Chapter 143: Every Man to His Own Home and Every Mother to Her Own Child

On the other side of the street, after leaving the Prince Jin Manor, Xia Jiujiang wandered aimlessly, not knowing where to go or what to do. She did not belong to this era to begin with; once she left the Prince Jin Manor, where could she go, and what could she accomplish? It felt as though she had instantly lost even the purpose of living.

Walking in a daze, Xia Jiujiang somehow wandered into a small alleyway. A figure suddenly blocked her path and asked, "Where are you trying to go?"

Lifting her gaze slowly, Xia Jiujiang met Ming Ze’s infuriatingly smug face.

How dare this bastard show up in front of her? Did he think he was so handsome that she wouldn't dare beat him to a pulp?

Looking at her with deep concern, Ming Ze blurted out, "Were you driven out of the Prince Jin Manor?"

Xia Jiujiang glanced at him and chuckled, "I didn't take any luggage or a bundle. How on earth did you know I was kicked out?"

Ming Ze sized her up and replied, "If you hadn't been driven out, why would you leave the manor so quickly after not returning for two days? Besides, the outfit you're wearing is the one prepared for you by the Xiangrui Pavilion."

Turmoil churned within Xia Jiujiang, leaving her fuming and puffing out her cheeks in suppressed rage. This jerk Ming Ze was practically asking for a beating! Knowing she had been cast aside, he still dared to cozy up to her. She really felt like beating him until even his own parents wouldn't recognize him.

Ming Ze went on, "If Prince Jin doesn't want you... I will."

Hearing this, Xia Jiujiang almost spat blood.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she sneered, "Dropping the pretense so soon, aren't you? Done playing the nice guy?"

Ming Ze froze. "You... what do you mean?"

Xia Jiujiang scoffed, "This was your plan all along, wasn't it? You brought me to Xiangrui Pavilion, and while I was unconscious for all those days, you spread rumors all over the royal capital. Everyone was made to think I was unchaste and promiscuous, ruining my reputation as the Princess Consort so that I would be cast out of the manor. Then, you would swoop in to accept me, hoping to move me? But pity isn't love, and I am not moved in the least."

Her gaze toward Ming Ze was dripping with sarcasm and disdain.

Ming Ze’s face darkened, and looking somewhat wounded, he asked, "What are you saying... You think I went around spreading rumors?"

"Isn't that the case?" Xia Jiujiang retorted. "Didn't you take care of me day and night for two days while I was unconscious precisely to fabricate the appearance of an illicit affair between us? Now the entire capital thinks I had a liaison with you, and my position as Prince Jin's consort is completely ruined. Yet you conveniently pop up at this moment to ask me to be with you. I must say, you certainly went to great lengths."

Just then, another voice chimed in, "Stop treating a good heart like a dog's lung! It was I who spread the rumors about you and the Third Prince of the Southern Kingdom lacking chastity."

Xia Jiujiang turned her head to see Ming Ningzi stepping into view. "Is there any difference?" Xia Jiujiang asked coldly. "Do you expect me to believe the Third Prince of the Southern Kingdom knew nothing about it?"

Furious, Ming Ningzi snapped, "Over the past few days, my third brother stayed by your side every single moment, pouring his entire heart and soul into caring for you. When would he have had the time to spread rumors? He had no idea I did it whatsoever! If you have any grievances or anger, direct them entirely at me."

Xia Jiujiang let out a cold huff and said in a sarcastic tone, "As if I would dare direct anything at you two! You are esteemed princes and princesses of the Southern Kingdom, whereas I am no longer the Princess Consort. Even if I harbored grievances, I wouldn't dare vent them on you."

Shocked, Ming Ze stared at Xia Jiujiang and asked, "Did Prince Jin truly divorce you?"

Meeting his gaze, Xia Jiujiang replied, "Isn't this precisely what the Third Prince of the Southern Kingdom wished for? Now, who in the capital doesn't know that the Third Prince of the Southern Kingdom and I spent two days and two nights alone in a room at Xiangrui Pavilion?"

Frowning, Ming Ze said, "I never wanted to ruin you like this... I..." *All I wanted was your heart.*

Angrily akimbo, Ming Ningzi shouted, "Who gave you the audacity to speak to us like that? Forget that you're no longer the Princess Consort—even if you still were, don't forget your true identity."

Xia Jiujiang found this immensely amusing. "What is my true identity?" Could this blockhead Ming Ningzi possibly know that Xia Jiujiang was a time-traveler?

To her surprise, Ming Ningzi offered a mocking smile. "You are a spy for our Southern Kingdom. What else do you think you are? Did you honestly think you were just some legitimate daughter of the Xia family and a Prince Jin's consort?"

Shocked, Xia Jiujiang pointed at herself. A spy?

And here she thought Princess Ningzi was just a princess—she was practically a royal sow, a total pighead! To actually believe Xia Jiujiang was a Southern Kingdom spy, and that Xia Jiujiang took orders from the Southern Kingdom Holy Maiden? Dream on! The Mother of Five Poisons Gu nestled in Xia Jiujiang's belly was a millennial ancestor of all Gu worms.

Ming Ningzi continued smugly, "Even though you only take orders from the Southern Kingdom Holy Maiden, don't forget that you are a person of the Southern Kingdom. The day will come when your mission is complete, and you will have to return to the Southern Kingdom. Since my third brother fancies you, your status will naturally rise accordingly, transforming from a spy into the Third Prince's Consort. All you need to do is kneel down and weep with gratitude—don't push your luck and refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

Xia Jiujiang’s mouth hung open in speechless speechlessness, utterly baffled by Ming Ningzi's sheer stupidity.

Speechless, Xia Jiujiang said, "Who told you I was from your Southern Kingdom?"

Sporting an expression that practically screamed, *Oh please, who do you think you're fooling?*, Ming Ningzi gloated, "You're putting on quite a convincing act, aren't you? You've really started believing you're the Princess Consort."

Xia Jiujiang massaged her temples. She had truly never encountered someone so deeply delusional.

If the Southern Kingdom Holy Maiden really had any secret orders, would she ever entrust them to an idiot like Ming Ningzi? That alone warranted a massive question mark.

Too lazy to waste any more breath, Xia Jiujiang said, "Since you're convinced I'm a spy, and now that I've been divorced and am no longer by Prince Jin's side, I have no utility value for you anyway. Everyone go back to your respective homes and find your respective mothers. Goodbye to you all."

Aggressive and menacing, Ming Ningzi demanded, "Did you just treat my words as wind blowing past your ear?"

Lifting a hand to cup around her ear like a megaphone, Xia Jiujiang replied, "My, the wind really is strong today. Who was that talking?"

Of course she had treated Ming Ningzi's words as wind. Did that even require asking?

Furious, Ming Ningzi snapped, "You... just you wait! Once I have my master summon you back to the Southern Kingdom, you'll be scrubbing floors as my personal maid."

Xia Jiujiang sneered, "Oh, I am shaking in my boots. You'd better hurry back to the Southern Kingdom to suck on your master's milk."

Xia Jiujiang's reaction left Ming Ze somewhat perplexed. Because of the secret dispatch, Ming Ze had believed Xia Jiujiang was indeed a Southern Kingdom spy, but looking at her reaction now, it seemed he and Ming Ningzi might have been completely off the mark.

This began to trouble Ming Ze. If Xia Jiujiang wasn't... then who was the spy mentioned in the secret dispatch in Ming Ningzi's possession, and why would the Holy Maiden hand it to Ming Ningzi in the first place?

Suddenly, Ming Ningzi's expression shifted drastically as she looked past Xia Jiujiang's shoulder. Staring in shock, she stammered, "Pr—Prince..."

Rolling her eyes, Xia Jiujiang retorted, "Respect what? What are you trying to offer me a toast?"

Gritting her teeth, Ming Ningzi spat out, "Prince Jin."

Frowning, Xia Jiujiang said, "Not only are you two blocking my way and refusing to let me leave, but now you're bringing up Prince Jin? If you're going to stop me, at least come up with a better excuse. Prince Jin is still sound asleep in the Prince Jin Manor right now."

A chilling, gloomy voice drifted from behind her: "I hear I am sound asleep in the Prince Jin Manor."