Chapter 27 : I Request an Audience with His Majesty

The Fourth Princess waited until the end but still couldn’t get any results.

The game of Cuju (ancient football) ended just like that.

The people from the Princess’s residence escorted them out.

“I heard that King Xuan also came today.”

“What?” A noblewoman beside her showed a look of surprise. “Then why didn’t we see him?”

“King Xuan is no ordinary person. How could we expect to see him just because we want to? He must have come just to speak a few words with Princess Jinque and left.”

“I heard that King Xuan might have lost something at the Princess’s residence.”

“What!”

“Didn’t you hear any noises?”

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Princess’s heart sank.

It seemed something had gone wrong.

She felt an unexpected frustration, not because of Xue Qingyin, but because she could already imagine how Concubine Wan would react when they returned.

What would Concubine Wan think of her?

She would probably think—

Even being a tool for others is something I can’t handle.

The Fourth Princess took a deep breath, suddenly feeling a suffocating pressure.

It felt as though she was a complete failure in this world.

No one knew the tangled emotions inside the Fourth Princess’s heart.

A sharp sound echoed.

On the other side, Princess Jinque drew the sword from her guard’s waist and pointed it at the palace maid, Hongzhu.

The sword tip pierced the maid’s abdomen, causing her to scream in pain and fall to the ground, though she wasn’t dead yet.

“Take her to the Zhao Guogong Mansion,” Princess Jinque ordered coldly.

“What about the young master? His whole body is drenched, shivering. He refused to drink the ginger soup and even knocked it over with brute force. The palace maids can’t get near him.”

The deputy general interjected, “Why don’t I try…”

Even the strongest brute force couldn’t compare to their soldiers’ strength.

Princess Jinque glanced at him and said, “Your hands are too rough. If you hurt the young master, the Duke of Zhao will go to war with us.”

The deputy general immediately shut up.

Princess Jinque said, “I’ll go.”

She took a deep breath, crossed the door she loathed so much, and walked up to Zhao Xufeng.

“Do you remember me, young master?” Princess Jinque asked.

“Bad woman,” Zhao Xufeng angrily responded, waving his hands. “I want my mother! Where is my mother? You took my father—I’ll kill you all!”

Princess Jinque felt a headache coming on.

Damn it.

She almost wanted to kill Concubine Wan .

What a huge trouble she had caused!

If Concubine Wan succeeded today, not only would Miss Xue be mistreated, but the Duke of Zhao would never allow his son to marry a wife in such a humiliating manner.

At that point, the Duke of Zhao would suspect the Princess’s residence.

If the two families became enemies, it would be a huge problem.

The Duke of Zhao would go crazy for his son!

Though the Duke of Zhao was elderly, his temper hadn’t changed. He was also a sworn brother of the current emperor.

Normally, people in such positions would be feared by the emperor, but the Duke of Zhao was different because he only had a fool for a son.

The emperor didn’t fear him at all and treated him with extra favor.

And the Princess’s residence?

Princess Jinque looked around and felt an icy chill in her heart.

It was all just a beautiful exterior.

At this moment, the deputy general suddenly said, “Your mother has returned home. She’s waiting for you.”

“Home, home!” Zhao Xufeng scrambled to his feet, rushing to leave.

“First drink the soup and change your clothes.” The deputy general grabbed his arm.

Zhao Xufeng glared at him angrily and almost fought him.

Princess Jinque reacted quickly and said, “Your mother will be upset.”

Zhao Xufeng froze, muttering, “Mother, mother…”

Seeing that his mood had calmed down, Princess Jinque ordered the ginger soup and clothes to be brought again.

A palace maid carefully brought the clothes to serve him.

The deputy general took over, “Let me do it. You delicate girls can’t take a beating.”

Fortunately, Zhao Xufeng didn’t go mad again.

He changed clothes, although they didn’t fit perfectly, then drank all the ginger soup, sweating a little.

A physician from the Princess’s residence came to examine him and sighed with relief, “Luckily, he’s in good health. Just give him some calming medicine for a few days.”

The Princess then sent him back to the Duke of Zhao’s mansion.

The Duke of Zhao heard about the events and his expression gradually darkened.

This white-haired old man still stood tall and straight.

He asked in a deep voice, “Who accompanied the young master today?”

“It was Zhu Qiu and a few others…”

“Forty strokes of the cane. Those who died, bury them on the outskirts of the city and send their families fifty taels of silver. Those who didn’t die, send them and their families out of the capital.”

“Y-Yes…” The servant trembled.

Even Princess Jinque, who usually acted harshly, couldn’t help but feel a shiver.

Luckily, King Xuan was also here…

Luckily, Miss Xue knew how to adapt and protected herself, preventing the situation from spiraling further.

“I understand. Please return, Princess,” the Duke of Zhao said coldly.

Princess Jinque, knowing the Duke’s background, didn’t dare to act arrogantly and sighed before leaving.

“You all leave,” the Duke of Zhao dismissed the servants.

“Yes.”

“Wait.” The Duke paused and suddenly said, “Tomorrow, invite Miss Xue to the mansion.”

The steward replied and left.

The Duke of Zhao walked over to Zhao Xufeng.

Zhao Xufeng was stuffing some pastries into his sleeve.

The Duke squatted down beside him, “A-Feng, does your head still hurt?”

Zhao Xufeng didn’t answer, continuing to pack his pastries, murmuring, “Mother, for Mother…”

The Duke’s eyes reddened.

Years ago, he followed the emperor to fight the Danyang army. Because of a miscalculation in terrain and weather, they lost. After the defeat, he protected the emperor and fled, temporarily leaving his wife and son to hide among farmers.

Afterward, his wife had wandered with his son, enduring great hardships.

Now, even though he had become a Duke and had endless wealth in his mansion, his foolish son still remembered to pack food for his mother.

The Duke remembered the past and couldn’t hold back his tears.

He hoarsely said, “A-Feng, your mother is gone. She’s been gone for decades.”

Zhao Xufeng shook his head, “Mother, Mother is here. I saw her today!”

The Duke didn’t take it to heart but was filled with more sorrow. He sat on the ground and said softly, “Your mother endured a lifetime of hardship with me, but never enjoyed a single day of happiness. You are our only son. Even if I die, I will make sure you live well. No one will bully you!”

The Duke wiped his tears and stood up, sternly saying, “Into the palace! I demand an audience with His Majesty!”

Inside Mingyi Palace.

Concubine Wan stretched out her slender fingers.

A palace maid knelt before her, carefully applying rouge to her fingertips.

“The Fourth Princess has returned,” the maid reported.

Concubine Wan sighed lightly, “Yanyan seems to have developed some resentment toward me these past few days…”

The maid replied, “Your Majesty has been so kind to her. The Fourth Princess was just confused by Miss Xue that day. She will realize the truth in a couple of days…”

Before she could finish, a palace servant rushed in, “King Wei is here! Your Highness, His Highness has not been announced!”

King Wei snorted coldly, “I’m here to see my mother. Do I need an announcement?”

He strode into the room.

“Mother, do you know what happened at the Princess’s residence today?” King Wei asked.

Concubine Wan frowned, “Are you questioning me?”

King Wei’s arrogance softened, “I didn’t mean that.” His gaze shifted, and his arrogance increased by a few degrees.

He knew well how his mother had won the emperor’s favor with her pretended frailty.

But Miss Xue was different.

His elder brother Xue Ning had said that after Miss Xue was angered by him while flying a kite, she almost suffered a relapse. If it weren’t for encountering Princess Jinque, she would have died!

Every time he thought about it, King Wei felt a chill run down his spine.

The beautiful woman had almost died—such regret would last a lifetime.

Miss Xue was genuinely fragile.

She should be carefully cherished and protected.

King Wei tossed his robe aside and sat down coldly, “Mother, are you really trying to deceive me now?”

Concubine Wan was about to speak when a palace maid entered and said, “Your Majesty, the emperor summons you.”

Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, Xue Qingyin, who had been lying on a bed, turned over in her sleep, dreaming of leading a group of thugs as a bully the next day.