MY PRINCE HUSBAND HAS SEVEN WIVES AND I AM HIS FAVOURITE!
Chapter 134: You don’t have to lash out at me for your own insecurities.

Chapter 134: You don’t have to lash out at me for your own insecurities.

Silence.

A thick, suffocating silence wrapped around the banquet hall like an invisible force.

Every guest, every noble, every servant—staring.

No one could quite process what they had just heard.

Husband.

Did she just...?

Some hands flew to cover gasping mouths. Others darted wide-eyed glances at each other, hoping someone else would explain this madness.

A prince?

This man?

The one holding Hua Jing so effortlessly, his features sharpened like a masterpiece under the lantern lights?

This devastatingly handsome man?

The Prince Zhao Yan?

It couldn’t be.

Could it?

Someone gulped loudly.

The rumors—

Hadn’t the prince been described as hideous? A man whose face was supposedly mangled beyond recognition?

Yet here he was, standing tall and untouched by flaw, the light catching the smooth planes of his face, his piercing eyes sharp enough to cut through steel.

His jaw was carved to perfection. His lips, though pressed in a flat line, were firm and full.

His entire presence was commanding, deadly, yet undeniably alluring.

Some of the noble ladies, who had spent years pitying the seventh consort for her unfortunate fate, were now clutching their chests, their hearts pounding for an entirely different reason.

Even some of the men—those who had spent their time mocking the so-called "disfigured" prince—stood stunned.

This was the man they had all pitied Hua Jing for marrying?

This was the beast?

Someone, somewhere, choked on their tea.

Yet, amidst the spiraling disbelief, one voice cut through the haze.

"That’s absurd."

The nobleman who had started this commotion snapped.

His face was red, his jealousy evident in the way his eyes burned with disbelief and rage.

He pointed a trembling finger at Hua Jing.

"Who is going to believe this ridiculous act?" he spat. "There is no way this man is the prince!"

His words were meant to be firm. Certain.

But even he wasn’t certain anymore.

Not with the way the other nobles were eyeing Zhao Yan with growing hesitation.

Not with the way the prince himself had yet to deny it.

The tension grew thick enough to suffocate.

And then—

A soft, mocking laugh.

Hua Ling.

Her voice, though still sweet as honey, carried a sharp bite as she gracefully stepped forward.

"Sister," she sighed, shaking her head, her expression one of pure pity.

"Even though you’ve been caught in broad daylight with another man, is there really a need to lie to everyone that he is the prince?"

She looked around at the gathered guests, her eyes brimming with pretend innocence.

"I understand," she continued, her voice filled with sorrowful regret, "this must be so difficult for you. But weaving such a ridiculous tale won’t change reality."

She turned to the nobleman, giving him a sympathetic nod.

"My poor sister has always had... a rather wild imagination," she murmured. "I do hope you all won’t hold it against her."

Gasps of agreement rippled through the crowd.

Some shook their heads, muttering about how shameless Hua Jing was being.

Even Chen Li, standing nearby, was holding back a satisfied smirk.

The tension was shifting.

And just as Hua Ling thought she had won—

Hua Jing moved.

She shifted in Zhao Yan’s arms, her movements slow and deliberate.

Then—

She sighed, her fingers tracing Zhao Yan’s collar ever so delicately before resting her head against his shoulder.

The motion was soft.

Intimate.

The collective gasp that followed could have sucked all the air from the banquet hall.

Then—

Hua Jing turned her attention to Hua Ling, her eyes filled with mock sympathy.

"Sister," she whispered sweetly.

"There’s no need to lash out at me for your own insecurities."

Hua Ling froze.

"What?"

Hua Jing sighed dramatically, adjusting herself comfortably in Zhao Yan’s arms.

"Just because I have him and you don’t doesn’t mean you need to embarrass yourself like this."

Boom.

Hua Ling’s entire face crumbled.

A stunned silence fell over the crowd once more, eyes darting between the sisters, trying to process the absolute lethality of Hua Jing’s words.

Even Zhao Yan, who had been quietly watching, felt his lips twitch.

Hua Jing, nestled so perfectly in Zhao Yan’s arms, tilted her head slightly, her lips curling in amusement.

That teasing, knowing smirk.

"Ah," she sighed dramatically. "The jealousy in your eyes is truly something to behold."

Hua Jing sighed again, her fingers delicately tracing Zhao Yan’s chest, her head resting just so against his shoulder.

"Don’t be too heartbroken," she cooed. "I understand. A man like him..." she glanced up at Zhao Yan, studying his face with a dreamy expression, "...is enough to make anyone feel inferior."

Hua Jing turned gracefully, her movements slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment.

Her eyes, filled with an undeniable mockery, landed directly on Hua Ling and Jiang Lei.

The two of them, standing together like a picture-perfect couple—

If the picture was painted by a blind artist.

Hua Ling’s face was twisted in barely contained fury.

Jiang Lei, on the other hand, looked tense, his fingers twitching at his sides, as if itching to drag Hua Jing away and demand an explanation.

Hua Jing merely tilted her head, her expression one of pure, detached amusement.

Then, she sighed dramatically.

"Look at the two of them," she mused, eyes flickering lazily between them.

"Between the two of us..."

Her lips curved, slow and deadly.

"I think I actually upgraded."

Boom.

Jiang Lei’s entire body stiffened.

Gasps rippled through the crowd, a wave of whispered disbelief sweeping the guests like wildfire.

Hua Ling’s hands clenched into trembling fists, her nails digging into her palms so deeply that her knuckles turned white.

Hua Jing wasn’t finished.

She turned her sharp, calculating gaze onto the nobleman who had started this mess.

The one who had dared to accuse her of looking at Jiang Lei with love-filled eyes.

She let her gaze linger, slow and taunting, before her lips curved into a smirk.

"There’s no need," she said, her tone gentle, almost pitying.

"No need for me to be looking at another woman’s husband with those eyes."

The nobleman swallowed, suddenly feeling as if he had made a terrible mistake.

Hua Jing took a step closer.

Her mocking gaze flickered over to Jiang Lei.

And then, ever so effortlessly, she gestured toward Zhao Yan.

"Because look at my husband..."

Her eyes shone with mischief as she let her words hang in the air for just a second too long.

Then she turned her gaze back to Jiang Lei, slowly, as if actually comparing them.

"And then look at him."

She exhaled softly.

Her next words landed like a dagger.

"Can you even compare?"