The voice was instantly recognizable, always carrying a lively, playful lilt that made anyone who heard it feel unconsciously more cheerful too—exactly the kind of voice Ziqing was fond of.
Ziqing had always known someone from Xijing would come. The King of Nanzhao’s marriage to Chu Feiyan was purely because he was infatuated with Chu Feiyan’s skill at the guqin—he had no wish to be dragged into the disputes among the various kingdoms because of it, nor would he lean toward any particular side. Even if he had to lean one way, it would be toward Da Zhou, and he would certainly never act rashly.
For this reason, while Jun Beiyue might not need to be invited to this wedding, every other kingdom absolutely had to be, to demonstrate Nanzhao’s neutral stance.
Only, Ziqing hadn’t expected that the envoy sent from Xijing would turn out to be Yelu Qianqian herself!
That girl, after all, was the very cause of the war between Xijing and Western Chu—Chu Feiyan’s sworn enemy!
And once Chu Feiyan officially became the Nanzhao King’s consort, she would be the mistress of the Nanzhao royal household.
To dare come to one’s mortal enemy’s territory to attend that very enemy’s wedding—if not sheer audacity, it was at the very least courage!
Seeing that it truly was Yelu Qianqian, the corners of Ziqing’s lips curved up unconsciously. She thought, if it were her, she’d certainly have come too!
Only, why on earth would Yelu Qianqian be here in the imperial garden right now?
Yelu Qianqian, looking not the least bit thinner, hurried over, offering only the briefest of bows to Consort Qin without so much as a word before dashing straight to Ziqing. “Han Ziqing, so you’re here! I’ve been looking all over for you since I arrived!”
“I don’t know where Situ Haonan is,” Ziqing said flatly.
The bright, spirited gleam in Yelu Qianqian’s eyes dimmed at once. She pursed her lips and put on a brave front. “I wasn’t looking for him.”
As if afraid Ziqing might expose her, she quickly pointed at the Second Young Beast Master instead. “What’s going on here—what did this servant do? Is he in some kind of trouble?”
Servant!
At these words, Ziqing clearly saw a flash of displeasure cross the Second Young Beast Master’s face.
Just then, Consort Qin spoke coldly. “Qing’er, tell me—who exactly broke this flower?”
“This young master broke it!” the Second Young Beast Master declared sharply, startling Qing’er into silence. Ziqing rose and picked up the broken seedling, handing it to Consort Qin. “Take a look at this break.”
Consort Qin glanced at it and was about to speak when Ziqing suddenly snatched the seedling back and flung it high into the air. In an instant, a burst of wind energy sliced through it, snapping the seedling clean into two pieces once more.
She picked up one half and said, “Take another look, Consort Qin.”
“Consort Yao broke the seedling helping me catch my squirrel, Consort Qin. I’m willing to accept the punishment myself—it has nothing to do with Consort Yao!” the Second Young Beast Master explained at once.
Only then did Yelu Qianqian finally piece it together, and she grew impatient at once. “It’s just one flower seedling—what’s there to fight over? Does Nanzhao really lack for a single seedling?”
As she spoke, she turned to look at the Second Young Beast Master, showing not the slightest hint of apology for mistaking him for a servant, and asked suspiciously, “Which clan’s young master are you, anyway?”
“Young Master of the Beast Clan—not some servant. Kindly get that straight, Princess Qianqian,” the Second Young Beast Master said with displeasure.
“Well, dressed so shabbily, you can’t blame me for the mistake,” Yelu Qianqian said with a pout, still not taking it seriously.
“You—!” The Second Young Beast Master flared up. “And that outfit of yours makes you look like a princess, does it?”
“At least you know I’m Yelu Qianqian,” Yelu Qianqian retorted coolly, leaving the Second Young Beast Master utterly speechless!
“So, was I wrong?” Yelu Qianqian shot back provocatively.
“You! How vulgar! Who says a master has to wear fine silks and gorgeous robes? How shallow!” the Second Young Beast Master snapped angrily.
“You’re insulting me!” Yelu Qianqian flared up.
“I’m just stating facts!” the Second Young Beast Master sniffed coldly.
“How rude! Are you even a man!”
“How ill-bred! Are you even a woman!”
“Who says women have to be well-bred? You’re the shallow, vulgar one!”
…
The two of them bickered on and on, and Ziqing quietly held back a laugh off to the side—Yelu Qianqian truly had a gift for stirring up chaos; even Consort Qin couldn’t get a word in!
Finally, Consort Qin’s patience ran out. “Yelu Qianqian, who gave you permission to wander freely into the imperial garden? This is none of your business—be quiet!”
At these words, Yelu Qianqian did not fall silent—instead, it was the Second Young Beast Master who quieted down.
It takes two hands to clap, after all—once the Second Young Beast Master went quiet, Yelu Qianqian settled down too, glaring coldly at Consort Qin with a cold snort. “This Princess carries a sealed letter from the Emperor of Western Chu that must be delivered personally into His Majesty’s hands. His Majesty told me to wait in the imperial garden!”
The Emperor of Western Chu sending a sealed letter to the King of Nanzhao at a time like this? And the King of Nanzhao would actually accept it?
Ziqing knew this girl was lying. She had come here for one purpose only—to ask after Situ Haonan’s whereabouts.
With such a claim, Consort Qin had no way to press further. She pursed her lips and said, “Then Princess Qianqian may rest here a while. This one has urgent matters to attend to—please don’t interrupt.”
Yelu Qianqian sat down beside Ziqing, casting a cold glance at the Second Young Beast Master, pouting and saying nothing further.
Consort Qin, wisely choosing not to pursue the matter of Ziqing’s culpability, turned instead with a cold voice. “Second Young Beast Master, how dare you run wild in this imperial garden, breaking this one’s flower seedling and startling two honored guests. If this one doesn’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll truly start thinking the imperial garden is your Beast Clan’s hunting ground!”
With that, she barked sharply, “Someone, beat him!”
The Second Young Beast Master silently lay face-down, and two burly men approached him at once, rods raised.
Ziqing knew that her own breaking of the flower was the very trigger for Consort Qin’s punishment.
She still couldn’t help but speak up. “Consort Qin, why not… grant this Consort a favor and spare the Second Young Beast Master this once?”
“This isn’t about whether the flower was broken or not, Consort Yao—this is a rule of the palace. I do hope Consort Yao won’t… put this one in a difficult position,” Consort Qin said with a smile.
At these words, Ziqing understood she couldn’t stop this—after all, it wasn’t her affair to interfere in.
“Strike!”
At Consort Qin’s sharp command, a rod came down hard on the Second Young Beast Master’s backside with a loud crack, followed by a relentless series of blows, one after another!
Throughout it all, the Second Young Beast Master never once cried out in pain, never once looked up at anyone—he simply endured it all in silence!
The guards’ strength was tremendous; before long, the flesh on the Second Young Beast Master’s backside was a mangled, bloody mess!
Ziqing didn’t watch—she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold herself back. Newly arrived in Nanzhao, though Jun Beiyue held tremendous influence here, this truly wasn’t something they were in a position to interfere with. That man hadn’t slept in days, and right now, in the main hall facing the King of Nanzhao and the three clan elders, he had to weigh every single word with the utmost caution!
She couldn’t do anything about it, nor did she want to cause trouble for Jun Beiyue—who knew whether this might be some trap Consort Qin had set?
Yet Yelu Qianqian, though she’d only just been quarreling with the Second Young Beast Master moments ago, had too soft a heart to bear watching this. She murmured, “Han Ziqing, he’s being punished because of you—do something!”
Ziqing said nothing. Yelu Qianqian pressed on. “I hear Jun Beiyue has come too—if you step in, Consort Qin wouldn’t dare do anything!”
“Consort Qin already said this is a palace matter. Still don’t understand?” Ziqing said quietly.