The woman could no longer hold back. She shoved Gu Wang aside and rushed forward. “Wretch!”
Another sharp *smack* rang out.
This time, the woman was struck so hard she fell to the ground, clutching her face in disbelief as she stared at Qin Fei. How could this seemingly delicate young girl possess such strength?
“Mother!” Seeing his mother slapped twice in succession, Gu Wang’s fury boiled over. Forgetting Qin Fei’s identity, he lunged at her, grappling wildly.
“If you don’t want another beating, stand still!” Qin Fei pointed at Gu Wang, her presence so commanding it seemed the next slap was already poised to land across his face.
“You…” Gu Wang froze, cowed by the sheer force of her aura.
The woman, bitterly disappointed, barked at the servant holding Gu Nian down: “What are you standing there for? Seize this brazen intruder at once! Give her a hundred strokes and drag her out to feed the dogs!”
Qin Fei folded her arms and stood unmoving, watching as two or three servants charged forward, fists raised to strike.
Gu Nian, panicked, cried out: “Stop! I order you to stop!”
But the servants clearly did not respect the eldest daughter of the Chancellor’s household. They lunged at Qin Fei anyway.
Just then, a man’s stern voice thundered from outside the ancestral hall: “Stop—!”
Everyone recognized that voice instantly and froze in alarm.
The woman, seeing the man arrive, rushed to him in tears. “My lord Chancellor, this stranger has struck me and humiliated me in every way. You must uphold justice for me!”
“Silence!” The Chancellor glared at her with hatred. “Madam Li, do you realize the crime of showing such disrespect to the Eighth Princess?”
Standing beside the middle-aged man was Cen Hejue, his tone cool and laced with irony: “Madam Li, perhaps only you in all the realm would dare such audacity—striking even a princess. Why not march straight into the Purple Palace and drag His Majesty down for a beating while you’re at it?”
At the mention of the Eighth Princess, Madam Li faltered, her lips trembling. “Th-the Eighth Princess?”
“She’s right here.” Qin Fei shifted her gaze from Cen Hejue to Madam Li, smiling faintly. “Weren’t you just threatening to thrash me and toss me to the dogs? So—when do you plan to begin? I should at least inform my father the Emperor before you carry out your sentence.”
Madam Li dropped to her knees, trembling. “This foolish concubine did not know it was Your Highness. I spoke recklessly and offended you. I beg Your Highness for mercy.”
Madam Li collapsed to her knees with a thud, her forehead beaded with cold sweat.
“Madam Li.”
Madam Li recognized Cen Hejue as he approached, his smile edged with mockery. “So, you planned to kill my fiancée? Then I’d be left without one. What—are you offering your daughter to take her place?”
Qin Fei raised her brows, half-admiring how easily Cen Hejue could turn a threat into casual banter.
“My daughter is not an option!” Madam Li clutched Gu Wang tightly, terrified that this infamous schemer might set his sights on her child.
“It was my own blindness,” she stammered. “I truly did not know this was the Eighth Princess.”
Qin Fei glanced at Chancellor Gu. “Chancellor, as I recall, I have never wronged you, have I?”
The Chancellor quickly bowed his head. His stern features, furrowed with permanent lines, betrayed a lifetime of severity. “Your Highness, of course there is no enmity between us.”
“Then why does your wife speak of me with such venom?” Qin Fei’s gaze swept over Madam Li’s trembling form. “Just now she called me a beast who shows no respect even to her own mother.”
At that, the Chancellor’s brows knit tighter. He raised his hand and struck Madam Li across the face. She toppled sideways, clutching her cheek, too frightened to rise.
“My wife has grown arrogant from my indulgence. I will punish her properly.”
Madam Li nodded frantically. “Yes, I will reform myself.”
“Whether you discipline her or not is of no concern to me.” Qin Fei turned to Gu Nian, helping her to her feet. The girl’s body bore the marks of several beatings, blood staining her lower garments.
“But Gu Nian is my chosen friend. No one may bully her.” She noticed Madam Li’s startled expression, then addressed the Chancellor again. “If Gu Nian suffers such treatment again, do you know what I will do?”
Madam Li shivered at the chill in her voice. “I—I have always treated Nian’er as my own daughter.”
“Indeed. I believe you.” Qin Fei smiled. “But if Gu Nian is harmed again, your son Gu Wang will suffer the same fate.”
Madam Li’s legs nearly gave way beneath her.
Qin Fei grew more animated, arching a brow as she leaned close to whisper in Madam Li’s ear: “Perhaps, if I’m displeased, I’ll marry Gu Wang off as a concubine to some eighty-year-old man, make him bear ten or so children, all calling you Grandmother.”
Madam Li’s eyes rolled back, and she fainted dead away.
“Mother!” Gu Wang rushed to catch her.
The Chancellor watched Qin Fei’s every move in silence. Only when she supported Gu Nian and began to leave did he finally call out: “Your Highness, where are you taking Gu Nian?”
“Oh—” Qin Fei turned back, smiling brightly as she explained to Chancellor Gu: “Chancellor, here’s the situation. Since your wife has beaten Gu Nian into this state, I worry you’ll neglect her and refuse to summon a physician. The imperial doctors are far more skilled, so I’ve invited Gu Nian to stay at my Baohua Palace for a time. Once she’s recovered, I’ll return her to you. How about that?”
Her words were far from polite, but the Chancellor could only endure them, his brows knotted tight. “Wouldn’t this trouble Your Highness too much?”
“Rest assured, Chancellor.” Cen Hejue lifted his eyelids, signaling Ah Yan to help support Gu Nian. “The Eighth Princess has always been warm-hearted—she delights in helping others.”
Qin Fei was genuinely surprised at that. Cen Hejue’s unexpected return was startling enough, but that he would speak in her favor before the Chancellor was even more so.
As they left the Chancellor’s residence, Ah Yan examined Gu Nian’s injuries and suggested: “Master, Your Highness, allow me to escort Miss Gu into the palace for treatment.”
Fu Ling followed, already in tears. If Qin Fei hadn’t stopped her, the girl would have dropped to her knees again. “Please… allow me to accompany her into the palace.”
Qin Fei nodded. “Go to Baohua Palace. If anything comes up, seek out Erya.”
With that, Fu Ling and Ah Yan took Gu Nian ahead in the carriage.
One carriage could not hold so many, so Cen Hejue gave his own to the three of them, leaving himself and Qin Fei standing together in silence.
“Well then…” Qin Fei cleared her throat, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “Weren’t you gone just now? Why did you come back?”
“Who said I left?” Cen Hejue strode toward the street, and Qin Fei naturally followed with quick steps, studying his profile. “Preceptor, could it be you were worried about me—so you brought the Chancellor along to play the hero and rescue the beauty?”
“Hero rescuing the beauty?” At the phrase, Cen Hejue’s lips curved upward despite himself, though his smile carried a trace of mockery.
“Your Highness, don’t misunderstand. I am no hero.”
“Hm?” Qin Fei tugged at his sleeve, halting his stride. He turned back, puzzled.
Her lips curved, her eyes clear and luminous like a spring reflecting his impassive features. “Then you admit I’m beautiful, don’t you?”
“…”
Cen Hejue pulled his hand free, face cool and detached. “Your Highness, your focus is truly… unique.”
Qin Fei quickened her steps, cheerful. “So, how are we getting back now?”
“Didn’t Your Highness ask me to treat you to a meal?” His voice was steady, as if his return had been solely for the purpose of inviting her to dinner.
Qin Fei saw through it but chose not to expose him, smiling sweetly instead. “Then what shall we eat?”
Cen Hejue glanced at her. “What would you like?”
Qin Fei thought for a moment. In the capital, she had really only dined once at Zhenxiu Pavilion, and the food had been excellent. She suggested: “Why don’t we go back to that place?”
Cen Hejue considered briefly. “The one where Wei Caixing hosted us?”
Qin Fei nodded.
“No, not that place.” Cen Hejue’s reply was crisp and final.
Qin Fei didn’t understand, guessing perhaps he disliked the flavor there. So she pointed casually to a tavern ahead. “How about that one?”
This tavern looked far plainer than Zhenxiu Pavilion, but it was bustling with patrons.
“Fine.” This time, Cen Hejue agreed quickly.
Ordering was left entirely to Qin Fei. Cen Hejue was notoriously particular about food—last time at Zhenxiu Pavilion, he had barely touched his chopsticks. Now, with dishes clearly inferior to that restaurant, Qin Fei counted: he sampled each plate only once before setting his chopsticks aside. She herself wasn’t picky, even called for fruit wine midway. After her last drunken mishap, she knew better than to order strong liquor. Fruit wine was sweet and harmless.
“…”
“…”
After three rounds of wine, Cen Hejue paid the bill, and the two of them walked together toward Xuanwu Gate.
Though the fruit wine was said to be mild, Qin Fei’s steps wavered, her cheeks flushed. Cen Hejue glanced at her and mocked: “Don’t you know your own limits? Why bother imitating others and drinking at all?”
“Mind your own business. I like it.”
Tipsy, Qin Fei grew bolder. She shot him a glance and huffed: “You don’t drink at all, leaving me to drink alone. Boring.”
“Heh.” Cen Hejue had no patience for drunkards. Last time had taught him well—he would not entangle himself with a drunken Qin Fei again.
“Eh—” Her unsteady steps faltered as she spotted a sugar figurine stall ahead. “They’re selling sugar figures!”
Cen Hejue ignored her, walking several paces on. But he heard her mutter softly: “I always wanted one before, but no one ever bought it for me.”
His stride faltered.
Then she added, almost to herself: “No matter. I’ll buy it for myself.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her approach the stall, waving grandly. “Boss, make me two sugar figures!”
The vendor looked up at her, smiling. “What kind would you like, young lady?”
Qin Fei first thought of asking for a Pleasant Goat figure, then remembered he wouldn’t know who that was. So she pointed at herself, then at the man not far away. “One of me, and one of him.”
The vendor chuckled kindly. “So you’re out strolling with your sweetheart. My craft may be fine, but I doubt I can capture even a fraction of your beauty.”
Qin Fei waved dismissively. “No matter. Just make them. They’ll taste the same once they’re eaten.”
Cen Hejue couldn’t help but laugh at that, his attention drawn entirely to her.
“Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival,” the vendor said as he worked. “You can come with your beloved to enjoy it. I hear the Princess and the Preceptor will be there—our stalls will all be out to watch the excitement.”
“Oh?” Qin Fei, tipsy, asked, “What’s so interesting about the Princess and the Preceptor?”
“People are curious,” the vendor clicked his tongue. “They say the Preceptor is like a monster, a terror. Everyone fears him, yet they all want to see what he looks like—whether he has horns or a tail.”
At that, Cen Hejue’s smile froze, fading from his face.
“The Preceptor? Cen Hejue?” Qin Fei laughed. “Boss, you’re mistaken. Cen Hejue has no horns, no tail. He’s very handsome—handsome as Pan An.”
Cen Hejue blinked, stunned, as she swayed and went on: “He’s tall and striking, with eyes like black gemstones, skin fair, nose high and straight. I’ve never seen anyone so good-looking—better than a movie star.”
The vendor chuckled. “So you’ve met the Preceptor yourself? Truly more dazzling than the stars? Then why do so many fear him?”
Qin Fei snorted. “He’s not frightening. He’s just young, cleverer than most, with a few methods up his sleeve.”
Cen Hejue’s gaze lingered on her indignant face, as if she were defending him. “People are blind. When Song Jinglan acts, they call him decisive and wise. When Cen Hejue does the same, they call him ruthless and cruel. Curse this villain’s halo!”
Cen Hejue didn’t understand her strange phrase, but her expression made clear she was genuinely angry at the world’s slander against him.
“Damn it.” Qin Fei’s mood plunged. “Why saddle me with such a doomed supporting role? I’d rather be some idle, unnoticed character.”
The vendor, realizing she was drunk, said no more. He handed her the finished sugar figures. “Here you are, young lady.”
Qin Fei rummaged in her pouch, only to realize she hadn’t brought money.
“Boss, I’ve no money.”
Cen Hejue laughed despite himself, while the vendor looked startled. Qin Fei waved grandly, pointing back at him.
“No matter. My husband has money. He’s the master of our household.”
“?!”
At the words *master of the household*, Cen Hejue’s ears flushed red. He stared at her in disbelief.
The little girl skipped over, blinking at him, hand outstretched, her voice soft and drawn out: “Husband… pay up.”