The dishes arrived quickly. Before long, the shopkeeper and a few assistants had laid out everything.
Besides the dishes they had originally ordered, they also brought a sweet soup, some tender greens, and bamboo shoots.
Looking at the full table, fragrant and colorful, Shen Jingyi felt her appetite return. She picked up her chopsticks and glanced at the soy-braised beef soaking in sauce, but ultimately looked away and first served Prince Xuan a slice of Eight-Treasure Duck.
Though she had only been married for three days, she already knew that the prince usually preferred lighter dishes.
Prince Xuan picked up a piece of the soy-braised beef for her and gently said,“Eat. See if it suits your taste.”
Shen Jingyi nodded happily and began eating heartily, occasionally serving the prince as well.
She tried a little of every dish and found them all acceptable. She had memorized these three dishes when she first arrived at the manor and was still sick, eating only light food daily, so once Shen Chenxi mentioned them, they stuck in her memory.
Her own little kitchen also cooked well, but the place where one eats changes the mood. Eating at the manor felt completely different, like the difference between dining at home and occasionally going to a restaurant.
Before she knew it, Shen Jingyi had eaten her fill. She dared not eat more, so she focused on serving the prince.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the window.
Shen Jingyi immediately recognized the scene: some thug attempting to abduct a civilian girl. Her interest piqued, she walked over to the window, excitedly peering down at the street.
Prince Xuan, seeing her interest and having finished his own meal, allowed it. He rose and stood behind her, just out of sight of the crowd.
On the street below, an elderly man knelt before a young man of about twenty, bowing repeatedly and pleading,“Please, sir, have mercy on my daughter! She’s about to be married. I beg you—don’t take her!”
Nearby, a young woman with delicate features and an elegant figure was surrounded by several burly men. Her face was pale with terror.
She struggled, but the men were too strong. The onlookers hesitated, afraid to intervene.
Seeing her efforts were futile, she fell to her knees, tears streaming, and pleaded,“Sir, I already have a fiancé. I cannot go with you! I beg for your mercy—please, spare me! Your status is high; you can have any woman you wish. Why trouble us simple country folk?”
The men surrounding her laughed mockingly.“Sir, look how well she cries! Much prettier than last time.”
Another man rolled his eyes and scolded,“That’s called ‘pear blossoms with tears’—delicate and moving. Do you even know what that means? I told you to read more, but you didn’t listen!”
“Yeah, yeah, I just couldn’t recall it immediately,” the first man said sheepishly.
The young master approached, holding a folding fan, lifting the woman’s chin to force her to look at him. After examining her, he smirked softly,“Hm, indeed quite beautiful.”
The woman shivered even more, trembling uncontrollably.
The elderly father scrambled toward her, but before he could reach her, a burly man kicked him to the ground.
He spat out blood and could not rise.
“Father… father…” the woman screamed, panicked, trying to break free. But two men held her arms firmly, leaving her powerless.
“Take her away for me!” the young master ordered.
His men laughed as they dragged the girl toward a carriage.
She struggled violently, shouting,“I’ll report you! How dare you abduct women in broad daylight? Where is the law?”
Her cries were filled with despair, but it changed nothing. Soon, she was forced into a carriage.
Seeing this, Shen Jingyi flew into a rage. She grabbed a bowl of soup and dashed to the window, hurling it straight at the young master without hesitation.
Prince Xuan’s veins bulged as he swallowed back words. This little woman has guts… if I weren’t here, how would this end?
Just as the soup bowl was about to hit him, a thick arm shot out, knocking it aside. Still, the liquid splashed across the man.
Shen Jingyi frowned in disappointment. If only it had been piping hot… would have boiled that bastard.
“Who dares to attack me!” the young master bellowed.
Unfazed by his rage, Shen Jingyi stood her ground.“How dare you abduct women in broad daylight! Have you no respect for the law?”
The young master looked up and froze, stunned by her beauty. Regaining composure, he laughed to cover his embarrassment.“Who is this girl? Meddling and daring to attack me? You should think about how to make amends!”
He was bold and shameless, clearly intent on taking her for himself. He commanded his men,“Go, bring that audacious girl here too!”
The onlookers whispered among themselves,“This poor girl! Meddling and now she’s in trouble too.”“Girl? Look at her hairstyle—she’s a lady! And she’s dining on the third floor of Zui Xiang Tower. Not someone ordinary—who’s unlucky now, we don’t know!”“Exactly. Chu San deserved to be taught a lesson. Always abusing his father and sister!”
Before the men could enter the building, they were all knocked to the ground by Chu Qi, who was guarding the carriages.
Shen Jingyi clapped her hands in excitement.“Your men are amazing, Prince! They took them all down in no time!”
Prince Xuan looked at her, exasperated but indulgent.“Go sit over there, and behave.”
Then he called loudly,“Bring them inside!”
Chu Ba outside immediately responded and hurried downstairs.“Master Chu, Prince Xuan requests your presence.”
Chu San’s face turned pale when he saw Chu Qi. Then he saw Chu Ba coming from inside. Realizing the prince must be present, his heart sank.
He trembled, terrified, and followed Chu Ba inside. The onlookers waited eagerly for the drama to unfold.
Inside the private room, Shen Jingyi, seeing the prince preparing to deal with Chu San, politely said,“Prince, I’ll step aside.”
She gestured toward a small screened area with a delicate couch, usually used for resting or sobering up.
Prince Xuan smiled and nodded.“Go ahead.”
Shen Jingyi lightly walked to the small couch and sat, quietly observing the events.
Just then, a voice called from the door:“Brother-in-law!”
Shen Jingyi froze. Only one person could call him that—the younger brother of the princess, Chu Chengming.
Humph. This is that infamous bully.
Sure enough, Prince Xuan’s authoritative voice rang out,“You’re bold, aren’t you? Is this how the Minister instructed you? Who did you try to take just now?”
Chu Chengming trembled and knelt, begging,“Brother-in-law, please have mercy! I didn’t know they were your men. If I had, not even a hundred guts would’ve dared. I won’t act rashly again.”
Prince Xuan sneered.“And you still expect a next time? Tell me—how many women have you abducted?”
Chu Chengming stammered.“Uh… actually… not many.”
“Not many? How many is that?” Prince Xuan’s voice grew sterner.
“Th… three…” Chu Chengming said, head lowered.
Prince Xuan slammed his hand on the table, furious.“Immediately release all these women, and give each one a hundred taels of silver as compensation! If you ever do this again, don’t blame me for sending you to the mines and having the Minister disown you!”
“Yes, yes, I will release them immediately. Thank you for your mercy, brother-in-law!”
“Also, never call me ‘brother-in-law’ again!” the prince added.
“Yes, yes, Your Highness!” Chu Chengming hurriedly responded.
Finally, Prince Xuan waved impatiently.“Out! Now!”
“Yes, yes, I’m going!” Chu Chengming scrambled out, likely truly frightened this time.
He immediately released the father and daughter, shoving a hundred-tael note into the old man’s hands.
The elderly man trembled, unsure if he should take it, fearing a trap.
Chu Qi spoke up,“It’s fine. Take it. This is compensation. Go home quickly—this street isn’t safe.”
Two guilty-looking men nearby lowered their heads immediately.
The old man, reassured, took the money, knelt with his daughter, and bowed toward the window where Shen Jingyi had been standing. Then he stood and thanked Chu Qi.
Finally, the father and daughter left in haste, disappearing into the crowd.