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A man turned around, his eyes filled with mockery as he looked at the people of the Dingguo Prince Residence. “What? Surprised to see me, the Heir Apparent?”
This was none other than Xiao Prince Heir He Qing, who had opposed He Jingheng at the wedding banquet.
“He Jingheng, have you fallen so low that you need someone to carry you now? I heard both your legs are completely useless.”
He walked up to He Jingheng and was about to reach out to pinch his legs when he heard He Jingheng say lazily, “He Qing, it seems you no longer want that hand of yours.”
He Qing’s hand froze. The next moment, his anger flared even more. Despite He Jingheng being a cripple now, he still felt a trace of fear toward him.
“How dare you! A criminal like you dares to speak to me, the Heir Apparent, in such a manner!” He Qing roared. “Guards! Seize him and give him fifty strokes of the heavy board!”
Fifty strokes!
Wasn’t that a death sentence?
He was already severely injured and hadn’t recovered. Another fifty strokes—would he even survive?
“He Qing, at the end of the day, we both bear the surname He. You and Heng’er are practically brothers. Even if you had conflicts in your youth, you shouldn’t seek his life!” Madam Qin stepped forward, tears in her eyes. “Don’t you remember how often you used to come to the Royal Mansion to play as a child?”
“Hah! Aunt, that was twenty years ago. How shameless of you to bring that up now.” His gaze was full of disdain. “Aunt, it’s only been a few days since I last saw you, yet you’ve aged so much. If you hadn’t stepped forward, I would’ve mistaken you for someone’s grandmother.”
“You—!” Madam Qin’s face paled. She hadn’t expected He Qing to be so merciless with his words.
Behind her, Madam Zhang listened with unconcealed delight.
The Xiao Prince Heir had arrived at the perfect time. It would be best if he killed them all—that would truly be satisfying.
Especially Madam Qin and He Jingheng.
Madam Qin’s maternal family had once been at the height of power. Even now, though the Qin family was no longer what it used to be after the old master’s passing, it was still far beyond what her own Zhang family could compare to. Madam Qin had married the Ding Prince, and though she wasn’t as favored as Zhao Yiniang, her life had been far more comfortable than Madam Zhang’s. Add to that the Old Princess’s affection for her, and Madam Zhang had long harbored resentment toward her.
As for He Jingheng—there was no need to even mention him.
From the moment He Jingheng was born, he had been the heir to the princely title. Over the years, his military achievements on the battlefield had been illustrious. In contrast, her own son was not only plain in appearance but also fell far short in every other aspect. For years, people had whispered behind her back, and she could only pretend not to hear.
Now, with such a perfect opportunity for revenge, Madam Zhang was naturally overjoyed.
He Qing glanced at the women of the He family. “Who? Who is the Shang Prime Minister’s illegitimate daughter?” On the day of the wedding, Shang Ruoyi had worn a veil, so he hadn’t seen her face.
Hearing this, Madam Zhang was ecstatic—finally, someone had come to deal with this jinx.
She quietly stepped behind Shang Ruoyi and gave her a hard shove.
Caught off guard, Shang Ruoyi stumbled forward, immediately drawing He Qing’s attention.
“So you’re the Shang Prime Minister’s illegitimate daughter?” He walked up to her, leering as he looked her up and down, then glanced at He Jingheng beside her. “Who would’ve thought you’d have such luck, kid? Even if she’s just an illegitimate daughter, she’s even more stunning than the top courtesan at the Heavenly Fragrance Restaurant.”
Comparing her to a brothel girl—he had expected her to flush with shame or anger. After all, no noblewoman would ever tolerate being likened to a prostitute.
However, Shang Ruoyi’s expression remained unchanged as she merely smiled and said, “I never imagined the Xiao Prince Heir would have such tastes. Truly a worthy successor to the Xiao Prince!”
“What do you mean by that?” He Qing frowned. “Slandering royalty is a punishable offense! My father and mother are the most devoted couple in the entire capital!”
“Oh, so the Heir Apparent doesn’t know yet!” Shang Ruoyi chuckled. “Your mother, wasn’t she a singing girl brought back from the Outer Territory by the Xiao Prince? Originally, the Xiao Prince’s principal consort had already been decided, but he insisted on marrying your mother. However, how could a proper noble family’s legitimate daughter possibly share a husband with a lowly singing or dancing girl? She’d rather become a nun than marry into such a situation. Since then, no one has been willing to marry their daughters into your esteemed household—after all, who would want to bow daily to a singing girl?”
Her voice was loud enough for everyone in the posthouse to hear clearly.
Upon hearing this, the crowd looked astonished.
The Xiao Princess Consort was originally a singing girl?
Such a thing had never been heard before.
So the Xiao Prince Heir was born to a singing girl?
When they looked at He Qing again, their eyes couldn’t help but carry a hint of disdain.
It must be known that Tianshun placed great emphasis on status and background—not only was the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children clear, but lineage was also of utmost importance.
Especially when it came to royal bloodlines, there was no room for carelessness.
He Qing, upon hearing this, flew into a rage. “How dare you! Spouting such nonsense! Where did you hear such drivel? How dare you pin this on me! It seems you’ve grown tired of living.”
“Nonsense? The Xiao Prince Heir calls this nonsense?” Shang Ruoyi sneered. “Xiao Prince Heir, do you realize you’ve already committed a grave crime?”
“What crime have I committed? As for you, you’re already a convicted criminal, and now you dare to defy me. It seems both you and your crippled husband have grown tired of living!” With that, he raised his arm slightly. “Disrespecting royalty is punishable by death. I decree that these two need not be exiled—execute them on the spot.”
“That ‘drivel’ was spoken by the Emperor himself,” Shang Ruoyi said unhurriedly. “Are you saying the Emperor’s words are drivel?”
What?
The Emperor said that?
He Qing’s brows furrowed tightly. “A lowly commoner like you could never have met the Emperor! More nonsense!”
“I haven’t, but hasn’t my father? The fact that the Xiao Prince Heir was born to a singing girl was personally told to my father by the Emperor. As for whether it’s true or not, the Heir Apparent can go ask the Emperor—or ask the Prince himself.”
He Qing’s face darkened as he glared at her, then turned to the surrounding people and roared, “What are you all standing around for? Kill them all!”
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang was overjoyed. Killing these two would finally ease the hatred in her heart.
The officials nearby exchanged glances, their faces full of hesitation.
“What are you waiting for? Do you expect me to do it myself?”
Zhang Hu stepped forward and clasped his hands. “Your Highness, although the Dingguo Prince Residence’s members have been exiled, they have not been stripped of their status. To execute them, an Imperial Edict from the Emperor is required. Has Your Highness brought one?”
What? An Imperial Edict?
He Qing was momentarily stunned.
Where would he have an Imperial Edict?
He had only come today after informing the Crown Prince, intending to mock He Jingheng in his downfall and vent years of pent-up resentment.
“I came in haste and have yet to obtain the Emperor’s edict,” he cleared his throat and said solemnly. “If I can’t kill them, I can at least beat them!”
“He Qing, have you received orders from anyone?”
“He Jingheng, who gave you permission to address this Heir Apparent by name directly? Fifty slaps to the face,” He Qing shouted angrily. “Hit him hard for this Heir Apparent.”
His bodyguard stepped forward and was just about to swing when He Jingheng raised his hand and gripped the guard’s wrist. Despite using all his strength, the guard couldn’t budge his hand in the slightest.