Situ Haonan hesitated, not moving at all. On one side stood his parents, on the other, the wife of his sworn brother—both sides left him in an impossible position!

“Han Ziqing, take one more step forward, just try it!” Situ Haonan’s mother warned coldly.

Ziqing paid her no mind whatsoever, not even sparing this unreasonable, overbearing noblewoman a glance. But just as she stepped over the threshold, the city lord suddenly appeared out of nowhere directly in front of her, blocking her path!

Ziqing’s heart went quiet with respect—no wonder he’d earned the title of Da Zhou’s martial world alliance leader. Such skill—forget seeing him move, she hadn’t even sensed his approach until he was already standing right before her!

“Han Ziqing, if this matter of you striking her isn’t properly explained, even if you manage to walk out this door, you won’t manage to leave Situ City itself.” the city lord said flatly.

Ziqing boldly met his sharp, piercing gaze and countered, “Didn’t I already explain? She insulted me first, and struck my own sister first—that’s why I struck back. City Lord Situ, tell me, in this matter, who erred first?”

“Then tell me why she insulted you, why she struck your sister?” the city lord asked.

“She foolishly trusted Da Zhou’s Seventh Prince and went off alone with him, only to run into assassins. Out of kindness, I stepped in to save her—and how did she repay me? She turned around and accused me of trying to kill her instead! When my own sister spoke up to clarify the truth, she struck her. Tell me, did she deserve to be hit or not?” Ziqing shot back, every word sharp and unyielding.

At this point, Situ Haonan, who had remained silent throughout, quietly interjected, “That… Da Zhou’s Old Seventh really isn’t a decent person, that much is true.”

The city lord was just about to speak when Situ Haonan’s mother rushed forward instead, snorting coldly. “Han Ziqing, you’re quite the storyteller, aren’t you! Your sister? That person is clearly nothing more than a maidservant—do you think this lady doesn’t know the whole story?”

Ziqing answered without hesitation, “Hongyi may be a maidservant by title, but she’s like a sister to me in every way that matters!”

“A servant!” the city lord’s voice rose even louder.

“So what if she’s a servant? Is a servant not a person? Does that mean she can just be beaten however anyone pleases?” Ziqing shot back.

“You!” the city lord sputtered with anger. “You already know full well that’s just Xin’er’s temperament—consider yourself lucky she didn’t strike you herself, and yet she struck a mere servant, and you turned around and hit her over a servant! Han Ziqing, don’t you think you’re being a bit excessive?”

“Temperament, temperament! Don’t lecture me about someone’s supposedly natural temperament! This princess consort happens to have a natural temperament that simply cannot stand watching anyone beat a servant—whoever strikes this princess consort’s people will find this princess consort furious in return. Why couldn’t Situ Xin’er extend this princess consort the same courtesy? Why is it, City Lord Situ, that you can’t simply overlook this the same way, on account of this princess consort’s own natural temperament?” Ziqing countered once more.

This left the city lord completely speechless.

“I don’t care about any of that. You must formally apologize to Situ City for this—Situ City’s own daughter absolutely cannot be wronged for nothing!” Situ Haonan’s mother declared, pointing directly at Ziqing, each word a deliberate warning!

Yes, this was indeed a warning—Han Ziqing needed something from them, after all!

“An apology?” Ziqing laughed coldly, raising an eyebrow, her composure unshaken as she countered, “Madam, you say you know the full story—then surely you also know that in the end, Han Xi’er apologized to this princess consort in front of everyone, and even your own daughter admitted she was in the wrong. What grounds do you have to demand an apology from me?”

Ziqing continued, turning the accusation right back at them. “The two of you—Ziqing wasn’t even asking for a word of thanks from you, and yet here you are, siding with your own kin over what’s actually right. You’ve utterly failed as parents, and you’ve utterly failed as leaders of the martial world!”

The city lord took a few steps back, his brow furrowed tightly. He hadn’t expected the matter to escalate to this point, nor had he realized the full circumstances behind it. All he’d known was that Xin’er was his most precious daughter, and she absolutely could not be wronged!

But now, whether by reason or by sentiment, he found himself with no ground left to stand on. And yet, as the proud ruler of an entire city, how could he possibly back down and admit defeat himself?

Han Ziqing was, after all, still the younger generation here—however much she represented Jun Beiyue, she remained a mere woman, not Jun Beiyue himself. Surely it was only natural that she should be the one to yield!

Thinking this, the city lord immediately turned toward Situ Haonan, who had been standing silently to the side—it was time for this boy to smooth things over and talk some sense into Han Ziqing.

Situ Haonan’s mother’s gaze drifted toward her son as well, but Situ Haonan, seemingly well-acquainted with his own parents’ ways, had already lowered his head early on, refusing to look at anything.

Ziqing waited. Whether these two elders intended to back down or continue their obstruction, she was prepared to wait either way!

She had originally hoped to simply stay the night peacefully and depart the next day, hoping to preserve the good relationship between Jun Beiyue and Situ City. But these two elders were truly pushing things too far.

Whatever kind of parents raised a child, the child would inevitably reflect them—and whatever kind of daughter this was, her parents would inevitably be the same!

They and Situ Xin’er were cut from exactly the same unreasonable, entitled cloth!

Jun Beiyue’s very life hung in the balance right now, essentially facing his darkest hour. If this couple showed so little regard for Jun Beiyue even now, why should she show any regard for them on his behalf?

Silence—Ziqing had said her piece and deliberately fell silent, refusing to speak further. If the Situ couple continued their own silence, it would only serve as tacit admission that her scathing words had struck true.

A flash of ruthless resolve crossed Situ Haonan’s mother’s eyes, and she said coldly, “Han Ziqing, that’s quite enough. Regardless of the actual circumstances, as the younger generation here, as Beiyue’s own wife, don’t you think speaking to us this way is far too brazen, far too lacking in proper respect? You must apologize to my husband and me for your rudeness—otherwise… otherwise hand over that letter, and let Beiyue come collect it himself once he wakes!”

What a woman, this Situ matriarch—her words were sharp indeed. Declaring “that’s quite enough” gave herself a graceful way down, only to immediately seize upon another pretext to elevate herself right back up, demanding an apology to reassert their standing as a couple.

Not a chance!

Ziqing laughed coldly, again and again. “Madam Situ, proper respect? My own sense of propriety was taught to me by my own father—as Prince Yao’s consort, even Da Zhou’s own Prime Minister Han, my father, must kneel before me and address me as ‘Your Highness.’ What right do you have to lecture me about seniority, status, and proper etiquette? Age determines seniority, yes, but standing determines rank! Madam Situ, if you’re so eager to discuss propriety and etiquette with me so politely, shouldn’t you perhaps be the one bowing to this princess consort instead?”

What was status for, if not precisely for moments like this, to press one’s advantage!

Situ Haonan’s mother found herself at a loss for how to retreat, her anger choking her throat until she finally spoke bluntly instead. “Han Ziqing, if you want to leave, you’re free to leave right now—but you’ll leave that letter behind with me. Once Jun Beiyue wakes up, he can come collect it himself!”

“Absolutely not!” Ziqing said flatly, without hesitation. This letter was far too important—something Jun Beiyue had been willing to agree to marry Situ Xin’er just to obtain. How could she possibly abandon it so easily?

True integrity wasn’t walking away and abandoning something—true integrity was walking out that door with what you’d come for, still in hand!

If she left this letter behind today, it would surely become their greatest bargaining chip against Jun Beiyue someday!

Ziqing spoke no further, coldly turning to leave.

“Wretched girl, don’t you dare force my hand!” Situ Haonan’s mother shouted furiously, drawing her sword and rising. The city lord watched coldly, seeing no need to intervene himself—his wife alone would surely be enough to handle this girl!

Ziqing turned back around and said coldly, “Jun Beiyue has already agreed to marry Situ Xin’er, and he made it clear to this princess consort that under no circumstances would he allow you two to go back on your word. I will absolutely be taking this letter with me.”

No one knew just how much it had pained her heart when Jun Beiyue, leaning against her shoulder, had spoken those low words to her—”I have no choice but to marry her.” That pain demanded some kind of price be paid for it.

Ziqing’s hands, clasped behind her back, slowly opened, her slender, jade-like fingers each tensing with coiled force!