Chapter 143
Chapter 143: Rest Assured, No One Will Laugh at the Princess
At once, a delicate face, streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain, came into view. The young woman’s eyes were red, like a startled rabbit’s. Though she could not be called a peerless beauty, there was something in her that drew sympathy.
She was a completely different type from herself—yet was this also the sort Lu Huai Jin favored?
“Answer a few questions for this princess.” Mo Zhao Zhao’s gaze was ice, her voice stripped of emotion. Xu Meng Ying nodded through her tears.
“First, how long have you and Lu Huai Jin been committing adultery? Second, who seduced whom first? Third—”
A heavy thud interrupted her words. She turned to see Lu Huai Jin clutching his chest, pain written across his face, clearly kicked over by the head guard.
Sensing her eyes, he looked up immediately, clutching at her skirt, his expression filled with desperate pleading. His voice shook: “Zhao Zhao, believe me, you are the one I love most. I have never thought of letting any other woman take your place in my heart. Please, trust me…”
“Heh!” Mo Zhao Zhao’s lips curled in a cold smile as her eyes narrowed. “Lu Huai Jin, you once said you loved only me. Now it’s become the one you love most—is there a whole list? How many do you love?”
“And you promised this princess that, in this life, you would never look at another woman. Yet now? What is this?”
“Before, I was a fool. From now on, I won’t believe a single word of your nonsense.”
With that, she stepped forward, raining slaps down on him. Lu Huai Jin, knowing he was in the wrong, did not dodge, letting her vent her anger—so long as she did not cripple him, she could do as she pleased.
But Mo Zhao Zhao was not built for beating people. After a few slaps her palm ached and her arm turned sore and numb. Irritated, she blew on her reddened hand and pointed to two guards.
“You two, give him a proper beating. Don’t kill him—leave him one breath.”
Her engagement had yet to be dissolved; for now, this shameless man could not die.
The two guards stepped out and went to work. Their blows were nothing like hers—within moments, Lu Huai Jin’s face was twisted with pain, muffled groans escaping his lips.
Mo Zhao Zhao’s mood improved a little. As she turned, the guards quickly moved a chair for her. Sitting down, she looked down from above at the trembling Xu Meng Ying, who was clearly terrified.
“Where is the imperial physician? Bring him in.”
At her command, the guards brought in a grey-bearded old man, panting under the weight of his medicine chest.
“Go, take her pulse.” Mo Zhao Zhao spoke imperiously. The physician obeyed, walking toward the young woman on the ground.
Xu Meng Ying instinctively covered her belly, her face turning ashen, silently repeating to herself: Don’t be afraid, my lord said nothing would happen to me…
The physician grasped her wrist and took her pulse. In moments, his voice rang out: “Your Highness, this young lady is carrying a joy pulse—twenty days along…”
Boom.
The words struck like thunder. Lu Huai Jin, dazed from the beating, instantly widened his eyes in disbelief at Xu Meng Ying, not even noticing the continued rain of blows.
What? Ying’er was… with child?
How could this be?
Rage and panic surged; his vision went black. The next instant, he collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.
The guards froze mid-strike, then stepped back. They looked at the fallen man, then at Mo Zhao Zhao. “Your Highness, the young marquis has fainted.”
Mo Zhao Zhao lifted her eyelids, glanced over, and said with a mocking smile, “So, learning his little lover carries his bastard child was too exciting for him?”
She narrowed her eyes and clapped twice.
Two bowls of medicine were brought. The unconscious Lu Huai Jin was forced to drink one—a brew with a gelding effect. From now on, he would never again be a complete man.
Xu Meng Ying was shown no mercy either. She was roughly forced to drink an abortifacient. Scarlet blood pooled on the floor as she clutched her belly, writhing in agony.
Mo Zhao Zhao rose from her chair, her gaze dark as she looked down at the woman.
“Your life, I’ll spare. But remember—stay away from me. If you dare provoke me again, I won’t mind granting you a few acres of land so you can be reunited with all nine generations of your kin.”
Her entourage departed as fiercely as they had come.
On the roof, Yun Wan Ye—disguised—had watched the entire scene. After seeing Mo Zhao Zhao board her sedan, he dropped soundlessly into the courtyard and slipped into the room.
The stench of blood was heavy inside. Xu Meng Ying had fainted, lying beside the unconscious Lu Huai Jin.
Frowning, Yun Wan Ye took a pill from his robe, pried open Xu Meng Ying’s mouth, and pushed it inside. Then he turned to Lu Huai Jin.
The princess might have ordered him to be fed that medicine, but what if it didn’t work? No—he would make certain.
He pulled another bottle from his robe, uncorked it, and poured all the pills into Lu Huai Jin’s mouth, using inner power to force him to swallow.
Night fell over the princess’s manor.
Mo Zhao Zhao was drunk, her cheeks flushed as if painted with rouge. She held her wine cup, tears streaming down her face, flinging away all royal decorum as she cursed Lu Huai Jin.
“Lu Huai Jin, you… you’re not human. When A’Yao spoke ill of you, I defended you. But you… you secretly consorted with another woman. Do you think you can face me?”
“I made you a young marquis. I can tear it from you. Just wait, I… I won’t let you off…”
“A’Yao told me long ago you were no good, but I didn’t believe her. Now… now that you’ve done this, what if A’Yao laughs at me?”
“So humiliating… I… I have no face to see A’Yao again…”
Her words turned to sobs; she wept so hard she could hardly breathe. Her hand trembled and the cup slipped, shattering on the floor.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before her, bending to pick up the shards.
“Rest assured, no one will laugh at the princess.”