Night, Ma Mansion.
Zhang Duan said respectfully, "His Highness has sent me here to persuade Lord Ma and Miss Ma. Miss Ma's dance is so captivating, like a stunning swan. We should not belittle ourselves and feel ashamed just because of one family's words. You must know that if a person is upright, there is no need to be a mean person. Lord Ma and his wife, please don't mind it!"
Upon hearing this, Lord Ma exchanged a glance with Madam Ma, his expression slightly moved. Lord Ma bowed, his tone abashed, "Your Highness has shown mercy by not holding me accountable for my impulsive departure tonight. Your Highness has even sent someone to visit us... I will forever be grateful for your protection tonight!"
Zhang Duan smiled and asked, "Miss, are you okay?"
Mrs. Ma sighed and said nothing.
Seeing this, Lord Ma said, "He has a childish temper. My wife and I have spoiled him. Your Highness, don't worry. As for tonight's quarrel, this old minister..."
As Lord Ma was speaking, he was angrily interrupted by Zhang Duan. Zhang Duan frowned and swung his sleeves, saying to himself, "Captain Qi was really going too far tonight. After Lord Ma and his wife left, she even provoked His Highness!"
Lord Ma and Madam Ma were shocked. Lord Ma was furious and asked, "How could this happen?"
Zhang Duan recounted the entire process of the competition. At the end, Lord Ma slammed the table in anger, "How can this be! How can Qi Dongqiang be so rude!"
Madam Ma went over to comfort Lord Ma, "Don't worry, sir, take care of yourself."
Zhang Duan shook his head repeatedly. "Your Highness should be well aware of your status. She originally intended to uphold justice, but the Qi family has made great contributions after all, and Qi Dongqiang's father and brother are still guarding the Southern Territory. Your Highness softened her heart when she thought of this..."
Lord Ma nodded when he heard this, "This old minister understands!"
"Your Highness has been gentle and polite since childhood. How could he be a match for that shameless woman?"
Lord Ma was so angry that he didn't care about being polite anymore and cursed with gritted teeth.
Zhang Duan seemed frightened by this. He stood up and slapped himself lightly on the lips. "Look at my mouth! His Highness also told me not to tell Lord Ma, fearing that Lord Ma would get angry and report Qi Dongqiang. It was just a verbal dispute. Even if he reported her, His Majesty would only reprimand her a few times. That woman is thick-skinned, and I'm afraid I'll scold her to my heart's content... Lord Ma, remember to stay calm!"
After Zhang Duan finished speaking, he hurriedly said goodbye, looking like he was in trouble.
After Zhang Duan left, Madam Ma spat, "Shameless bitch, not only did you bully my sister, you also bullied the eldest prince, and you just put up with it. I'm so angry!"
Madam Ma seemed to recall something and sighed, "I remember that when Empress Xiaomin was alive, although she was gentle to others, she was decisive and measured in rewards and punishments. Your Highness was also a person who would never give up revenge when he was young. I never thought that now..."
"Shut up! You have no right to interfere with His Highness!"
Madam Ma was stunned, pursed her lips, and said weakly, "I was just talking at home..."
Ma Daren narrowed his cloudy eyes slightly and said coldly, "What do you, a woman, know?!"
Lord Ma changed the subject and said, "Come with me to find Li'er!"
Madam Ma frowned when she heard that. "It's better not to go. Li'er finally calmed down, but now she's going to be sad again when she sees you and me."
Lord Ma got straight to the point. "Do you think His Highness sent someone here just to comfort a mere official like me? Do you think the messenger's words were merely a reminder of how shameless Qi Dongqiang was?"
"Isn't it?"
Lord Ma sneered, "If Your Highness really didn't want to investigate, he wouldn't have sent anyone here. The messenger didn't let the cat out of the bag on purpose. Even an ant crawling around in the imperial palace wouldn't speak carelessly, let alone someone close to the princess!"
"His Highness wants us to make a big deal out of this. As for how big a deal..."
Lord Ma stroked his beard, looking shrewd and calculating.
…
Princess Chengqian's Mansion.
Shao Yihui was slapped in the face by Zhao Ying and then given a sweet date.
Even after beating him, he was allowed to stay at the princess's mansion tonight to recuperate, but Shao Yihui did not agree.
His cheeks were swollen and the blood at the corners of his mouth had formed dark red scabs. During the execution, the guards slapped him thirty times with palm-leaf fans, but Shao Yihui didn't say a word.
In the end, the guards who were carrying out the punishment were impressed and gave him a thumbs-up before leaving. "That's great, brother. Next time you get punished for talking too much, come find me. For your sake, I have to practice my Iron Sand Palm when I get back. I'll try to make you cry next time!"
After the banquet, Shao Yihui, wrapped in a cold and silent manner, walked out of the princess's mansion under the cover of night.
When I got home, Qi Dongqiang had been waiting for me for a long time.
Seeing him come back, Qi Dongqiang greeted him with a smile. However, when she saw his swollen face, shock, anger, grief... flashed through her eyes one by one, and tears suddenly filled her eyes. She wanted to touch Shao Yihui's face, but was afraid of hurting him.
Shao Yihui endured the pain and twitched the corner of his mouth, his eyebrows and eyes lazy, "I'm fine..."
Qi Dongqiang said angrily, "Who is it? Zhao Ying again?"
Shao Yihui shook his head and said, "Blame me. I spoke without thinking."
Qi Dongqiang certainly wouldn't let his words calm her down. She grabbed the knife and rushed out, "I'm going to settle the score with her!"
Shao Yihui quickly stopped her, and after much effort, he pulled her into his arms, growling, "Calm down! Who are you going to settle accounts with? Are you going to settle accounts with the princess of the current dynasty?"
He snatched the knife from Qi Dongqiang's hand, his cold and handsome face suddenly filled with anger, his eyes burning with fire, and he asked in a cold voice, "Are you going to use this knife to kill the princess?"
Qi Dongqiang seemed to be poured with a bucket of cold water and calmed down. Yes, if she went to kill the princess of the dynasty, not to mention that her entire clan would be wiped out if she succeeded... but there was no way she could succeed!
She suddenly threw herself into Shao Yihui's arms, crying loudly, "Ah Hui, Ah Hui..."
The woman's crying was filled with heartache. Shao Yihui's eyes were slightly sore and he hugged her tightly, "It's okay, I'm really okay..."
"Ahui, let's elope!" Qi Dongqiang raised his head from his arms and said expectantly.
Shao Yihui was stunned for a moment, then let go of her after a while, shook his head at her, and sat down. "Yuan'er, you know that being engaged as a wife and running away as a concubine is not an option. I'm already over thirty years old, but I'm still single. It's already wrong for me not to be able to marry you in a grand sedan chair, and how can I let you follow me without any status or status!"
"I don't care!"
"I care!"
Shao Yihui looked deeply at Qi Dongqiang and said solemnly, "Give me a little more time."
"I will earn a good fortune and marry you openly!"
"Ah Hui..." Qi Dongqiang was extremely moved. She walked forward and sat on Shao Yihui's lap, putting her arms around his neck. "I knew I was right about you. Don't worry, I'll be waiting for you..."
She pulled her hand away and took Shao Yihui's hand. Under Shao Yihui's puzzled gaze, she pressed his hand on her lower abdomen with a little shyness on her face, "The child is waiting for you too..."
"What?"
"Child? You..."
"Yes, it's your child!"
Shao Yihui recovered and was so surprised that he was at a loss. He hugged Qi Dongqiang tightly in his arms, wishing he could embed her into his body, "Thank you, thank you... Yuan'er, I love you!"
His excited gaze lingered on something, his vision gradually blurred, and his voice choked, "I have a child, hahahaha... I have a child!!"
The two were excited for a while before they calmed down.
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