20
Sending You to Wash Your Mouth in the Latrine
As expected, Mu Feng had also come. It seemed he was here to assess whether Liang Peng was trustworthy, following that scoundrel’s orders. That scoundrel probably wouldn’t show up today, so I didn’t need to rush to his side. It was better to enjoy the banquet at my own pace.
Mu Feng had just stepped into the courtyard of the Liang residence when he heard a familiar voice.
Looking up, he discovered it was indeed Lin Qingran, with Yao Qin by her side.
However, with so many people in the front courtyard—men and women, young and old, including the Lin couple—Mu Feng couldn’t approach Lin Qingran alone to greet her. He simply nodded in acknowledgment.
Then, his gaze briefly settled on Yao Qin before quickly shifting away.
Yao Qin didn’t notice Mu Feng. Seeing Lin Qingran lost in thought, she tugged at her arm. “Did you hear me, Ranran?”
“Alright, alright, I’ll come find you tomorrow,” Lin Qingran replied with a smile. She was genuinely happy to see Yao Qin, her good friend.
Whether it was due to the original host’s lingering emotions or her own natural affinity for Yao Qin, Lin Qingran felt no barriers between them and had easily accepted this friendship.
“That’s more like it. Let’s go inside. It’s too crowded here, and I don’t want you to be jostled,” Yao Qin said, turning to Xu Shi. “Aunt Xu, I’ll take Ranran inside to sit for a while. With me here, you don’t have to worry—no one would dare bully Ranran.”
Xu Shi smiled, naturally not refusing Yao Qin. “With Qin Qin here, I have nothing to worry about. You two go ahead inside. Just remember not to snack too much, or you won’t have room for the main meal.”
Because of Lin Qingran’s closeness with Yao Qin, Xu Shi also addressed her affectionately as “Qin Qin” instead of using her formal title, Little County Princess.
“Understood, Aunt Xu,” Yao Qin said cheerfully, taking Lin Qingran’s hand and leading her inside.
Madam Liang watched the cheerful figures of Yao Qin and Lin Qingran, feeling a twinge of envy. “Miss Lin and the Little County Princess are very close.”
Xu Shi, recalling that Madam Liang had suffered a miscarriage after becoming pregnant, tactfully changed the subject to avoid causing her further sorrow.
Meanwhile, Lin Qingran and Yao Qin made their way to the small garden behind the banquet hall, the two girls walking arm in arm.
“Ranran, why must you be so fixated on the Crown Prince? He’s always so cold and never smiles. No matter how many times I’ve told you, you never give up. I heard you even coughed up blood in the ancestral hall because of him. If my mother hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve come to give you a good beating to knock some sense into you,” Yao Qin scolded, glaring at Lin Qingran.
“I don’t believe you’d actually hit me. You’d never have the heart. If you did, you’d be the one most upset about it,” Lin Qingran chuckled, nuzzling her head against Yao Qin’s shoulder. “Alright, alright, don’t be angry. Don’t worry, I won’t be like that anymore.”
Yao Qin sighed and gently tapped Lin Qingran’s forehead. “You silly girl.”
The two sat on a bench chatting when suddenly, a few people approached from behind. Since they were facing away, the newcomers couldn’t see them.
“Did you hear? When the Crown Prince faked his death this time, that Miss Lin cried so miserably in the ancestral hall that she even coughed up blood,” a woman in a goose-yellow gauze dress sneered, then continued, “She clings to His Highness the Crown Prince so shamelessly only because she has a good grandfather who’s the Grand Tutor. Otherwise, how could she ever catch the Crown Prince’s eye?”
“Exactly. Though her looks are passable, her brains aren’t much to speak of. How could she compare to our Miss Zhang?” another woman in green attire chimed in.
Four or five others joined in the laughter, occasionally making remarks filled with contempt for Lin Qingran.
Yao Qin couldn’t tolerate such talk. She sprang to her feet, unfastened the whip from her waist, and cracked it against the ground with a sharp ‘snap.’
Dust flew up from the impact, and the loud noise made the young ladies shudder.
Just as they were about to retort, they saw Yao Qin glaring at them ferociously, and immediately shrank back like frightened quails.
Lin Qingran hadn’t had time to react—Yao Qin moved too quickly—but truthfully, she didn’t mind these comments herself. She hadn’t expected Yao Qin to get angry on her behalf.
To Lin Qingran, this was all baggage left behind by the original owner of this body, so she could only face it calmly. Yet Yao Qin couldn’t stand to see her bullied.
“Qin Qin,” Lin Qingran called out as she stood up.
Knowing Yao Qin was defending her, Lin Qingran didn’t want her to give others grounds to accuse her of being arrogant and domineering, especially by resorting to violence at Old Madam Liang’s birthday banquet.
But Yao Qin had no intention of letting these gossipmongers off easily. Otherwise, Lin Qingran’s reputation would only worsen. Since Lin Qingran would soon be married into the Eastern Palace, such matters couldn’t be allowed.
“What were you just saying about Ran Ran? Say it again, let me hear it,” Yao Qin snorted coldly. “You lot don’t seem to come from respectable families yourselves. What gives you the nerve to gossip behind the back of Grand Tutor Lin’s granddaughter? You’re not much to look at either, and your mouths reek! Didn’t you rinse before going out? If you didn’t, I’ll send you to the latrine to wash them out. Disgusting!”
The ringleader was a woman named Zhang Mingming, whose father held the third-rank position of Censor. Given his status, many usually flattered her.
Even some first and second-rank officials showed her father some respect, which was why several young ladies clustered around Zhang Mingming—mostly due to her father’s influence.
Having never been so directly insulted since childhood, Zhang Mingming flushed red with anger, her neck bulging.
“Little County Princess, your words are too harsh! As a county princess, how can you speak so vulgarly, and to a young lady like me!” Zhang Mingming fumed, her eyes blazing as she stared fixedly at Yao Qin.
Crack! Yao Qin’s whip lashed out, landing squarely in front of Zhang Mingming’s feet, missing her toes by barely a thumbnail’s width.
It wasn’t poor whip control—it was excellent control, allowing such precise aim.
“Ahhh!” Zhang Mingming screamed in terror, and the women behind her hastily backed away.
They usually acted like the best of friends, but when danger struck, they fled promptly.
Though Yao Qin’s whip hadn’t struck her, it had thoroughly frightened Zhang Mingming.
“I am uncouth and ill-tempered—this is known throughout the capital. Even the Emperor hasn’t reprimanded me, so who are you to do so? What exactly are you?” Yao Qin snorted coldly. “Apologize to Ranran right now, immediately, or I’ll beat you until you’re picking your teeth off the ground today!”
Lin Qingran’s eyes sparkled like stars, gazing at Yao Qin with pure admiration.
【Wow, this is the true demeanor a heroine should have! Qin Qin is absolutely, utterly captivating—so beautiful and spirited!】
Just as Mu Feng was about to step into the courtyard, he suddenly heard these words in his mind.
Qin Qin?
Beautiful and spirited?
Mu Feng’s heart stirred, and he stepped into the courtyard.