Сhаpter 174: А Соinсidеntal Encоuntеr
"Pleаse show mеrсу, Rоуаl Consоrt. For my sake, sparе this аrrogаnt yоuth Наn Shiуuan." Zhаng Ваоhuаn, adhеring to the prinсiрle оf avoiding unneсessarу trouble, fоrсеd а smilе аs hе positiоnеd himself bеtwееn Yu Chi Yаng and Наn Shiyuan, rеаching оut to push the swоrd hilt away.
"Аrе уou hеre to prоtесt him?" Yu Chi Yаng wаs in nо mооd fоr plеаsantriеs. His fiеrce еyеs glаrеd, and hе ехеrted more fоrce, pressing the rаzor-sharp blаde anоther frасtion сloser to Han Shiyuan's neck, instantly staining the edge with a faint trace of blood.
That smear of blood frightened Zhang Baohuan out of his wits. No longer willing to yield for the sake of harmony, he gripped the hilt with both hands, mustering all his strength to push the blade away, even daring to bring his own face close to the edge.
It was this very face that the Empress favored. Not even Yu Chi Yang, nor even Princess Yong'an herself if she were present, would dare to directly harm it.
Sure enough, no matter how furious he was, Yu Chi Yang had no choice but to lower the Green Dragon Blade.
He seethed with rage, "Zhang Baohuan! We've never had any dealings before. Are you now choosing to make an enemy of me for the sake of this shameless man?"
Finally safe.
Zhang Baohuan glanced at the blood oozing from Han Shiyuan's neck, a flicker of heartache passing through his eyes. He retrieved a clean handkerchief from his sleeve and offered it to Han Shiyuan, who turned his head away, unwilling to accept it.
"If you lose too much blood and harm your health, how will you care for the Third Miss of the Zhu family?" Recalling the message Shen Du had sent, a dark undercurrent stirred in Zhang Baohuan's eyes.
Han Shiyuan's fingertips trembled slightly. He raised a hand to cover the wound but still refused to accept Zhang Baohuan's handkerchief.
"What? Putting on a show in front of me, are you?" Aside from often being neglected by Princess Yong'an, Yu Chi Yang rarely experienced this kind of feeling from others. The raging fire burning in his heart scorched his reason; he clenched and unclenched his grip on the Green Dragon Blade.
Zhang Baohuan, long practiced in reading people's expressions, grabbed Han Shiyuan's hand and forcibly stuffed the handkerchief into it.
Then he turned, still shielding Han Shiyuan behind him, and said with a smile, "You exaggerate, Royal Consort. Young Master Han and I have some personal acquaintance. I know he is not one to stir up trouble, and of course, neither are you, Royal Consort. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding between you. Why not sit down and talk it out properly? Clearing up the misunderstanding would be for the best."
"There's nothing to talk about! A kept man daring to show up at my door—if I don't break one of his legs, I'd consider myself a coward!" Yu Chi Yang roared, swinging the three-hundred-pound Green Dragon Blade through the air in an instant.
The blade swept past the right arms of Zhang Baohuan and Han Shiyuan, the sound of it cutting through the air piercing their ears, leaving them both breathless for a moment.
Han Shiyuan's gaze inevitably fell upon Zhang Baohuan, who trembled faintly before him. The corner of his mouth twitched. He took a deep breath, stepped around Zhang Baohuan, and performed a cupped-hand salute toward Yu Chi Yang. "The relationship between the Princess and me is absolutely not what you think. I came today because I have an important matter and must request an audience with the Princess. I ask for your assistance in relaying this message."
"You say it's not, so it's not? You and Yong'an have been carrying on, creating a scandal that has swept the entire city. Any commoner you grab off the street now knows of your illicit affair. Do you think a simple 'it's not what you think' can explain it away?" Yu Chi Yang gave him no chance to explain, swinging the long hilt of the Green Dragon Blade to strike at him fiercely.
Who cared about the truth?
Venting this pent-up fury came first!Watching the thick, arm-sized pole coming straight at him, Han Shiyuan remained stubbornly rooted in place, his face paling but his body unmoving.
He had to save Caiwei!
As long as he could see Princess Yong'an and obtain the antidote, he didn't care if he died.
"Stop!"
Zhang Baohuan used every ounce of his strength to pull him away.
No sooner had Han Shiyuan been dragged aside than the pole came crashing down with a thunderous "boom," like a landslide. Zhang Baohuan followed the pole's trajectory toward the blade. The blade, wielded by Yu Chi Yang, vibrated violently, its low hum lingering in the air.
Without a doubt, if that blow had landed, Han Shiyuan's head would have been split clean in two!
"Yu Chi Yang!" Zhang Baohuan was utterly enraged, his eyes sharp as knives, wishing he could slice Yu Chi Yang into a thousand pieces.
"He's just a low-born commoner who thinks he can climb the social ladder with his pretty face. Am I not allowed to teach him a lesson?" Yu Chi Yang grumbled, hoisting the Green Dragon Blade onto his shoulder and squinting slightly, as if searching for another opportunity to strike.
Unfortunately, Zhang Baohuan shifted his position, shielding Han Shiyuan completely, leaving only the moon-white robe visible.
"Committing violence in the streets, bullying others with your power—does the Imperial Consort truly hold no regard for the law?"
Using "the law" to pressure him?
Yu Chi Yang's hand itched again. He cracked his neck, growing more and more displeased with Zhang Baohuan. Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, he let out an "oh": "I nearly forgot—you're also one of those who rely on looks to please others. Hah, birds of a feather flock together."
"Has the Imperial Consort run out of arguments and resorted to nonsense?" Zhang Baohuan's temper wasn't much better either. Tolerating this much was already his limit. His jade-like face hardened into a thick layer of frost.
He never felt ashamed of relying on his own abilities to earn his standing, but he couldn't bear to see Han Shiyuan insulted like this.
"Reversing the roles of men and women, defying moral principles, groveling before women—isn't that exactly what your kind does? What, you dare to do it but can't bear to hear it?" Yu Chi Yang sneered.
Refusing to yield an inch, Zhang Baohuan curled his lips into a cold, mocking smile and delivered the most cutting remark: "At least I have looks to please others. Unfortunately, the Imperial Consort has no such capital. I heard Princess Yong'an has taken a fancy to another refined scholar. Perhaps he'll soon become another favored guest in her chambers."
Yu Chi Yang's lips pressed into a thin line. Even if he didn't care about Princess Yong'an, he absolutely despised anyone mentioning his wife's affairs with other men.
As the sun set in the west, bathing the world in an orange glow, Zhang Baohuan laughed freely and with biting sarcasm: "Counting them up, hasn't Princess Yong'an taken in at least twenty or thirty, if not fifty or sixty, men into her rear courtyard?"
Just then, the lingering, seductive strains of music drifted over the high walls of the princess's estate, reaching their ears.
Yu Chi Yang's face darkened like ink, the music stirring memories of the disgusting scenes he had witnessed in Princess Yong'an's courtyard in the past.
Silk curtains fluttered, men and women dressed scantily, laughing and playing without restraint. Skilled musicians played to enhance the mood, dancers swayed seductively, and there were attendants serving wine, jesters telling jokes, and poets reciting verses—everything one could imagine.
His chest heaved violently. Yu Chi Yang felt as if all the blood in his body was boiling. He gripped the Green Dragon Blade tightly, his teeth clenched so hard that a strong metallic taste spread in his mouth. He was using every ounce of his self-control to restrain the urge to charge into the princess's estate and slaughter everyone inside.Seeing this, Zhang Baohuan sneered coldly, turned around, and dragged Han Shiyuan away.
When you were triumphant, you thrust a sharp blade into others' hearts—what right do you have to expect sympathy when you're wounded?
Zhang Baohuan felt no sympathy whatsoever for Yu Chi Yang. If Yu Chi Yang hadn’t pressed him step by step, why would he have shown no mercy at all?
Han Shiyuan was concerned about the antidote, but he wasn’t foolish. Seeing Yu Chi Yang in this state, he knew there was no hope of meeting Princess Yong'an today.
He shook off Zhang Baohuan’s hand and trudged gloomily toward the Zhu residence.
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