Feng Caiwei had experienced Tian Baoci’s arrogance firsthand long ago.
Over the years, she hadn’t just idled her time away admiring flowers or practicing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Most of her energy had been spent memorizing the genealogies of all the major noble families in the capital.
This had been something the Feng family told her to learn.
Which family someone came from, what kind of temperament they had, whether there were any exceptional figures in their lineage, and which households they were allied with by marriage.
She had poured an enormous amount of effort into it.
It was all so that, once she became the Imperial Grandson Consort, she could better assist Xiao Yunting in winning over the right people.
But now, Xiao Yunting was no longer destined to enjoy those fruits.
He had failed to see her for what she was—his loss.
What he had seen was a cornered Feng Caiwei, one forced into defending herself.
What he never realized was that he hadn’t even begun to understand her.
But that was fine—she’d make sure he knew that she was a hundred times more capable than Qi Yuan.
So what if someone got killed?
She really wanted to see whether Qi Yuan could still have smooth sailing after running up against the Tian family and Zhou Wang’s household.
Luck always runs out eventually—no one is immune.
And Qi Yuan wouldn’t be the exception.
Leisurely, she sipped her tea.
Xiao Jingzhao sat back down at the table with her, his mood complicated. “You’re truly frightening.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness,” Feng Caiwei replied sarcastically, raising her cup to him with a calm expression. “Why would I rush to the front lines? Hiding in the back is far more comfortable.”
She had been blinded by jealousy before.
Qi Yuan had thrown her plans into chaos, and Feng Jun had died far too suddenly.
Otherwise, she would’ve played the long game.
This was the real her.
No matter how dire the situation, no matter the time or place, she would never accept fate.
Outside the room, the commotion hadn’t stopped.
Tian Baoci was the type who never let things go when he had the upper hand—and even when he didn’t, he’d still find a way to make trouble. He valued his dogs more than human lives.
Qi Yunzhen had kicked one of them, and that alone had enraged him.
Fortunately, the shopkeeper had screamed so desperately for someone to notify Yongping Marquis’s estate that Tian Baoci’s attendants finally began actually trying to restrain him.
Otherwise, he really might have beaten someone to death right there on the street.
Suddenly, Xiao Jingzhao’s fingers tightened around his teacup. He turned to Feng Caiwei and said, “She’s here!”
Feng Caiwei followed his gaze—and saw the hem of a woman’s skirt as Qi Yuan swiftly ascended the stairs.
She came so fast?
Feng Caiwei frowned, but quickly realized—Qi Yuan must have already been nearby.
Otherwise, it might not have been her who showed up, but another elder from the Qi family.
And indeed, they were right.
These two children had been brought out by Qi Yuan herself.
She had taken Shen Jialang and Qi Yunzhen to visit a teacher that Qi Zhen was planning to hire. On the way back, Qi Yunzhen had said he wanted to get some plum blossom dumplings from Baoqing Tower for his grandmother, so he and Shen Jialang had come ahead.
Qi Yuan had been in a nearby bookstore choosing books.
The moment she received the message, she rushed over without delay.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she glanced at the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper looked like he was about to faint.
My god—isn’t this the same young lady from the last time some thugs made trouble? The one who walked away unscathed while they ended up dead?!
His heart thudded wildly in his chest.
But Qi Yuan didn’t spare him a glance.
Tian Baoci had shaken off the attendants trying to restrain him and grabbed Qi Yunzhen by the collar. “You little b*stard, kneel and kowtow to my dog! Otherwise, I don’t care if you’re Yongping Marquis’s son or the d*mn Heavenly King—you’re not getting out of this easy!”
Arrogant.
Unbelievably arrogant!
By now, the onlookers were packed in layers, and everyone was whispering among themselves.
“How can people be compared to dogs?”
“It was his fault—he didn’t keep an eye on his dog, and it went after the kid. The other boy only kicked it to protect his brother!”
“So what if he’s the Empress Dowager’s nephew? That gives him a license to be unreasonable?!”
Others hurriedly tugged on their friends, whispering, “This is officials’ business. Don’t get involved. That other boy is a marquis’s son too!”
Let them bite each other like dogs.
Qi Yunzhen spat out a mouthful of blood and glared coldly at Tian Baoci. “It was your dog that bit my little brother and wouldn’t let go, so I kicked it. I did nothing wrong!”
That’s right—so he wouldn’t apologize.
His sister had taught him: If you make a mistake, you must admit it. But if you’re not in the wrong, never back down.
Tian Baoci was so furious, he laughed. “Is that so?”
He suddenly let go of Qi Yunzhen and slapped him hard across the face, then raised his leg to kick him viciously.
But right at that moment, someone blocked the kick.
Despite Tian Baoci’s size and strength, his leg couldn’t go down—and he couldn’t pull it back either. He grew agitated.
Liu Pingan burst into tears. “Miss!”
He had been beaten badly. His eyes were swollen, his head was bleeding, and his mouth was split open—but he had shielded Shen Jialang the whole time.
Qi Yuan glanced at him, her expression calm. Then she grabbed Tian Baoci’s ankle and yanked hard.
Tian Baoci crashed to the ground—right beside his own dog.
The crowd couldn’t help but gasp.
Just moments ago, Tian Baoci had looked like a giant beating up children. How… how did a girl just drag him down like that?
By now, Xiao Jingzhao and Feng Caiwei had also reached the doorway and witnessed the scene.
Xiao Jingzhao murmured under his breath, “Miss Qi knows martial arts.”
Feng Caiwei had known for a while. She sneered coldly.
Good. Let her know martial arts. Let her know how to kill, too.
If she has the guts, she should kill Tian Baoci right here and now.
Feng Caiwei wanted to see if Qi Yuan really had it in her—to kill the Empress Dowager’s nephew, the fiancé of Zhou Wang’s daughter, in broad daylight.
Tian Baoci laid on the ground, still dazed.
When he came to his senses, he was burning with humiliation and rage.
How had that woman stopped his kick?!
He had trained with princes in the palace since childhood!
With both hands on the ground, he sprang back up and sneered at Qi Yuan, “What now? The little cockroach ran out and brought along a mama cockroach?”
The shopkeeper, trembling, stepped forward to plead. “Sixth Young Master, your anger’s already had its say. Perhaps… perhaps it’s time to let this go…”
He really couldn’t let either side get hurt!
Qi Yunzhen’s eyes brimmed with tears, but he didn’t cry. He just turned to Qi Yuan and said, “Sister, his dog suddenly lunged and bit Jialang. I didn’t start it.”
Qi Yuan gave a small nod and patted his head. “That’s right. You didn’t start it. You’re a real man now.”
As she spoke, it was as if she had eyes in the back of her head. Without turning, she grabbed a flower pot from nearby and smashed it onto Tian Baoci’s head just as he tried to pounce again.
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