Chapter 67
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How could this living hell be here?
At that moment, all the guests in the restaurant felt their hair stand on end.
Everyone knew about Xue Fangli’s sinister personality, violent actions, and ruthless methods.
The guests were all terrified, not to mention the storyteller, who felt his vision go dark and wanted to beat his chest in regret.
Since Prince Li was here, the young man who had just stopped him from continuing his story must be none other than the recently famous Royal Consort.
—It was said that he was incredibly beautiful, even the famous painter Yang Liusheng was stunned by him, calling him the most beautiful person in the world, and he was deeply loved by Prince Li.
If he had known earlier, he would have shut up obediently.
If he had known earlier, he would have run away immediately.
The more the storyteller thought about it, the more he felt his life was in danger, almost trembling like a sieve.
Marquis Anping wasn’t as pale as the storyteller, but when the screen was moved aside and he saw who was inside, his pupils also shrank.
Prince Li and… Jiang Juan.
Since seeing their engagement token on the prostitute, Marquis Anping had felt extremely complicated about Jiang Juan.
He hated Jiang Juan. Hated him for giving him no face, for giving the jade pendant to a prostitute and humiliating him, and hated him for letting him misunderstand and repeatedly offer compensation without explaining.
He also resented Jiang Juan. Before marrying into Prince Li Residence, Jiang Juan had daily professed his feelings to him, but after marrying into Prince Li Residence, he had completely withdrawn his previous affections, giving his focused attention only to Prince Li.
As his thoughts drifted, Marquis Anping’s gaze at Jiang Juan became filled with resentment until he heard Xue Fangli speak again.
“Marquis, what are you staring at so intently?”
Instinctively, he looked over and saw the man in a dark robe, who was indeed handsome, but his smile only made one feel a chill, his lips red as if stained with blood.
“…Nothing.”
Marquis Anping’s heart gave a jolt, and he respectfully saluted, “Greetings, Your Highness and Your Royal Consort.”
“So now you know to be polite,” Xue Fangli said with a mocking smile, “Marquis, do you still want my Royal Consort to leave?”
After a pause, his expression turned cold, “Or perhaps both my Royal Consort and I should leave and make room for you? What do you think?”
Marquis Anping replied with difficulty, “I did not know it was Your Highness and Your Royal Consort.”
“Didn’t know? What an excuse.”
Xue Fangli chuckled with a hint of sarcasm, “Marquis, you truly wield great authority, even greater than mine.”
Seeing that Xue Fangli was determined to pursue the matter, Marquis Anping secretly gritted his teeth. He raised his hands high and bent over, making a deep bow, and apologized proactively, “Your Royal Consort, I was at fault earlier, please forgive my offense.”
“No matter what, you are noble as the Royal Consort, and I should not have spoken to you in such a manner.”
Marquis Anping seemed to be apologizing, but he was actually subtly criticizing Jiang Juan.
His “no matter what” referred both to Jiang Juan’s previous overbearing behavior and his own ignorance of who was behind the screen, making his point clear.
He apologized solely because he had offended them. In the presence of His Highness and His Royal Consort, he, a mere Marquis, naturally couldn’t speak that way, but he still didn’t agree with the Royal Consort’s actions.
In this way, Marquis Anping not only apologized but also managed to gain some reputation for himself.
Indeed, most of the guests bought into his act. Even if they didn’t show it on their faces, they sighed inwardly after hearing Marquis Anping’s words.
Marquis Anping was truly noble and virtuous!
No wonder he was guided by Mr. Bai; he truly had inherited some of Mr. Bai’s teachings!
And who was Mr. Bai?
His full name was Bai Xuechao, a minister serving two dynasties. In his youth, he became famous in the capital with his poem “Bai Xue’s Farewell,” showcasing unparalleled talent. Later, Bai Xuechao served in the government, heavily favored by the previous emperor. After the previous emperor passed away, he continued to assist Emperor Hongxing diligently, earning deep trust.
Bai Xuechao was selfless and upright, and during his years in office, he prosecuted countless corrupt officials, always working for the people’s welfare, thus gaining widespread respect and the honorary title of Mr. Bai.
Marquis Anping being Mr. Bai’s disciple was no secret in the capital. Seeing him apologize openly yet hold firm to his principles, the crowd couldn’t help but admire him.
But this did not include Jiang Juan and Xue Fangli.
Jiang Juan couldn’t tolerate this grievance. Not even His Highness had spoken to him like this. Why should he care about Marquis Anping, who had already offended him numerous times? Jiang Juan, feeling completely wronged, said, “Why should I forgive you just because you ask for forgiveness? I’m as petty as a needle.”
Jiang Juan was holding a grudge and didn’t think much about Marquis Anping’s pretense, but Xue Fangli saw through it.
He held Jiang Juan’s hand, his wide sleeve hiding the motion as he gently played with the young man’s fingertips. In a leisurely tone, he said, “Marquis, did you hear that? The Royal Consort holds a grudge. What do you think should be done?”
“He has a heart condition. Normally, in the palace, I wouldn’t let him suffer the slightest indignation.”
Marquis Anping lowered his head and said nothing.
Xue Fangli then asked Jiang Juan, “How do you want me to deal with him?”
Jiang Juan thought for a moment. He wasn’t good at tormenting people, so he decided to use the same method against Marquis Anping. “Your Highness, have him thrown out.”
“Just thrown out?” Xue Fangli raised an eyebrow.
Was throwing him out not enough? Jiang Juan hesitated, “Then have him apologize to me properly?”
“You really are…”
As if he was very good at being spoiled but didn’t know how to act spoiled, Xue Fangli glanced at Jiang Juan with a smile and said, “Then we’ll do it your way.”
“Guards, throw Marquis Anping out for me.”
He gave a signal, and several guards approached Marquis Anping. Marquis Anping wasn’t surprised and simply said, “I will leave on my own.”
But the guards didn’t move or even say “Excuse me.” They directly restrained Marquis Anping, handling him like a criminal.
“Let go!”
Marquis Anping struggled. As a grown man, he was quite strong, but the guards were trained and there were several of them. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t break free and was escorted downstairs.
With everyone watching, Marquis Anping, who valued his reputation, stopped struggling when he realized how undignified he looked.
It was just being thrown out.
It was just an apology.
Marquis Anping kept repeating this to himself and finally regained some composure. Dragged out of the inn, he hid his displeasure and said with restraint, “You can let go now.”
The guards did let go, but then one of them kicked him behind the knees, causing Marquis Anping to kneel.
Marquis Anping, after all, was a marquis and had never been treated this way. After a moment of shock, he angrily shouted, “How dare you! Let go of me at once!”
“The Royal Consort wants me to apologize to him, so what are you doing?”
“A verbal apology isn’t sincere enough,” Xue Fangli looked down at him, “Marquis, apologize like this.”
Marquis Anping’s expression changed.
Emperor Hongxing didn’t care much about court etiquette, so Marquis Anping rarely knelt, even before the emperor. Now, he was forced to kneel, facing Jiang Juan and Xue Fangli, as if he were kneeling to them and everyone else.
His title was a gift from Emperor Hongxing, yet here he was, forced to kneel in front of everyone because his apology wasn’t deemed sincere enough.
Feeling deeply humiliated, Marquis Anping slowly clenched his fists. Xue Fangli ignored this, only smiling and saying, “Marquis, aren’t you going to apologize?”
Outside the inn, passersby peered in, and inside, the guests watched intently. Many eyes were on Marquis Anping, their gazes almost tangible.
Marquis Anping had experienced disgrace before, but never like this.
Anger and resentment raged in his heart. He knew he should endure it; he knew he should apologize. But why?
He had humiliated him again and again; why should he endure it repeatedly?
Reason snapped, and Marquis Anping finally voiced what had been stuck in his throat.
“—Prince Li, you have gone too far!”
“Why should I apologize?” Marquis Anping shouted angrily. “What wrong did I commit in rebuking your Royal Consort?”
“He is uneducated and ignorant, yet he shows no shame, only bullying others and oppressing the common people!”
Jiang Juan: “???”
Unfairly scolded, Jiang Juan was also unhappy. Just as he was about to retort, Xue Fangli gently squeezed his fingers, signaling that he would handle it. With a chilling tone, Xue Fangli said, “Do you think you can talk about my Royal Consort like that?”
“Someone, slap him.”
Marquis Anping’s heart shook, and he looked up in disbelief. In the next second, “smack!” A heavy slap landed on his face, leaving him stunned.
Xue Fangli said, “My Royal Consort is the least likely to bully others, yet you dare to accuse him of oppressing the common people.”
Marquis Anping: “He…”
“Smack!” Another slap interrupted Marquis Anping, turning his head to one side.
“Smack, smack, smack—!”
The slaps continued, and soon Marquis Anping’s hair was disheveled, his face covered in handprints. He belatedly began to struggle, but the guards held him tightly. Feeling both furious and humiliated, Marquis Anping gritted his teeth, trying to finish his sentence.
“He doesn’t bully…”
“Smack—!”
The guards, all trained fighters, used their full strength. Blood oozed from the corner of Marquis Anping’s mouth, and his words were cut off again. Despite this, he didn’t beg for mercy, still stammering out words, which in the eyes of the inn’s guests, only confirmed one thing.
—Marquis Anping was a true gentleman!
Even while being humiliated, he was still denouncing the Royal Consort!
Thus, Marquis Anping struggled to speak, while the guards kept slapping him. After a while, a squad of soldiers suddenly arrived at the inn.
“Is Marquis Anping here?”
The soldiers presented their warrant, and someone motioned them to look down. Seeing the scene, the leading soldier was shocked!
A dignified marquis, disheveled and kneeling, his face swollen and unrecognizable, worse than a beggar!
“What is going…. on here?”
The lead soldier scanned the room and suddenly noticed Xue Fangli. Instantly, he understood most of the situation.
It seemed the marquis had offended His Highness again.
Why did he say “again”?
The officers bowed to Marquis Anping and said, “Marquis, it’s like this: a woman has reported that you seized her jade pendant, smashed it, and then left. Please come with us to the yamen.”
This woman was not just any woman; she was a courtesan. Normally, the authorities wouldn’t entertain a courtesan’s complaint, especially against someone like Marquis Anping. However, this courtesan held a token from Prince Li, which meant the authorities could not ignore her complaint.
They speculated that Prince Li wasn’t the type to be charitable, so the only explanation was that Marquis Anping had somehow offended him.
As soon as the officers spoke, the teahouse was abuzz with shock.
Marquis Anping snatched someone’s jade pendant, smashed it, and then just walked away?
And the victim was a weak woman?
A gentleman knows what to do and what not to do. Marquis Anping was always praised for being courteous and well-mannered. How could he do something so inappropriate?
Could he even bully a weak woman?
He was just scolding the consort of Prince Li for abusing his power!
Was this true?
Marquis Anping, already beaten to the point where his ears were ringing and his vision was blacking out, hadn’t heard clearly what the officers said. When they pulled him, they easily took him away without resistance, inadvertently confirming the allegations.
The officers came and went swiftly, but the lead officer didn’t forget to go upstairs before leaving. He respectfully presented an item, “Your Highness, your token.”
Xue Fangli responded with a slight acknowledgment and took the token. He said indifferently, “You arrived at the perfect time.”
It was indeed perfect timing, just as Prince Li and Marquis Anping were confronting each other. The officers had prepared themselves for the possibility of not being able to take the marquis and even being punished. After all, when deities fight, mortals suffer. They were the unlucky ones caught in the middle. But, as it turned out, the marquis had already been dealt with and obediently followed them.
“Thanks to Your Highness, otherwise it would have taken much more effort.”
The officers were grateful, but Xue Fangli didn’t care. He lazily said, “Conduct a thorough investigation. Punish as necessary and compensate as needed. In my opinion, the woman is quite pitiable. Marquis Anping should compensate her double.”
Since the prince had given his command, the officers naturally nodded in agreement. “Of course, Your Highness is right. That woman is indeed pitiful. Fortunately, she encountered you and received your token.”
“Your Highness is truly… a champion of justice?”
The officer was merely being polite, but even so, it was hard for him to say. Using such words to describe Prince Li felt like seeing a ghost.
Xue Fangli, however, remained unchanged in expression, saying, “I just can’t stand people abusing their power.”
The officer: “………”
He was left speechless, wanting to say more but hesitating, unable to comprehend how Prince Li could say such words so naturally.
Jiang Juan looked at Xue Fangli and then recalled the previous events. He finally understood the trick His Highness had played by giving the token to the woman before leaving the Eldest Prince’s place!
Marquis Anping broke someone’s jade pendant and ran away, so he was reported to the authorities for them to punish him and compensate the woman’s loss!
Jiang Juan’s eyes curved with a smile. “Yes, that’s right. His Highness has a kind heart. He can’t stand seeing people being bullied and is always ready to help.”
The officer: “???”
A kind heart? Always ready to help?
The officer’s face showed a slight crack.
At this moment, the guards whom Xue Fangli had sent away after the storyteller started his tale returned. One of them whispered, “Your Highness, we asked the innkeeper, and they are unaware.”
Xue Fangli acknowledged with a nod. Meanwhile, the innkeeper had pulled aside the storyteller and whispered a few words to him. After listening to the innkeeper, the storyteller’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest!
My God!
The storyteller’s legs felt weak. He almost crawled up to the second floor and, with a “plop,” knelt down, tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, Royal Consort! Thank you, Royal Consort—!”
It turned out the young man didn’t want him to continue the story, not because he was arrogant and domineering, but because there was a hidden reason!
This story was not about the previous dynasty, nor was it fictional; it was…
The secret affairs of the current dynasty’s deep palace.
The storyteller wasn’t stupid. The innkeeper’s hint immediately woke him up.
Since it was about the current dynasty, then that madman must be…
Prince Li!?
No wonder the Royal Consort kept stopping him.
No wonder the Royal Consort wouldn’t let him continue.
The Royal Consort was actually trying to save his life.
After all, that was Prince Li!
The more the storyteller thought about it, the more frightened he became. He was deeply grateful. “Thank you, Royal Consort, for saving my life. I was ignorant and failed to recognize the Royal Consort’s good intentions!”
Jiang Juan: “???”
What was he saying?
Saving his life?
He only stopped him because he was afraid it would make His Highness sad and wouldn’t allow him to continue his storytelling?
Jiang Juan turned his head in confusion, questioning Xue Fangli with his eyes. Xue Fangli naturally understood what the man was thankful for, and indeed he should be thankful.
If Jiang Juan had not been present, no matter where the storyteller had gotten his story, today Xue Fangli would have sewn up his mouth, making sure he would never make a living from storytelling again or spread this tale.
But these things, Xue Fangli wouldn’t tell Jiang Juan. He merely smiled nonchalantly. “No need to pay attention.”
Jiang Juan nodded, though he was still puzzled. Since His Highness said there was no need to pay attention, it probably wasn’t anything important.
Jiang Juan was bewildered, but the other people in the inn were even more confused by what they saw.
What was going on?
They couldn’t understand the development at all.
Marquis Anping, who should have been a gentleman, was bullying a weak woman.
Prince Li, who should have been a living demon, helped this weak woman.
And then Marquis Anping loudly rebuked the Royal Consort for bullying others, but in the end, it was Marquis Anping himself who was bullying others.
Contrarily, the Royal Consort, who was supposed to be the one bullying, received numerous kowtows from the grateful storyteller.
What was going on???
The events of today were full of twists and turns, with an unexpected conclusion that left everyone bewildered. However, two things were crystal clear.
Firstly, Marquis Anping bullied a weak woman, revealing his poor character!
No matter how he usually disguised himself as courteous and polite, his true nature was exposed. Truly, one can never fully know another person’s heart!
Secondly—though Prince Li, who wielded life and death and was so tyrannical and awe-inspiring, would actually be afraid of his Royal Consort when he returned to the residence!?
Author’s Note: Salted fish Juan, a salted fish that lies at the top of the food chain.
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