Chapter 227

Chapter 227: Thank Her for Me

A palace maid cried, “Commandery Princess!”

The palace maid pleaded, “Commandery Princess, please don’t do this. That’s an Imperial Edict…”

The palace maid dropped to her knees to stop Ming Jia.

Ming Jia kicked the palace maid hard again and again. The palace maid still refused to let go, blocking Ming Jia until Ming Jia had vented enough.

Ming Jia finally slumped into a chair, powerless, and cried.

Ming Jia muttered through gritted teeth, “What Imperial Edict…?”

Ming Jia’s eyes were full of hatred.

Ming Jia should have known.

Sheng Yuan Jun had flattered Ming Jia and sucked up to Ming Jia so eagerly. He had to have an agenda.

But Ming Jia never expected Sheng Yuan Jun to be that shameless.

He claimed he heard Shang Xing Yu offended Ming Jia, and that he wanted to teach Shang Xing Yu a lesson for her sake.

He claimed he wanted to ruin Shang Xing Yu’s name.

From start to finish, it was all Sheng Yuan Jun’s scheme.

And Ming Jia had been stupid enough to fall right into it, only to be humiliated like this.

Now what could Ming Jia do?

Outsiders might not know what happened today, but His Majesty knew. Ming Jia could forget about becoming the Third Prince’s consort.

Other than death, Ming Jia could only marry the Crown Prince.

But why should Ming Jia die?

Sheng Zhi Wan was not dead, and Shang Xing Yu was not dead either.

If it were not for them, Ming Jia would not have been trapped by Sheng Yuan Jun’s plot.

So Ming Jia had to live.

Only by living could Ming Jia make all the people she despised and hated suffer worse than she did.

*”Young Master Shang, what a fine scheme!”

Another scoffed, “Last time Princess Qing Ning said Young Master Shang’s ‘love’ for his Younger Brother was fake, I didn’t believe it. Now-ha!”

Someone else cursed, “Enough! Enough! We were all blind!”

One man snapped, “From now on, I’m afraid I, Yu, can’t afford a friend like Young Master Shang.”

Another added, “And I, Sun, feel the same.”

A third sneered, “I, Feng, have learned my lesson.”

Wang Huai Zhi walked at the very end, voice the most complicated of all. Wang Huai Zhi said, “Brother Shang…”

Wang Huai Zhi never imagined that the friend Wang Huai Zhi treated as a true confidant would use him.

That day, Wang Huai Zhi had been upstairs with friends from the Imperial Academy, discussing poems and lines of verse, when Shang Xiu Yuan seemed distracted the whole time.

Wang Huai Zhi worried Shang Xiu Yuan felt unwell. After asking several times, Shang Xiu Yuan finally admitted that Shang Xiu Yuan had stumbled onto a secret by accident, and that secret might destroy the Shang Residence…

The moment Wang Huai Zhi heard it involved the Shang Residence, Wang Huai Zhi paused.

In the past, Wang Huai Zhi would have pressed for details, but after helping with porridge in the poor district, Wang Huai Zhi learned things books could not teach.

Even between close friends, there had to be boundaries and restraint.

So Wang Huai Zhi decided not to ask.

But even when Wang Huai Zhi did not ask, Shang Xiu Yuan hesitated for a moment and then told him anyway.

Shang Xiu Yuan claimed that Shang Xing Yu, as the Prince Consort, stole Shang Xiu Yuan’s invitation to the inner courtyard. Shang Xing Yu planned to spend the Flower Festival Literary Gathering carousing with prostitutes, looking for thrills.

Shang Xing Yu was arrogant, wasteful, and shamelessly lustful.

It really did sound like something Shang Xing Yu could do.

But someone like that-and His Majesty still allowed Shang Xing Yu to marry the Princess. If Wang Huai Zhi’s mother had not stopped him back then, Wang Huai Zhi…

In any case, Wang Huai Zhi was furious at the time.

Wang Huai Zhi felt the Princess should know what kind of man Shang Xing Yu was ahead of time, so Wang Huai Zhi urged Shang Xiu Yuan again and again.

In the end, under Wang Huai Zhi’s persuasion, Shang Xiu Yuan “chose righteousness over family.” Shang Xiu Yuan even brought them along into the inner courtyard.

And then…

Wang Huai Zhi’s face filled with bitter self-mockery.

Shang Xiu Yuan tried to explain, but Shang Xiu Yuan’s lips moved and no words came out.

Shang Xiu Yuan had thought that after tonight, Shang Xing Yu’s reputation would stink even worse, and no one would listen to a single defense.

But Shang Xiu Yuan never imagined the person in the room was not Shang Xing Yu.

It was the Crown Prince.

Once Shang Xiu Yuan realized that, Shang Xiu Yuan did not even care to explain to Wang Huai Zhi anymore.

Shang Xiu Yuan had dragged people to “catch” the Crown Prince. Would the Crown Prince hate Shang Xiu Yuan for it?

Thinking of that, Shang Xiu Yuan panicked completely.

When Wang Huai Zhi saw Shang Xiu Yuan stay silent, Wang Huai Zhi felt even more disappointed and turned to leave.

Only Shang Xiu Yuan remained standing there alone.

The deep winter wind blew over, and Shang Xiu Yuan shuddered hard.

Then a mocking voice came from behind him. Shang Xing Yu said, “Tsk. Elder Brother still hadn’t left. Were you waiting for me? Who would have thought Elder Brother really kept thinking of me in everything?”

With meaning hidden in every word, Shang Xing Yu walked up to Shang Xiu Yuan at an unhurried pace.

When Shang Xiu Yuan saw him, the bitterness and hatred in Shang Xiu Yuan’s chest finally burst. Shang Xiu Yuan clenched his fist and swung at Shang Xing Yu’s face.

But another hand caught that full-strength punch with ease.

Shang Xiu Yuan’s eyes went wide.

It was so dark that Shang Xiu Yuan could not see Shang Xing Yu’s expression clearly, but the tightening grip made Shang Xiu Yuan’s face change.

Shang Xiu Yuan’s arm felt trapped in iron pincers. Shang Xiu Yuan could not pull back, and Shang Xiu Yuan could not push forward.

Since when did Shang Xing Yu have this kind of ability?

Shang Xiu Yuan’s expression twisted again and again.

It seemed to have started when Princess Qing Ning was kidnapped. That idiot Shang Xiu Yuan always looked down on had suddenly changed.

First, Shang Xing Yu rescued the Princess from a group of mountain bandits who had drunk fake liquor.

Then, at the Drill Ground, Shang Xing Yu used petty tricks and still won His Majesty’s praise.

And now, Shang Xing Yu became the Prince Consort and dodged the Crown Prince’s scheme.

A sharp, drilling pain suddenly shot up from Shang Xiu Yuan’s arm where it was being held.

Shang Xiu Yuan trembled all over, not sure if it was fear or shock.

At that moment, Shang Xing Yu abruptly let go.

Shang Xiu Yuan stumbled and fell to the ground.

Shang Xing Yu bent down, smiling as he spoke in a way that made the spine go cold. Shang Xing Yu said, “Did Elder Brother stand there too long? You couldn’t even walk anymore. Fine, I’ll help Elder Brother up.”

Terrified, Shang Xiu Yuan let Shang Xing Yu pull him up and lead him forward.

They kept walking until they reached the gate of the Shang Residence.

Only then did Shang Xing Yu seem to remember something. Shang Xing Yu said, “Oh? I almost forgot. Elder Brother didn’t live here anymore. Still, it’s only this bit of road. Elder Brother should be able to walk back on your own.”

Shang Xing Yu added, “Oh right. When Elder Brother went back, remember to thank Madam Shang for that pot of Red Coral for me. I liked it very much, and the Princess would surely like it too.”

After saying that, Shang Xing Yu bared his teeth in a grin and turned to go inside.

The tall gates that once belonged to Shang Xiu Yuan slammed shut in front of him.

Shang Xiu Yuan clutched his chest, could not take the blow anymore, and spat a mouthful of blood.