A flicker of crisis passed through Zhao Mingzhu’s heart. Her gaze darkened, and she leaned delicately against Chen Xingwei, her voice soft and sweet: “Your Lordship~”
That tender call immediately drew Chen Xingwei’s attention back to her. He turned, looking at Zhao Mingzhu with deep affection and pity. “What is it, Mingzhu?”
Zhao Mingzhu lowered her eyes, fluttering her long lashes. With a few blinks, tears welled up, presenting her most pitiful, fragile appearance.
“Your Lordship, Mingzhu knows she misspoke just now, but… but Fifth Sister wants me to apologize in front of all these people…”
Before she could finish, Chen Xingwei flared up. “Zhao Mingyan, that’s enough! Always bullying Mingzhu—do you think I don’t exist?”
Zhao Mingyan: “???”
Zhao Mingzhu, seeing Chen Xingwei instantly take her side, let a glimmer of triumph flash beneath her tearful eyes.
Ha! Even if Chen Xingwei felt some interest in Zhao Mingyan now, what did it matter? With just a few words, she could still twist him around her finger. Compete with her for a man? Zhao Mingyan could dream!
But Zhao Mingyan, watching Chen Xingwei foolishly stand by Zhao Mingzhu, was speechless. Then she remembered—this was exactly how he had been in her past life. Whenever Zhao Mingzhu feigned pitifulness, he ignored right and wrong, always siding with her, always shielding her.
But this time, she was no longer his powerless concubine begging for survival. She didn’t need to indulge this ridiculous pair!
“Lord Chen, it was Second Miss Zhao who first publicly insulted our lady. I only asked her to apologize. How is that bullying her?”
Chen Xingwei scoffed. “Mingzhu only spoke hastily. Did she even say anything insulting? I don’t think those words were insults at all.”
Zhao Mingyan fixed her eyes on him, her lips curving slightly as she spoke. “Then I suppose Lord Chen is also *unrestrained in conduct, with a pig’s heart untamed*.”
She repeated word for word the insult Zhao Mingzhu had just used against Wang Shuang, now turning it back on Chen Xingwei.
Chen Xingwei, who had been smug moments before, flushed crimson.
“Zhao Mingyan, how dare you call me a pig!” he roared.
Wang Shuang, who had been listening all along, finally understood what Zhao Mingzhu’s earlier words had meant. She cried out, “Oh heavens, so she was calling me a pig! Pig! Pig! Pig! You’re the pigs!”
Her words made Chen Xingwei’s face burn even redder, his fury boiling over. “How dare you!”
But Zhao Mingyan pulled Wang Shuang behind her, refusing to yield, her gaze locked on Chen Xingwei. “Wasn’t it you, Lord Chen, who just said you didn’t know what words Second Miss Zhao had used? That they weren’t insults? Then why are you angry now?”
Her words left Chen Xingwei completely cornered, as if the slap he had just tried to deliver had rebounded straight back onto his own face. *Smack!* His cheeks burned with shame.
And because it was essentially his own self‑inflicted humiliation, Chen Xingwei had no way to refute it. He could only swallow his anger.
Grinding his teeth, he glared at Zhao Mingyan, who stood her ground without flinching. He had never realized she could be like this.
Wasn’t she always the quiet, rule‑bound type, the kind of dull boudoir woman who couldn’t even muster a word? How had she changed so completely after falling into the Pleasure Bureau?
“We’re not asking much—just an apology,” Zhao Mingyan pressed firmly.
At that, Chen Xingwei flicked his sleeve impatiently and snapped at Zhao Mingzhu beside him. “Apologize!”
“Your Lordship…” Zhao Mingzhu still resisted, trying to cling to him, but he shook her off directly.
Seeing this, Zhao Mingzhu knew she couldn’t escape. Bitterness flashed in her eyes, but she clenched her teeth and, unwillingly, muttered to Wang Shuang and Zhao Mingyan: “Madam Wang, I know I was wrong.”
That apology struck right to Wang Shuang’s heart. She lifted her chin proudly. “Fine. Since you admit your mistake, I’ll forgive you. But don’t bully or insult people again. Next time, it won’t be so easy to earn forgiveness!”
“Mm.” Zhao Mingzhu lowered her head so far that it nearly touched the floor. That single word shattered seventeen years of her pride as a pampered, noble young lady. Her fists clenched tight, her heart seething with hatred. And of course, she pinned all that hatred on Zhao Mingyan.
If not for Zhao Mingyan, how could she have been humiliated so publicly?
How dare Zhao Mingyan…!
She wanted to say more, but when she lifted her head, she saw Zhao Mingyan already walking with Wang Shuang into the deepest part of the cloth shop—the section with the cheapest fabrics. They didn’t spare her another glance. She watched them laughing together, like true sisters, as they picked through the bolts.
Zhao Mingzhu spat bitterly. “Born lowly slave!”
In her eyes, Zhao Mingyan being taken by Nan Yan meant she was only a concubine in the Nan household. Her closeness with Nan Yan’s wife and her defense of her just now were nothing more than currying favor with the mistress. Truly, a lowly slave!
At that moment, Chen Xingwei’s voice sounded in her ear. “What did you say?”
Zhao Mingzhu met his gaze and hurriedly hid all the resentment and malice in her eyes. She quickly softened her tone, speaking innocently and sweetly: “I was saying, Fifth Sister must be living quite poorly in Lord Nan’s household—serving as a maid, without even a decent set of clothes.”
Hearing this, Chen Xingwei glanced at Zhao Mingyan, who was busy choosing from the cheaper fabrics. A complicated look flickered in his eyes before he snorted. “Well, that was her choice! She refused to follow me, insisting instead on debasing herself with an old man. So now she has to wear rags. One day, she’ll regret it!”
As he spoke that last line, Chen Xingwei’s eyes lit up. He had always believed that since Zhao Mingyan hadn’t chosen to go with him, she would suffer. And here it was—reduced to picking through scraps of cloth!
What use was her sharp tongue when she looked like a beggar in tatters?
Chen Xingwei imagined it wouldn’t be long before Zhao Mingyan regretted everything, kneeling at his feet, begging him to take her back.
With that thought, he raised his voice to Manager Ding. “Shopkeeper, wrap up all your finest fabrics! We’ll take them all!”
As he said this, his eyes never left Zhao Mingyan’s side.
Manager Ding, delighted, rushed forward, calling clerks to pack up the best bolts and send them to the Marquis Xuanping’s residence.
But to Chen Xingwei’s disappointment, Zhao Mingyan never once looked his way. She was entirely absorbed in choosing fabrics with Wang Shuang—those with the best price, the most unique patterns, the highest value for money.
Chen Xingwei, seeing that she gave him no attention at all, snorted coldly and left with Zhao Mingzhu.