“Ah…” The flustered woman in the yellow dress collided with Prince Ning and immediately fell backward, crying out in pain.
“Miss, get up quickly! Are you alright, miss? Miss…” A maid in green hurriedly followed behind her, panicking as she saw her mistress fall and rushed forward to help her up, asking anxiously.
“I’m fine, I… I greet His Highness Prince Ning. It was only because someone was chasing me that I bumped into Your Highness. Please forgive my offense…”
The woman in yellow had delicate, pale hands now scratched by the grass, blood trickling down. Despite her own distress, she quickly turned to reassure her nervous maid and bowed to Prince Ning in apology.
“No need for that, miss. Your hand…”
Prince Ning, noting her refined and composed demeanor—though her face bore traces of panic—found her gaze clear and sincere. He reached out, concerned about her bleeding hand.
“My hand is fine. It was my own carelessness that caused me to fall. It has nothing to do with Your Highness. Hongxiao has matters to attend to and won’t disturb Your Highness’s enjoyment of the flowers. Lv’er, let’s go quickly…”
The woman in yellow, blushing at his gentle and composed manner, lowered her head. Glancing behind her as if she’d seen a ghost, she hastily grabbed her maid’s hand and started to leave.
“Wait, sister, please stay. Your fair hand should be treated first. Whatever the matter, there’s no need for such panic. Are you avoiding someone…?”
Wanqing, who had taken a liking to the woman, noticed Prince Ning’s rare concern. Seeing her about to leave with her hand still bleeding, she called out. When the woman hesitated, Wanqing stepped forward, gently taking her injured hand. Carefully wiping the wound with a clean silk handkerchief, she removed any grass or dirt before bandaging it with her own handkerchief.
“I… he’s coming. Thank you, miss, but I…”
The woman in yellow, mesmerized by Wanqing’s pure beauty and warm smile, thought to herself how rare such a woman was—no wonder she accompanied Prince Ning. Though grateful and curious about Wanqing’s kindness, she glanced nervously behind her as the approaching figure drew near.
“Haha, Second Young Master…”
“Second Young Master? So it’s the Second Young Master of Ji Manor. What brings you here? Are you also searching for a beloved at the Princess’s estate?”
Wanqing, without turning, sensed the arrival of the newcomer. Noticing the woman’s stiff, panicked expression, she smiled faintly, guiding her back to her maid before turning around.
Seeing it was Leng Minghao of Ji Manor, Wanqing felt neither favor nor dislike toward him. But witnessing how he’d pursued the woman to such distress, she asked lightly, “Second Young Master Mu, even though you’re betrothed, you’ve come for leisure. Why can’t I? Hongxiao, come here…”
Leng Minghao, momentarily entranced by Wanqing’s beauty—more striking than when he’d seen her at night—forced down his excitement, aware of his elder brother and Prince Ning nearby. He spoke coolly to Wanqing before calling sharply to the woman in yellow, his gaze laced with warning.
“I won’t! Miss Mu, Your Highness Prince Ning, I barely know him. He suddenly approached, insisting on pursuing me. When I refused, he chased me and even… even harassed me. My Cui family dares not provoke Ji Manor, but I beg Your Highness and Miss Mu to stand up for me…”
Trembling under Leng Minghao’s glare, the woman in yellow stubbornly knelt before Prince Ning and Wanqing, pleading for help.
“Nonsense! We’re already a pair. How dare you accuse me of harassment? Stop causing a scene and come here. Your Highness, Miss Mu, forgive this little quarrel. She’s just throwing a tantrum. Come here!”
Seeing the displeasure on Wanqing and Prince Ning’s faces, Leng Minghao forced a smile. Though unsure of Wanqing’s influence, he knew she’d bested his elder brother and caught Prince Ning’s eye—not to mention her renowned medical skills. And Prince Ning, though disabled, was still a royal, favored by the Princess.
His eyes darkened dangerously as he reached for Hongxiao, pulling her roughly.
“Young Master, my mistress has never even met you before! How could you claim to be a pair? You… you frequent brothels, but my mistress is a proper lady! How dare you—”
The maid, though fearful, stepped forward to shield her mistress from Leng Minghao’s aggressive grip.
“You lowly wench! Who do you think you are? It’s her fortune to catch my eye! Stop playing hard to get and come with me!”
As the struggle escalated, Wanqing hesitated—until Leng Minghao’s arrogant shout decided her.
“Prince Ning, listen…”
Annoyed by the young master’s behavior, Wanqing’s sense of justice flared. She turned to Prince Ning, her resolve firm.
“That scoundrel truly can’t change his ways. It seems he needs a lesson. I’ll go—”
Song Ziqian, overhearing the commotion, was incensed. Recalling Wanqing’s past ordeal, he moved to intervene.
“Don’t. Dealing with such a rogue is my task alone. Honglian, come with me. The rest of you, stay here.”
Wanqing, aware of Leng Minghao’s elder brother’s influence and the younger’s shameless nature, stopped Song Ziqian. With a reassuring smile to Song Meiling and Qian Zhengying, she strode forward with Honglian.
“Stop right there, Leng Minghao! Bullying an innocent woman in the Princess’s estate—are you even a man?”
Wanqing arrived to find Leng Minghao gripping Hongxiao’s wrist and waist, forcing her toward a secluded area. Her voice icy, she demanded he halt.
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