Cuddling with the Cold Female Protagonist – Chapter 21
by Little PandaVolume 2: The Captivating Splendor of Jingdu
Su Yi was still unaware that someone resented her.
She was in high spirits as she bought the rouge, jewelry, and many small trinkets that she desired. Only when she saw the sun getting increasingly fierce did she remember the actual purpose of this outing.
“Oh dear, we came out today to find a gift for Great-grandmother’s birthday celebration.”
She put on an air of suddenly awakening from a dream and being filled with regret, causing Feng Ruoqing to hesitate to speak.
Just now, when they first came out, Feng Ruoqing wanted to remind Su Yi of their purpose for the trip. But as she was about to open her mouth, Ji Qingchi stopped her, gently shaking her head at her.
At the moment, Ji Qingchi was her husband. Since Ji Qingchi didn’t say anything, Feng Ruoqing naturally didn’t want to meddle.
So Feng Ruoqing silently followed behind them, watching Su Yi excitedly buying things, and then, for a long time, not thinking about the main task.
“Wife Master, it’s not yet noon, no need to rush.” Seeing Su Yi’s anxious appearance, Ji Qingchi timely displayed the skills of a charming spouse, smiling and saying, “Let’s find a place to rest first. We’ve been walking for half a day, this slave’s legs are sore.”
Ji Qingchi was skilled in martial arts. Let alone walking around shopping for a bit, even walking for a whole day wouldn’t tire her.
Feng Ruoqing knew for whom Ji Qingchi was saying this and didn’t expose her. Feng Ruoqing also persuaded Su Yi, saying, “Eldest Lady Su, your body is weak, you can’t stay under the sun for too long. Let’s go rest first and wait until the heat passes.”
The small vendors by the roadside had also carried their carrying poles [挑子 | tiāozi | carrying pole balanced on the shoulder] back home due to the hot weather. The capital city had no curfew, and the evenings were also bustling. Choosing gifts in the evening might even yield better results.
Su Yi thought for a moment and agreed, “Mm, that’s true. Let’s find a teahouse.”
After asking around, they found the most renowned Tianyi Teahouse in this area. They chose a seat by the water, ordered tea and snacks, and then sat by the window to enjoy the view.
Su Yi was in no mood to appreciate the scenery; her mind was wholly focused on the gift she needed to give. “What do you think elderly people like?”
Although the female protagonist had suggested calligraphy and painting, there were so many styles: cursive script, running script [行书 | xíngshū | semi-cursive script], and flying white script [飞白书 | fēibáishū | dry brush calligraphy with whitespace]; meticulous painting and freehand painting; so many varieties. How could she find something her great-grandmother would like?
Feng Ruoqing pondered, “Perhaps we need to investigate that elderly person’s preferences.”
Su Yi worried, “But I’ve never met my great-grandmother. I asked my mother, and she said she wasn’t too sure either.”
Moreover, her mother also said that a few years ago, she specifically bribed the servants attending her great-grandmother, asked them, but still didn’t get any useful information.
According to her mother, her great-grandmother seemed to like everything: watching plays, calligraphy and painting, rare stones, and jade artifacts. She had some knowledge of everything. But every time people gave her these things, her reaction was lukewarm, making it really hard to figure out what the old lady actually liked.
Ji Qingchi didn’t join their conversation. Standing alone at the window, watching the shimmering light on the river’s surface, her brow was furrowed.
Across a small river, opposite the teahouse, was a music house. People were coming and going, yet there were always a few individuals acting suspiciously, constantly looking towards their side.
When they left the rouge shop earlier, Ji Qingchi had felt someone watching them, but those individuals didn’t seem like people sent by her imperial sister. Just who was following them?
Each of them lost in their own thoughts, they were deep in contemplation when a sudden commotion arose from behind.
“Our young master has arrived, and you’re saying there are no private rooms available?! Do you know who our young master is?!”
“Young Master, we’re terribly sorry, but it’s already the Hour of the Horse [午时 | wǔshí | 11 AM – 1 PM], everyone wants to eat. The private rooms have already been reserved and occupied by other guests. Our teahouse can’t just—”
“I don’t care who wants to eat! Since our young master is here, even if you have to kick out every guest in the teahouse, you must make room for him!”
Following the noisy argument came the clattering sound of tables and chairs being overturned.
“Hey! Why are you hitting people?!”
“We’re honoring you by hitting you! Our young master is the legitimate grandson of the Pingyang Marquis, the only grandson of the Heir Apparent, can you afford to offend him?!”
Hearing the words “Pingyang Marquis,” Su Yi and her companions exchanged glances and quickly turned their heads.
At the teahouse staircase landing, a richly dressed young master sat to one side, leisurely sipping tea. Four young male servants fanned him. Five or six tall, strong young male servants and four female guards surrounded and were punching and kicking two middle-aged women.
The young master had brought many people. The people in the teahouse wanted to intervene but, wary of those individuals, remained still, sitting in their seats and looking sympathetically at the teahouse manager.
Su Yi looked around at the people near her. Besides Ji Qingchi, there was no one with fighting ability. And Ji Qingchi couldn’t reveal her identity. The other party was the young master of the Pingyang Marquis family. If Ji Qingchi went up to help, she would certainly suffer a loss.
After thinking it over, Su Yi could only give up on the idea of intervening directly. Holding her teacup, she kept a close eye on the situation.
Several men were punching and kicking. The two middle-aged women cried out repeatedly in pain. A few teahouse waitresses in short jackets, holding trays, knelt beside them, pleading, “Please, stop hitting them, stop hitting them! If you keep hitting them, they’ll die!”
Hearing the word “die,” the men hesitated and stopped.
The young master, around fifteen or sixteen years of age, was dressed in fine clothes. He wore a jade crown on his head, inlaid with a red beaded necklace. Two small braids hung down, setting off his face like jade in a wall, his complexion like the blossoms of early spring. His appearance was devastatingly beautiful, and one glance was enough to tell he was a pampered young master from a wealthy family.
It seemed the servant was right about him.
The legitimate grandson young master curled his lip into a smile. “So? Now what?”
The two middle-aged women—one being the teahouse manager—were now barely breathing. Where would they find the strength to reply?
The two lay motionless on the ground. The waitresses had no authority to make decisions, and could only huddle next to their manager, weeping.
The scene was unbearably miserable. The people in the teahouse, who initially didn’t want to get involved, now felt a stirring of compassion.
A woman dressed as a merchant stood up, placed silver on the table, and said to the young master, “Young Master, I’ll give you this seat.”
She willingly gave up her seat, but unexpectedly, the legitimate grandson young master not only didn’t appreciate the gesture, but after seeing she was a merchant, disdainfully brushed off nonexistent dust from his sleeve. The servant beside him spoke on the young master’s behalf, “Merchants are covered in the stench of copper [满身铜臭 | mǎnshēn tóngxiù | refers to the greed/lowliness associated with merchants], utterly base. The place where they’ve sat is filthy. How could it be fit for our young master to sit there?”
These words infuriated the merchant woman. She sat back down and drained her tea in one gulp.
Seeing this, how could the other patrons subject themselves to such humiliation by offering their seats?
The noisy teahouse suddenly fell silent.
The young master casually glanced around the teahouse. When he saw Su Yi, he frowned, the smile on his face disappearing.
It was common knowledge that the Su family members were all born with exceptional beauty. And he, Su Tianci [苏天赐 | Sū Tiāncì], was even more so the most outstanding in terms of appearance among this generation of the Su family. His grandmother was the Heir Apparent, and she only had his mother, who, now almost forty, also only had him. If nothing unexpected happened, the title of Pingyang Marquis should be inherited by him after he married into a family.
From childhood, he was held in the palm of people’s hands, hearing nothing but praises of his beauty, his every word treasured. In the year he turned fifteen, he even defeated Xiao Zhengyun of the Prime Minister’s family with his looks, becoming the most beautiful young master in the capital.
It could be said that in this capital city, in terms of beauty, no one was his match, except for the Ninth Imperial Princess, who was said to be as beautiful as a celestial being.
However, the Ninth Imperial Princess was a woman, a woman whose power surpassed his family’s. Towards her, he felt only admiration and wouldn’t dare to harbor a single disrespectful thought.
But other people were different.
Regardless of gender, anyone whose appearance surpassed his, he was incredibly jealous of. The servants and maids serving him at home, if they were good-looking, were all sent far away by him, to remote villages to farm. There was even a servant whose face he had scarred because their looks were too outstanding.
His jealousy was extreme. Now, seeing the breathtakingly beautiful Su Yi, the fire of jealousy immediately ignited within him.
Pointing at Su Yi, he arrogantly said, “You, get out! Give this seat to this young master.”
Su Yi, initially just a melon-eating crowd [吃瓜群众 | chīguā qúnzhòng | meaning: onlookers/bystanders], saw the conflict directed at herself. Still confused, she looked around, then pointed at herself uncertainly, asking, “Are you talking to me?”
“Who else could I be talking to?! Are you blind?! Hurry up and get out!”
Humiliated like this, the maids beside Su Yi showed expressions of anger. Feng Ruoqing also frowned.
Only Ji Qingchi, a smile playing on her lips, crossed her arms, watching Su Yi with the air of a spectator.
Ji Qingchi really wanted to know how this Eldest Lady Su would react when bullied by someone of her own clan.
“This seat was properly purchased with my silver,” Su Yi said calmly, sitting firmly in her chair without even looking at the so-called legitimate grandson young master. “If the young master wants it, that’s fine. This seat cost me sixty taels [两 | liǎng | unit of weight, tael (approx. 50 grams)] of silver. If the young master wants it, you have to give me that money. Otherwise, I’ll be at a loss.”
This legitimate grandson young master was actually one of the female protagonist’s harem, but the original book didn’t dedicate much space to him. It only mentioned that he admired the female protagonist, but due to his simplemindedness, he wasn’t favored by her. In the end, due to his great-grandmother’s status as the Pingyang Marquis, he was given the title of an ordinary consort by the female protagonist.
The book said the female protagonist didn’t like him because he was simple-minded. Unexpectedly, he was arrogant and domineering. No wonder the female protagonist didn’t like him.
Recalling the book’s description, Su Yi reached out and wiped away nonexistent tears from the corner of her eye. “As the young master can see, this young woman has to travel in a wheelchair. My family isn’t wealthy either. My mother only has me, one daughter, and she’s willing to give me money to spend freely. But I can’t ruin my family’s fortune [败家 | bàijiā | meaning: spending money or resources freely and recklessly]. Even in business, one can’t operate at a loss, right?”
Sixty taels?! Wasn’t that daylight robbery?!
Su Tianci’s face turned livid with rage.
He frequented this teahouse. A private room cost, at most, ten taels of silver. Was this woman deliberately being a lion opening its mouth wide [狮子大开口 | shīzi dà kāikǒu | meaning: to make an exorbitant demand] to make him back down?
“Could it be that I haven’t come here often enough? I didn’t even know the price of these private rooms has increased.” Su Tianci, suppressing his anger, said coldly, “So a private room now costs sixty taels?”
He looked at the waitress kneeling on the ground. “You, tell me, how much is a private room?”
His actions had disgusted everyone present. The waitress, head lowered, clutching the tray in her hands, mumbled, “Sixty taels.”
“You!” Su Tianci’s face darkened even more. He had completely lost his composure as a refined young master. He abruptly stood up and kicked the waitress. “I’m asking you! How dare you not tell the truth!”
The waitress was kicked to the ground. The thud of her body hitting the floor angered the other patrons in the teahouse even further.
The merchant woman who had been humiliated earlier smiled. “She’s not wrong. A private room is sixty taels. It’s been the rule since last month, Young Master of the Pingyang Marquis. Didn’t you know?”
Another woman dressed as a merchant chimed in, “That’s right. It’s only sixty taels. Even us lowly, money-grubbing merchants can afford it. How can the young master of the Pingyang Marquis family not afford it?”
“Hahaha, could it be that the title of Pingyang Marquis is just for show? There are so many influential people in the capital, how can the young master of the Pingyang Marquis family not even afford a measly sixty taels?”
“Yeah, yeah, how embarrassing. Even I, a game vendor [卖野味 | mài yěwèi | selling game/wild animals], can come here and have some tea.”
The rising and falling sounds of disdain filled Su Tianci with rage. The veins on his forehead bulged.
He roared, “Who says I can’t afford it?!”
He ordered a servant to bring his money pouch. Two fifty-tael silver ingots were pulled out. He grabbed them and furiously stormed towards Su Yi. When he was only two steps away, he abruptly hurled the silver at her.
Both silver ingots were pure silver, each weighing fifty taels. If they hit Su Yi’s face, even if they didn’t disfigure her, they would certainly cause bleeding and bruising.
Su Tianci was gleefully imagining Su Yi’s bruised and swollen face when his hopes were dashed.
As if swept up by the wind, the two silver ingots landed in the hands of Ji Qingchi, who was standing behind Su Yi.
Holding the two silver ingots in one hand, Ji Qingchi bent down and said to Su Yi with a smile, “Wife Master, this young master is so generous! We only asked for sixty taels, and he actually gave a hundred! Wealthy people are truly open-handed.”
“Indeed,” Su Yi said, her heart, which had just leapt into her throat, settling back down. The female protagonist still had a conscience, and hadn’t let her be hit by the silver. “This young master is truly generous. Since that’s the case, we’ll give the seat to the young master.”
Su Tianci didn’t see clearly how the silver ended up in Ji Qingchi’s hands. He had clearly thrown it at Su Yi!
Not hitting anyone, yet still losing one hundred taels of silver, made him so furious his face paled, and he momentarily lost his footing.
The servant who had followed him hurriedly rushed forward to support him. “Young Master, are you alright?”
“Get lost! Get out of here!” Su Tianci was in no mood for tea anymore. He kicked over the table and chairs in front of Su Yi, stood before her, and viciously demanded, “Whose daughter are you?! How dare you oppose me like this?!”
Within a single day, two people had asked her whose daughter she was.
These capital city folk were rather polite, huh? Before disciplining someone, they still inquired about their mother.
“I haven’t opposed the young master at all.” Su Yi spread her hands, raised her voice, and asked the surrounding guests, “Everyone, please judge. Just now, this young master wanted to buy the private room with money. Now that I’ve received the money, I’m giving him the seat. Am I opposing him?”
The merchant woman spoke first. “Of course not, young lady. You’re keeping your word. Even us lowly merchants understand this. How can the young master of the Pingyang Marquis family not understand?”
“Indeed. Could it be that the young master of the Pingyang Marquis family doesn’t even know the meaning of integrity [廉耻 | liánchǐ | sense of shame]?”
“Oh my, it’s almost the Hour of the Hare [卯时 | mǎoshí | 5-7 AM]. The city patrol [金吾卫 | Jīnwūwèi | imperial guards responsible for patrolling the capital] should be coming out soon. Didn’t that nasty young master say he’s from the Pingyang Marquis family? We should seize him and hand him over to the patrolling officials.”
Su Tianci had originally invoked his family name to intimidate these commoners, but unexpectedly, it backfired, giving them more ammunition against him.
As soon as they mentioned the city patrol, Su Tianci finally remembered his mother’s warning not to cause trouble again, or he would be confined [禁闭 | jìnbì | house arrest].
The pampered young master, fuming, knew he would die of anger if he stayed any longer. So he kicked aside the chair next to him and furiously declared, “Let’s go back to the manor!”
The servant hurriedly asked, “Huh? Young Master, aren’t we going to continue teaching those ignorant commoners a lesson?”
Su Tianci glared fiercely at him. “Teach them a lesson?! Just go!”
“But your private room…”
The blockheaded servant brought up the very thing he shouldn’t have, further enraging Su Tianci. He slapped the servant, shouting, “Stop babbling! I said, let’s go back! Back! Are you deaf?!”
“Yes, yes, yes.” The servant, covering his swelling face, dejectedly followed behind him and left.
Su Tianci’s group had arrived with great fanfare, but their departure resembled that of a stray dog, tails between their legs.
As soon as they left, the teahouse erupted in laughter and applause.
The merchant woman, who had been humiliated by Su Tianci, walked over and bowed to Su Yi. “Young lady, you are truly intelligent. I am Geng Rong [耿戎 | Gěng Róng] from the south of the city. I would like to inquire about your name and make your acquaintance.”
Su Yi coughed softly. “You flatter me, Miss. I am Su Yi. Thank you for speaking up for me just now.”
“You’re welcome, you’re welcome.” Geng Rong waved her hands repeatedly. Seeing Su Yi’s delicate physique and outstanding beauty, she was a little at a loss.
In this capital city, she had never met a woman as beautiful yet frail as Su Yi, seemingly as if a gust of wind could blow her away. When she addressed other women as sisters, she was always confident and at ease. But now, encountering someone like Su Yi, she was completely flustered.
She didn’t know if being overly enthusiastic from the start would frighten this young lady.
Su Yi noticed her awkwardness and smiled. “What business is Miss Geng’s family involved in?”
“We’re in the cloth business [布匹 | bùpǐ | bolts of cloth; textiles].” Speaking of her family’s trade, Geng Rong became less reserved. “Are you interested? Shall we sit down and chat?”
She pointed to the private room Su Yi had just given to Su Tianci. “Would you mind if I sit there with you?”
Su Yi shook her head. “That seat belongs to that legitimate grandson young master. Although he’s left, he paid for it. We certainly can’t take what belongs to someone else.”
Having said that, she called for Yanshen to help her. Leaving the private room area, they went outside and found an ordinary seat, where they sat down.
This teahouse had three floors. Only the third floor had waterside private rooms. Wealthy and influential people frequented them to enjoy the scenery and drink tea.
Outside, separated by several bamboo blinds, was the common area for drinking.
The prices in the teahouse weren’t too expensive. Even peddlers and foot soldiers, if they had some spare money, could come and sit for a while.
Where Su Yi sat, she was surrounded by ordinary people: merchants doing business, porters selling their strength, and also quite a few artisans.
The entire teahouse had heard about the earlier commotion. Hearing that Su Yi had driven away that nasty young master, they all came over to Su Yi’s table, wanting to see what she looked like, this person who dared to oppose the young master of the Pingyang Marquis family.
Upon seeing Su Yi’s appearance, they were all amazed, praising her, “Young lady, you are truly remarkable.”
Some were also worried about Su Yi’s safety, saying, “Young lady, that’s the young master of the Pingyang Marquis family. If he goes back and complains, what will you do?”
Su Yi coughed a few times, smiling. There were too many people, the air was stuffy, and she felt it was extremely difficult to breathe.
However, these people had come over to talk to her with good intentions. She couldn’t just shoo them away. Just as she was struggling with what to do, Ji Qingchi smiled timely and said, “Everyone, I truly apologize. My Wife Master’s health is frail. This slave wanted to get acquainted with all of you, but her health isn’t good, so we must decline.”
While speaking, Ji Qingchi discreetly used her internal energy to gently push away the few people crowding around Su Yi, lest Su Yi faint from lack of air and leave her a widow.
Seeing that Su Yi’s face was indeed pale, the people didn’t dare to crowd her anymore, each backing away a little.
A gap opened in the crowd. The waitress who had been by the manager’s side ran through the gap and abruptly knelt before Su Yi, crying, “Young lady, do you have any way to save our manager and accountant? They’re dying!”
Everyone then remembered the two middle-aged women who had been beaten. They chimed in, pleading with the waitress and asking if Su Yi could save them. Since this young lady wasn’t even afraid of offending the young master of the Pingyang Marquis family, she must be capable.
Su Yi couldn’t stop coughing and could only cover her mouth with a handkerchief. But her eyes kept looking at Feng Ruoqing. Ji Qingchi understood what she meant and said to Feng Ruoqing, “Miss Feng, could you please go and take a look?”
“Of course.” Feng Ruoqing quickly walked over to the injured teahouse manager and accountant. After carefully examining them, she administered acupuncture and fed them two medicinal pills.
The two women woke up one after the other. Although they were still injured, they were no longer gasping for breath like before. The waitresses explained what had happened. After helping them up, the two insisted on coming over to thank Su Yi.
Su Yi drank some tea and finally stopped coughing. Her forehead was covered in a light sweat. As delicate as a willow swaying in the breeze, she softly said, “It was nothing.”
She instructed Yanshen, “Bring out two ingots of fifteen taels of silver.”
Yanshen brought out the silver. Su Yi gestured to give the money to each of the two middle-aged women. “Please accept this money to treat your injuries.”
One tael of silver was enough for them to buy wine, meat, and many other things. Fifteen taels could support a commoner’s family for a whole year.
The two hurriedly declined. “Young lady, this is too much money. We can’t accept it.”
“Your injuries were caused by that legitimate grandson young master. This money is also his. It’s only right that you use his money to treat your injuries. Please don’t refuse. Just accept it.”
The two women thanked her profusely, and the surrounding crowd also praised Su Yi for her benevolence and righteousness.
Su Yi inwardly shook her head. These people were praising her now, but if Su Tianci went back and complained, causing someone to come and investigate her, some of these people would likely sell her out without hesitation.
So she had Yanshen bring out the silver to be exchanged, giving each person a string of cash [一贯钱 | yīguàn qián | a thousand copper coins], saying with a smile, “Everyone, you helped me just now, so you are my benefactors. Please accept this.”
Being able to drink tea, enjoy some wine, and also receive money, the crowd was overjoyed, praising Su Yi lavishly.
Su Yi smiled and nodded, thinking to herself, you’ve all accepted my money, so we’re all accomplices now. If there’s any investigation, none of us can escape.
Feng Ruoqing returned after treating the two women. Seeing Su Yi’s actions, she was also touched. “Eldest Lady Su is truly wise and righteous.”
“Indeed, quite clever and astute,” Ji Qingchi said, smiling faintly. Among so many people, only Ji Qingchi had guessed the reason behind Su Yi’s actions. In a low voice, Ji Qingchi added, “Truly a cunning little fox.”
The head of the Su family was righteous but a bit naive. The daughter she raised, however, had this kind of character, which didn’t seem to have been taught directly. Could it be that Su Yi was self-taught?
Usually appearing frail and sickly, yet so perceptive… Ji Qingchi looked at Su Yi in the wheelchair, the smile at the corner of her lips deepening. This Miss Su was even more interesting than she had imagined.
The group stayed at the teahouse for more than two shichen [more than four hours]. As the sun set in the west and the weather turned cooler, Su Yi quickly bid farewell to the people in the teahouse and continued to stroll through the night market.
Gancao, pushing Su Yi’s wheelchair, was still immersed in the earlier atmosphere and hadn’t yet returned to her senses. She said happily, “Miss, you wouldn’t believe it. I’ve never heard so many complimentary words in my entire life.”
“Silly girl, you’ve lost your head just from a few compliments?” Su Yi laughed. “Don’t mind what they say. The silver in our hands is what truly matters.”
Gancao didn’t understand the meaning behind her words, and Su Yi couldn’t elaborate in public. She asked Yanshen, “How much is left of the hundred taels that young master gave?”
Yanshen had counted when she went to the money changer to exchange the silver. “Forty taels and two hundred strings of cash remain.”
Su Yi’s eyes lit up. “So we earned forty taels?”
Yanshen nodded. “Yes, Miss.”
Having gone out and not only not spent money, but actually earned some, Su Yi was delighted. With a wave of her hand, she said, “Alright, all of you go to the night market later and see if there’s anything you want to buy. I’ll pay.”
Yanshen worriedly said, “But Miss, we’ve offended the legitimate grandson of the Pingyang Marquis. What if the old lady…?”
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Su Yi’s eyes scanned the stalls on both sides of the street. “He’s a legitimate grandson, and I’m a legitimate granddaughter. We’re both her grandchildren. She can’t just let her grandson beat her granddaughter to death, right? Even if he’s from the direct line, he’s a man. He can’t inherit the family estate.”
Besides, there were so many people in the teahouse. A little investigation would reveal that it was indeed that legitimate grandson who started the trouble. These Marquises and Princes value their reputation the most. Her great-grandmother had such an arrogant and domineering grandson, yet she had held the position of Pingyang Marquis for so many years. She must value family conduct even more. Even if she were to punish Su Yi, it wouldn’t be too severe.
Otherwise, Su Yi wouldn’t have been so bold as to extort money from him.
“But…”
“Oh, alright, alright. I’m not even worried, so why are you? If you’re afraid I’ll be punished, then hurry up and help me find some rare items for her birthday celebration. Maybe if she’s happy, she won’t punish me.”
“Yes.” Yanshen took her words seriously and stopped talking, focusing on the street just like Su Yi.
Su Yi was so focused on finding something that she didn’t let anyone push her wheelchair, instead pushing herself forward. Her eyes were fixed on the stalls, and she wasn’t paying attention to the road. The street was crowded, and in the jostling, she became separated from the others. She continued on until she arrived at a quiet, unfamiliar place. As she turned a corner, she bumped into someone.
It was an emerald green sedan chair, carried by several tall, strong women.
Each of the women wore a sword, looking fierce and menacing. Seeing Su Yi, they all drew their swords, shouting, “How dare you! You dare collide with a noble person!”
Su Yi was also startled and hurriedly backed her wheelchair away. “I apologize! I didn’t see the road.”
The guards continued to glare at her. “Uncouth commoner, you—”
Before she finished speaking, the person inside the sedan chair extended a hand and waved it slightly. Seeing this, the guards sheathed their swords. “Forget it. Our Ninth Imperial Highness is kind and merciful. You are forgiven. It’s quite pitiful sitting in a wheelchair. You may leave.”
Ninth Imperial Highness?
There seemed to be only one Ninth Imperial Highness in the book, and that was the female protagonist. But the female protagonist was currently her fulang. Where did this Ninth Imperial Highness come from out of the blue?
Could it be that the female protagonist had finally found her trusted aides and returned to the palace? But that was too fast. She was just behind Su Yi a moment ago.
But it was also possible that the female protagonist was so capable that she contacted her trusted aides directly on the street and was now planning to return to the palace.
While Su Yi was pondering, the person in the sedan chair disregarded her. The guards lifted the sedan chair, preparing to continue forward.
“Ninth Imperial Highness.” After a few steps, Su Yi suddenly remembered something and hurriedly pushed her wheelchair to chase after the sedan chair. “Is that the Ninth Imperial Princess? This commoner has heard that Your Highness’s calligraphy and painting are peerless. This commoner is terminally ill, with few days left to live. I wish to request Your Highness to bestow upon this commoner a piece of calligraphy or painting. Your Highness is kind and merciful, please have pity on this commoner!”
After the incident with Su Tianci, Su Yi suddenly remembered something. The Pingyang Marquis in the book was her great-grandmother. Although she appeared to be detached from worldly affairs, enjoying plays and music, she still desired promotion.
But she was already a Marquis, the highest rank among non-imperial officials. The only chance for further promotion was through meritorious service to the throne.
Therefore, while appearing detached, she secretly interacted with the factions of several imperial daughters, particularly favoring the female protagonist, secretly providing her with many resources.
However, her connection with the female protagonist was established too late. After the female protagonist became emperor, the rewards given to her were only jewelry. Although her precious legitimate grandson entered the female protagonist’s harem, he was only an ordinary consort.
The family honor she yearned for was not achieved, and she was ridiculed for debasing herself and selling out her grandson for personal gain, leaving her depressed and leading to her premature death from grief.
At this point, her great-grandmother must not have established a connection with the female protagonist yet. Su Yi planned to initiate the connection, using the request for calligraphy and painting to help her great-grandmother board the female protagonist’s ship, so to speak. Wouldn’t her great-grandmother be delighted then? She wouldn’t die in discontent later, and the female protagonist would gain more support. A win-win situation.
She single-mindedly chased after the sedan chair. The guards carrying it suddenly turned hostile. Putting the sedan chair down, they drew their long swords and stepped forward, glaring fiercely at Su Yi. “What do you know?”
“Huh?” Su Yi was bewildered. “Know what?”
Know that the female protagonist was pretending to be her fulang? But she wouldn’t tell anyone.
Besides, she had helped the female protagonist and even put on a nauseatingly affectionate act in front of her. Couldn’t the female protagonist, considering that Su Yi had brought her to the capital despite her poor health, help her out and draw something for her?
The guard said fiercely, “Regardless of whether you know or not, your life ends today.”
The cold glint of the long sword reflected off Su Yi’s pale face. Su Yi’s heart chilled. No way, no way! The female protagonist, that ungrateful wretch, is a cold-hearted snake! All that sickeningly sweet effort I put in for you… If I’d known your conscience had been eaten by a dog, I wouldn’t have bothered with you. I should’ve let my mother drown you in a pig cage!
The descending long sword brought a gust of wind. Su Yi, sitting in her wheelchair, couldn’t dodge in time. Watching the blade fall, she could only close her eyes, calmly accepting the imminent pain.
A clang rang out. She didn’t feel the pain of the blade, but rather a whoosh of air past her ear.
Su Yi quickly opened her eyes and saw a woman dressed in common clothes and a face covering standing in front of her. After swiftly knocking down the guards, the woman glanced at the sedan chair, scooped Su Yi up into her arms, and, with a light tap of her toes, used qinggong to carry her away.
The guards, sprawled on the ground, struggled to light signal flares. Soon, another large group of people rushed in from somewhere. One group protected the sedan chair, while the other chased after them.
Experiencing a princess carry for the first time, Su Yi wasn’t thrilled. The wind speed in the air was high, and the masked person’s veil was blown upwards. Su Yi looked up and clearly saw the features of the person carrying her—
It was Ji Qingchi!
Su Yi was stunned. Wasn’t the female protagonist in the sedan chair just now? Then who was that? How did the female protagonist suddenly appear here?
As she puzzled over this, their pursuers drew closer. “They went that way! Quickly, loose arrows!”
The street was secluded, with no one around. The archers, unafraid of hitting innocent bystanders, fired without hesitation. A dense rain of arrows shot towards them. Seeing the sharp arrowheads, Su Yi’s heart chilled. It’s over. Regardless of how Ji Qingchi appeared here, we’re both going to be turned into hedgehogs now.
Ji Qingchi, with a cold expression, increased her speed, skillfully dodging the arrows. Her qinggong was exceptional, and in a few moves, she flew over the street and into a small alley, gently setting Su Yi down.
Feng Ruoqing was standing at the alley entrance. With Su Yi’s back to her, Feng Ruoqing tossed a small white bottle to Ji Qingchi. Ji Qingchi caught it while Su Yi wasn’t looking, nodded to Feng Ruoqing, and then departed using qinggong.
Having just experienced such a thrilling event, Su Yi stood there, still dazed, feeling as if she were dreaming.
Seeing her stunned expression, Feng Ruoqing hurriedly stepped forward to check Su Yi’s pulse. After confirming she was unharmed, Feng Ruoqing sighed in relief. “Eldest Lady Su, you suddenly disappeared, scaring us all. We were searching everywhere for you. It’s good that you’re alright.”
No one expected Su Yi, even in a wheelchair, to be so restless, pushing herself around. With the crowded street, they had actually lost track of her.
Fortunately, Ji Qingchi, possessing martial arts skills, had discovered Su Yi’s whereabouts in time. In order to avoid arousing Su Yi’s suspicion about her identity, Ji Qingchi had grabbed a drying garment from a nearby courtyard, covered her face, and gone to rescue Su Yi.
Su Yi had now regained her senses. “Where… where’s my fulang?”
“He and your maids are still on the street outside. I heard the commotion and ran here, just in time to see that chivalrous woman rescue you.”
Feng Ruoqing wasn’t good at lying, so their story was full of holes.
Su Yi immediately understood. It must have been that she and Ji Qingchi had discovered her missing. They had come looking for her, and then divided the tasks. Ji Qingchi was responsible for rescuing her with qinggong, Feng Ruoqing for leading her to safety, and then Ji Qingchi for shaking off the pursuers.
Seeing no suspicion on Su Yi’s face, and thinking that she had believed the story, Feng Ruoqing hurriedly said, “This place isn’t safe. Let’s leave quickly and rendezvous with Lord Chi.”
“Okay.” Remembering that she had wrongly accused the female protagonist, Su Yi felt guilty and even more puzzled. If it wasn’t the female protagonist, then who was the Ninth Imperial Princess in that sedan chair?
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