Chapter 40

Xiao Yuanfu was absolutely furious.

His voice had grown louder than before, and his words naturally reached Xie Qingya’s ears.

In fact, Xie Qingya had heard bits and pieces earlier, though not everything.

At least one thing was clear to him—Xu Duanyi was defending him and his family.

Xie Qingya didn’t speak, but his gaze on Xu Duanyi became increasingly profound and distant.

Xu Duanyi, however, had no idea Xie Qingya was looking at her.

Otherwise, she probably wouldn’t have been so calm in speaking to Xiao Yuanfu.

“If you don’t do anything wrong, you don’t need to fear anything. Second cousin, as long as you don’t do these things, why should I be concerned about blaming you?” Xu Duanyi said this with a gentle smile, her tone calm and steady. She didn’t let Xiao Yuanfu’s outburst throw her off balance.

Had it been any other time, Xiao Yuanfu would have been charmed by her voice and would never have paid attention to what she was saying.

But at this moment—

Hearing Xu Duanyi’s words, he felt his blood boil.

It turned out that soft words could be more powerful than sharp ones!

How had he not realized before how formidable his cousin was?

Xiao Yuanfu glared at Xu Duanyi, gritting his teeth for a long time, but being accustomed to a life of luxury and flattery, he refused to lower his head—especially in front of Xie Qingya.

Xiao Yuanfu looked at Xu Duanyi coldly and said, “Even if my aunt dotes on you, at the end of the day, you’re not of the same family name. I, just like her, am from the Xiao family!”

“You don’t really think my aunt will listen to you about those childish matters from the past and punish me, do you?”

“Even if she does punish me, it will be a small reprimand.”

“You seriously think my aunt will scold me on your behalf? I am a son of the Xiao family!”

The more Xiao Yuanfu spoke, the more he felt he was justified, and his arrogance grew.

Right!

Not only was Xu Duanyi a relative of his aunt.

He was too!

He shared the same surname as his aunt—Xiao—and was closer to her than Xu Duanyi.

No matter how favored Xu Duanyi was, she was still a Xu, not a member of their family!

Earlier, he had truly lost his senses.

Why should he fear Xu Duanyi?

And those things happened more than ten years ago—back when they were children. Who would still take them seriously?

Xiao Yuanfu’s sense of pride and arrogance returned.

He pushed himself up with the servant’s help, thinking his cousin had been in the palace for too long and was beginning to take herself too seriously.

His previous despondency vanished.

Xiao Yuanfu looked at Xu Duanyi, letting out a small huff, and took a couple of steps toward her.

At this point, he had no intention of continuing to offend her.

There was one thing Xu Duanyi said that was correct.

If his aunt found out about the things he had done to Xu Duanyi in the past, she would definitely not let him off easily.

He was fond of beautiful women.

But he didn’t want to become a ghost under the peony flower.

Xu Duanyi was beautiful, and he did like her, but now that he saw through the true nature behind her gentle facade, he had no intention of pursuing her further.

With his status, what kind of beauty couldn’t he have?

Why would he sacrifice his bright future just for Xu Duanyi?

His aim today was simply to warn her and make her understand her position.

Some matters could be resolved with a little compromise from both sides.

He could let go of the things Xie Qingya had done to him today, but Xu Duanyi shouldn’t think she could threaten him.

However, as soon as Xie Qingya, who had been standing behind, noticed Xiao Yuanfu approaching, his expression darkened.

Without a word, he walked over with a cold, stern face.

Hearing the footsteps, Xiao Yuanfu looked up. When he saw Xie Qingya’s cold face, he was suddenly reminded of the suffocating feeling he had earlier when he had been held underwater.

For just a brief moment, he truly thought he was going to die.

His expression froze.

His steps instinctively halted, and he even unconsciously took a step back.

When he realized his own actions, Xiao Yuanfu, as if losing all color from his face, suddenly shoved the servant who was assisting him aside, straightened his dampened clothes from the water splashes, stood up straight, raised his head, and said to Xie Qingya: “What are you looking at? Do you really think I’m afraid of you?!”

Xie Qingya looked at him with a half-smile, clicking his tongue.

Xiao Yuanfu was one of the people Xie Qingya hated most, second only to Cao Da. He used his family connections to act recklessly, bullying the weak and pretending to be powerful.

He had no real skill but still tried to act like a big shot.

A weak, boastful fool.

He was a coward who only picked on the weak.

Yet, someone like him still held a high position in the court.

Xie Qingya felt his hands itching to act.

But just as he was about to walk towards Xiao Yuanfu, Xu Duanyi suddenly grabbed his arm.

This was the first time Xu Duanyi had ever taken the initiative to grab his arm.

Everything seemed to slow down at that moment.

Xie Qingya lowered his head, looking at her hand resting on his arm. He was so surprised that he temporarily forgot to speak.

Xu Duanyi didn’t notice Xie Qingya’s current state.

She was acting out of desperation.

If it weren’t urgent, she wouldn’t have done this.

Not knowing what Xie Qingya would think at this moment, Xu Duanyi didn’t dare to look at him. She just wanted him to stay silent for now.

She didn’t want him to take action.

Dealing with someone like Xiao Yuanfu didn’t require self-harm.

She had her own ways of making him shut up.

Not feeling Xie Qingya trying to break free, Xu Duanyi secretly let out a sigh of relief.

Thankfully.

Xie Qingya still respected her face in public.

Now that her worries had eased, Xu Duanyi stopped feeling anxious and continued speaking to Xiao Yuanfu: “You say Aunt won’t punish you harshly because of what happened when we were young? But what if I say you’re trying to bully me today?”

Before Xiao Yuanfu could argue, Xu Duanyi looked at him and continued, “Or perhaps I should tell Aunt that when I was promised to the Crown Prince, you thought of bullying me?”

Seeing Xiao Yuanfu’s eyes suddenly widen, Xu Duanyi smiled gently: “Second cousin, what do you think Aunt would think?”

As she said this, Xu Duanyi still kept a firm grip on Xie Qingya’s arm, fearful that he might recklessly punch Xiao Yuanfu.

She could feel it.

After she spoke, Xie Qingya suddenly shot her a look.

But she didn’t turn to look at him.

Instead, she kept her focus on Xiao Yuanfu.

She saw Xiao Yuanfu’s face change after a brief daze, and he suddenly retorted loudly, “What nonsense are you talking about? I…”

His words, almost escaping his mouth, were stopped as he remembered the late Wen Zhao’s cousin. Even someone as despicable as Xiao Yuanfu couldn’t help but feel a trace of fear.

He knew his aunt.

When it came to Wen Zhao’s cousin, she wouldn’t care about his surname!

If Xu Duanyi really went to her aunt with these words, there was no way she would let him off lightly!

Xiao Yuanfu was genuinely frightened now.

He was afraid someone might overhear, so he instinctively lowered his voice. But his anger couldn’t be suppressed, and he snarled at Xu Duanyi, “When did I have such thoughts? Xu Duanyi, don’t slander me!”

Even with all his bravado, he knew well what he could and couldn’t do!

Even if he did have such thoughts, he had never acted on them!

Xu Duanyi smiled.

She wasn’t frightened by Xiao Yuanfu’s appearance. She calmly replied, “Who would think I’m slandering you?”

Before Xiao Yuanfu could speak, Xu Duanyi asked with a smile, “Second cousin, do you think they would believe you or believe me?”

Xiao Yuanfu was even more flustered by Xu Duanyi’s smile.

Completely lost.

He glanced at his servant beside him and suddenly pulled him over, pointing at him and Xu Duanyi, saying, “I have a witness! He heard everything you said!”

“Don’t try to slander me!”

But Xu Duanyi just looked at him helplessly, like she was looking at a child who had done something wrong.

She didn’t say a word.

Xiao Yuanfu felt a wave of futility and helplessness.

He gradually released his grip on the servant, realizing something clearly.

No one would believe him.

Even his grandmother and mother, who loved him the most, wouldn’t believe him. They would only find ways to cover for him.

For someone who had spent his life hunting eagles…

Today, it was he who got his eyes pecked out by one.

This was the first time Xiao Yuanfu had ever felt this way.

He was so angry, yet the arrogance was gone. He raised his head, looked at Xu Duanyi, then Xie Qingya, and then pointed at them. Without saying another word, he suddenly turned and walked away.