Chapter 123: What If I Strike You?

Seeing Zhong Shi standing beside Qiao Qingyun, Jian Li’s expression darkened, and an inexplicable flicker of displeasure passed through his heart.

He always felt that the place beside Qiao Qingyun ought to belong to him.

“It is nothing. I merely came out for a look.”

Qiao Qingyun had long since grown accustomed to Zhong Shi following her and gave him a calm smile. Yet Zhong Shi was still uneasy. Just now, he had vaguely sensed a trace of killing intent. Although it had not been directed at Qiao Qingyun, no one could be certain who its true target was.

Only after looking her over from head to toe did Zhong Shi finally breathe a sigh of relief. He then turned his gaze toward Jian Li.

“Master Jian Li is a renowned qin player, famous throughout the capital. Yet it seems your luck is not particularly good today.”

Zhong Shi was merely speaking the truth. Chen Jiajia was never an easy person to deal with. Whenever she took a fancy to a man, not one had ever managed to escape her grasp.

No matter what methods she used, her father always did his utmost to satisfy her—even though she was already of marriageable age.

Perhaps Minister Chen no longer hoped to use his daughter to cultivate connections. Otherwise, he would have been unable to tolerate her behavior long ago.

“Thank you for the warning, Young Lord of Lu. However, there is something I do not know whether I ought to say.”

Zhong Shi stiffened and frowned. “Say it.”

“After all, you are the heir to the State of Lu. Whatever relationship you once had with the Commandery Princess, she has yet to marry. If you continue to remain so close to her and damage her reputation…”

“Then I will marry her.”

Qiao Qingyun: ...

So this was what he had been waiting for?

Qiao Qingyun stared at Zhong Shi in utter astonishment. What she received in return was a tender, affectionate gaze.

“It is only that I do not know whether the Commandery Princess is willing.”

Jian Li: ...

It felt as though someone had driven a knife into his heart. He wanted to pull free, only to discover that the effort was utterly useless.

Unfortunately, Qiao Qingyun had already lost all awareness of the world around her. Her mind remained trapped in shock. Who could have imagined that Zhong Shi would speak so recklessly and reveal the thoughts in his heart outright?

She hurriedly glanced around in alarm. Fortunately, no one was there.

“Er... Master Jian Li, you must be tired today. Why not return first? It would be best to avoid giving Chen Jiajia another chance to make trouble. I may have been able to intervene once, but I may not be able to do so a second time.”

Hearing the concern in Qiao Qingyun’s voice, Jian Li’s lips twitched. He obediently bowed and saluted.

“Yes. This commoner shall take his leave.”

With that, he turned and walked away. No one noticed that, as he turned, his eyes were filled with sorrow.

There was no other reason. He simply felt hollow inside.

“Zhong Shi, why did you come out by yourself? His Majesty arranged today’s banquet specifically to entertain you all. If someone sees you with me, won’t there be a great uproar?”

Qiao Qingyun lightly tapped the man’s chest in mild reproach, a trace of annoyance between her brows. Zhong Shi smiled.

“It is nothing. Everyone knows that I am your attendant, so there has never been any need to hide this.”

Qiao Qingyun: ...

Fine. You are the boss. Whatever you say goes.

The two of them chatted and laughed as they sat down in a small pavilion. Zhong Shi’s identity had long since been transformed beyond recognition. Whenever palace maids caught sight of him, their faces instantly flushed crimson before they covered them and hurried away.

It was proof that looks truly mattered.

“Commandery Princess?”

Zhong Shi called Qiao Qingyun several times, but she did not respond. He waved a hand before her eyes, finally managing to draw her attention back.

“Hmm? Sorry, I was distracted just now.”

As she spoke, Qiao Qingyun could not help laughing. The palace maids passing by all wore expressions as though they had been robbed of their souls.

“I was away these past few days. Did anyone give you trouble?”

This was what worried Zhong Shi most. If she had someone highly skilled in martial arts protecting her, all would be well. But without such protection, even within the vast imperial palace she could easily become prey in someone else’s hands.

“It was fine. I suppose they were all afraid that you and the others had deliberately hidden yourselves, so no one came looking for trouble.”

As she spoke, Qiao Qingyun tossed a grape into her mouth. Her words became indistinct, and the sourness made her eyes narrow.

“Mm... heavens.”

“What is it?”

Noticing the change in her expression, Zhong Shi hurriedly rose and stood behind her, gently patting her back.

“Have I come at an inconvenient time?”

A familiar voice suddenly sounded. Qiao Qingyun finally swallowed the grape and looked up to find Yuan Zaichun standing there. Her heart immediately became tangled once more.

Yuan Zaichun had always been such a cold and aloof man. In the past, his unsmiling manner could be excused, but why had he deliberately come looking for her now?

“Crown Prince? You seem to have some free time.”

Because Zhong Shi was the heir to the State of Lu, his status now matched that of the Crown Prince. Naturally, he had no need to bow and scrape before Yuan Zaichun. Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped in front of Qiao Qingyun, as though afraid that someone might bully the little woman behind him.

“Heh...”

The man curled his lips coldly and tightened his grip on the cloak in his hand. A trace of disappointment showed in his eyes.

“I came to give you this cloak. When I saw you leave, you were dressed far too lightly... But now...”

Before he could finish, Yuan Zaichun seemed to vent his frustration by flinging the cloak viciously to the ground.

“What the—!”

Qiao Qingyun took one look and immediately sprang to her feet, furious.

“Hey! What is wrong with you? Why did you throw my clothes? Do you know how expensive they are?”

It was not merely a matter of expense. The garment was also a symbol of her status. Had Yuan Zaichun thrown anything else, perhaps she could have let it go—but this was a garment left behind by her mother.

“What difference does it make that I threw it? It is only a cloak. I will compensate you with another.”

Yuan Zaichun had reverted to his former self. His words were stiff and discourteous, showing no regard whatsoever for anyone else’s feelings.

Yet when he looked at Qiao Qingyun again, he found that her eyes had reddened.

She had never possessed any real concept of a mother. The original owner’s mother had died when she was born, so there had been no memories to mourn.

But when her mother’s relic was trampled so carelessly, she still could not stop her eyes from filling with tears.

“Commandery Princess...”

Sensing the change in Qiao Qingyun’s emotions, Zhong Shi hurriedly turned around, intending to comfort her. Instead, he saw her walk in a daze to the cloak lying on the ground and gently pick up the dirt-stained garment.

“You already discarded it. As a Commandery Princess, surely you are not lacking another cloak?”

“Slap!”

Just as Yuan Zaichun was about to continue berating Qiao Qingyun, he never imagined that she would raise her hand and strike him across the face.

The slap rang out sharply. Even Zhong Shi was startled by the sound.

Yuan Zaichun turned his head back from the force of the blow, fury plain on his face.

“You dared to hit me!”

“What of it?”

Qiao Qingyun lifted her eyes and met his gaze without the slightest fear. In that instant, Yuan Zaichun clearly caught the murderous intent in her eyes.

His heart jolted with terror.

This woman wanted to kill him!

“What you threw away was not my cloak...”

The woman brushed the dust from the garment and gave a cold laugh.

“It was my mother’s.”