Wanqing’s reaction made everyone present feel their hearts tighten.
Mu Zhenfeng looked at his daughter’s reaction, his eyes filled with disappointment as he glanced at her struggling to evade the grasp of Nanny Kong and Sun Changshun. He then turned to Cold Mingye with an ingratiating expression.
“Young Master, my daughter has always been timid. It’s my fault for neglecting her upbringing and discipline, which led to this incident.”
“That’s indeed your fault, General. Look at how your servants and maids can handle such a grand occasion, yet your daughter behaves like this. Not to mention her attire—even the maids behind your eldest daughter are dressed better. And her temperament…”
Cold Mingye had been observing the second daughter of the general’s mansion, who stood out from the other young ladies. First, she had been so startled that she fell to the ground, and now this reaction. Either she was putting on an act, or she truly had never experienced such a grand occasion.
If it wasn’t an act, why would she deliberately put herself in the spotlight like this? She couldn’t be that foolish.
With a faint smile, he turned to Mu Zhenfeng and remarked mockingly.
“Young Master, I beg your forgiveness. It’s all due to my negligence in discipline and care that she behaves this way. From now on… I will treat her better.”
Hearing Cold Mingye speak up for his second daughter, Mu Zhenfeng broke into a cold sweat. He had indeed neglected this daughter, but at least she had never lacked food or clothing. Why was she so oblivious?
Couldn’t she have dressed more formally for the Young Master’s visit? Wearing old clothes like this was nothing short of a slap to his face.
Suppressing his frustration, he clenched his fists and glared at Wanqing, who stubbornly refused to let Nanny Kong and Sun Changshun see her face.
“Your family affairs are none of my concern. But treating your children so differently will surely invite gossip if word gets out. Nanny Kong, Sun Changshun—must I personally intervene in such a trivial matter?”
Cold Mingye responded indifferently, watching as Mu Zhenfeng’s expression darkened yet he still bowed in deference. Irritated, he turned to Nanny Kong and Sun Changshun.
“Ah, we—we’ll make her lift her head right away! Girl, look up! If you keep this up, not only will we lose our lives, but even the General will be implicated!”
At Cold Mingye’s command, Nanny Kong and Sun Changshun panicked and, disregarding propriety, grabbed Wanqing’s arms, roughly forcing her hands away.
“No! Don’t look at my face! Please! I’m already mocked and bullied in the mansion every day. If they see my face, they’ll only laugh at me more!”
Despite their strength, Wanqing struggled fiercely, covering her face and crying out.
“Young Master, perhaps I should make her look up myself—”
Mu Zhenfeng’s expression grew even uglier at his daughter’s behavior. This wretched girl was nothing but trouble. Her shabby clothes were bad enough, but if the Young Master learned that she was bullied freely in the mansion, who knew what storm would follow?
His eyes darkened with fury. If Cold Mingye weren’t present, he would have already ordered someone to sew her mouth shut. But now, he could only suppress his rage and anxiety, turning to Cold Mingye.
“I merely wish to see her face. Are you so eager to sacrifice your own daughter to please me, General?”
Cold Mingye’s words were calm as he elegantly rose to his feet.
“I—” Mu Zhenfeng’s disdain for Wanqing flared violently. The thought that she had caused him such humiliation in front of the Young Master filled him with the urge to strike her dead on the spot.
For now, he could only stand there, his face ashen.
“Useless fools, step aside. Girl, don’t be afraid. I just want to see your face. Look up—don’t be scared.”
Cold Mingye watched the small figure struggling and nearly sobbing under Nanny Kong and Sun Changshun’s grip. Recalling his own past, he suddenly felt a pang of sympathy.
Seeing one of them pin Wanqing’s arms while the other forcibly tilted her chin up, he flicked his sleeve dismissively, sending both stumbling backward without a glance.
He then crouched gracefully, his long fingers gently patting the shoulder of the girl who sat curled up, hiding her face and weeping. When she merely trembled and shrank back without further resistance, he softened his voice reassuringly.
“You—you really won’t laugh at me? Or call me ugly?”
Wanqing’s voice was hesitant, thinking of all those who had mocked and tormented her—especially her father, whose furious, livid face she had glimpsed through her fingers.
She knew his nature better than anyone. If she threatened his reputation or interests, he wouldn’t hesitate to discard even his most treasured people—let alone her.
From his earlier reaction, she had already sensed murderous intent in his eyes. If she truly brought disaster upon the general’s mansion, he would kill her without hesitation.
The coldness in her heart deepened at her father’s attitude. Yet the man beside her spoke with unexpected gentleness, prompting her to cautiously test his sincerity.
“I won’t laugh. Besides, one’s appearance is inherited from their parents. What does it matter if you’re not conventionally beautiful? Lift your head. If anyone dares mock you, I’ll deal with them.”
A faint smile touched Cold Mingye’s lips as he spoke. He was genuinely curious—what kind of face did this second daughter of the Mu family have, to shape such a personality?
“I… Oh! Such a pretty sister—no, a beautiful brother! Beautiful brother, did—did my face scare you? I know it’s my fault for frightening you. But please, don’t be angry! If you get angry, Father will punish me severely! Please—!”
Wanqing didn’t understand why he had the patience to speak to her like this, but she knew she couldn’t push the act too far. Summoning great courage, she slowly lowered her hands, exhaled deeply, and lifted her head.
When he saw her face, his brows furrowed slightly in shock before quickly smoothing into calmness.
Delighted, she called him “sister,” only to freeze when his expression darkened. She quickly corrected herself, feigning panic and pleading with tear-filled eyes.
She knew calling him beautiful displeased him—but she did it deliberately. After all, this man was so stunning that people gasped at the sight of him. Up close, he was downright otherworldly.
But she hid her amusement, pretending to realize her mistake only now. With a remorseful expression, she boldly clutched his sleeve, her watery eyes begging.
“You—”
Her audacity, combined with her tear-streaked face covered in red spots, made Cold Mingye’s lips tighten in disgust, his brows knitting together. When her hand grabbed his robe, his eyes blazed with fury—even regret for his earlier sympathy.
“Qing’er! What are you doing? Let go! Young Master, I beg your forgiveness—this foolish girl has offended you. I’ll take her away and discipline her properly. Get up! Someone—take the Second Miss back and teach her a lesson!”
Mu Zhenfeng’s face turned green with horror at Wanqing’s actions.
Everyone knew the Young Master had an innate aversion to being touched. It was said that even his cousin, Princess Qingyang, had once grabbed his sleeve—only to be shoved away. Had it not been for the Princess Dowager’s intervention, he might have cut off her hand on the spot.
Though Mu Zhenfeng didn’t understand why his daughter’s face was suddenly covered in red spots, Cold Mingye’s anger was unmistakable.
Panicking, he yanked Wanqing up, his voice icy with suppressed rage as he ordered the servants.
“No! Father, don’t lock me up and let them bully me! I was wrong—I know I shouldn’t have come out with this diseased face and scared the beautiful brother. But you called me here! Beautiful brother, save me! Please, save me!”
Though inwardly sneering at her father’s reaction, Wanqing put on a terrified act, stubbornly struggling and pleading. When two servants moved to drag her away, she clung desperately to Cold Mingye’s sleeve, tears streaming as she wailed for mercy.
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