Silently reciting in her mind, Nanli pondered, "Anger harms the liver and spleen, hastening aging and giving rise to ailnts."
After repeating this several tis, her body and mind relaxed, and the anger dissipated.
Her face regained composure as she respectfully bowed to the Prince Zhuang.
Prince Zhuang sneered coldly, "I have heard that Miss Chu was brought back from the Guan, but I wonder how much she has learned to dare take on disciples."
Unperturbed, Nanli replied, "I did not take him as my disciple, rely offering guidance in my leisure."
Prince Zhuang persisted, "Yet, it was still your teaching. Stop instructing others without adequate skills, lest you embarrass yourself!"
Among the onlookers, Lu Yanyan stepped forward and exclaid, "Prince Zhuang, do not underestimate Miss Chu. She displayed great prowess at the Feng Yue Pavilion that day."
Many of the young lords and ladies present had witnessed the spectacle at the Feng Yue Pavilion and nodded in agreent, praising Chu Nanli’s remarkable abilities.
The more Prince Zhuang listened, the angrier he beca.
He declared, "Then let Miss Chu demonstrate whether it is Xie’s lacking of skill or my own son’s incompetence!"
Nanli extended a finger.
Confusion filled the crowd, but soon they heard the words from Nanli, "To have your destiny predicted by , it will cost one hundred taels."
Prince Zhuang grew furious.
Even at the most renowned Taoist temple, a fortune prediction would only cost ten taels of silver. How audacious was Chu Nanli to demand such an exorbitant price!
"Could it be that Miss Chu lacks the ability and is rely trying to scare people away with a high price?" Prince Zhuang fud.
Nanli remained expressionless. "Originally, I charged fifty taels, but now I’m on site, the price is different."
Lu Yanyan, undeterred, shouted, "Prince Zhuang, it’s just a re one hundred taels. I will pay on your behalf."
She instructed her maid to hand over the money pouch.
Nanli weighed it in her hand, glanced at Prince Zhuang, and said, "Xie Beihan is right. You indeed have only one son."
Having received the paynt, she spoke the truth.
After all, it wouldn’t be fair for Prince Zhuang to raise soone else’s child at his own expense.
The crowd erupted in discussion, their voices growing louder.
Prince Zhuang’s face turned as red as a pig’s liver.
He shouted in embarrassnt, "Nonsense! You, a little girl who has barely weaned, what do you know about fortune-telling?"
"Don’t you believe ?" Nanli raised an eyebrow and pointed at an old man.
"This gentleman has five children, three sons and two daughters. Did I say anything wrong?"
The old man burst into laughter. "Absolutely right!"
This indicated that he had not been deceived. It was truly remarkable.
Prince Zhuang, unable to accept defeat, retorted, "Noble Chen, a prominent scholar of the court, it’s no surprise that you know how many children he has."
The crowd nodded in agreent once again.
Helplessly, Nanli said, "Believe it or not, may I leave now?"
"Miss Chu, please wait." This ti, it was Lady Zhuang who blocked her path. She glanced at the steward behind her and said, "Miss Chu, take another look. How many children does this steward have?"
Nanli observed for a mont and stated directly, "This man has a ager offspring, and with his ugly appearance, he will never have the fortune of having children in his lifeti."
At this mont, both Prince and Lady Zhuang wore expressions of astonishnt.
Nanli knew about Chen’s children, which was not surprising, but she couldn’t possibly have inquired about the steward of the Mansion in advance, could she?
With their pride shattered, they had to salvage the situation.
Ignoring whether her husband agreed or not, Lady Zhuang called her own son over and politely asked, "Miss Chu, can you tell which one is the true bloodline of the Prince?"
"I can," Nanli replied, "but it will cost extra."
Xie Beihan quickly chid in, "Yes, it will cost one thousand taels!"
Nanli couldn’t help but glance at him.
She had intended to ask for an additional one hundred taels, but Xie Beihan was even more audacious than her.
He grinned, thinking she was praising him.
Lady Zhuang turned and had her maid bring the silver notes.
After Nanli counted them and placed them in her pocket, she said, "This young gentleman is indeed the true bloodline of Prince Zhuang."
Lady Zhuang nodded with a smile.
Price Zhuang’s face turned ashen.
At that mont, Ying Ji arrived and overheard Nanli’s words. She hugged her own son and cried out to Prince Zhuang, "My lord, I have been wronged! They must have conspired against , wanting to falsely accuse and my child!"
Upon hearing this, Prince Zhuang’s face turned cold.
Miss, you can say whatever you want, but does your word alone determine the truth about the prince’s lineage?"
Prince Zhuang nodded in agreent, "Indeed, her casual words are naturally unreliable."
Ying Ji secretly rejoiced in her heart and continued, "My lord, I have been devoted to you wholeheartedly, never showing a trace of disloyalty."
At this mont, Xie Beihan crossed his arms and said, "My sixth sister and the princess consort have never t before, so how could they join forces against you? Furthermore, the princess consort is the legitimate wife, and her son securely holds the position of the crown prince. Why would she bother plotting against you?"
"Naturally, the princess consort envies the favor I have gained from the prince. Xie Crown Prince is not a woman, so how could he understand a woman’s thoughts!" Ying Ji retorted.
Chu Nanli stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Ying Ji, "You are cold-blooded, having personally killed your own flesh and blood. What qualifications do you have to speak here?"
Ying Ji’s face turned pale.
How could Chu Nanli know?!
In order to enter the prince’s residence and serve him, she pushed her husband off a cliff and personally strangled her own daughter.
She even buried the bodies herself, a secret known to no one else.
It must be a coincidence, it must be!
"You are slandering , but I have only borne one son for the prince!" Ying Ji held her child and wept, her tears flowing like pear blossoms.
"My lord, she is defaming , you must stand up for ."
Prince Zhuang protected Ying Ji while ordering his n to drive Nanli away.
At this mont, Chu Nanli calculated with his fingers and smiled, saying to Ying Ji, "Wait a mont, Prince Zhuang, soone will arrive soon."
Everyone was puzzled, who was coming?
Just as Zhuang was about to explode in anger, a man with a crutch entered the courtyard. Seeing Ying Ji, he angrily shouted, "So, you wench, you didn’t expect that I survived after you pushed off the cliff!"
Ying Ji’s eyes widened in terror, trembling all over.
The man hobbled his way to Prince Zhuang and continued, "She was already pregnant before entering the prince’s residence. This is my son, Prince Zhuang, she deceived you!"
Then, he tearfully recounted how he was pushed off the cliff, miraculously surviving, and how he learned that Ying Ji had entered the prince’s residence and their daughter had been killed.
Prince Zhuang was completely dumbfounded.
Because the child in Ying Ji’s arms bore a striking resemblance to this man!
Without the need for a blood test, everyone knew whose child it was!
Prince Zhuang never expected to be publicly humiliated like this.
His face turned red, his anger overwhelming him, and he fainted on the spot.
The servants rushed to support him, causing chaos to ensue.
Ying Ji, in a state of panic, without thinking, threw her son into Chu Nanli’s arms and quickly fled to the side.
Chu Nanli swiftly caught the child, and next mont the palace guards had already captured Ying Ji.
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