Chapter 29: Princess Pingyao

The carriage slowly rolled forward, soon arriving at the gates of the Princess Pingyao’s estate.

The estate of the Princess was beautiful, sprawling over a vast area, with countless exotic flowers and plants. Princess Ji Minxi was the only princess during the reign of the late Emperor who had her own independent residence before marriage, and although she was not the Emperor’s daughter by his primary consort, she was more illustrious than those who were.

After the late Emperor’s passing, she continued to live as she pleased.

In the flower pavilion by the lake, a woman in a red dress sat on the ground, surrounded by several handsome young men, each more charming and radiant than the last.

The steward hurried over and stood outside the pavilion to report, “Princess, Young Master Qin seeks an audience.”

The Princess of Pingyao turned her head indifferently.

“Your Highness,” a beautiful and delicate young man held a white jade wine cup with his slender fingers, coyly offering the wine to the princess’s lips, “won’t you have a drink?”

The few young men seated around the princess in the pavilion turned their heads discreetly to look at Qin Yanshu standing outside, their eyes filled with curiosity and hostility.

Qin Yanshu’s face was as calm as water, watching the absurd scene in the pavilion. The young men were dressed flamboyantly, pressed close to the princess, with no regard for the boundaries between men and women.

His expression grew increasingly stern, his voice icy: “Is it appropriate for the Princess of Pingyao to behave in such a manner in broad daylight?”

“Impudence!” a young man snapped coldly, “How dare you lecture the Princess in her presence? Do you not recognize the difference in status?”

“Exactly.” A young man in blue quickly chimed in, “Who do you think you are? What business is it of yours if the Princess drinks with us?”

The Princess of Pingyao, in her sprawling red dress, smiled faintly, glancing at him indifferently: “Qin Yanshu, who do you think you are? Do my actions require your commentary?”

Qin Yanshu replied coldly, “We are about to be married, and I will become your husband.”

“Husband?” A young man in light purple clothing laughed, as if mocking Qin Yanshu’s presumption, “Master Qin says he will become the Princess’s husband? Do you find that amusing or not?”

“Hahaha, too funny! It’s like a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh!”

“Does Master Qin never look in the mirror? At your advanced age, how dare you aspire to the Princess? Look at the few of us here—which one isn’t more attractive than you? How could the Princess possibly take a liking to you?”

“Exactly, you have no self-awareness.”

“Master Qin used to be somewhat presentable among the gentlemen, but alas, those days are gone. Just look at your half-crippled state now. Marry the Princess? Unless you expect the Princess to lower herself and serve you, a useless cripple?”

Qin Yanshu listened as the crowd chimed in, his face turning a shade of iron-gray, his voice cold: “Princess, is this the etiquette of your estate?”

“I indulge in it.” Princess Pingyao raised her wine cup, her wide sleeves sweeping before her eyes, her unrestrained and flamboyant nature on full display, “If you can’t stand it, you’re free to leave right now.”

Qin Yanshu’s face turned a sickly shade of green and white: “Princess, don’t forget that you yourself agreed to the marriage alliance with the Qin family, and it was you who promised the Empress Dowager that you would accept a son of the Qin family as your consort, but—”

“Qin Yanshu, in ancient times, Yao’s two daughters, Ehuang and Nuying, shared a husband. Today, this princess wishes for the two brothers of your Qin family to share a wife.” Princess Pingyao sneered coldly, “I hope your Qin family agrees.”

Qin Yanshu was taken aback: “What did you say?”

“So pitiful, not only is Master Qin’s hand crippled, but his ears are deaf as well. At such a young age, he can’t even hear the Princess’s words clearly.”

“Old, ugly, and crippled, not even fit to wash the Princess’s feet.”

Princess Pingyao said indifferently: “I’ve made myself clear. Both brothers from the Qin family’s main branch must marry over together, sharing a wife. Only then will I agree to this marriage, otherwise, there’s no discussion.”

Qin Yanshu gritted his teeth: “Isn’t this request of yours too excessive, Princess?”

“Not at all.” Princess Pingyao pointed at the few young men beside her, “Which one of my male concubines isn’t better-looking than you? Did you really think I would give up so many little treasures for just one person?”

Preposterous!

Absolutely preposterous!

Qin Yanshu felt as though all the blood in his body had rushed to his head, a sense of humiliating congestion in his brain.

He knew Princess Pingyao was outrageous, but he never imagined she could be this outrageous.

If he truly married her, he would live in a nightmare for the rest of his life.

Qin Yanshu cast a cold glance at the luxurious and chaotic flower pavilion before turning to leave, his sleeves billowing.

“Stop right there.” The Princess spoke lazily.

Qin Yanshu’s steps froze, and he turned to face Princess Pingyao: “What else do you have to say?”

Princess Pingyao put down her wine cup, rose slowly, and gracefully stepped towards Qin Yanshu. She whispered in his ear, her breath like orchids: “Personally ordering bandits to plot against your own fiancée, such despicable and lowly tactics—Qin Yanshu, ask yourself, in what way are you worthy of my favor?”

Qin Yanshu stiffened, his blood running cold, and he instinctively took two steps back: “What are you talking about, Princess? Those bandits are vicious by nature, what do they have to do with me? Please don’t slander me with such baseless accusations!”

“Nothing to do with you?” Princess Pingyao smiled lazily, taking the wine cup from the young man’s hand and making a gesture of toasting Qin Yanshu, “The concubine-born son of the Qin family, Qin Yumo, is both beautiful and attentive. Send him over within three days, and choose an auspicious date to arrange our marriage. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to expose your deeds.”

“You!” Qin Yanshu trembled with anger, “You’re simply outrageous!”

The Princess commanded, “Throw him out.”

Two young men who had been drinking in the pavilion stood up, swiftly approaching and, without waiting for Qin Yanshu to speak, grabbed his arms and dragged him out.

“Has the Princess really taken a liking to the concubine-born son of the Qin family?” The two remaining young men in the pavilion walked over, each holding onto one of her arms, their faces showing displeasure, “Are we inferior to him in appearance or knowledge? Why does the Princess want someone from the Qin family as a concubine?”

Princess Pingyao said indifferently, “Do I need your consent for whom I choose as a concubine?”

As soon as the words were spoken, the two young men immediately stiffened and then obediently knelt on the ground, no longer daring to be insolent.

The Princess looked up at the sky, a playful smile slowly forming on her lips.

She just wanted to see the decline of the Qin family, the downfall of the Empress Dowager, the Emperor becoming a puppet, and the power of the realm falling into other hands—that would make her heart content!