After refusing marriage, she was pampered by the prince who acted as a shield.

Chapter 187: Spilling Wild Words

"What you just said was disrespectful." The Duchess of Qi's face darkened, and she frowned as she swept her wide sleeves behind her back.

She persisted, though a hint of fear was showing on her face.

The powerful aura of the Duchess of Qi only intimidated her expression, but her mouth remained firm.

"That's just the truth. I was just stating what I saw. Why are you so angry?" Bai Xiahui said dismissively, pursing her lips.

The Duchess of Qi's expression darkened further. She said, "Regardless of your status or position, have you considered the consequences of saying such things again?"

Bai Xiahui glanced disdainfully at Lin Rusi, who was standing next to the Duchess of Qi, and then raised her hand to cover her face and laughed.

"How dare you!"

Before Lin Rusi could speak, the Duchess of Qi spoke up for her again.

The air around them seemed to be thick with the anger of the Lady of Qi.

The reprimand echoed in Bai Xiahui's ears. She reached out and gently rubbed her earlobe, knowing that the Duchess of Qi was a formidable character.

But she still didn't take the reprimand from the Duchess of Qi to heart.

Bai Xiahui turned her body to face Lin Rusi.

When Lin Rusi saw her turn around, she frowned warily, a cold glint appearing between her brows.

Why be so tense?

"You keep giving me a way out, do you really think you're someone important?" Lin Rusi coldly uttered these words.

These words were so jarring to Bai Xiahui's ears.

She couldn't control her temper and glared angrily at Lin Rusi.

Bai Xiahui also put on airs, unaware that the person standing in front of her was someone she absolutely could not afford to offend: "I am a young lady from a prestigious family, what right do you have to talk nonsense in this line?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Rusi lowered her eyes but did not speak.

Seeing that she had fallen silent, Bai Xiahui immediately became arrogant again, her annoyance reaching its peak.

"What are you trying to do by staring at me so rudely?"

After saying that, Bai Xiahui reached out and slapped Lin Rusi across the face.

But before the slap could land on Lin Rusi's face, it was intercepted by a hand, and then a clear and loud sound rang out.

Bai Xiahui covered her face in excruciating pain, her slender wrists also aching from the grip of the Duchess of Qi's hand, and tears welled up in her aggrieved eyes.

"I've said it before, don't push your luck any further."

Bai Xiahui grimaced and pulled her hand back, her eyes filled with even more ferocity. She glared fiercely at the people in front of her and said sharply, "I'm injured, and I'll make sure you all pay with your lives!"

Lin Rusi snorted coldly, a hint of amusement in her eyes, as if watching a clown, quietly standing aside and watching the "young lady" throw a tantrum.

"Why are you arguing?"

Several elegant young women nearby swayed and moved forward with small, quick steps.

"do not know."

They covered their faces with their wide sleeves and whispered among themselves, each with a puzzled expression.

Some people, unaware of Lin Rusi's status, watched as a spectacle and began to mock her, saying, "The eldest daughter of the Bai family is notoriously difficult to deal with; it seems she's gotten herself into big trouble."

Just as they said, Bai Huixia was indeed not someone to be trifled with; relying on her father's power, she was arrogant and domineering.

She is a truly spoiled "young lady".

But the one who is about to suffer misfortune is not Lin Rusi, but the clueless Bai Xiahui.

"If you apologize to me, this matter will be over."

Lin Rusi looked at the ungrateful young lady in front of her and couldn't hide her disdain.

She kept quiet, unwilling to make a fuss, and endured it time and time again.

In retrospect, everything she had endured and every opportunity she had given was nothing but a waste of breath. Bai Xiahui refused to back down or accept her kindness.

Since that's the case, Lin Rusi saw no need to remain silent any longer. She lowered her voice and said seriously, "You have repeatedly and so unreasonably discussed the rights and wrongs of the royal family. What should your punishment be?"

"I..." Bai Xiahui stammered timidly.

Lin Rusi's expression turned cold, and she immediately stepped forward.

"Since you're not going to let this go so easily, then I'll play along to the end." She said, raising her eyes with a clearly mocking smile.

Only now did Bai Xia realize that the people standing in front of her were not ordinary scum.

The Duchess of Qi lowered her hand and then raised it again. She rubbed her temples, her gaze somewhat fierce.

"I didn't want to make a big fuss, cause a lot of gossip, damage the image of the royal family, or violate etiquette." Lin Rusi looked around and saw that there were quite a few people watching.

They continued to whisper among themselves.

With a sense of schadenfreude, I watched this contest with great interest.

Bai Xiahui felt a chill run down her spine, and she braced herself.

Faced with Lin Rusi's powerful aura, her legs went weak, and she had no choice but to take a few steps back and lean against the pillar behind her, barely maintaining her previous arrogance.

"Royal family..." Bai Xiahui murmured softly.

She paused, looked up, and her eyes met Lin Rusi's.

Then she burst into laughter, feigning disbelief, and said in a self-deceptive manner, "If you are royalty, then I am..."

"shut up."

Lady Qi, unable to tolerate this capricious and mean-spirited young lady any longer, intervened, which saved her life. If Bai Xiahui had uttered such treasonous words in front of everyone to elevate her own status, the situation would have been irreversible.

Lady Qi's original intention in hosting this banquet was not like that. A quarrelsome ending would only bring bad news. At this moment, she just wanted to hold the banquet peacefully.

"Miss Bai? The eldest daughter of the Bai family?" Lin Rusi repeated the title twice, then smiled and said, "I've never heard of her."

"Our Bai family is so powerful and wealthy, and you are simply...you are simply...you are simply too disrespectful to us." Bai Xiahui was furious when she heard her summarize her proud family's affairs with such flippant words.

Just as the situation was becoming tense again, with the flames of the fireworks starting to leap around erratically, a faint voice drifted out.

"Miss Bai has quite the nerve, daring to yell at Princess Jinglie like that. I think her life is in danger."

"Wh...what?!"

Bai Xiahui thought she had misheard. She stared in disbelief as she looked Lin Rusi up and down again.

Looking at the person in front of her with delicate features, clear eyes, and graceful figure, she suddenly understood something and showed a look of great surprise.

"It's actually the dignified Prince Jinglie..." Bai Xiahui muttered to herself, and she immediately panicked.

Her sleeves were stained with dust from the pillar, and the dust was all splashed onto her face as she swung her hands violently.