Yun Qingsong’s pupils constricted, and almost instinctively, he rushed forward, grabbing Yun Pianpian’s wrist, his voice trembling: "Pianpian! How dare you be disrespectful to the Second Prince?!"
The Second Prince slowly raised his hand, his fingertip wiping away the bloodstain at the corner of his mouth. Killing intent surged in his eyes, his knuckles cracking audibly—in his entire life, he had never been slapped in public!
But precisely because this was happening under everyone’s gaze, if he acted directly, it would make him appear narrow-minded, arguing with a mere woman...
Endure! Must endure!
However, just as Yun Qingsong breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the situation could still be salvaged—
"Slap!!!"
A slap, harder and louder than the previous one, landed squarely on Yun Qingsong’s face!
Yun Pianpian put all her strength into this slap, sending him staggering back two steps. His right cheek instantly swelled red, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth!
—The entire Council Hall fell silent!
Except for Liu Yun, who remained expressionless behind Yun Pianpian, all the other members of the Yun Family stared wide-eyed, their jaws nearly hitting the floor—
This... was this still the Eldest Miss who used to endure any bullying?
How dare she?!
How dare she hit the Second Prince?!
How dare she hit Yun Qingsong?!
However, just as everyone was horrified, Yun Pianpian’s expression suddenly changed—
She rubbed her wrist aggrievedly, her eyes slightly red, her voice soft and sweet as if she had suffered a terrible injustice: "Third Uncle~"
"Pian'er just gently touched the Second Prince..." She blinked her watery eyes, appearing utterly innocent, "You felt it too, it didn't hurt, right?"
"It’s all because Pian'er just recovered from her illness and doesn't have a good sense of strength..." She lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, perfectly embodying a delicate and pitiful little white flower.
"Pian'er thought that since my body was just recovering, I wanted Third Uncle to check on me, but I chose the wrong method..." She bit her lip, her voice growing quieter, "It’s all Pian'er’s fault..."
—Everyone: "???"
Yun Qingsong covered his burning cheek, trembling with anger, yet he couldn't utter a single word!
The Second Prince’s face was ashen, his knuckles white, wishing he could strangle her on the spot, but constrained by his status, he could only swallow this humiliation!
And Yun Pianpian?
She kept her head down, her shoulders lightly shaking, appearing utterly wronged—but in the shadow no one could see, the corner of her lips was slowly curving into a cunning arc.
Hehe, at this moment, Yun Pianpian, blinking her innocent big eyes, was the very picture of a blooming white lotus.
Yun Qingsong’s face was already as dark as ink, and now it was so black it looked like it could drip juice. He stared fixedly at Yun Pianpian, his chest heaving violently, feeling as if a wad of waterlogged cotton was stuck in his throat—he couldn't squeeze out a single word!
If he said she was right?
Wouldn't that be admitting that her slapping the Second Prince and himself, her Third Uncle, in public was justified?!
If he said she was wrong?
The dignified Third Master of the Yun Family being slapped by a mere young girl until blood seeped from his mouth—wouldn't the entire Shangjing City laugh their heads off if that got out?!
Trapped between a rock and a hard place, utterly stifled!
In the midst of this deathly silent standoff, a sharp voice suddenly pierced the stagnant air—
"Yun Pianpian! You deserve to die—!!"
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Yun Sheng being supported as she stood at the entrance of the Council Hall. Bruises still lingered on her face, and her once beautiful features were now distorted and ferocious, resembling a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell.
—She was actually awake?!
Yun Pianpian raised an eyebrow slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes. "Tsk, recovering quite fast. Looks like I went easy on you."
Upon seeing his sister in such a miserable state, Yun Yan’s heart ached so much it trembled. He rushed forward in a few quick strides, carefully helping her to a seat, treating her with the utmost care, as if Yun Sheng were fragile glass that would shatter at a touch.
"Sheng'er, does it hurt? Brother will transfer some Spiritual Power to you..."
The Second Prince immediately leaned closer too. His face, moments ago filled with murderous intent, was now covered in tender affection, his voice syrupy enough to drip honey: "Sheng'er~"
—That fawning expression made Yun Pianpian’s stomach churn!
She suppressed her nausea and continued playing her role as the "delicate white lotus," feigning surprise as she covered her mouth: "Oh my, little sister is already out of bed so soon? It seems the Second Prince truly cares for you~"
She blinked, implying something: "If people didn't know better, they'd think you two were the real couple~"
Hearing this, Yun Sheng immediately switched to her green tea mode, lightly touching her cheek with her slender jade hand, her eyes instantly filling with tears: "Elder Sister, please don't misunderstand... Elder Sister and His Highness the Second Prince are a match made in heaven. How could Sheng'er dare to harbor such foolish thoughts..."
"Sheng'er~"
"Your Highness the Second~"
The two gazed at each other, their affection overflowing, as if pink bubbles were floating in the air.
—Ugh!
Yun Pianpian almost threw up her breakfast! That was breakfast personally prepared by Shen Yue! To waste it because of this adulterous pair would be a terrible waste!
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning bile, and sneered inwardly: "Green tea, huh? Who can't play that game!"
The next second, she suddenly clutched her chest, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, leaning weakly against the back of the chair—
"Oh dear, I feel so dizzy..." Her voice was faint, as if she might faint at any moment, "It must be because I was frightened by the pressure from Third Uncle and the Second Prince just now..."
—Everyone: "???"
—Yun Qingsong & Second Prince: "!!!"
—How can this woman act even better than Yun Sheng?!
Yun Pianpian’s gaze shifted, sweeping across the Second Prince and Yun Sheng, then suddenly breaking into a bright smile—a smile so dazzling it was almost painful, yet inexplicably sent chills down one's spine.
"It seems I was wrong—" She drew out her tone, lightly tapping her fingertips on the desk, "I shouldn't have tried to break up the loving couple~"
Before her words faded, she abruptly slammed the table and called out loudly: "Liu Yun! Prepare brush and ink!"
Liu Yun acted swiftly, spreading out the Xuan paper and grinding the ink in an instant. Yun Pianpian aggressively picked up the brush—
Then she froze.
...How do you hold this Brush Pen?
She stared at the unfamiliar wolf-hair brush in her hand, the corner of her eye twitching slightly. She had been too hasty; she forgot this world used Brush Pens!
But in front of everyone, she absolutely could not show weakness! Yun Pianpian braced herself, dipped the brush in ink, and gave her wrist a shake—
"Swish!"
A twisted blot of ink immediately appeared on the Xuan paper, looking exactly like a squashed spider.
Everyone: "..."
The air solidified for a moment.
Liu Yun stepped forward at the opportune moment and said respectfully: "Miss, allow this servant to write for you."
Yun Pianpian glanced at her suspiciously: "You know how?"
Liu Yun lowered her gaze and replied calmly: "Yes... a little bit."
One incense stick later.
When Liu Yun presented the Letter of Divorce, Yun Pianpian stared at the neat and elegant handwriting, her eyebrows raised high—
"Liu Yun, you call this 'a little bit'?" She pointed at the paper with her fingertip, a half-smile on her face, "With this skill, you could probably get a job at the Hanlin Academy, couldn't you?"
—Your 'a tiny bit' and my 'a little bit' seem quite different!
She couldn't be bothered to delay any longer. With a flick of her slender hand, the Letter of Divorce slapped down in front of the Second Prince.
"A Letter of Divorce?!" The Second Prince unfolded it, his pupils shrinking, and he slammed the table, leaping up: "Yun Pianpian! How dare you—"
"Huh?" Yun Pianpian dug at her ear, looking utterly bewildered, "What did you say? The wind is too strong, I can't hear you~"
She waved her hand lazily, her tone as light as if discussing the weather today: "From this day forward, our engagement is void."
"If you want to marry my second sister—"
She paused, then suddenly smiled brilliantly, "—or marry a pig, it has nothing to do with me anymore~"
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng’s eyes were almost overflowing with ecstasy, yet she completely failed to catch the sarcasm in the words—this idiot actually thought she was being complimented!
The Second Prince trembled with rage, but in his extreme anger, he vaguely felt—
This arrogant and willful young girl before him was...
A thousand times more dazzling than the timid Yun Pianpian of the past.