The Guigu Divine Physician bowed low. "This humble commoner greets Your Highness. What instructions does Your Highness have?"
"My son is injured. Divine Physician, please come with me to Cheng Wangfu first to examine my son."
The Guigu Divine Physician was the most renowned doctor in Huangcheng, often summoned by nobles and high officials for medical consultations.
He naturally recognized that Zhang Haokun, Prince Cheng's son, was right there in front of him.
He also understood that Prince Cheng's move was likely intended to deliberately make things difficult for Pingyuan Hou.
He could only reply, "This humble commoner obeys." Then, turning to Shen Changfeng, he said, "I must ask the Marquis to seek another skilled physician to treat the Third Young Lady."
"Father!" Zhang Haokun's face showed urgency. "I'm not seriously injured. You'er has been poisoned with arsenic. If she isn't treated promptly to neutralize the poison, her life will be in danger. Please let the Guigu Divine Physician treat You'er first."
Slap!
Zhang Cheng slapped him across the face in return. "I, Zhang Cheng, have built a lifetime of reputation—how could I have fathered such a fool like you?
Didn't you hear? That lowly wretch Shen Ruoyou doesn't even have eyes for you. Letting a mere concubine-born daughter become a Young Master's wife would already be elevating her status, yet she still delusionally aspires to become a Huangzi's consort."
After saying this, he turned to Shen Changfeng. "Children don't understand matters, but are you, Pingyuan Hou, and Old Lady Shen also confused? Then again, if the two of you were smart people, you wouldn't have favored concubines over the legitimate wife back then, nor sent your only legitimate daughter to suffer in the countryside.
Brother Changfeng, your Pingyuan Houfu… its fortunes are about to run dry…"
"Your Highness, this is a misunderstanding!" Shen Changfeng kowtowed once more to Zhang Cheng. "It's not that this official and You'er look down on Cheng Wangfu or Young Master Kun. The truth is, the Fifth Prince has already expressed his affection for You'er. How could we dare refuse? That's why we thought, since Qingqing is even more beautiful than You'er and is the legitimate daughter, perhaps she should marry Young Master Kun instead.
It was my fault for not discussing this with Your Highness and Young Master Kun beforehand. I beg Your Highness and Young Master Kun for forgiveness."
Zhang Haokun kicked him hard. "You old dog! You and that bitch Shen Ruoyou actually conspired to deceive this Young Master. Fine! Let Jiang Yanqing marry over then.
She dared to lay hands on me and my father. Once she marries into Cheng Wangfu, she'll be entirely at our mercy!"
Shen Changfeng was overjoyed. "That would be excellent. There's no day like today. Let our two families sign the marriage contract now. I also beg Your Highness to allow the Guigu Divine Physician to treat You'er. If anything happens to You'er, we won't be able to explain it to the Fifth Prince."
Zhang Cheng mocked, "It seems to me your brain has rusted. If Jiang Yanqing would obediently follow your arrangements, you wouldn't need to set traps for our father and son to deal with her. We dare not aspire to the women of your Shen family! Kun'er, let's go."
In the end, Zhang Cheng still left the Guigu Divine Physician behind, as he didn't dare openly oppose the imperial family.
Once outside the gates of Pingyuan Houfu, Zhang Haokun was filled with resentment.
"Father, Shen Changfeng and Shen Ruoyou tricked us, and Jiang Yanqing attacked us. Are we just going to let it go?"
A thick, murderous intent flashed in Zhang Haokun's eyes. "How could that be possible? Everyone in their Pingyuan Houfu must die!"
"Good!"
…
Early that morning,
Jiang Yanqing finished her meal and, taking advantage of the crisp autumn weather, thought about going out for a stroll. But then a maid came to report, "Fourth Young Lady, the Fifth Prince has arrived. The master requests your presence in the front hall to pay your respects."
Jiang Yanqing sneered. Shen Changfeng was trying to use the Fifth Prince to pressure her again.
By the time she reached the front hall, all the Shen family members were present except for the eldest young master, who was away.
The man seated in the main position appeared to be around twenty years old, dressed in a brocade-blue robe with a golden tiger-head pouch hanging from his waist. His features were quite proper, but his large eyes held a hint of clear foolishness.
Jiang Yanqing directly took a seat on an empty chair nearby. "What did you call me here for? Speak plainly."
The Fifth Prince asked discontentedly, "Are you Jiang Yanqing?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you kneel upon seeing this prince?"
Jiang Yanqing raised her eyes and glanced at him indifferently. "You don't deserve it, fool. Are you also here to stand up for Shen Ruoyou?"
Zhou Yuhuai was filled with rage. "How dare you! You dare insult this prince? Guards, hold her down and make her kneel, then slap her twenty times."
As soon as his words fell, Jiang Yanqing casually picked up a teacup from the table and smashed it against him with a "bang."
"Everyone says I'm insolent, everyone wants to slap my face. If I don't get angry, do you really think I'm easy to bully?"
Everyone in Pingyuan Houfu was so shocked their mouths hung open, and Shen Changfeng's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Jiang Yanqing, have you truly grown tired of living? You dare strike a prince?"
Zhou Yuhuai was even more furious. "Seize this wild girl for this prince!"
"Stop shouting. Your men are no match for me."
Jiang Yanqing stood up and walked step by step toward Zhou Yuhuai.
"Are you Zhou Qicen's son?"
"How bold! You dare address my father the Emperor by his name!"
Zhou Yuhuai clenched his fist and swung at Jiang Yanqing, but she caught his wrist in one swift motion.
"I'm asking you, are you his biological son?"
Zhou Yuhuai had never been so insulted in his life. His blood boiled with anger, and his face flushed red.
"Of course! Do you know that laying hands on a prince warrants death by a thousand cuts? Let go!"
No matter how loudly he roared, Jiang Yanqing acted as if she hadn't heard him and continued, "Why did you come to Pingyuan Houfu?"
Before Zhou Yuhuai could speak, Shen Ruoyou knelt before Jiang Yanqing.
"Fourth Sister, the Fifth Prince came to see me. If you have any grievances, direct them at me. I beg you, don't harm the Fifth Prince. Please let him go."
She reached out to pull at Jiang Yanqing, but Jiang Yanqing didn't even glance at her and kicked her aside.
"Pfft…"
Shen Ruoyou spat out a mouthful of blood. Already weakened from the poison, her face now turned as pale as paper, making Zhou Yuhuai's heart ache.
"You'er!"
Shen Ruoyou crawled to Zhou Yuhuai's feet, her delicate jade-like hands clutching the hem of his robe as she gave a pitiful smile.
"Fifth Prince, don't worry. I'm fine. It's just… I've implicated you. You'er deserves to die ten thousand times."