The next morning, as soon as Zi Linling finished washing up, she heard the door of Luoyu Pavilion being kicked open with a "bang."
Immediately after, Zi Jinling's arrogant voice echoed through the courtyard.
"Waste, I thought you were so scared you'd be hiding in some rat hole and wouldn't dare come out!"
Zi Linling's brows furrowed, and her expression turned cold.
She opened the door and walked out, saying coldly, "I was wondering why the good courtyard gate suddenly opened. It turns out a vicious dog has barged in."
Zi Jinling froze, then reacted, her voice enraged, "Waste, who are you calling?"
Zi Linling retorted with a cold laugh, "Who is the waste calling?"
"The waste is calling..."
Zi Jinling recalled the losses she had suffered a few days prior, and the last word, "you," got stuck in her throat.
Zi Linling stood there with a half-smile, saying nothing, but her imposing aura made those who had followed Zi Jinling into the courtyard dare not look her in the eye.
Tanxiang, seeing Zi Jinling at a disadvantage, forced herself forward and said, "Third Miss, you've gone too far. Our young lady heard you were missing for four days and came out of kindness to check on you. How could you speak so hurtfully?"
Zi Linling's sharp gaze swept over Tanxiang, causing Tanxiang to shudder involuntarily.
"Is that so?"
Zi Linling, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes, looked at Zi Jinling and asked.
Zi Jinling felt her scalp tingle under her gaze and said with a lack of confidence, "Yes..."
Seeing Zi Jinling's lack of conviction, Tanxiang shook her head helplessly and spoke first, "Of course!"
Then, she winked at Zi Jinling and silently mouthed four words: "His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Zi Jinling blinked, then remembered that before coming, she had sent someone to invite Crown Prince Ye Yuanhao.
Zi Linling saw all the subtle movements of these two servants and mistress.
She let out a cold laugh and said, "Such kindness! It truly overwhelms me, this 'waste'!"
"You..."
Zi Jinling was infuriated by her sarcastic tone, her anger surging like wildfire.
However, in terms of verbal sparring, she was far inferior.
"Oh? What's wrong, Second Sister? Did I say something incorrect?"
Zi Linling put on a look of confusion.
"You..."
Zi Jinling gnashed her teeth in hatred but couldn't retort.
Just then, a voice came from outside the courtyard gate, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are here?"
The speaker deliberately raised their voice. Although it sounded like a greeting to Crown Prince Ye Yuanhao, it was intended as a reminder to those inside the courtyard.
Zi Linling frowned and looked towards the courtyard entrance. She felt an involuntary aversion and dislike towards this fiancé of the original host.
Zi Jinling and Tanxiang exchanged a joyful glance.
Then, Zi Jinling suddenly lunged towards Zi Linling, attempting to grab her sleeve.
Zi Linling, who was deep in thought, suddenly felt something approaching her. Without thinking, she lifted her leg, kicking the lunging Zi Jinling onto the ground.
This action was precisely what Ye Yuanhao saw as he stepped into the courtyard.
Ye Yuanhao let out a cold roar, "Zi Linling, what are you doing!"
At the same time, he circulated spiritual energy beneath his feet, swiftly flying to Zi Jinling's side and helping her up. He asked, "Jin'er, are you alright? Are you injured?"
Tears had inexplicably welled up in Zi Jinling's eyes. She leaned weakly against Ye Yuanhao and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, I am fine."
Ye Yuanhao's eyes were filled with concern. "Are you sure you're alright? Shall I have the imperial physician examine you?"
Zi Jinling raised her head, her eyes full of tender affection. "I am truly fine. There is no need to trouble the imperial physician."
"That's good then!"
After Ye Yuanhao repeatedly confirmed Zi Jinling was unharmed, he glared at Zi Linling, his voice filled with disgust, "You wicked woman!"
Zi Linling's brows knitted. The blatant display of affection between the two had already disgusted her. Now, being questioned by Ye Yuanhao, her expression darkened further.
"Who gave her the nerve to approach me?"
Ye Yuanhao was stunned. How was this waste different from before?
The former Zi Linling had always spoken to him timidly. When had she ever been so sharp?
He frowned and said, "Regardless, Jin'er is your elder sister. How could you kick her?"
Zi Linling looked at Ye Yuanhao as if he were an idiot. This Crown Prince seemed quite intelligent, yet his words were so foolish.
Preventing others from getting too close was a natural reaction for cultivators, alright!
She said speechlessly, "No matter who it is, if they dare to approach within three feet of me, I will kick!"
"You!"
Ye Yuanhao's breath was caught in his throat, unable to go up or down.
As the Crown Prince, when had he ever been so humiliated?
Zi Linling said with a cold face, "What do you mean, 'you'? Don't tell me you don't even understand the most basic common sense!"
Ye Yuanhao was so angered he was furious, yet he couldn't refute it. He could only say resentfully, "You are simply unreasonable!"
A cold smirk flashed across Zi Jinling's tear-filled eyes. She thought, "Waste, just keep causing trouble. It's best if you make the Crown Prince hate you even more and annul the engagement! How about this, as your elder sister, I'll add a little more fuel to the fire."
So, she timidly tugged at Ye Yuanhao's sleeve and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please don't blame Third Sister. She is young, and seeing that I can gain your favor, she has been blinded by jealousy. Please do not blame her!"
At first glance, these words seemed to be defending Zi Linling, but upon closer inspection, every sentence pointed out Zi Linling's jealousy.
Indeed, Ye Yuanhao angrily flicked his sleeve, his disgust more evident in his eyes.
"You jealous shrew, you don't even spare your own sister!"
After scolding her, he looked tenderly at the delicate beauty in his arms and said gently, "Jin'er, you are always so kind. Even now, you are speaking for this jealous woman."
Zi Jinling wiped away her tears and said softly again, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, no matter what, she is still my sister. If I don't speak for her, who will?"
After saying this, she gave Zi Linling a triumphant glance from an angle Ye Yuanhao couldn't see.
Zi Linling looked at this pair of conniving adulterers, who were putting on a show, utterly speechless. She felt indignant for the original host and angrily said, "Get out! Get out of my sight, immediately!"
She felt that if she listened any longer, if she watched any longer, she would vomit her supper.
Ye Yuanhao's face turned ashen with rage. "Zi Linling! How can you be so ungrateful! And Jin'er has been speaking up for you all this time!"
Zi Linling's chilling aura emanated outwards. She was too lazy to bother with this foolish Crown Prince.
Zi Jinling's tears flowed again. "Third Sister, how can you speak to His Highness the Crown Prince like that? He is your fiancé!"