Princess Yong’an’s lips curled into a meaningful smile. “This man beside you has a special connection with me, and I admire him. Today, I’ll take him away. From now on, you two will have no further relationship or contact. Do you understand?”
Hearing this, Zhu Caiwei’s face turned pale, looking at Princess Yong’an in disbelief.
“Your Highness, I can agree to anything else, but not this.”
“What did you say?” Princess Yong’an’s tone suddenly turned sharp, her eyes flashing with killing intent. “You dare defy my wishes? Do you think your life is too long?”
Princess Yong’an’s sudden anger naturally frightened Zhu Caiwei, but if she didn’t fight, her love would be separated from her from this day forward. How could she accept that?
“Your Highness,” Zhu Caiwei’s gaze was determined. She didn’t want to compromise easily and tried to salvage the situation. “Shiyuan and I are in love. We’re grateful for your rescue today, but there are thousands of ways to show gratitude. Why must Your Highness tear apart a loving couple?”
“I don’t need to explain my actions to anyone, let alone the daughter of a mere fifth-rank official. What right do you have to argue with me like this?”
Princess Yong’an’s words deeply hurt Zhu Caiwei. One rank higher crushes people, let alone an Imperial Princess personally appointed by the Empress. Not just the daughter of a lowly fifth-rank official, but even in the entire court, few would dare to go against her.
Seeing Zhu Caiwei wronged, Han Shiyuan naturally couldn’t stand by. “Your Highness, Caiwei and I are in love. I will love only her for life. Please don’t force us. Love should be mutual. Please be lenient and don’t trouble us further.”
“Whether there’s love or not is for me to decide. She has no right to argue with me, and neither do you. Moreover, I’ve saved your life several times. You haven’t repaid that debt, yet you think to escape my grasp? Pure fantasy.”
Hearing Princess Yong’an’s tyrannical words, Zhu Yan, standing nearby, couldn’t bear it any longer. Just as she was about to step forward and argue, Shen Du grabbed her wrist, pulling her back and shaking his head.
Zhu Yan couldn’t understand why Shen Du was standing by, watching. Even after Princess Yong’an had said such things, how could he remain a calm bystander? She glared at Shen Du as if blaming him. Shen Du patted her hand to reassure her.
“Your Highness,” Zhu Caiwei, being strong-willed and hurt to the core by Princess Yong’an’s words, bit her lip and finally said to the princess, “If you insist on taking Shiyuan away today, you might as well kill me first. I’d rather die than bear the pain of separation from my loved one.”
“Hmph.” Princess Yong’an snorted coldly, looking at Zhu Caiwei with disdain. “You think saying such things will scare me? Let me tell you, even if you die today, I will still take Han Shiyuan away.”
“You—”
“Didn’t you say you were willing to risk your life over this? Then I’ll grant your wish.”
Before Zhu Caiwei could say anything more, Princess Yong’an cut her off and ordered her followers in a fierce tone, “This woman has committed the crime of disrespect, defying me and threatening with death. I’ll grant her wish. Men, execute her on the spot!”
“Yes!” The men behind her immediately responded, drawing their swords and moving to slash at Zhu Caiwei’s neck.
This couldn’t be allowed!
If this continued, someone would die. Zhu Yan was alarmed and about to struggle, but Shen Du’s grip on her wrist tightened.
At this critical moment, Zhang Baohuan finally intervened. “Stop!”
With a cold shout, a flying sword came, knocking away the executioner’s blade.
Zhang Baohuan stepped forward, looking at Princess Yong’an with a slightly vicious gaze. “Everyone knows Your Highness is kind and virtuous. Yet today, over such a small matter, you’re causing such a commotion and even wanting to take a life. Wouldn’t this ruin Your Highness’s good name in an instant?”
Zhang Baohuan’s words of persuasion didn’t move Princess Yong’an at all. She could understand not wanting to trouble Han Shiyuan, but now this woman was just someone close to Han Shiyuan. Did it mean she didn’t even have the right to deal with a bystander?
“Lord Zhang,” Princess Yong’an’s tone was strange, her gaze towards Zhang Baohuan filled with contempt. “Lord Zhang is so busy with state affairs, yet you have so much free time to meddle in these trivial matters. Could it be that this Zhu family’s third daughter has some connection to you?”
“Your Highness jests. I merely don’t want to see Your Highness’s lifelong reputation ruined in a moment, nor do I wish to see Your Highness tarnish the Empress’s name.”
While the initial words were somewhat empty, the last sentence made Princess Yong’an’s heart sink.
The Empress cared most about reputation. Zhang Baohuan, after all, carried some of the Empress’s face. If she didn’t give him face today, and if this matter reached the Empress’s ears in the future, it might be disadvantageous to her. Princess Yong’an weighed her options.
Since things had come to this point, persisting would only give others something to talk about. Princess Yong’an straightened up, the curve of her lips full of meaning and eeriness.
“Since Lord Zhang has spoken, if I don’t give some face, I might truly bring trouble upon myself. Let’s leave things as they are today. Lord Zhang, you’ve truly played a good hand.”
Zhang Baohuan’s lips curved slightly, his expression calm. He remained composed in the face of Princess Yong’an’s ambiguous praise-like comment.
“Then I thank Your Highness for your understanding.”
Only after Princess Yong’an left with her people did Zhang Baohuan’s eyes show some deeper meaning.
With Zhang Baohuan intervening to save them again, Zhu Caiwei wanted to step forward to thank him, but Han Shiyuan held her back.
He merely nodded slightly with an indifferent expression, and the couple turned to leave.
Seeing this, Shen Du also felt the scene had lost its interest and said to Zhu Yan, “Let’s go, everything’s resolved.”
Zhu Yan’s lips parted as if wanting to say something, but before she could, Shen Du forcibly led her away.
Even Zhu Yan could see something strange; she didn’t believe Shen Du couldn’t see it either.
Princess Yong’an was by no means a careless person. This time, she had repeatedly threatened Han Shiyuan in public, only to be thwarted by Zhang Baohuan each time. This coincidence seemed too convenient.
It was as if it was deliberate.
If it was deliberate, then it was meant for someone to see. What was the purpose? What was such a flamboyant display trying to conceal?
Zhu Yan had never imagined that one day, investigating a case would involve such complex backgrounds.
…