Jiang Yanqing looked up and saw that their group consisted of four people—two men and two women.
Although the Daxing Wangchao was strictly hierarchical, its social customs were open. Women could not only appear in public like men but also socialize and travel normally.
Thus, Jiang Yanqing didn’t find it particularly strange.
She merely sneered, “A mere concubine-born daughter like you, worthy of sitting with me?”
Shen Ruoyou lowered her head, her voice choked with sobs. “Yes… I overstepped…”
The man standing beside her raised his foot and placed it on the empty stool opposite Jiang Yanqing.
“So you’re You’er’s sister who just returned from the countryside?”
Jiang Yanqing couldn’t be bothered to respond and simply picked up a piece of beef to eat.
“How dare you! I’m talking to you, didn’t you hear?”
Jiang Yanqing glanced at him indifferently. “Get lost.”
“Heh… Do you know who I am? I am Young Master Kun of Cheng Wangfu, Zhang Haokun! Kneel down and kowtow to me at once!”
Jiang Yanqing grew angry as well—she hated nothing more than being disturbed while eating.
“I’ll say it one more time: get lost!”
Zhang Haokun smirked with a twisted mouth. “You really are just as You’er described—arrogant, unruly, and lacking in manners. You beat and curse your parents, bully your siblings, and even your grandmother isn’t spared.
Your name is Jiang Yanqing, right? Today, I’ll teach you a proper lesson on behalf of your deceased mother.”
He clenched his fist and swung it at Jiang Yanqing. She raised her hand, caught his arm, and slapped him twice across the mouth.
“How dare you mention my mother?”
“I’ll f—”
“Thud!”
Before he could finish cursing, Jiang Yanqing punched him in the face.
“Ouch… Ah…”
Jiang Yanqing stood up and kicked him to the ground.
“Ah… Young Master Kun…”
Shen Ruoyou and the other woman were so frightened they shrank against the wall.
The other man who had come with them, however, drew the dagger he carried at his waist and pointed it at Jiang Yanqing.
“You wretched girl, I am Liu Guangyi, the second son of the Prime Minister’s estate. Do you know what happens to those who offend both Prince Cheng and the Prime Minister’s estate in Huangcheng? I advise you—”
“Get lost!”
Jiang Yanqing was thoroughly annoyed and used a bit more force when she kicked him.
He flew three zhang away, his body crashing with a “thud” onto another table.
Plates of food shattered with a clatter, scattering across the floor.
“Ah… Jiang…”
Just as Liu Guangyi was about to hurl insults at Jiang Yanqing, he turned his head and saw two men.
One of them, dressed in black robes, was exceptionally handsome yet cold as a deep, icy pool.
He remained seated on his stool, completely motionless, yet Liu Guangyi trembled in fear, prostrating himself.
“Your Ex—”
“Silence!” the other man, clad in silver-gray robes, said sharply. “Get lost!”
“Yes… yes…”
Liu Guangyi actually rolled several times before scrambling down the stairs in a flash.
Similarly, Zhang Haokun, Shen Ruoyou, and the others dared not utter another word and slunk away in disgrace.
Jiang Yanqing walked up to the two men and took out a silver ingot.
“I apologize for disturbing you both. This is compensation for your troubles.”
The silver-gray-robed man didn’t move, instead glancing at the man in black.
The man in black stood up, his tone cool and detached. “No need. You were also a victim, young lady. Shaoqian, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Though Meng Shaoqian couldn’t quite agree—while it was Zhang Haokun and the others who had started the trouble, this young lady was hardly a victim. She had been the one overwhelmingly dominating the situation.
In all his years in Huangcheng, he had never seen a young lady from any family possess such fierce martial prowess.
When Jiang Yanqing returned to Pingyuan Houfu after her meal, Shen Changfeng was already waiting for her at the main gate.
"Jiang Yanqing, did you eat bear hearts and leopard gall at Heyun Pavilion? How dare you beat up both the young master of Cheng Wangfu and the second son of the Prime Minister's residence? Do you think your life is too long?"
Jiang Yanqing held a small folding fan behind her back, walking inside as she replied nonchalantly, "Don't worry, it won't affect my life in the slightest. Whether it affects yours, I don't know."
Shen Changfeng continued, "Also, just now those tailor shops, gold jewelry stores… sent over several carts of goods, costing me five thousand taels of silver in total. Why didn't you just buy the whole street?"
Jiang Yanqing smiled, "Next time, I'll buy it next time."
"You…"
"Jiang Yanqing!"
A sudden roar came from behind. Jiang Yanqing and Shen Changfeng turned to see Zhang Haokun charging in with a dozen or so thugs.
Shen Changfeng quickly stepped forward with an apologetic smile, "Young Master Kun, what brings you here?"
Zhang Haokun pointed to the bruises on his face, "Pingyuan Hou, you've truly raised a fine daughter. Look at what she's done to me! Since you're my future father-in-law, I won't make things difficult for you. Just hand Jiang Yanqing over to me. My father said he'll take her back to Cheng Wangfu and discipline her properly on your behalf."
Shen Changfeng was almost delighted, "Then I'll trouble His Highness with that."
He quickly stepped aside. As long as it didn't implicate their Marquis's Manor, he wouldn't care even if Jiang Yanqing were hung up and flayed.
Zhang Haokun took a few steps forward, tilting his head arrogantly as he looked down at Jiang Yanqing.
"You wretch, weren't you arrogant just because you know a few clumsy martial arts moves? Today, I'll make you realize that in Huangcheng, you're nothing but the lowest of the low. Will you come with me willingly, or shall I have your legs broken and drag you there?"
Jiang Yanqing sat down on a nearby stone stool, smiling faintly as she said, "I'm too tired to walk. If your father wants me to go to Cheng Wangfu, then let him come personally to invite me. Of course… even if he comes, I still… won't go… hahaha…"