MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!
Chapter 119: His ego would be hurt

Chapter 119: His ego would be hurt

Of course, none of them questioned whether the story was true. After all, Hua Ling herself had told them about it in the most pitiful and heart-wrenching way possible, her beautiful eyes glistening with unshed tears.

It never even crossed their minds that Hua Ling might have fabricated the entire event, twisting reality to paint herself as the helpless victim and Hua Jing as the cruel, scheming villain.

The women exchanged smug glances, their excitement barely contained.

"Just wait until she arrives," one of them whispered, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. "She won’t be able to escape the shame we have in store for her."

---

While the women continued to chatter amongst themselves, none of them noticed the elegant figure standing just a few steps behind them. Dressed in her finest robes, with an air of grace and authority, Chen Li listened to every word with a pleased smile. Gossiping was beneath someone of her stature, but since the subject was none other than Hua Jing, she found herself in an unusually good mood.

Hua Jing, oh Hua Jing, she thought, none of these people want to see you here, yet you still insist on showing your face. How laughable.

She had ensured that today would be a day Hua Jing would regret for the rest of her life. The pieces were already in motion, and once her plan was fully executed, there would be no escaping it.

As the lively conversations continued around her, another person sat quietly, lost in his own thoughts. Jiang Lei, the groom of the day, found his gaze shifting restlessly around the banquet hall, searching—though for what, he wasn’t entirely sure. Or perhaps he knew but refused to acknowledge it.

He was looking for Hua Jing.

It had been months since she was taken into the palace as the seventh consort, and in all that time, their paths had never crossed again. He had been convinced that she would never return to the Hua Mansion, yet a part of him hoped—no, expected—her to be here today.

Jiang Lei still remembered the day he first heard that she would be marrying the crown prince. He had scoffed at the idea, dismissing it as absurd. Hua Jing? Marrying the prince? She was nothing but an illegitimate daughter, a woman with no proper standing or value. It didn’t make sense that she would be chosen.

That wasn’t what had angered him, though. What truly stung was that she had been taken away before he could make his decision.

Because in his mind, Hua Jing had always belonged to him.

He had never expected her to leave him, not really. Even after he began entertaining Hua Ling’s affections, he had assumed that Hua Jing would always be there, waiting, desperate for his attention. She had loved him once, hadn’t she?

He had even entertained the thought of taking her as his mistress after marrying Hua Ling. He would have power through Hua Ling, and at the same time, he would still have Hua Jing, the woman who had once looked at him like he was her entire world.

Yet, she had left.

She had slipped through his fingers before he could decide what to do with her.

It still didn’t sit well with him.

Now, as he sat at his own wedding banquet, he wondered what it would be like to see her again. Would she still look at him the same way? Would she regret leaving him? Would she envy Hua Ling, knowing that she had taken her place beside him?

She should be envious, he thought to himself.

He had made the better choice. Hua Ling was from a noble background, a legitimate daughter with standing and wealth. It was only natural that he would pick her over Hua Jing.

And yet, despite having the better choice in front of him, his mind was consumed with thoughts of the woman he had lost.

Jiang Lei clenched his fists, swallowing down the strange frustration bubbling inside him. He shouldn’t care. He had already won.

So why did it feel like he hadn’t?

Jiang Lei shifted in his seat, his fingers tightening around the sleeve of his ceremonial robe as the chatter around him blurred into meaningless noise. His bride-to-be, Hua Ling, was still inside, getting ready for her grand entrance. Yet, despite all the grandeur surrounding him—the red lanterns swaying in the breeze, the lively music playing in the background, the lords and ladies gathered in their finest robes—his thoughts remained fixated on the one person who was not yet here.

Hua Jing.

He tried to shake off the lingering sense of unease, but it clung to him like a shadow. Would she come? The thought both thrilled and irritated him. She had to come. After all, she had promised at the emperor’s banquet that she would attend.

If she had even the slightest bit of pride, she would come.

And if she did?

Jiang Lei wasn’t sure what he expected. Did he want to see longing in her eyes? Regret? Was he hoping she would beg for another chance, despite knowing it was far too late?

His lips curled slightly. Yes. That’s what she should do. She should see him, standing beside Hua Ling, basking in the praises of the nobility, and realize that she had lost.

That she had made a mistake by ever letting go of him.

But another voice—one he didn’t want to acknowledge—whispered in his mind. She didn’t let go of you. You betrayed her first.

Jiang Lei scowled, shoving the thought aside.

Just then, one of the noblemen seated nearby chuckled, nudging another with his elbow. "I heard the seventh consort might be coming," he said in a hushed, amused tone. "It would be quite the spectacle if she does."

The other lord laughed in response. "Indeed. The ex-lover attending her sister’s wedding? What a pitiful sight it would be. One can only imagine how bitter she must be."

Jiang Lei clenched his jaw, irritation prickling at his skin. He should have agreed with them. He should have enjoyed the thought of Hua Jing’s humiliation.

But instead, an unexpected feeling gnawed at him.

Annoyance.

Why were they assuming Hua Jing would be pitiful? That she would be bitter? That she had lost?

Had she?

She was the consort of the crown prince. A woman who now had access to power that far surpassed his own. And yet, these men still mocked her as if she were beneath them.

Jiang Lei exhaled sharply, trying to refocus his thoughts. He needed to stop thinking about her. He was getting married today.

Yet, no matter how much he told himself that, his eyes kept drifting toward the entrance, waiting.

Waiting for her to come.

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