Chaрtеr 165: Аnоthеr Confrontаtiоn
The сorners оf Рrinсеss Yоng'аn's lips lifted with рrofound meaning. "The mаn bу yоur side shаrеs quitе а fatе with this раlасe, аnd I greatly аdmirе him. Tоday, I will takе this man awаy. From nоw оn, thеrе shаll bе nо further cоnnеctiоn оr intеraсtion bеtwеen the twо оf yоu. Do you undеrstand?"
Upon hеаring this, Zhu Сaiwеi's face instаntlу turnеd pаlе, hеr еуеs filled with disbеliеf as shе starеd at Prinсess Yоng'аn.
"Yоur Highnеss thе Рrinсe of Ying, I cаn agree to anуthing, but not this."
"What did yоu say?" Рrincеss Yоng'an's tоne suddenly turned sharp, and a glint of killing intent flashed in her eyes. "You dare defy this palace's will? Do you think your life is too long?"
Princess Yong'an's sudden anger naturally frightened Zhu Caiwei, but if she did not fight for it, her beloved would be severed from her starting today—how could she accept that?
"Your Highness the Prince of Ying."
Zhu Caiwei's gaze was resolute. She did not wish to yield easily and attempted to salvage the situation.
"Shiyuan and I are deeply in love. Today, we were fortunate to be rescued by Your Highness, and for that, we are immensely grateful. But there are countless ways to express gratitude. Why must Your Highness insist on tearing apart a pair of lovers?"
"This palace does not need to explain its actions to anyone, let alone a mere daughter of a fifth-rank court official. What right do you have to debate with this palace in such a manner?"
Princess Yong'an's words struck Zhu Caiwei deeply. Authority could crush a person, and she was, after all, the Prince of Ying personally appointed by the Empress. Not to mention the daughter of a low-ranking official—even in the entire court, few dared to oppose her.
Seeing Zhu Caiwei wronged, Han Shiyuan naturally refused to remain silent. "Your Highness, Caiwei and I are deeply in love. I will love only Caiwei in this lifetime. Please do not force us any further. Love should be mutual and willing. I beg Your Highness to show mercy and cease troubling us."
"Whether it is meaningful or not is for this palace to decide. She has no right to debate with this palace, and neither do you. Moreover, this palace has saved your life multiple times, and you have yet to repay that debt. To think you can escape this palace's grasp is nothing but a delusion."
Hearing Princess Yong'an speak so domineeringly, Zhu Yan, standing nearby, could no longer bear it. She was about to step forward and argue when Shen Du grabbed her wrist, pulling her back and shaking his head at her.
Zhu Yan did not understand why Shen Du would stand by and do nothing. How could he remain so calm as a bystander when Princess Yong'an had spoken such words? She glared fiercely at Shen Du, as if blaming him. Shen Du patted her hand to soothe her.
"Your Highness the Prince of Ying." Zhu Caiwei, with her strong-willed nature, was deeply wounded by Princess Yong'an's words. Biting her lip, she finally spoke out to Princess Yong'an. "Your Highness, if you insist on taking Shiyuan away today, you might as well kill me first. I would rather die than endure the pain of being separated from the one I love."
"Hmph." Princess Yong'an let out a cold snort, casting a disdainful glance at Zhu Caiwei. "Do you think saying such things will make this palace fear you? Let me tell you, even if you die today, this palace will still take Han Shiyuan away."
"You!"
"You are willing to stake your life on this matter, are you not? Then this palace shall grant your wish."Zhu Caiwei still wanted to argue further, but before she could speak, Princess Yongan cut her off, her tone sharp as she commanded the people behind her, "This woman has committed disrespect and insolence, defied this princess, and even threatened death. This princess shall grant her wish. Guards, execute this woman on the spot!"
"Yes!" The guards behind her quickly responded, drawing the long swords at their waists and preparing to strike Zhu Caiwei’s neck.
How could this be allowed to continue?
If things went any further, someone might lose their life. Zhu Yan was horrified and was about to struggle, but Shen Du tightened his grip on her wrist.
At this critical moment, Zhang Baohuan finally intervened. "Halt!"
A cold shout echoed as a horizontal blade flew through the air, knocking the sword from the guard who was about to carry out the execution.
Zhang Baohuan stepped forward, his gaze slightly sinister as he looked at Princess Yongan. "Everyone knows His Highness the Prince of Ying is benevolent and virtuous. Yet today, for such a trivial matter, you are making such a commotion and even threatening to take a life. Wouldn’t this tarnish His Highness’s illustrious reputation?"
Zhang Baohuan’s words of persuasion did not move Princess Yongan in the slightest. She could understand not wanting to put Han Shiyuan in a difficult position, but this woman was merely someone close to Han Shiyuan. Did she not even have the right to deal with a mere bystander?
"Lord Zhang," Princess Yongan’s tone was peculiar, and her gaze held a trace of disdain. "Lord Zhang is busy with state affairs day and night. I never imagined you would have so much spare time to meddle in such trivial matters. Could it be that this third daughter of the Zhu family has some connection to you?"
"Your Highness jests," Zhang Baohuan replied. "I merely wish to prevent Your Highness from tarnishing your reputation and, more importantly, from damaging the Empress’s good name."
The earlier words were nothing more than empty rhetoric, but this last sentence struck a chord with Princess Yongan.
The Empress cared deeply about her reputation, and Zhang Baohuan held some favor with her. If she refused to give him face today and word of this reached the Empress’s ears, it could spell trouble for her. Princess Yongan weighed the situation carefully.
Since things had reached this point, further entanglement would only give others more to gossip about. Princess Yongan straightened her posture, a meaningful and eerie smile curling at the corners of her lips.
"Since Lord Zhang has spoken so, if I refuse to show some respect, I fear I may truly bring trouble upon myself. Let today’s matter end here. Lord Zhang, you truly played a masterful move."
Zhang Baohuan’s lips curved slightly, his expression calm and composed in the face of Princess Yongan’s ambiguous praise.
"Then I thank Your Highness for your understanding."
It was only after Princess Yongan had left with her entourage that a hint of deeper meaning flickered in Zhang Baohuan’s eyes.
Zhang Baohuan had intervened once again to save her, and Zhu Caiwei wanted to step forward to express her gratitude, but Han Shiyuan pulled her back.
With only a faint, indifferent nod, the two turned and left.
Seeing this, Shen Du also found the situation uninteresting and said to Zhu Yan, "Let’s go. The matter is resolved."
Zhu Yan’s lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but before she could speak, Shen Du forcibly pulled her away.
Even Zhu Yan could sense something strange; she refused to believe Shen Du was unaware.
Princess Yongan was by no means a careless person. Yet she had repeatedly threatened Han Shiyuan in public, only to be thwarted each time by Zhang Baohuan. Such coincidences seemed far too convenient.
As if deliberately orchestrated.Since it was deliberate, it was meant to be seen—but for what purpose? What is such ostentation trying to conceal?
Zhu Yan had never imagined that one day, investigating a case would become entangled in such a complex background.
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