Chapter 49: A Flurry of Blows Defeats Even the Master
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If it were any other woman from the inner quarters, seeing a noble of royal descent angry, she would have been terrified, dropping to her knees and begging for forgiveness.
But Yu Zhi Yi just tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, smiling softly. “Naturally, it was you, Prince Xiao Yao, who told me to rise.”
“When did I tell you to stand up?” Prince Xiao Yao demanded coldly.
Yu Zhi Yi smiled. “There are rumors, Your Highness. People say Prince Xiao Yao is approachable, kind to his people. Whether noble, merchant, or commoner, you treat everyone equally and never use your power to oppress others. Instead, you use it to speak for the people, and you’ve done many good deeds that have earned their praise.”
“Since you treat everyone equally, it must mean that, in your eyes, our statuses are the same. I know you don’t truly think I need to bow to you.”
“Of course, whether I should bow or not is up to you. But for me, bowing is simply about courtesy and respect.”
“And if a courtesy isn’t necessary, then naturally, I can rise whenever I wish, can’t I, Your Highness?”
This wordplay left Prince Xiao Yao visibly annoyed. He knew what people thought of him. As a royal prince, crafting a good public image was simple—a few public pardons and a calm smile, and the common folk would praise him endlessly. Winning fame as a noble was, frankly, too easy.
But he hadn’t expected this woman from the inner quarters to use that against him!
Faced with her argument, he couldn’t just say, “It was all an act.” He had to swallow his frustration, grudgingly conceding a small defeat, though it left him irritated.
He had come here to defend You Bing Yue!
This attempt to put someone in their place had backfired, making him feel like he’d been slapped in the face. It felt as though his authority as a prince had been openly mocked.
He squinted, glaring coldly at Yu Zhi Yi.
Ha!
Yue was right. This woman was certainly cunning.
The type he despised most.
He was ready to push her further, his temper rising.
He wanted to see how she’d respond to his next challenge—would her cleverness still save her then?
And more than that, he wanted to see how Du Zi Heng would react. If Du Zi Heng dared to step in, then he wouldn’t hesitate to take Bing Yue away, forbidding them from meeting again!
He had compromised before because Yue loved Du Zi Heng, and, in his eyes, Du Zi Heng was reliable. He had believed Zi Heng could bring Yue happiness.
But if Zi Heng chose to defend this woman… then he could no longer be trusted.
His plan seemed solid, but before he could speak, Yu Zhi Yi beat him to it.
“Your Highness, were you just trying to make things difficult for me?”
Prince Xiao Yao’s hostility was all too obvious; Yu Zhi Yi wasn’t blind.
Fortunately, she had prepared herself the night before. Otherwise, she might have suffered today.
Her question was naïve, almost innocent.
The bluntness of it stunned everyone in Bright Harmony Courtyard. Du Zi Heng frowned. “Zhi Yi, don’t speak nonsense. His Highness isn’t like that.”
To be honest…
He could see that Prince Xiao Yao was indeed here to vent his anger for You Bing Yue.
But seeing it and saying it out loud were two different things.
Prince Xiao Yao had a reputation for kindness. He’d never admit to something that would ruin his good name.
As expected, his face darkened as he snapped, “How dare you speak such nonsense!”
You Bing Yue glared coldly at Yu Zhi Yi. “Not everyone is as malicious as you are.”
Yu Zhi Yi’s clear gaze turned to Prince Xiao Yao. “If Your Highness wasn’t deliberately targeting me, why did you ignore my greeting earlier, even though I said it quite loudly?”
“I didn’t hear it,” Prince Xiao Yao frowned, his patience wearing thin.
This woman was insufferable.
Faced with this kind of difficulty, shouldn’t she have just endured it quietly like anyone else?
Even if he admitted he was purposely making things difficult, what could she do about it?
Yet, for the sake of his good reputation—especially in front of You Bing Yue—he couldn’t admit it.
Everyone knew that Prince Xiao Yao had intentionally made things hard for Yu Zhi Yi, but aside from her, no one would dare point it out—much less admit it.
Yu Zhi Yi, ignoring whether or not he wanted to admit it, continued pressing her advantage. “Why would Your Highness trouble me? This is the first time we’ve met. We have no past grievances or recent quarrels. And with your noble reputation, surely you wouldn’t trouble a stranger without reason.”
“Yet here we are, with you inexplicably making things difficult for me. If we rule out all other possibilities, then the least unreasonable explanation must be the correct one—you did it for Miss You, didn’t you?”
Everyone was bewildered by her relentless reasoning.
Prince Xiao Yao’s face turned red, as though his deepest thoughts had been exposed. He slammed his hand down. “Stop spouting nonsense!”
“Oh? If it’s nonsense, then give me a reason,” Yu Zhi Yi responded, her expression expectant, waiting attentively.
Inwardly, she began to count down.
And when she reached “one,” a calm voice interrupted.
“Is what she said true?”
Everyone turned to see an elderly man in a deep red robe with gold trim striding forward.
Though his hair was snow-white, his posture was straight, exuding a powerful presence, his sharp gaze carrying an almost physical weight.
Prince Xiao Yao’s expression shifted. “Grandfather?”
Du Zi Heng, suppressing the pain in his body, rose to greet the newcomer.
Yu Zhi Yi glanced at the Marquis of Wu’an standing beside the Guardian Duke. The marquis gave her a reassuring nod. She lowered her gaze. “Greetings, Guardian Duke.”
The duke gave her a brief nod. “Rise.”
Yu Zhi Yi stepped aside, ready to watch the scene unfold.
Prince Xiao Yao was twenty-two now—long past the age to marry. The royal family had chosen a suitable bride for him: the youngest granddaughter of the Guardian Duke.
She was also his cousin.
Two years ago, they should have been married. But just a month before the wedding, Prince Xiao Yao had left the capital under the pretense of quelling bandits, abandoning the marriage.
He hadn’t returned until six months ago, when the empress dowager had passed away, and he came back to observe the mourning period.
It was well known that one could not marry during mourning.
Initially, he needed only mourn for a year, but not wanting to marry his cousin, he publicly announced at the funeral that he would observe three years of mourning for the empress dowager.
With that, neither the emperor nor the Guardian Duke could force him to marry, buying him three years of freedom.
Freedom, in this case, meant pursuing You Bing Yue.
Despite being a royal prince, he was chivalrous in his pursuit, never using his title to force You Bing Yue. When he learned she loved Du Zi Heng and was even willing to defy her parents for him, he admired her courage.
When he realized his own feelings, he didn’t try to force her either. Instead, he quietly helped her clear obstacles from her path to love.
Anyone observing would have to say, “What a romantic fool.”
If he hadn’t been here now, causing trouble for Yu Zhi Yi because of You Bing Yue, she might have applauded him.
But now…