinctively looked towards Pei Lingyi.