"Hmph!" Zhang Haokun's eyes gleamed with malice. "You insolent wench, keep up your arrogance! Seize her!"
"Yes, sir!"
As the thugs moved forward, Shen Changfeng saw Jiang Yanqing open her folding fan and hurriedly stepped in front of her.
"Young Master Kun, don't be hasty. Let me talk to her properly."
He knew full well that the men Zhang Haokun had brought were no match for Jiang Yanqing. If they all died here, he would truly have no way to explain it to Prince Cheng.
At that moment, Shen Ruoyou also ran over.
"Young Master Kun, please spare my fourth sister. She grew up in the countryside and has never seen the world. She doesn't understand the rules and didn't mean to confront you. I'll make her kneel and apologize right now, alright?"
She knew Jiang Yanqing would never back down. Her words were deliberately meant to pour oil on the fire.
If she could use Prince Cheng's household to eliminate Jiang Yanqing, that would be perfect.
As for marrying Zhang Haokun, she wasn't actually worried. After all, no matter how domineering Prince Cheng's son might be, he wouldn't dare challenge the emperor's son.
Shen Changfeng urgently said to Jiang Yanqing, "Prince Cheng is the highest-ranking non-imperial prince in our Daxing, commanding fifty thousand elite troops. Killing you would be easier than slaughtering a chicken. Forget about you—even if he wiped out our Marquis's Manor, His Majesty wouldn't say a word. Kneel and apologize to Young Master Kun now. For the sake of my and You'er's face, he might still let you go. Once you're taken to Cheng Wangfu, you'll wish you were dead. Don't be foolish, alright?"
Jiang Yanqing smiled brightly. "If Prince Cheng could really wipe out this Pingyuan Houfu, that would be wonderful. It would save me the trouble. Now hurry up and get lost. Don't stand in the way. Quickly bring Prince Cheng here to unleash a massacre at Pingyuan Houfu."
Zhang Haokun gritted his teeth. "Pingyuan Hou, step aside. Such an insolent wench who doesn't know her place—today, I will make her submit completely. All of you, attack!"
"Yes, sir!"
The thugs shouted loudly, each rubbing their fists and palms.
"Don't… don't…"
Shen Changfeng wanted to stop them, but no one paid him any attention.
In an instant, the folding fan flew from Jiang Yanqing's hand, and all the men Zhang Haokun had brought collapsed to the ground.
"This…"
Zhang Haokun turned pale with fright, staring dumbfounded at Jiang Yanqing. "You… who exactly are you? How can you possess such formidable martial arts?"
Before Jiang Yanqing could speak, Shen Ruoyou said, "Fourth Sister, no matter how skilled your martial arts are, you can't withstand the tens of thousands of troops from Cheng Wangfu. Stop making trouble and obediently go to Cheng Wangfu to confess your crimes."
With this reminder, Zhang Haokun straightened his back again.
"Jiang Yanqing, just you wait. I'll send someone to fetch my father right now."
Jiang Yanqing laughed. "Good, I'll wait."
Turning to Shen Changfeng, she said, "Have a maid bring me some tea and snacks."
Shen Changfeng opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. This insolent girl was like a madwoman. For now, he would endure it. When Prince Cheng arrived, she would get what she deserved.
Just as he was about to order Gao Hai, Shen Ruoyou said, "I'll go make tea and bring snacks for Fourth Sister."
Unsolicited kindness is never without ulterior motives. Jiang Yanqing merely gave her a mocking glance and said nothing.
When Shen Ruoyou returned, she brought a maid carrying tea, plum cakes, peach crisps, preserved plums, as well as melon seeds and peanuts.
Jiang Yanqing poured a cup of tea. Without needing to bring it to her nose, she detected the arsenic inside.
Although the poison was colorless and odorless, she had been bathing in medicinal baths since childhood, making her immune to all toxins and naturally able to recognize them.
She looked up at Zhang Haokun with a smile that could topple cities and captivate nations.
"Young Master Kun, it will take at least the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before your father arrives. If I recall correctly, you haven’t had lunch yet. Why not have a cup of tea and some pastries first?"
Jiang Yanqing, with her fair skin and striking beauty, left the playboy Zhang Haokun momentarily stunned.
"If you had been this sensible earlier, someone as chivalrous as me would never have struck you."
With that, he began walking toward Jiang Yanqing.
"Don’t!"
Shen Ruoyou quickly grabbed Zhang Haokun’s arm.
"What’s wrong?"
"Young Master Kun, don’t go over there. Yesterday, she took my second brother hostage. If she’s inviting you for tea, she’s likely planning to do the same thing again."
Zhang Haokun hastily took two steps back. "Thankfully, You’er, you reminded me. This wretch must be afraid and is trying to lure me into a trap to use me as leverage against my father."
Jiang Yanqing smiled. "If Young Master Kun won’t drink, Shen Ruoyou, then you drink."
"I… I’m not thirsty. Fourth Sister, you should drink it yourself."
Jiang Yanqing picked up the teacup and walked over to her. "Whether you drink or not isn’t up to you."
"What are you doing?"
Shen Ruoyou instinctively stepped back, but Jiang Yanqing reached out and grabbed her chin.
"Ah… no…"
"Jiang Yanqing, what are you doing? Let go of You’er!"
Zhang Haokun tried to pull Jiang Yanqing away but was kicked flying by her.
The entire cup of tea was poured into Shen Ruoyou’s mouth before Jiang Yanqing released her.
"Ah… wuwuwu…"
Shen Ruoyou immediately used her fingers to try and induce vomiting, a sight so undignified that Shen Changfeng had never seen her like this before.
"You’er, what’s wrong?"
"Father… find a doctor… quickly find a doctor. There’s arsenic in the tea."
As soon as she finished speaking, she spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted.
"You’er, You’er!"
Shen Changfeng held Shen Ruoyou in his arms and roared at Gao Hai, "Quick, go fetch the Guigu Divine Physician!"