Chapter 180: A Single Word Repels
“May I ask what offense my maidservant committed to warrant the County Princess resorting to torture?” Wen Mingqian walked forward calmly, clad in a cloud brocade cloak of twilight purple. Her steps were light, and the Spring Water Jade Pendant at her waist was faintly visible.
Liu Huanchun’s eyes reddened with pain and anger. She sneered, “Your good servant was disrespectful to me, so naturally, this County Princess had to teach her a lesson.”
“Oh? Did she insult you, Your County Princess, or did she lay hands on you?” Wen Mingqian asked with a smile, her tone tinged with a hint of cynicism.
“What are you saying? How could our dignified County Princess allow herself to be insulted or struck by her? She simply didn’t step forward to greet our County Princess when called, and she didn’t respond,” said a maidservant beside Liu Huanchun.
“So that’s all it was.” Wen Mingqian understood. “For such a trivial matter, Your County Princess would stoop to anger? Moreover, this is a pure Buddhist land; wouldn’t such punishment diminish your blessings?”
“Your masters and servants are truly of the same ilk, all so glib, frivolous, and seductive!” Liu Huanchun had been spoiled since childhood. She was the only daughter in her family, and her parents doted on her immensely. Even her sister-in-law, after marrying into the family, always yielded to her.
Since childhood, no one had treated her this way, except for Ying Wuchou, whom she admired, who had given her the cold shoulder.
“Your County Princess is indeed well-bred,” Wen Mingqian’s face also turned cold. “My maidservant’s failure to greet you was disrespectful, but is your insult towards us not also disrespectful?
Furthermore, the gifts Your County Princess chose earlier were truly unreasonable. We are merely guests here, not the hosts; what responsibility do we have to welcome guests?”
“You surnamed Wen, don’t think you can do as you please just because you’ve gained the Grand Princess’s favor. Our Liu family are military officials. If it comes to sharp tongues, we are no match for a sharp-tongued person like you. But if it comes to a fight, I can take on three like you,” Liu Huanchun said aggressively.
“Your County Princess has brought many people; we are no match for you. Since you’ve decided to bully us with numbers, I can only accept my bad luck,” Wen Mingqian said. “However, I believe you’ve all heard of me; the barefoot are not afraid of those with shoes.
If you push things too far today, I will definitely seek justice.
I know you have waited for Prince Changliu for many years. Perhaps with this deep affection, you might still move him, or you could request an imperial decree to officiate your marriage.
But if you resort to bullying today, I will definitely go and cry to the Grand Princess and Prince Changliu. Even if they, out of consideration for face, do not punish you, your favorability will be completely ruined. If you are not afraid, then go ahead!”
“Fine, fine, you surnamed Wen, you truly are a shrew! Don’t think I don’t know what kind of person you are,” Liu Huanchun’s lips twitched with anger. “Consort Song of the Gong Family died under mysterious circumstances; it must have been you who caused it. You viperous woman with a heart of a viper! You will never have a good end!”
Although she was scolding like this, her momentum was clearly weaker than before. Wen Mingqian’s words had struck her at her seven inches, hitting her vital spot.
From the age of fifteen, she fell in love with Ying Wuchou at first sight, and her affection deepened, making it impossible to extricate herself.
She remembered the palace banquet that January. Her father was rewarded with the title of Prince for his meritorious service in capturing the escaped Consort Shen and Bu Yuegui.
Because of this, she was able to attend the banquet. To this day, she still remembers the scene vividly.
Ying Wuchou performed a sword dance during the banquet, so dashing, heroic, and full of killing intent.
In the final move, his long sword pointed directly at her father, Liu Heng.
She was sitting nearby at the time and felt her blood run cold, her mind going blank.
The sharp sword tip was only half an inch from her father’s throat. Ying Wuchou’s tense face suddenly broke into a smile: “My Lord Prince, please forgive me. I drank a bit too much wine and lost my aim.”
Cold sweat streamed down Liu Heng’s face, but Liu Huanchun was captivated by Ying Wuchou’s smile.
She had never seen such a spirited and clean smile. It wasn’t the gentle refinement of a scholar, nor the slick nonchalance of a dissolute young master.
It was a smile that seemed to have been cleansed by a clear spring in the vast desert, blown by the fierce winds that lift an eagle’s wings, a smile unique to a resolute general.
Eight years have passed since then, and that memory has only become more vivid with the passage of time.
Prince Changliu had not returned to the capital for a long time, only coming back at the end of last year.
She had waited too long and did not want to wait any longer.
Therefore, she yearned even more for a good outcome to fulfill her deep affection.
Wen Mingqian’s words forced her to reconsider; if her reputation were ruined, it could not be mended.
“County Princess, we have other matters to attend to, so we will take our leave.” Wen Mingqian pulled Sang Er along, cast a faint glance at Liu Huanchun, and then calmly departed.
“County Princess, shall we…?” the Granny asked softly.
“Let’s go back!” Liu Huanchun said irritably. “Haven’t we embarrassed ourselves enough?!”
She had come in a fit of rage, intending to teach Wen Mingqian a lesson and vent her anger. She never expected that a few words from the other party would trap her.
She increasingly felt that Wen Mingqian was a dangerous person; she definitely couldn’t handle her alone.
Liu Heng’s wife, Jiang Shi, had returned to her maternal home these past two days. Her nephew’s wife was giving birth, and she went to accompany her, only returning today.
Upon arriving home and not seeing her daughter, she inquired with the butler and learned what had happened.
When Liu Huanchun returned home, Jiang Shi said, “Did you gain any advantage?”
Liu Huanchun looked dejected. “That surnamed Wen is thick-skinned and has a sharp tongue; I’m no match for her.”
“I guessed you wouldn’t be able to deal with her.” A mother knows her child best; Jiang Shi was well aware of her daughter’s temperament. “I’ve told you before, don’t act rashly. Discuss matters with your family; why don’t you ever listen?”
“I wanted to discuss it, but you and my sister-in-law were not home, so who was I supposed to talk to?” Liu Huanchun said unhappily. “Stop lecturing me. If that surnamed Wen gets her way, I won’t live anymore!”
“Don’t talk about dying or living at the drop of a hat. Wouldn’t that be a betrayal of your father’s and my intentions? In the entire capital, how many are as willful as you? You said you wouldn’t marry, and you wouldn’t marry; we never forced you. I thought that if I forced you to marry someone you didn’t like, you would be unhappy your entire life.
If that’s the case, it’s better to keep you at home; we can afford to support you,” Jiang Shi said. “Over the years, we’ve tried countless methods to fulfill your wish. But neither the Grand Princess nor Prince Changliu would budge. These two are beyond the Empress’s control; unless the Emperor speaks.”
Jiang Shi truly had no way with this daughter. How could she bear to see her daughter wait so long?
But this child seemed to be her fated jinx. She had been stubborn since childhood. Others might turn back after hitting a wall, but she would hit her head against the wall, get dizzy, and then continue to ram into it until she died there.
Jiang Shi knew that sooner or later, she would have to go to the foot of the wall to collect her daughter’s body.
