Chapter 187: Long Since Anticipated
Luo Wanwan’s face was deathly pale.
"Commandery Princess, Commandery Princess! I absolutely didn’t mean it that way! The things I said... I just heard them from somewhere else. I really didn’t—"
"Oh? You heard them from somewhere else? Then why don’t you tell me where?" Princess Qingyang pressed.
"It was... it was..." Luo Wanwan stammered, twisting her handkerchief in her hands, a flicker of conflict in her eyes.
Just then, Murong Ye finally caught up from behind them. "Qinyang!"
Hearing his voice, Luo Wanwan looked up instinctively. When she saw it was Murong Ye, she shuddered as if suddenly remembering something and swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Princess Qingyang had no desire to deal with Murong Ye right now. Without even turning her head, she kept her eyes fixed on Luo Wanwan. "Go on. Who was it?"
Luo Wanwan bit her lip. "Well..."
Murong Ye rushed over, and seeing the situation, he simply assumed Princess Qingyang was in a bad mood and taking it out on someone else again. He frowned instantly.
Now that he had arrived, Luo Wanwan lowered her head and refused to say another word.
Princess Qingyang grew impatient. "What, can’t you speak now?"
Luo Wanwan, as if frightened, began to sob quietly.
"Commandery Princess, I... I can’t remember clearly. I really can’t recall. I beg you to be merciful and let me go this once. I’ll never do it again!"
Murong Ye stepped forward, suppressing his temper as he tried to reason with her. "Qinyang, if there’s a misunderstanding between us, we can just talk it out. If you’re upset with me, just say so. Why take it out on others?"
Princess Qingyang turned back with an amused look. "Take it out?"
Murong Ye, however, thought he had hit the mark. He glanced around and said with a scowl, "This is the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. Must you make such an ugly scene?"
Princess Qingyang pointed at Luo Wanwan. "Why do you think she’s kneeling and admitting fault?"
Of course, Murong Ye didn’t know, but he couldn’t be bothered to ask. With a temper like Princess Qingyang’s, who would dare to provoke her?
"If you don’t want to help me, I won’t come to trouble you again in the future. But you really don’t need to vent your anger on others like this—"
Princess Qingyang’s eyes turned cold. She lowered her gaze and glanced at Luo Wanwan.
"Tell Mr. Murong what you were just saying to your dear friends. Word for word."
How could Luo Wanwan dare? She just cried and begged for mercy, saying she’d never do it again.
Murong Ye felt that Princess Qingyang was doing this deliberately to embarrass him. The anger he had been suppressing for so long finally erupted.
"Qinyang! You don’t have to be like this! Just pretend I never came to you today! I’ll find a way to solve my own problems!"
With that, he flicked his sleeves and stormed away.
Princess Qingyang watched his retreating back, her face devoid of expression. ’He feels more and more like a stranger, drifting further and further away from the proud, high-spirited youth in her memories.’
She turned her gaze back to Luo Wanwan, casually stroking the long whip at her waist.
"Since you refuse to say, this princess can only assume you’re the one who spread it."
Luo Wanwan looked terrified. "Commandery Princess—"
Seeing this, the few other young women nearby quickly chimed in, pleading, "Commandery Princess, you mustn’t!"
"What are you so nervous about? It’s not like this princess is going to eat you. Besides, if I really made a scene on an occasion like today, it would be a headache for me, too."
Hearing that she didn’t seem to intend to pursue the matter, Luo Wanwan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
In the next moment, however, Princess Qingyang bent down and tapped Luo Wanwan’s cheek with her whip.
"However—"
The cold, hard touch made Luo Wanwan freeze, not daring to move.
Princess Qingyang said with a beaming smile:
"This princess has always been good-tempered, but I can’t say the same for others. Miss Luo, you’d best pray for your own good fortune."
...
Murong Ye returned to the main hall and sat down, his heart heavy with worries.
Murong Yang tilted his head and sized him up.
"What were you doing out there just now?"
Murong Ye forced a reply. "Nothing."
Murong Yang took a sip of wine, his gaze sweeping past his son.
"Where is Princess Qingyang?"
No one knew a son better than his father. His son had never liked Princess Qingyang, yet today he had acted completely out of character, chasing after her the moment he saw her and staying outside for quite some time. It was obvious something was going on.
At his father’s question, Murong Ye couldn’t help but recall Princess Qingyang’s frosty expression and the mocking curl of her lips. His mood soured even further, and his tone grew colder as a result.
"How should I know what she’s doing."
In the past, Princess Qingyang had always liked to follow him around. No matter what he said or did, she would never have used such an expression or tone with him. Murong Ye was accustomed to being placed on a pedestal; how could he possibly tolerate being treated like this all of a sudden?
Murong Yang’s expression darkened. "Where do you think you are? Watch your tone!"
’The Eldest Princess is still seated up there!’
Murong Ye gave a reluctant grunt of acknowledgement, but the fire in his heart only burned hotter.
Just then, Emperor Muwu, seated at the head of the hall, suddenly asked, "Su Aiqing, I heard you locked up Ye Heng yesterday? For what reason?"
The entire hall fell silent in an instant. Countless pairs of eyes turned in unison to look at Su Wei.
The news of Su Wei arresting Ye Heng yesterday had caused a huge stir, but very few people knew the inside story.
Now that Emperor Muwu had brought it up, everyone naturally perked up their ears.
Su Wei rose and bowed. "Replying to Your Majesty, it is indeed true. Yesterday, Ye Heng went to the Han Family estate, where a violent conflict broke out between the two parties. It nearly resulted in the loss of two lives, which is why this humble servant ordered Ye Heng to be detained first, to be interrogated at a later date."
Consort Ru covered her mouth in surprise. "Two lives?!"
Su Wei bowed his head. "Correct. The two individuals were Han Yao, and Han Yao’s pregnant concubine. According to witness testimony from the scene, after Ye Heng and his men forced their way into the Han estate, he fought fiercely with Han Yao. Han Yao was no match for him and was knocked unconscious on the spot. Seeing this, his concubine was beside herself with anxiety and threatened to kill herself, which led to this result."
Consort Ru looked sympathetic. "And she was pregnant? If... if something had really happened, it would have been a terrible sin! Lord Ye has always been on close terms with the Han Family. How could something like this have happened?"
Princess Qingyang had just walked in when she heard Consort Ru’s words. She immediately, subconsciously, glanced toward Shen Yanchuan.
’Something about this seems off... Why is Consort Ru, of all people, the one asking this? She has absolutely no connection to the matter.’
Shen Yanchuan lifted his teacup. Wisps of white steam rose, obscuring his cool, aloof features.
He was unhurried, his expression unruffled.
Princess Qingyang blinked.
’...My brother... did he anticipate this all along?’