Qi Yuan’s strike was swift and ruthless—only Xiao Jingzhao could clearly see just how decisive she had been, from the moment she moved to the way she anticipated Tian Baoci’s counter.
This woman hadn’t even looked back.
Xiao Jingzhao lowered his voice. “Tian Baoci wasn’t able to move at all.”
Tian Baoci had grown up in the palace, and as he got older, he had even become a study companion to the princes. Even Qi Wang had tried hard to win him over.
Naturally, Xiao Jingzhao knew exactly what Tian Baoci was capable of.
Yet just now, when Qi Yuan grabbed his ankle, Tian Baoci couldn’t move a muscle—that alone spoke volumes about Qi Yuan’s skill.
But Xiao Jingzhao couldn’t help feeling a chill. “Where did she learn to fight like that?”
There were noble families in the capital with daughters who liked swords and spears, but most of them only learned a few flashy forms—just enough to look impressive. In real combat, they couldn’t even land a hit.
Qi Yuan had only returned to the Qi family in recent years. Could she really have mastered such skill in such a short time?
Feng Caiwei couldn’t stand hearing anyone praise Qi Yuan.
Her expression chilled as she let out a cold laugh. “What’s the use of knowing martial arts? Can martial arts fix what happened today?”
On the contrary—now that Qi Yuan had lashed out, the enmity between the Tian and Qi families was fully sealed.
Great!
Isn’t she always desperate to make a name for herself?
Fine. Let her shine all she wants.
Let her shine right in front of the Empress Dowager.
Old people—they were either overly protective or overly superstitious.
Qi Yuan had now injured the Empress Dowager’s nephew, and on top of that, she used to be known as a disaster star.
Once the Eldest Princess of Luochuan whispered a few choice words to the Empress Dowager—talking about how every place Qi Yuan went, people seemed to end up dead—
Feng Caiwei wanted to see: how would Qi Yuan survive that trial?
Tian Baoci let out a scream of pain. If his servants hadn’t reacted in time to catch him, he would have gone tumbling down the stairs.
Even so, despite their quick response, he was still injured.
Tian Baoci yanked up his own foot to look—there was a bleeding hole in the sole of it, and blood was still trickling out.
The Tian family’s servants immediately panicked.
Never before had their young master gotten the short end of the stick in a brawl.
After all, he was the Empress Dowager’s own nephew. In the capital, noble families ranked themselves carefully. Who would be foolish enough to openly oppose Tian Baoci?
So even when Tian Baoci was at fault, people would swallow their anger.
But who could’ve known that someone from the Yongping Marquis’s estate would be this tactless?
In pain, Tian Baoci cursed aloud: “Are you all blind?! Didn’t you see this little b*tch lay a hand on me?!”
Qi Yuan suddenly stepped forward, and with one firm motion, pushed and pulled Liu Pingan’s arm back into place.
Then she calmly turned around to face the Tian family’s servants and Tian Baoci himself.
She gave a brief glance at the dog beside him and asked coldly, “For a dog, you beat my younger brother like that?”
Tian Baoci gave a sharp, mocking laugh. “Just a dog? Do you even know what kind of dog this is? This dog was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager—it’s an imperial bestowal, a tribute from Annam! And your two little brothers damaged imperial property—that’s a capital crime!”
Exactly the kind of nonsense he was known for—completely unreasonable and endlessly overbearing.
Xiao Jingzhao didn’t know whether to say that Feng Caiwei had really chosen the perfect person for her scheme this time… or to just sit back and enjoy the show.
It should’ve been amusing, but he couldn’t shake the discomfort in his chest.
Since when did a dog become more important than a human life?
Feng Caiwei, on the other hand, wore an ever-present, mocking smile.
The bigger the chaos outside, the happier Feng Caiwei felt.
Qi Yuan also let out a chuckle. She casually shot a glance at Liujin, who had just come up the stairs, then raised an eyebrow and asked coolly, “So, Sixth Young Master Tian, are you saying that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager personally declared that your dog is more valuable than a human life?”
Tian Baoci couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. “My dog isn’t like other dogs!”
“Everyone heard that clearly, didn’t you?” Qi Yuan swept her gaze across the crowd, finally focusing on the people gathered in the main hall downstairs. “Whether you’re a military officer who’s risked your life to defend the nation, or a scholar who’s studied diligently for over a decade—what does it matter how much time and effort you’ve spent? In the end, you’re still not as valuable as a single dog belonging to the Empress Dowager’s grandnephew!”
So what if he’s the Empress Dowager’s grandnephew?
And even if it’s the Empress Dowager herself—so what?
You might stand above people, but your dog doesn’t get to openly sh*t on people’s heads.
Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow with biting sarcasm. “Sixth Young Master Tian, no need to rush. You want my brother’s head on a platter, don’t you?”
Suddenly, she raised the flowerpot in her hand and smashed it onto the floor with a loud crash, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
The young woman stood tall and still as a mountain, her voice clear and unwavering: “Very well! I stand here with my neck washed clean, waiting. Every single person in the Yongping Marquis’s household is waiting right here. As long as Her Majesty the Empress Dowager says the word—that a dog is worth more than a human life—then we are ready to die!”
Some things might be done—but they cannot be spoken aloud.
But Qi Yuan insisted on saying them.
She stared coldly at Tian Baoci and suddenly held out the golden hairpin in her hand: “Isn’t Sixth Young Master Tian all high and mighty? Come on then. Start with me—take this hairpin and stab me to death right now!”
——
If you can’t kill someone, does that mean you can’t vent your rage?
No. If you can’t kill, there are crueller ways to retaliate.
Feng Caiwei clenched her fists hard.
Why could Qi Yuan always act so righteously, so calmly, no matter what?
Where did she get that kind of confidence?
Who did she think she was?!
Xiao Jingzhao, on the other hand, couldn’t hide the admiration in his eyes.
What a brilliant move!
From the very first moment, she seized control of the situation and framed the entire event on her terms.
She also cleverly dragged everyone present into the Qi family’s camp—directly pitting them against the Tian family.
Yes—nothing is more dangerous than public opinion.
No matter the era, the voice of the people is a force that cannot be ignored.
Qi Yuan didn’t just know how to kill with her hands—her mouth could kill without spilling a single drop of blood.
—
Suddenly, a thunderous shout erupted from downstairs: “If there’s killing to be done—start with me, Censor Tie!”
Imperial Censor Tie, trembling all over, gathered up his robes and stomped his way up the stairs, yelling as he went. When he finally reached the top and saw the slim hound lying on the ground—and then took a look at the injured members of the Qi household—
Qi Yuan had already stepped aside, revealing Liu Pingan and Qi Yunzhi, both covered in wounds.
Censor Tie’s fury made his whole body shake. “Let the Empress Dowager kill me! Let her kill me! After just a few generations, the noble clans have all become bloated and corrupt. Their sons are all arrogant and depraved. Is this supposed to be an age of peace? And yet we’re trading human lives for a dog’s?”
Liujin wiped sweat from his forehead.
Ever since His Highness left, life had been way too hard for him!
Meanwhile, Old Zhao narrowed his eyes and looked coldly at Tian Baoci on the second floor, letting out a contemptuous snort.
What a fool—leaving the house without checking the almanac first. Never seen anyone so eager to walk into their own death.
