“Crack!”
A resounding smack rang out as her palm struck hard across the cheek Han Xi’er had deliberately tilted up to receive it.
For a moment, everyone stood frozen in shock—no one had expected Han Ziqing would actually go through with it!
“Sister, Father is right. This whole matter is your fault.”
Despite the sheer force behind that slap, Ziqing’s expression remained the picture of innocence, like a little white rabbit, her clear eyes locked unflinchingly onto Han Xi’er’s barely-concealed fury.
Han Xi’er felt the right side of her face swelling until it seemed ready to split open, yet she had no choice but to swallow her anger and admit fault apologetically. “Yes, it’s entirely my fault, little sister. Sister has failed you… hmm, hmm… but don’t worry, even after I marry into the Chen family, Sister will absolutely make it up to you properly!”
“That’s not what Sister truly wants either. Get up, Sister.”
But the moment Han Xi’er had barely risen to her feet, Ziqing swung another vicious slap, sending her sprawling.
“Han Ziqing, don’t push your advantage too far just because you’re in the right!” the Prime Minister finally snapped in anger.
Ziqing sneered inwardly. If she hadn’t fought for herself today and simply let Han Xi’er have the moral high ground, who would ever have told her to show mercy where mercy was due?
She was absolutely not the type of person who, after being slapped, would let a single apology erase what had happened as if nothing occurred at all.
“Auntie knew nothing at all, yet she slapped me in front of everyone and flatly accused me of stealing someone’s man. That, too, was a result of Sister’s fault—so Auntie needn’t apologize to me at all. I’ll simply return that slap to Sister instead.”
Ziqing spoke with such conviction that the Prime Minister found himself unable to counter her. All the blame had already settled squarely on Han Xi’er—did the two elders really intend to swallow their pride and apologize publicly to this wretched girl?
Madam Han was already too frightened to so much as glance at Ziqing again; unable to manage anything further, she was hurried inside by the servants protecting her. Han Xi’er sat slumped to one side, her venomous glare all but promising to kill Han Ziqing on the spot with her eyes alone!
“Take the young miss inside!” the Prime Minister bellowed, then stormed off with a flick of his sleeve. Han Xi’er, clutching her face, hurried away as well, snapping, “Fetch a physician—the very best physician there is! If anything happens to my face, none of you will be spared!”
Those words, of course, were clearly meant for Ziqing’s ears. She swore to herself that once the consort selection was over, she would absolutely have this vile girl sold into a brothel, to be used by a thousand men, tasted by ten thousand more!
Ziqing filed that threat away. She then turned her attention to Young Master Chen, still kneeling off to the side, and felt a flicker of unease. Although she hadn’t clearly seen that man’s face last night, she was absolutely certain it hadn’t been this frail, delicate-looking Young Master Chen kneeling before her now!
Could there be someone else behind this? Her sharp gaze bore straight into Young Master Chen—but he flinched and looked away.
Ziqing’s eyes turned dark and cold. Without a flicker of expression, she turned and walked away. With so many eyes watching, it wasn’t the moment to press further—but no matter who that man truly was, she would find out. First she’d geld him… then kill him!
The farce at the Prime Minister’s residence had finally drawn to a close. But the real storm across the city was only just beginning. Whether inside the palace or out in the streets and alleys, nearly everyone was discussing the incident, and the focus, without exception, centered on Han Xi’er, the leading candidate for Prince Yao’s consort.
“Goodness, who would have thought Han Xi’er had such ruthless tactics!”
“She’s got only the one sister, and though she’s concubine-born, there was no need to drive her out of the household in such haste—what a lack of generosity!”
“Poor Second Miss, bullied like that… who knows how much more she’ll suffer once she’s married into the Chen family!”
…
In a teahouse, a man in black sat by the railing, sipping wine leisurely as he listened to the room’s chatter. The hand holding his cup partly concealed his handsome face, but his cold eyes, dark and still as a frozen pool, gradually brightened with an unconscious smile—like ripples spreading across still water, utterly captivating.
“My lord, it’s the second day now, and that girl still hasn’t shown any sign of the poison taking effect!” a guard beside him reported in a low voice.
“Wait a little longer,” he said indifferently, setting down his teacup…