Chapter 19: The Little Pitiful One

Murong Xiao came to see Zhuang Xiaoyu’s humiliation, feeling that she should have been thoroughly tormented by the Empress. He wanted to kick her while she was down, but when he entered the courtyard, he was stunned. The maidservants and old women were all lying on the ground, and the Grand Princess’s hair was disheveled, her face red and panting as she stood there, while Zhuang Xiaoyu sat calmly in a chair, eating an apple.

“This woman is too vile! She knocked everyone unconscious! She’s a demoness, a demoness!” Murong Wei huffed in exhaustion. Upon seeing Murong Xiao, she could no longer hold herself up and collapsed to the ground.

“Your Majesty, please get up. Zhuang Xiaoyu, what madness are you up to now?” Murong Xiao helped her up, but the only chair was already occupied by Zhuang Xiaoyu.

“Zhuang Xiaoyu, get up immediately!” he ordered.

“Murong Xiao, are you ill? Didn’t you see the situation? From now on, show me some respect,” Zhuang Xiaoyu replied with a hint of mockery.

“You evil woman, you must be skilled in sorcery!” Murong Xiao accused.

“If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll make you into the ‘Fart King,’” Zhuang Xiaoyu threatened.

“Liu Xing, take her down!” Murong Xiao commanded.

Liu Xing stepped forward with a sword, expecting Zhuang Xiaoyu to be frightened. But when the sword was pressed to her neck, she didn’t even flinch.

“Get up quickly and apologize to the Empress,” Murong Xiao ordered again.

Zhuang Xiaoyu slowly raised her hand, pinched the sword with two fingers, applied a little pressure, and with a sharp crack, the blade fell to the ground, broken in two.

Liu Xing stared in horror at the broken sword in her hand. Murong Xiao was equally terrified, while Murong Wei, trembling, shrank into her brother’s embrace.

With such strength, how could they keep acting arrogant? Weren’t they just asking for death?

“Now, say it again—who should apologize to whom?” Zhuang Xiaoyu asked coldly.

“You… You really know sorcery!” Murong Xiao stammered.

“You call this sorcery? Murong Xiao, your brain and intestines must be made of the same thing. Do you even know what real strength is? People like you—small fry—I could crush you without breaking a sweat, yet here you are acting all high and mighty, like idiots,” Zhuang Xiaoyu retorted.

“…”

“And you’re still holding that bowl of water on your head? How childish. Stop wasting your time on useless things and just act like a human being.”

“…”

“Now that you’re married, focus on being a good wife and mother. Don’t meddle in your family’s messy affairs, or you’ll end up dragging your husband and children down with you.”

“…”

“And you, Murong Xiao, with a mind as narrow as a needle’s eye, always indulging in vile, underhanded schemes. You think you’re worthy of the throne? Do you honestly think you’re qualified?” Zhuang Xiaoyu continued, her voice dripping with disdain.

“…”

“Just live your life quietly. If you keep showing off, I’ll crush you. Although death is inevitable, I’m sure you don’t want to die early, do you? Prepare a carriage and take me back,” Zhuang Xiaoyu concluded.

Murong Xuan heard that the Grand Princess was going to teach Zhuang Xiaoyu a lesson, so he sent Jian Yi to gather information. Jian Yi arrived to find Liu Xing respectfully escorting Zhuang Xiaoyu onto the Crown Prince’s carriage and personally driving her back to the Prime Minister’s residence.

Jian Yi was confused, so he quietly inquired at the Grand Princess’s residence and learned that Zhuang Xiaoyu had subdued all the maids and servants, even scaring the Crown Prince.

“Your Highness, this Miss Zhuang seems to be quite extraordinary. She actually got Liu Xing to personally drive her home,” Jian Yi reported.

“She must have been beaten,” Murong Xuan replied nonchalantly.

“How do you know?” Jian Yi asked, puzzled.

“I’ve seen her abilities firsthand,” Murong Xuan said.

“She couldn’t be the woman you mentioned, could she?” Jian Yi asked carefully.

“…”

Murong Xuan didn’t confirm it, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt that she might indeed be the one he had imagined—though certainly different from the aloof heroine he had envisioned.

“Your Highness? Your Highness?” Jian Yi called out, noticing that Murong Xuan had zoned out again.

Every time the topic of that woman came up, his usually sharp and decisive general became distracted.

After that day, Murong Xiao had kept a low profile. He had learned that when Zhuang Xiaoyu left, she had pushed him aside, and suddenly, he felt a rush of blood to his head, spitting out blood.

Even he, not the sharpest of people, realized what had happened. At first, he had thought it was because she had angered him, but now he understood—it was because she had actually struck him.

The Grand Princess ceased her efforts entirely. When she saw Zhuang Xiaoyu, she would walk away. Zhuang Xiaoyu was simply a madwoman—there was no point in provoking her; avoiding her was the wisest choice.

This was the kind of life Zhuang Xiaoyu wanted—just a life of ease where she could sit back, relax, eat whenever she wanted, and sleep whenever she pleased, without anyone causing trouble for her.

Suddenly, Prince Xuan visited. Today, Murong Xuan had made an effort to dress up. He spent a long time looking in the mirror, thinking of himself as a graceful and charming figure, before stepping out.

He had decided to ask Zhuang Xiaoyu in person and confirm whether she was the one who had saved him that day. If she was, he believed that she should fulfill her promise of offering herself in gratitude. However, he had forgotten that the promise was only his one-sided assumption.

Old Zhuang, who valued etiquette, respectfully invited the prince into the main hall and ordered tea to be brought.

“Your Highness, what brings you here today?”

Did he finally come around and now want to take the throne?

“I came to see Miss Zhuang, I have something I need to ask her,” Murong Xuan replied.

“Alright, I’ll bring her here right away. Your Highness, has Xiaoyu caused some trouble again?” Zhuang’s father asked, a little worried.

“No, there’s something I need to confirm with Miss Zhuang,” Murong Xuan clarified.

Zhuang Xiaoyu had just changed into a new dress—still a pale purple one. Her figure was perfect, and the purple attire made her look especially dignified.

People often thought she was a country bumpkin, assuming her to be someone from a rural background due to her carefree personality, but anyone who took a good look would see that she had an air of arrogance, an unmistakable air of confidence.

When Zhuang Xiaoyu entered the hall in her purple dress, Murong Xuan froze. It was obvious now without a doubt—it had to be her.

“What does His Highness need with me?” Zhuang Xiaoyu asked, having already gotten familiar with him and skipping any formalities.

“Ah, manners, manners, haha, this child has grown too casual. Please don’t mind, Your Highness,” Old Zhuang said with a nervous smile.

Zhuang Xiaoyu didn’t even seem to hear, casually finding a chair and sitting down.

“You came to see me, what’s this about? Go ahead and speak.”

“Miss Zhuang, you’re quite straightforward. On my way back to the capital, I was attacked. A woman saved me that day. Was that woman Miss Zhuang?”

“I’ve saved many people on the road. Who are you?”

“I used leaves as darts to help you kill the assassin. Do you remember?”

“Oh? So you’re that little pitiful one?” Zhuang Xiaoyu stood up and circled around Murong Xuan.

“… I am.”

Little pitiful one? He might be pitiful, but he wasn’t small. He was taller than her, older than her—how could she call him little?

“Why on earth would so many people want to kill you? Do you know who did it?”

“I know.”

“Have you gone back yet? If not, just tell me. I can help you,” she added, patting his shoulder.

She’s the older sister? And he’s the little one? Murong Xuan twitched his lips. Did she like being called sister?

Zhuang Jian looked on, stunned. The prince had been attacked, and his daughter had saved him? It sounded so unreliable, but the prince’s expression didn’t seem like he was joking.

“Xiaoyu, don’t say such nonsense. How could His Highness need help from you, a delicate woman?”

“Your sister is no delicate woman. Women can be as capable as men, and when saving someone’s life, the promise should be fulfilled. Xiaoyu, His Highness is ready, as long as you’re willing…” Murong Xuan said, but Zhuang Xiaoyu quickly interrupted.

“I’m not willing, not willing, don’t say any more. If you keep going, I’ll fall out with you,” Zhuang Xiaoyu said, hastily stopping him.

Murong Xuan felt a little uncomfortable. He had thought of himself as a graceful figure, but now it seemed she wasn’t interested. After all, she was a heroine, so why would she care about a “little pitiful one”? He had overestimated himself.

“Your Highness, don’t listen to her nonsense. If she’s willing, I’ll do it!” Zhuang Jian added eagerly.

“Old Zhuang, stop causing trouble. If she’s willing, you marry her,” Zhuang Xiaoyu’s father said, trying to arrange a marriage.

“Child, how could you not agree? The prince has come down to ask for your hand! Aren’t you foolish?”

Zhuang Jian grabbed Zhuang Xiaoyu, refusing to let her leave. He was pleased with the proposal.

Zhuang Xiaoyu whispered in her father’s ear, “Dad, you forgot I already have someone I like.”

Zhuang Jian froze. “Oh right, I got too excited. I really shouldn’t have forgotten about that.” He sighed and realized that he couldn’t agree to this proposal after all.