Chapter 89 Yosef Confronts Her About Her Background?
Cressida's eyes were calm, without a ripple.
"Why would Prince Yosef suddenly take an interest in a midwife?" As she spoke, she smiled first. "I've never even seen the midwife. Even if I met her son, so what?"
Yosef's narrow eyes half-closed, like a snake eyeing its prey, a dark glint flickering in the depths of his pupils.
Seeing her smile, he chuckled along: "Ms. Hamilton, you're quite interesting, so I don't want to beat around the bush with you."
"Before coming here, he told me an interesting story about when you were born. I heard that when you were born," Yosef leaned closer, lowering his voice slightly, "your twin brother, born from the same mother, had already died."
Cressida raised an eyebrow for a moment: "Does Prince Yosef believe such nonsense?"
Yosef looked at her: "I didn't want to believe it, but he spoke with absolute certainty and even swore on his life. So I brought him to see you. Whether it's true or not, you can ask him yourself."
"However, whether you want him to discuss the interesting story of your birth in front of your aunt and my mother, or we talk privately, it's your choice."
He held out his folding fan: "This is a token. Take it, and after the boat race, come find me at the palace."
Cressida lowered her eyes for a moment, then looked away.
"Prince Yosef, I don't think that's necessary."
The smile on Yosef's face gradually faded as he was rejected.
Cressida's tone was light: "After Cameron died, my father and mother were overcome with grief. I heard that many con artists tried to use this matter to scam our estate."
"Prince Yosef," her red lips parted, "please don't be deceived. If word of this gets out, people will laugh at Prince Yosef for believing rumors."
Yosef's eyes were completely shrouded in gloom: "Cressida."
At that moment, Jessica ran over: "Cressida!"
She had happy news to share, but when she came over and saw Yosef standing there, her expression immediately changed.
"This humble girl greets Prince Yosef."
Yosef ignored her, his cold gaze fixed on Cressida with undercurrents surging, his lips curved in an ambiguous smile.
"Fine, you certainly have courage. I hope you can remain this firm later." Yosef turned and left.
Jessica watched his departing figure and couldn't help but tremble.
"Cressida, is Prince Yosef angry? His eyes just now were so scary."
"It's fine," Cressida grasped Jessica's wrist, only then realizing her own palm was also covered in sweat. "The sun is too strong here, let's go stand over there."
Jessica didn't notice her unusual state, instead saying happily: "Cressida, let me tell you something fun. Peter just told me he's also going to be a rower in the boat race, on Sophie's boat, and he said if he wins..."
Cressida didn't hear the rest of what she said.
Jessica was like a chirping little bird, sharing the brave decision of her beloved Peter by Cressida's side.
But Cressida's mind was already in turmoil. She was rapidly thinking through her situation.
Because she hadn't expected that the first person to notice something wrong with her identity would be Yosef.
This was a ruthless, complete madman. Cressida didn't have a good impression of him.
Especially after he had obtained evidence, he directly laid the truth before her, forcing her to make a choice.
His recklessness showed he was fully confident he could handle her.
Cressida was thinking that Pippa's son Isaac must have told Yosef something that made him so certain he had uncovered Cressida's secret.
After the boat race, if Isaac said something in front of Sophie and Odette, Cressida's own situation would become dire.
The worst outcome would be various forces getting involved, with Cressida caught in the middle, facing a bad end.
Force Cressida to admit to Doyle that she had disguised herself as a man and fought desperately?
No matter how great her achievements, the crime of deceiving the king was unforgivable—at best, her merits and faults would cancel each other out!
Cressida might not be sentenced to death, but it would certainly give Clio an opportunity to use this excuse to drive Cressida out of the family.
Cressida absolutely couldn't let this happen.
Yosef's mind was too vicious. If she worked for him, he would ruin her reputation.
He had set up a death trap for her. Fortunately, though, Cressida wasn't completely unprepared.
At that moment, Peter walked over. He had changed into a rower's clothes, his arms exposed outside the cloth garment showing strong, smooth lines.
Jessica blushed: "What are you doing here? Why aren't you on the boat!"
Peter cupped his hands: "I saw my sister and came to pay my respects. You like managing me so much? Come manage my household."
"Who likes managing you!" Jessica scolded playfully. "I already told you, Cressida is my sister, don't call her that randomly!"
Peter bowed to Cressida: "Greetings, Cressida."
Cressida nodded with a smile. She noticed Peter's cloth garment was red, representing Sophie's red boat.
Today there were five boats, all funded by various royal aristocrats, who also maintained groups of rowers.
Besides Sophie's red boat, the other four were: black, blue, white, and yellow.
Odette's was the yellow boat, Miguel's was the black boat, and the remaining two belonged to two other royal nobles.
If Yosef arranged for Isaac to be a rower, he would definitely be on Odette's yellow boat.
But rowers had such lowly status—why would Yosef be confident he could bring Isaac before Sophie and Odette?
Suddenly, Cressida understood. Only the rowers from the winning boat could board the ship to receive their rewards.
A flash of insight struck Cressida's mind.
"Mr. Nguyen, boat racing is very dangerous. You must be careful. I heard that last year during the boat race, two drummers got into a fight, causing the boat to capsize. A rower got his foot tangled in the ribbons on the boat and nearly drowned."
Peter patted his chest: "Cressida, I've also practiced martial arts since childhood. I'll be fine!"
But Jessica started to worry.
"Then you need to be careful on the boat. Just have fun, don't take it too seriously."
"Look how scared you are," Peter laughed, his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes showing a mouthful of white teeth. "I'm going to win first place for you. Just wait to receive the prize."
Hearing this, Jessica suddenly pulled out one of her hairpins and handed it to him.
"I'm just afraid you'll fall in the water and can't swim, and end up swallowing a belly full of water plants."
"Looking down on me?"
"Take it! If you get tangled in the ribbons, you can use it to cut yourself free." Jessica placed the hairpin directly in his palm.
Peter said it wasn't necessary, but actually happily accepted it.
Just then, it was time for the race. Cressida took Jessica aboard Sophie's boat.
The interior of the boat was so luxuriously constructed that one might mistake it for a palace.
Twelve glazed palace lanterns hung in the three-story-high central atrium, with pearl curtains hanging everywhere, creating a dazzling shimmer.
Many nobles had already boarded, their clothes fragrant and figures elegant, chatting and laughing casually.
Behind the shark-silk gauze curtains hanging from the top third floor, several figures in purple robes with jade belts could be vaguely seen. It seemed several princes had arrived today.
Only Doyle hadn't come. Both Sophie and Odette were there, watching the competition.
Cressida pulled Jessica back: "Let's watch from the second-floor deck."
As soon as she finished speaking, a voice came from upstairs: "Ms. Hamilton, why are you standing there? Come up quickly."
Cressida turned around. Emily was standing on the stairs, beckoning to her.