Prince Ning was dressed in a pristine white brocade robe, exuding an air of refined elegance even as he sat in his wheelchair. Behind him followed the Qingfeng brothers—Qingfeng, who gave off a warm and gentle demeanor, and Qingyun, who appeared more reserved and aloof.
Despite their contrasting temperaments, both brothers were strikingly handsome. Combined with the noble aura of the man in the white robe before them, it was clear that even his physical limitations could not overshadow his innate grace.
Their arrival naturally drew the attention of many women present. However, Prince Ning had grown distant and cold since the accident that confined him to the wheelchair. Though some women stole glances at him, the presence of the two brothers standing like shadows behind him deterred them from approaching.
Among the two notable men at the scene, Leng Mingye—who had just walked toward Princess Qingyang—was like a lion: outwardly aloof, his icy expression and commanding presence making him unapproachable despite his allure. Prince Ning, on the other hand, resembled a clear spring—ethereal and untouchable, like an immortal descended from the heavens.
The gazes of many women followed them, yet none dared to step forward.
Wanqing, noticing Prince Ning approaching with the Qingfeng brothers, smiled faintly and continued forward, ignoring the curious and speculative glances from the noblewomen around her. However, just as she was a few steps away from him, she collided with a woman accompanied by her maid.
“Are you blind? You bumped into me and didn’t even apologize!”
The woman had abruptly cut in front of Wanqing, who, along with her maids Honglian and Chunlan, had tried to dodge but still ended up being knocked into. The woman staggered, barely caught by her maid, and immediately lashed out upon seeing Wanqing’s simple yet fresh attire—like a tender sprout in spring, delicate and lovely.
But the woman, taking in Wanqing’s innocent, joyful smile, assumed she was an easy target and snapped at her without hesitation.
“Miss, I believe you’re mistaken. I was walking straight ahead when you suddenly cut in and collided with me. Why should I apologize to you?”
Wanqing didn’t recognize the woman.
With a pretty yet domineering face, the woman carried herself as if she were the protagonist of the scene. As she shrieked accusations at Wanqing, her eyes gleamed with challenge, disdain, and arrogance. But Wanqing was not one to tolerate insults. Smiling faintly, she countered with calm logic, though the mockery in her eyes was unmistakable.
Her words were reasonable and delivered with a sweet, dimpled smile. The woman, taken aback by her confidence, stiffened before coldly retorting,
“Regardless, you bumped into me, so you must apologize. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next. Cuihong, slap her!”
At her mistress’s command, the maid rolled up her sleeves and swung a meaty palm toward Wanqing’s face.
“You—!” Honglian, witnessing the unreasonable aggression, stepped forward angrily.
But Wanqing was quicker. With a glance to stop Honglian, she effortlessly caught the maid’s wrist and twisted it sharply, nearly breaking it.
“Ah! It hurts! Let go! Please, miss, it hurts—!”
The maid, taller and heavier than Wanqing, had expected to teach her a lesson. Instead, she found herself overpowered with ease, her wrist twisted to the point of agony. Her smug expression vanished, replaced by pain and terror as she realized she couldn’t break free.
The maid’s face paled, sweat beading on her forehead as she whimpered and begged her mistress for help.
“Useless fool! Don’t think just because you’re strong that you can defy me!” The haughty woman, frustrated that her usually capable maid had met her match, sneered before suddenly turning and aiming a slap at Honglian instead.
After all, Wanqing seemed like an untouchable fairy, while her two maids—one in light blue, the other in red—were both striking beauties. Eliminating one rival would reduce the competition.
“If you want to hit me, you’ll need the skill. Were it not for the Dowager Princess’s birthday celebration, my lady wouldn’t tolerate this nonsense. Otherwise, I’d have already ruined your face with one strike!”
Honglian, already furious at the woman’s arrogance and her targeting of Wanqing, dodged swiftly and retaliated. In the blink of an eye, she delivered a resounding slap that sent the woman stumbling to the ground, clutching her reddened cheek and sobbing.
“Hmph.” Wanqing couldn’t even be bothered to spare the troublemaker a glance. With a cold snort, she led Honglian and Chunlan forward.
But then she noticed Prince Ning speaking with another woman. Seeing her brother engaged in rare, harmonious conversation, Wanqing hesitated to interrupt and turned to leave—until Honglian whispered urgently, “Miss…”
She turned to see her elder sister, Mu Wanxia, clad in peach-red silk, her every glance and smile dripping with seduction and vulnerability. Beside her was a stunning woman in crimson brocade, radiating nobility so overwhelming it was hard to look at her directly—Wu Qingyang, the Princess Qingyang she had encountered earlier at Linglong Pavilion.
At the sight of them, Wanqing recalled the princess’s previous hostility and halted her steps. Just then, the woman who had been speaking with Prince Ning suddenly covered her face and fled in distress.
Though unsure what had transpired, Wanqing noticed Prince Ning sitting alone by the lakeside, the Qingfeng brothers standing guard a few paces behind. She decided to approach him.
“Who’s causing trouble here? Cuier, who dared to bully you? Why are you crying on the ground? And your face—!”
Before she could take another step, Princess Qingyang’s sharp, imperious voice rang out, followed by her shocked exclamation upon seeing the slapped woman’s swollen cheek.
“Your Highness, you must stand up for me! I am the daughter of the Minister of Justice, yet some nameless wretch struck me! Look at my face—!” The woman wailed, her voice thick with tears as she appealed to the princess.
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