jdhmnovel Chapter 154 Decisive
Chapter 154 Decisive
This time, Qin Caihong directly had her maid stop Zisu.
When Zisu went out, unless she was going to a very far place, she always walked. Of course, when walking on the street, she dressed simply, with only a few small beaded flowers adorning her hair.
Today, she wore the same dress as usual, but it was actually a culotte. While it looked like a dress, it was actually trousers; Zisu had drawn the sketch herself and had Xiangli sew them. This was a modification of her dress, inspired by a dream she had, specifically designed for wearing when going out.
Of course, if attending a banquet, one would naturally wear a dress typical of the era. The General of the Nation's Mansion usually commissioned gifts from the Ni Chang Ge (霓裳阁). Ni Chang Ge was the best tailor shop in the capital, and with Zisu's wealth, she could easily afford to have several formal dresses made for her family of four each year.
Of course, this gift can be worn on ordinary days as well as at banquets. However, it's still vastly different from gifts in the future. It's just a bit more luxurious and formal than everyday clothing.
Today, Zisu was dressed very casually and simply. In Qin Caihong's eyes, the Protector General's Mansion was a dilapidated household, unable to even afford a decent set of clothes and jewelry. Thinking this, she felt even more contempt for Zisu, and her desire to hit Zisu grew stronger.
On the bustling street, she stopped Zisu.
"Shangguan Zisu, you shameless hussy, you actually seduced my cousin, Prince Duan, and stole my fiancé! You'll die a horrible death!" She started with a barrage of insults.
Zisu snorted coldly and retorted sharply: "I seduced your cousin, Prince Duan. Which eye of yours saw that? Prince Duan doesn't seem to be engaged, so how did he become your fiancé? Are you out of your mind, desperate to marry Prince Duan?!"
Qin Caihong: "My aunt and my mother had already discussed it privately, and we would get engaged after my cousin and I grew up. If it weren't for you, my cousin would definitely have agreed to marry me. It's all your fault for seducing my cousin and making him change his mind! You slut, I curse you to die a horrible death!"
These words immediately sparked a flurry of discussion among the onlookers, some sympathizing with Zisu, others with Qin Caihong. However, the prevailing public opinion was far from favorable to Zisu.
Zisu was instantly enraged. To be stopped and insulted for no reason—even a gentle rabbit would bite! Her gaze darkened, she nodded to Xiangli, and said two words: "Slap her!"
Xiangli understood immediately and stepped forward, grabbing Qin Caihong and slapping her while shouting, "You crazy woman, you dare to insult the princess for no reason! If I don't teach you a lesson today, you'll keep bothering me! You said my princess seduced Prince Duan, which eye of yours saw that? Prince Duan didn't want to marry you, and you tried to drug him but were kicked out of the palace. You got angry and took it out on my princess. Do you really think my princess is a pushover, someone to be bullied?!"
Before the words were even finished, the people around couldn't help but look enlightened. Some of them murmured, "So that's how it is. So she did something despicable and was kicked out of the Prince's mansion, so she took her anger out on Princess Yulin. What a shameless woman! She actually has the nerve to insult others in the street!"
"Yes, who can argue with that? If this were my daughter, I'd kick her to death to avoid tarnishing the family's reputation!"
"That's right. I've heard that several young ladies from the Duan Prince's family have moved into the Duan Prince's residence, which has made the Duan Prince afraid to return to the Prince's residence, for fear of being schemed against by the young ladies from the family!"
The crowd was abuzz with discussion, and public opinion leaned towards Zisu.
Xiangli struck with all her might, each slap carrying seventy percent of her strength. Qin Caihong was dazed and disoriented; her cheeks quickly swelled and turned red, and two of her teeth even became loose. It was only because she held back that she managed to knock out several teeth.
"You, you Shangguan Zisu, I'll remember this! I'm going to the Prince Duan's mansion right now and have my aunt deal with you!" Qin Caihong covered her swollen cheeks and said angrily.
Before he could finish speaking, a stern voice rang out: "Who did you say you wanted to deal with?!" The voice came from outside the crowd, and the crowd quickly parted to make way for him.
Prince Duan strode over.
Qin Caihong rushed over: "Cousin, that bitch Shangguan Zisu had her maid beat me! You must avenge me! Otherwise, Caihong won't be able to live!"
"Revenge? What revenge? This is the second time you've insulted and cursed Princess Yulin without saying a word. This is insubordination. Even if the princess beats you to death, she won't bear any responsibility!" Prince Duan dodged quickly, and Qin Caihong missed her target, falling face-first into the mud and slumping to the ground, looking extremely disheveled.
Qin Caihong: "Cousin, I'm your cousin Caihong, you can't bully your cousin on behalf of outsiders!"
Prince Duan: "Princess Yulin's father is my savior, and she is the person I love, the one I cherish. I once swore that no matter who dares to bully her, I will never let them off easily! Besides, there was never any engagement between you and me. It was just a joke my mother and your mother made in private when we were young. Before that, I was always at the Northwest border, and I had never even seen your face before returning from the Northwest."
It was just recently, when you were lingering at the Prince's residence and wouldn't leave. I saw you twice when I went home. There were at least thirty, if not fifty, people present. And I only said two sentences to you, telling you that I would absolutely not marry you, even if you were willing to be my concubine, I would never take you! I asked my mother to send you back to your hometown, but you secretly ran away and returned to the capital. As soon as you got back to the capital, you secretly hid, apparently trying to find an opportunity to ruin Princess Yulin's reputation, trying to deal with Princess Yulin!
"A woman as cruel and unfaithful as you isn't even worthy to carry my shoes! I've said my piece. Now get back to your hometown and never let me see you again! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite! While you were staying at the Prince's mansion, all you wanted to do was drug me and force myself on me."
Qin Caihong was shocked and blurted out, "How did you know that?"
Prince Duan snorted coldly: "Do you think the guards in the Prince's mansion are just for show? Although I am not in the mansion, I know everything about the people in it!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Caihong's face turned pale: "Since you knew, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Prince Duan: "I only spared you some face because you're my cousin. I never expected you to intercept Princess Yulin time and time again and publicly insult and curse her! Let me tell you, she is the only woman I've ever loved in my life, and I will marry no one but her!"
"Besides, I only want her for the rest of my life, and I will be devoted to her wholeheartedly. I will never have any concubines, mistresses, or maids! Forget about it, I will never want you no matter what. If you know what's good for you, get back home right now and don't force me to take drastic measures!"
The room fell silent upon hearing this. Many women looked at Zisu with envy, while a few young girls glared at her with sharp, resentful eyes.
Qin Caihong suddenly looked up and glared fiercely at Zisu, her gaze seemingly poisonous.
Prince Duan raised his right hand and slapped Qin Caihong across the face: "You deserve to die! How dare you look at Princess Yulin like that in front of me? Do you have a death wish? Today, I'll let you off this time because you're my cousin. But if there's a next time, I'll make you wish you were dead!"
Qin Caihong cried out, "Why? You're my cousin!"
Prince Duan: "I don't have such a shameless and vicious cousin! From now on, she is not allowed to approach Princess Yulin or Prince Duan's residence, otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Qin Caihong glared fiercely at Zisu, wanting to pounce on her and fight her to the death. However, Duan Wang gave her a cold glance, and she immediately lost her courage.
Her maids squeezed through the crowd and helped her up. One of the more composed maids advised, "Miss, let's go home!"
Prince Duan coldly replied, "Go home right now! Your uncle is going crazy looking for you. You actually ran away from home! Set off for home immediately. I'll send two guards to escort you back. If you run away from home again, I won't care whether you live or die!"
After saying that, he instructed, "Lide and Liyun, you two escort Miss Qin home. Be sure to tell her parents that she insulted Princess Yulin. If there is a next time, I will not let her off easily!"
"Yes, Master, your subordinates obey!" Li De and Li Yun hurriedly and respectfully agreed. Then Li De quickly flagged down a carriage and escorted Qin Caihong and her two maids away.
Prince Duan waved his hand: "Disperse, everyone. Please tell each other that if anyone dares to offend Princess Yulin, don't blame me for being impolite!"
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Prince Duan said to Zisu, "Where are you going? I'll take you there!"
Zisu rolled her eyes at him: "Are you deliberately trying to make sure I can't get married in the future by acting like this today?"
Prince Duan: "You've misunderstood. I did this to make an example of you, to deter those infatuated girls who will keep bothering me from targeting you in the future. I'm protecting you, please understand! In any case, Qin Caihong treated you that way today because of me. I'm very sorry, I apologize!"
---I'll try to update with a big picture post tomorrow morning. Goodnight, muah!