Chapter 20
Chapter 20: The Prince Beats Someone Up
The young man in scarlet ceremonial robes fell onto the ground on his backside.
The coachman, a servant following behind, and his sister Zheng Jia’er all rushed over.
Zheng Jia’er shouted angrily at the carriage curtain: “How bold! Do you know who we are? How dare you hurt someone? Hurry and get out of the carriage and accept your punishment!”
Prince Yong sat upright inside, not even lifting his eyes.
His coachman held the reins and did not move either. He did not even step over to block them.
Zheng Jia’er grew even angrier.
Just now she had caught a glimpse of Luo Ning’s face.
Young and pretty, but the hair ornaments on her head were simple, and the carriage was shabby.
Zheng Jia’er was Madam Zheng’s legitimate daughter. Her own older sister was the current Empress. She knew all the noble young ladies in the Capital City, but she had never seen Luo Ning before.
So she decided Luo Ning must be insignificant.
Zheng Jia’er shouted angrily: “Men, seize the people inside the carriage!”
A Zheng family servant stepped up. He meant to push the coachman aside and lift the curtain, but the coachman still did not move and let him flip the curtain up in one go.
Before he could see the figure inside, a hidden weapon shot out.
The Zheng family servant fell with a thud. A big swelling appeared on his forehead, visible to the naked eye. He had actually been knocked out by that small hidden weapon.
At such close range, if it were not something heavy, there was no way it could have caused that kind of injury.
Unless the person inside the carriage was highly skilled in martial arts.
Zheng Jia’er panicked: “How dare you! This is right under the Imperial City. Do you not fear the law? Come out!”
She cursed again: “Once this young lady finds out who you are, I will level your estate and dig up all your ancestral graves!”
Young Master Zheng, Zheng Xiao, who had been kicked to the ground, felt dizzy for a moment. As the sharp pain slowly faded, shame and anger rose, and he staggered over again, wanting to climb into the carriage and hit someone.
Blood from his nose covered his face, and he pressed his left hand over his mouth and nose.
“Let me see who has such doglike guts… hiss…” Zheng Xiao hissed. The pain made his words slur and come out indistinct.
He had never suffered such humiliation in his life.
Other than having to be patient with the Imperial Princes, he had never lost face before anyone. Even the heirs of the commandery princes had to give him respect.
He stepped forward again, grabbed the edge of the carriage with one hand, and tried hard to climb up.
This time, someone grabbed his wrist.
With a crack, his arm broke. The movement was crisp and neat. Someone flung him back down. He was as light and helpless as a rag.
Zheng Xiao felt like fainting from the pain again, but he did not truly pass out. Instead, he let out a heartbreaking scream.
The commotion finally alarmed the bodyguards at Golden Water Bridge and the carriages that were blocked in front.
“Who is it…”
The bodyguard recognized Zheng Xiao and his sister Zheng Jia’er and quietly drew in a breath. Just as he was about to speak, the curtain of the plain carriage lifted.
On this New Year’s Day court audience, the sunlight was especially bright. The blue sky was clear as if washed, and golden rays fell on the dragon embroidered on the nine-tasseled crown and court robes of the Prince of the Blood.
When the dragon met the golden light, it seemed to come alive.
The man stood on the edge of the carriage. He was already tall, and now he seemed like a deity looking down on all beings.
His extremely handsome brows and eyes now carried even more majesty and killing intent.
The bodyguard and the scions of meritorious families watching from the carriages in front and behind all sobered up at once. The moment the Prince of the Blood showed himself, they immediately bowed and saluted: “Your Highness.”
Zheng Xiao’s screams seemed to get stuck in his throat.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead from the pain, but he only stared blankly at Xiao Huai Feng.
Xiao Huai Feng looked back at him.
He did not speak. He turned and jumped down from the carriage without waiting for the coachman to bring a step stool.
Everyone lowered their heads at once.
Zheng Jia’er stared at him in a daze and lost control, calling out: “Your Highness.”
Xiao Huai Feng did not look at her.
He only said: “This road is not wide, and it is already crowded. Do not drive such a large carriage out.”
Several people in front and behind bowed and did not dare straighten up. They replied softly.
Xiao Huai Feng turned and said to Luo Ning, who was sitting in the carriage: “Get down. It is only a few steps to walk over.”
Luo Ning: “…”
She really wanted to hide.
That was the younger sister of Empress Zheng, and all around them were the sons of great clans and noble families.
Prince Yong could hit whoever he wanted, but if Luo Ning showed her face, she would probably be criticized.
But she did not dare disobey Prince Yong. She was afraid that if she acted delicate even a little, he would really throw her out here and walk to Shoucheng Palace by himself.
If that happened, Luo Ning would truly lose all face.
She stood up at once and lifted the carriage curtain.
The people bowing did not dare look up at her. Only Zheng Jia’er stared at Luo Ning with eyes like torches.
Xiao Huai Feng reached out his hands.
Luo Ning thought he was going to help her down, but instead he put both hands around her waist and lifted her straight down from the carriage.
Luo Ning was stunned.
For that moment while she was in the air, she felt like her soul flew half an inch out of her body.
After he set her down, he strode forward, and Luo Ning hurried to follow.
His steps were long, and Luo Ning almost had to run. In a short while, the two of them crossed Golden Water Bridge and entered through the northwest gate.
When the bodyguards saw that it was Prince Yong, they did not dare block him and respectfully let him pass.
Because of this incident, when Luo Ning and Prince Yong hurried to Shoucheng Palace, the first group of people had already gone in to offer New Year greetings.
They were several Grand Princesses and Princesses, the current Emperor’s aunts and sisters.
Luo Ning stepped forward to salute first: “This humble woman greets Your Majesty, Empress Dowager.”
The Empress Dowager and the Princesses were all a bit surprised to see her come in together with Prince Yong.
Luo Ning said: “We met by chance on the way.”
The Empress Dowager told her to rise.
She first gave her an embroidered pouch, then took her hand, granted her a seat, and let her sit by her side.
The Empress Dowager looked at Luo Ning kindly: “This is Madam Luo, A’Ning. Back then, that blade came straight at my heart. This child is a little taller than I am and blocked it, so it did not hit my heart and lungs. But she was too slender, so the blade went right through her.”
The Grand Princesses and Princesses quickly chimed in.
Some sighed that the Empress Dowager was deeply blessed. Others praised Luo Ning’s loyal courage.
Prince Yong was left to the side.
Taking advantage of a break, he offered his New Year greetings to the Empress Dowager, then went on to the main hall in front.
The Empress Dowager only said: “You arrived too late again. The Censorate will impeach you for disrespect. Go quickly.”
Prince Yong left.
Luo Ning sat by the Empress Dowager’s side.
Grand Princess Jia Hong was also there. She had married into the powerful Pei family, lived very harmoniously with her husband, and they had only one son, Pei Ying.
Pei Ying had none of the dandy habits or arrogance of sons from great houses. He loved reading and playing the flute, was good with both pen and sword, and was gentle and polite.
Back then, he had taken a liking to Luo Ning. Grand Princess Jia Hong had not made things hard for Luo Ning and had even praised her when they met.
Seeing her again now, Luo Ning felt close to her and smiled at her.
Grand Princess Jia Hong smiled and asked: “Miss Luo, have we met before?”
Luo Ning replied: “This humble woman went south to recover from illness. I stayed in Shaoyang.”
Grand Princess Jia Hong laughed: “My husband’s family home is in Shaoyang.”
Luo Ning said: “Yes, I heard people say so. There is also your husband’s ancestral hall there, and everyone praises him.”
After hearing this, Grand Princess Jia Hong wanted to ask something but held back.
Her hesitation was obvious even to the Empress Dowager.
Another Princess cut in to change the topic.
After the Princesses sat and chatted for a while, they rose to take their leave. The Empress Dowager did not call in the next group of married noblewomen, but chatted alone with Luo Ning instead.
She asked what had happened and how she ended up entering the palace together with Prince Yong.
Luo Ning said: “On the way, my mother’s carriage and mine got separated. There were too many people and carriages. I was afraid I would not make it in time, so I turned toward Prince Yong’s residence, hoping to borrow the Prince’s name and take a shortcut…”
Then she told the Empress Dowager what had happened by Golden Water Bridge.
After hearing it, the Empress Dowager did not get angry. She smiled faintly and said: “The Zheng family’s children have the right to act arrogant. In the whole court, besides Madam Cui, Madam Zheng is the most respected.”
She added: “Luckily you were not alone, or you would have had to swallow the insult. Were you frightened?”
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