Chapter 23: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

That matchmaker was renowned within the palace; even when a princess was married off, it was always this same matchmaker who oversaw the proceedings. However, given what Qiao Qingyun had just done, Qing Luo’s heart tightened—who could have expected Qiao Qingyun to make things so difficult so directly?

Meanwhile, Liu Fu led the matchmaker back to the Crown Prince’s residence. At that moment, Yuan Zaichun was still leisurely sipping tea, showing none of the nerves one might expect from a groom about to be wed.

Because Yuan Zaichun was the Crown Prince, the matchmaker dared not overstep. After taking all the necessary measurements, she turned and left without lingering.

“What’s the matter?” Yuan Zaichun, having finished with the measurements, stepped out and noticed Liu Fu’s sullen expression. He frowned, and even his fingers, resting on the lid of his teacup, began to tap in a steady rhythm.

“Your Highness…” Liu Fu glanced at the servants around them. Yuan Zaichun nodded and waved his hand, dismissing them at once.

Once the doors were closed, Yuan Zaichun looked at Liu Fu again. “Did Qiao Qingyun react in any particular way?”

“Yes… yes…” Liu Fu’s tongue seemed to tie itself in knots. He simply couldn’t get the words out, stammering before Yuan Zaichun and failing to make any sense.

Yuan Zaichun’s patience wore thin, and he set his teacup down on the table with a thud. “What’s wrong? One trip to the Qiao residence and you can’t even speak properly?”

“No, it’s not that…” Liu Fu quickly knelt. “Your Highness, it’s that the matchmaker was reprimanded by Miss Qiao.”

“What?” Yuan Zaichun paused, clearly not expecting such a turn. In front of him, Qiao Qingyun was like a startled rabbit—where did she get the slightest hint of aggression? She was nothing more than a clever woman, he’d thought.

Liu Fu looked as if he could weep from frustration. He stayed kneeling, refusing to rise. “It’s true, Your Highness. The matchmaker made a scene at the Qiao residence, which put Miss Qiao in a foul mood upon waking. She demanded to know who was truly in charge—her or the matchmaker. The matchmaker was stunned into silence, and Miss Qiao scolded her harshly, even saying that since she had the imperial edict in her hands, she was already the Crown Princess. Even if she killed a matchmaker, no one would dare say anything…”

“And…” Liu Fu hesitated, unsure whether to continue. After all, if Yuan Zaichun learned he’d been chastised by a mere girl, where would his dignity be?

He’d expected the Crown Prince to be furious, but he was mistaken. Yuan Zaichun’s face bore only the faintest trace of a smile, with no other emotion to be seen.

“And what else?” he asked. He hadn’t anticipated that this woman would grow more intriguing by the day, daring to rebuke a senior matron dispatched from the palace—a matchmaker whom even princesses treated with respect. Yet he couldn’t entirely blame her; everyone tiptoed around him, so naturally she presumed she could act without restraint.

“There’s more… Miss Qiao also said that your subordinate should know his place, and asked me to find out whether you had sent the matchmaker as a deliberate provocation.”

Yuan Zaichun couldn’t help but laugh aloud at that. He hadn’t even noticed the scratches on the matchmaker’s face earlier, assuming she’d been clumsy. Who would have guessed at the story behind them?

“So what did you say?” Yuan Zaichun asked indifferently, his gaze wandering, though inwardly he was growing ever more curious about Qiao Qingyun. This woman was a master of pretense, toying with everyone at will—when she’d left, she’d seemed as meek as a kitten, yet now she was learning to wield her claws.

“I said nothing… it was Miss Qiao. After the matchmaker slighted her, she slashed the woman’s face with a teacup—a warning to the rest of us, I suppose.”

Indeed, Qiao Qingyun had been warning Liu Fu not to meddle, but he’d failed to grasp the full message. This would lead to much hardship for him later.

“I understand. You may go.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Liu Fu dared not linger. Today had been humiliating beyond belief; never had he imagined he’d be cowed by a bride who had not even crossed the threshold. Yet he’d seen it with his own eyes: Qiao Qingyun’s presence exuded a chilling ferocity akin to Yuan Zaichun’s own.

Waiting to be married might sound simple, but in truth, it brought its own share of troubles.

“My lady, you must stay in your room these next few days. It’s considered highly inauspicious for a bride-to-be to let others see her face before the wedding,” Qing Luo said as she gently styled Qiao Qingyun’s hair.

“I know, you’ve mentioned it several times already,” Qiao Qingyun yawned, utterly unconcerned.

Stepping outside, she found herself in the small courtyard. Since her return, all the insolent servants had been dismissed, stripped of every penny.

If not for General Qiao’s careful concealment of the family’s assets, those unworthy servants would surely have taken advantage.

“My lady, why have you come out?” Hong Ying and Zhong Shi were already in the courtyard, as was their custom, sparring at dawn and dripping with sweat.

Seeing them, Qiao Qingyun promptly sent for two towels and handed one to each.

“I just came to see you both. Your skills are impressive—I’m nothing but a novice,” she said, somewhat self-pityingly, as if she were completely useless.

Zhong Shi immediately understood her meaning and stepped forward with a clasped fist. “Does my lady wish to learn martial arts?”

“May I?” Qiao Qingyun’s eyes instantly grew as wide as lanterns, fixing on Zhong Shi with such intensity that the latter’s face flushed all the way to his neck.

“Well… perhaps my sister could teach you a few things.”

“Hong Ying, is that possible?” Qiao Qingyun seemed determined not to let this go, and Hong Ying realized that her purpose in coming here might well be to seek martial training.

“My lady, martial arts is a strenuous pursuit. Though you can dance, there is a vast difference between dancing and combat.”

“I understand, but I can’t always rely on you two. I refuse to stand by helplessly while someone tries to kill me.” Qiao Qingyun spoke with heartfelt emotion. Still, Hong Ying hesitated, so Qiao Qingyun abandoned all pretense and sat pitifully to the side.

“I know I’m making things difficult, but so many people bear grudges against me. All I can do is hope their blades are sharp enough to end it in one stroke—otherwise, to be hacked twice, how unbearably painful that would be!”

Her pitiful words brought tears to her eyes, making Zhong Shi’s heart sink. He quickly nudged Hong Ying with his elbow. “Teach her.”

“What?” Hong Ying replied, stunned.