The crowd of commoners surrounded Qi Wang’s carriage. At first, they only shouted and cursed, but soon, no one knew who started it—someone began throwing things. Rotten vegetable leaves, stones, and other debris flew through the air.
Han Yue’e’s face twisted with rage.
Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!
Not just Qi Yuan, but these easily incited, foolish commoners were also the same!
As expected, a bunch of ignorant peasants!
She scolded the coachman and guards, “Are you all dead?! Someone has attacked Qi Wangfei’s carriage and killed my maid! Do I need to teach you the punishment for this crime?!”
A Wangfei is of the highest noble rank. Even high officials must step down from their sedan chairs and military officers dismount when they see her. And Qi Yuan? She was just an unmarried girl with no title!
The coachman hesitated for a moment.
The guards at the side, however, swiftly drew their swords with a sharp sound.
“Ah—”
Weapons had been drawn—this immediately struck fear into the commoners, and they began to retreat in panic. For now, the scene was barely under control.
Upstairs, Babao was sweating buckets, anxiously looking at Xiao Yunting. “Your Highness, do we really not need to go down and help Miss Qi?”
Han Yue’e clearly had a grudge against Qi Yuan, and now she was completely enraged by her.
Xiao Yunting smiled faintly, growing more interested. Leaning against the window, he casually waved his hand. “No need. Just watch.”
Just watch? Watch Miss Qi get beaten in the street and then thrown into jail?
He whispered, “If Miss Qi is thrown into prison, wouldn’t that delay things?”
“Who says she’ll be thrown into prison?” Xiao Yunting’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He turned to Babao. “Did you forget the rule of Zhuque Street?”
“The rule of Zhuque Street?” Babao was stunned.
Meanwhile, Qi Yuan coldly shouted, “I dare you to try! Emperor Gaozu’s sacred decree: In the streets of the capital, aside from emergency military dispatches, no one is allowed to ride horses at speed. Violators shall, at minimum, be caned and imprisoned. Severe cases—executed on the spot!”
Babao couldn’t help but let out a “Wow.”
This rule did exist, but after two emperors had passed, it had long been forgotten.
Even he hadn’t thought of it.
Who would’ve thought that Miss Qi not only remembered but remembered it so clearly.
Qi Yuan stared coldly at the stunned Han Yue’e and loudly asked, “So what if you’re Qi Wangfei? Even Qi Wang—if he rode his horse in the streets and killed a commoner—must present himself at Zuoshun Gate to await punishment from the Emperor! Back when Emperor Gaozu was alive, Zhou Wang trampled an old woman to death. Gaozu personally flogged him forty times and demoted him to a county prince! What, is Qi Wang and his Wangfei above him now?”
Qi Yuan’s righteous words completely ignited the crowd’s fury.
Curses and shouts surged like a tide, engulfing Han Yue’e.
She finally realized fear.
This had escalated far beyond what she expected. Now what?
If the Wangye found out she’d caused such a public scandal before even getting married, what would he do to her?
It was all Qi Yuan’s fault! Everything turned upside down as soon as Qi Yuan was involved!
Han Yue’e’s face turned pale as she took a step back, unwilling to concede, and pointed at Lian’er’s corpse on the ground. “But you still killed someone! You killed someone in broad daylight! Do you think you can escape responsibility?!”
The guards’ expressions grew complicated.
Upstairs, Xiao Yunting let out a quiet laugh.
Qi Yuan stepped past Shunzi and Lianqiao, looked at Han Yue’e, and smiled. “Oh? As a royal Wangfei, you should really study the clan’s laws more carefully. Ever since the Zhou Wang incident, Gaozu set a rule: anyone who dares ride recklessly in the streets, causing harm, if a brave citizen intervenes and someone dies in the process, it is not considered a crime.”
A brave citizen…
Han Yue’e cursed inwardly.
Qi Yuan pointed to herself and smiled slightly. “Am I not a brave citizen who stood up to injustice?”
The father of the rescued child immediately shouted, “Of course she is! If it weren’t for this lady’s people stepping in, my child would’ve died! Lady, don’t worry—if this goes to court, we will all testify for you!”
Those in power often forget the hardships of the common people.
Han Yue’e never considered the lives of the lower classes to be worth anything.
But she didn’t realize that water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.
The commoners are the majority.
Qi Yuan smiled faintly at Han Yue’e from a distance.
Han Yue’e only felt as if that smile was laced with poison—it chilled her to the bone.
How did it end up like this?!
At that moment, the patrol officers from Shuntian Prefecture arrived.
When the bailiff saw that someone had died, his expression changed immediately.
When he saw Qi Wang’s carriage, he almost blacked out.
But this time, the gathered commoners were like a tide—they could not be dispersed no matter how hard the bailiffs tried.
The officer wiped the sweat from his brow and finally pieced the story together.
The presiding judicial officer couldn’t help but look at the girl in front of him.
All of this was stirred up by her.
The people’s righteous fury was also driven by her few words.
He couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you?”
What ancient rule? Who cared?
Rules are dead. People are alive.
The current emperor is not Gaozu, and Qi Wang is the emperor’s own son.
And yet this girl dared cause such a public scene, forcing the future Qi Wangfei into this predicament…
He didn’t care what rules she invoked.
Qi Yuan smiled. “I am Qi Yuan, daughter of Yongping Marquis.”
Yongping Marquis?
The officer was stunned, then looked troubled.
Ah, the daughter of a marquis.
So this was a dispute between nobles. In that case…
He hesitated, but just then, a bailiff whispered something in his ear. He gritted his teeth and turned to bow to Han Yue’e. “Wangfei, I must ask you to come to the yamen to explain this matter properly.”
Han Yue’e’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you all insane?!”
Qi Yuan, sensing something, looked up and immediately saw Xiao Yunting on the third floor nodding at her in acknowledgment.
She calmly asked the officer, “Lord, may I leave now?”
The officer quickly waved his hand. “Of course, Miss Qi. You may go freely.”
Qi Yuan nodded, and amid Han Yue’e’s screams and curses, she turned and left with Lianqiao and Shunzi, returning to the restaurant.
This time, she did not go back to her private room but went directly to the third floor.
Baizhi, still shaken, was holding Lianqiao’s injured hand, choking back sobs. “How could they be so cruel? Your hand is almost ruined!”
Qi Yuan stopped and looked at Shunzi. “Take Lianqiao to the clinic immediately. Whatever it costs, don’t worry—I will pay for it.”
She then turned to Baizhi. “He’s still a man, so there may be inconveniences. Go with them.”
Baizhi quickly agreed but hesitated. “And you, Miss…?”
“Don’t worry,” Qi Yuan smiled. “I’ll be fine.”
