Chapter 53: Standing Up to the Princess

As soon as Yaoyao heard Princess Junhe say she was going to take Xie Yixing away, her fair little face instantly flushed red.

“You’re kidnapping a child in broad daylight! You’re a child trafficker!”

Yaoyao widened her big round eyes, every movement full of lively spirit.

The teahouse manager broke into a cold sweat when he heard her words.

Little ancestor, the one you’re provoking is Princess Junhe—the emperor’s own daughter!

Xie Yixing couldn’t help but laugh.

He hadn’t expected that after studying with him for a while, Yaoyao had already learned how to apply her knowledge.

It seemed she’d be ready to start reading The Analects after the New Year.

On the opposite side, Princess Junhe was so angry she was practically fuming.

Her proud little face twisted with displeasure, and her tone grew even more domineering. “I’m a princess! A noble, high-ranking princess! And what are you?! How dare you slander me?”

Since birth, she had been doted on by her father the emperor—even the empress wouldn’t dare scold her. And now, outside the palace, she was being lectured by a nameless little girl?

Princess Junhe couldn’t swallow her pride. She raised the riding whip in her hand and swung it toward Yaoyao.

Seeing the princess’s movement speed up, the teahouse manager was about to lunge forward and block the blow for them. But he was yanked back by the palace maid and eunuch beside the princess.

“Our princess is disciplining someone. Why are you meddling in her business?”

The manager was sweating through his palms.

Whether it was the princess or the young heir, neither was someone his little teahouse could afford to offend!

Xie Yixing pulled Yaoyao behind him with a backward motion, shielding her completely.

Yet his expression didn’t show the slightest trace of fear. His deep eyes became shrouded with a chilling frost.

Aside from Princess Junhe, even the palace maids and eunuchs shrank back when they met his gaze, nervously looking toward their princess, who insisted on punishing them—worried she might suffer instead.

Still, they felt it was unlikely. After all, the princess held a whip, and the boy was unarmed.

Just as the whip was about to strike down, Xie Yixing reached for the dagger at his waist, which was inlaid with a ruby.

Ever since Yaoyao had entrusted him with the dagger, he carried it daily and cleaned it every night.

The teahouse manager shut his eyes, nearly forgetting to breathe.

Just when he thought he was about to hear the scream of a child, a thunderous shriek came from Princess Junhe.

“You—you broke the whip my father gave me!”

Princess Junhe puffed out her cheeks in fury. Her entire face—from eyes to ears to neck—turned bright red.

Enraged, she threw away the broken half of the whip and glared at the remaining piece on the floor. Her embroidered shoes with jingling bells stomped so hard it seemed she wanted to break the floorboards.

“You—you all—!”

She pointed furiously at the people opposite her, tongue-tied in rage, her eyebrows twisted into a knot.

“Seize them for me and beat them hard!”

Upon hearing the princess’s order, the eunuchs and maids rolled up their sleeves and prepared to charge forward.

Yaoyao tugged tightly at Xie Yixing’s sleeve and softly whispered, “Brother Persimmon.”

When Princess Junhe swung her whip, Yaoyao had turned red with anger too.

She had never seen someone so arrogant and unreasonable.

Her father had taught her that a gentleman uses words, not fists.

This prettily dressed girl in front of her—clearly not a gentleman!

Xie Yixing’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the little flower snake peeking out by Yaoyao’s side. The snake sensed his gaze but, surprisingly, didn’t seem frightened.

Hua Hua flicked its tongue and immediately raised its head.

Hiss hiss—leave this to me!

If Yaoyao got taken away, who would feed it pastries?

Hua Hua slithered quickly, weaving skillfully around the feet on the floor and climbed onto Princess Junhe’s embroidered shoe.

At that moment, Princess Junhe was smugly standing with arms crossed and chin raised, proudly watching her people rush forward—completely unaware that danger was looming.

Yaoyao grabbed a teacup from the table and threw it forcefully forward.

Unfortunately, her aim was off—the delicate little cup shattered on the ground into tiny pieces.

Seeing this, Xie Yixing’s eyes grew colder and sharper.

Although the eunuchs and maids were afraid of Xie Yixing’s chilling gaze, in the end, he was still a child—not a real threat to them.

Just as they were about to reach the pair, a sharp, panicked scream rang out from behind them—from Princess Junhe herself.

“Snake!”

“There’s a snake!”

Terrified, Princess Junhe stumbled backward. She raised her arm, trying to shake off the little flower snake wrapped tightly around her wrist.

But Hua Hua was firmly coiled around her, flicking its tongue and glaring at her with unmistakable menace.

The palace maids and eunuchs, hearing her cry, immediately forgot about grabbing anyone. They turned around to rescue the princess.

But the snake looked so fierce that no one dared to reach out. They were afraid if they pulled it wrong, it might get angry and bite her for real.

As the light in Princess Junhe’s eyes began to fade with fear, her personal maid Maple gritted her teeth, steeled herself to let the snake bite her in order to save the princess—but just then, she heard a soft, childish voice behind her call out:

“Hua Hua!”

She turned her head just in time to see the flower snake instantly unwind itself and leap off the princess—happily slithering back toward the little girl.

Hua Hua quickly returned to Yaoyao’s side. The once vicious gleam in its eyes softened instantly.

It wagged its head, as if showing off its achievements to Yaoyao.

Hiss hiss! I’m amazing, right? Praise me!

Yaoyao gently patted the little flower snake’s head with her chubby hand and said sweetly, “Good Hua Hua. I’ll give you pastries when we get home.”

Hearing the word pastries, Hua Hua nodded in satisfaction.

Xie Yixing moved slightly.

Though he said nothing, Yaoyao could see a fire burning fiercely in his eyes from his profile.

The palace maids and eunuchs near Princess Junhe suddenly felt a chill crawl down their spines. When they turned around and met Xie Yixing’s cold, gleaming eyes, their scalps tingled.

“Take the princess away!”

Maple quickly picked up the princess. Seeing her face turn paler and her hands grow icy cold, she was just about to leave—

But Xie Yixing’s voice stopped her: “Halt.”

His tone wasn’t particularly cold or hot, but the eerie pressure he gave off made people feel fear deep in their bones.

Before Maple could move, several guards suddenly appeared at the door of the private booth.

They were all armed and bowed in unison. “Greetings, Young Heir!”

Xie Yixing pressed his lips together, his eyes dark and frightening. “Deal with them.”

“Yes, sir!”

The guards didn’t hesitate for even a second. As they were about to act, Maple nearly dropped the princess in fear and shouted desperately:

“You dare touch the princess?! Aren’t you afraid the emperor will destroy your marquisate when he finds out?!”

But the guards were unmoved.

They were deathsworn soldiers of the Marquis’s household and obeyed only the Young Heir.

If the Young Heir told them to go east, they wouldn’t go west.

If he told them to eliminate someone, they would do it without question.

Once the guards had the group surrounded, Xie Yixing finally turned back.

When his eyes landed on Yaoyao, the frost in them instantly melted.

“Let’s go.”

He took her hand, walked around the people blocking the doorway, ignored the teahouse manager’s pleading gaze, and headed straight downstairs.

By the time they stepped out of the teahouse, the puppet show had ended.

Yaoyao lowered her head regretfully and sighed.

Noticing her disappointment, Xie Yixing’s gaze shifted to a nearby stall selling masks.

Just as he led Yaoyao over to take a look, people from the marquisate arrived.