Yuan Bai's mind kept flashing back to fragments of memories from back then. The more he looked at Yunyan, the more she seemed to resemble him. His brain was practically boiling dry.
No, he has to figure it out.
Yuan Bai waved for Yun Jinxiu to leave, then stared intently at Qi An and asked, "Did you ever save anyone when you were a child?"
Fu Gui complained: "Goodness, he finally opened his mouth. It took him two lifetimes to squeeze out such a simple sentence. He must be a turtle reincarnated."
Fu Gui thought Qi An would readily admit it, but as soon as Yuan Bai finished speaking, Qi An denied it.
With a disdainful look in her eyes, she said sarcastically, "No, if I encountered some injured wild man on the street asking me for help, I would definitely smash him to death with a brick."
Fu Gui was puzzled: "Huh? Sister An'an, why won't you admit it? Wouldn't it be better to let him know that Yunyan is his savior?"
"Ha, Fugui, you still don't understand men. Believe it or not, if I admit it now, he'll start to doubt me."
I denied it outright. Even if my explanation was full of holes, the more certain he became that it was me, the more he'd believe it. He'd definitely investigate privately afterwards, and he'd only believe the results of his own investigation.
Wealth and status are something I only vaguely understand.
But Yuan Bai's reaction confirmed what Qi An had said; his breathing suddenly became rapid.
How did she know it was a man, and an injured man at that? And there was the brick.
Back then, when he was covered in injuries and suddenly appeared in front of the little girl asking for help, the girl was startled and bent down to pick up a brick, but she didn't hit him.
It must be her!
Yun Zhihong, puzzled, asked, "What does Your Highness wish to know? This old minister is at your service."
Yuan Bai composed himself: "It's nothing. I was just asking casually. Perhaps I misremembered."
He's 90% sure it's Yunyan, but he still needs to confirm; he can't be wrong this time.
Seeing that Yuan Bai was no longer as gloomy as before, Yun Zhihong quickly stood up and bowed to Yuan Bai.
"Your Highness, today's events were entirely a misunderstanding. My daughter was resting in that room. She didn't know Your Highness and was so frightened by the sudden appearance of a strange man that she injured Your Highness's body."
Although it was all a misunderstanding, it was indeed my oversight that led to this, and I beg Your Highness's forgiveness.
As he spoke, Yun Zhihong knelt down and shouted at Qi An, "You wicked child, you have offended the Prince. Why don't you kneel down and beg for forgiveness?"
Yuan Bai's lips twitched. Startled? Who was startled, really?
Qi An brushed the crumbs off his hands, crossed his legs, and leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, pretending that Yun Zhihong had just farted.
"Hey old man, why are you changing your lines on the spot? Shouldn't you be saying that I'm shameless and trying to climb the social ladder by offering myself up?"
"You wretched creature, shut your mouth..."
Yun Zhihong's face twitched. Was he trying to change the lyrics?
He wanted to stick to the original plan, saying that Yunyan had deliberately seduced him, and the Hidden King would have to believe it.
Who the hell would try to climb the social ladder by almost breaking the "high branch" and then stepping on it and crushing it?
Look at the beating they gave the prince! If they hadn't arrived in time, this struggle for the throne would have ended today, and their Prime Minister's mansion would have been finished.
—He was executed along with his entire family for murdering a prince.
But Yun Jinxiu didn't think so much. In the past, she was the focus, but today she was repeatedly overshadowed by the lowly maid who trampled on her feet and was even humiliated by her.
Yun Jinxiu hated Yunyan to the core, so she said, "But no matter what, my sister is an unmarried young lady. If word gets out that she was sleeping in the same bed with the prince with her clothes disheveled, how will she ever get married in the future?"
Hmph, this little bitch beat the prince so badly, making him lose face. If we send her to his palace, she'll definitely die a horrible death.
Qi An smiled knowingly, watching Yun Jinxiu act as a good older sister who was worried about her younger sister.
Han chimed in, "Yes, a young woman's innocence is of utmost importance. What will become of Yunyan in the future?"
The female celebrity commented with a tsk-tsk: "This mother and daughter's acting is really bad, they smell like expired green tea."
Yun Zhihong glanced tentatively at Yuan Bai, but he hesitated at this moment.
He had previously intended to give Yunyan to Yuanbai in the hope of establishing a relationship with Yuanbai and leaving himself an out for the future.
But Yunyan has already offended Yuanbai to death. If he were to marry Yunyan to him, it would not be building a relationship but rather creating hatred.
As a prince, Yuan Bai values his reputation and dignity above all else. How could he possibly want a woman who almost beat him to death?
He scolded Yun Jinxiu, "Jinxiu, the prince's status is extremely noble, and Yunyan was disrespectful to the prince first. How can she be worthy of entering the prince's mansion? This matter should not be mentioned again."
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Yuan Bai said, "I can take her into my household and grant her the position of a concubine."
"What?" Yun Zhihong was astonished. "Your Highness is really willing to let Yunyan become your concubine?"
Yuan Bai nodded: "Although she offended me before, she is just a young lady from a respectable family, and her reputation has been tarnished by me. For the sake of the Prime Minister, I am willing to take responsibility for this."
Yunyan is very likely his savior, and he considers giving her the position of a concubine as a way of repaying her.
Moreover... Yuan Bai looked at the woman leaning back in her chair with an elegant and unruly posture, and felt that she was excessively dazzling.
Although she wore no adornments whatsoever, and her black hair was simply tied up with a ribbon, her mysterious and unpredictable aura made Yun Jinxiu, the number one beauty, appear utterly vulgar.
It's a pity she's just a concubine's daughter, her status is too low, she's of no help to him, otherwise he would have made her his principal wife.
However, her position as his concubine and later imperial consort was not a disgrace to her.
If Qi An knew that this guy was actually a masochist at heart, and that he fell for her after being beaten up, he would probably have sent him to be reincarnated right from the start.
When Yuan Bai agreed, the Han mother and daughter were overjoyed.
They all felt that Yuan Bai was just saying nice things, and that once Yunyan was brought into the Prince's mansion, he would have the final say on how to torment and abuse her.
This little slut is like a lamb entering a tiger's den once she enters the Prince's mansion. She'll be devoured without a trace. Just thinking about it makes me feel good.
Yun Zhihong was overjoyed and readily agreed, afraid that Yuan Bai would change his mind if he hesitated for even a second.
"Your Highness is so magnanimous and has such a good character. It is Yunyan's good fortune to be a concubine of Your Highness."
"Yes, Sister Yunyan is so lucky. Congratulations to you, Sister."
The group of people talked amongst themselves and decided on Yunyan's marriage without ever asking her, the person involved, for her opinion.
"Excuse me, am I dead?" Qi An's cold voice rang out.
The group looked at her, puzzled. For someone of her lowly status to marry a prince as a concubine was a meteoric rise to power. Was she going crazy with joy?
Qi An stood up and sneered, "When did it become your business to decide my affairs?"
She looked at Yun Zhihong: "Who do you think you are, you old codger?"
Then she looked at Yuan Bai: "You think you're worthy to be my concubine, you stud pig?"
Yuan Bai's face turned ashen instantly. How dare she look down on him?
Yun Zhihong was so enraged by Qi An's outrageous words that his hand trembled so badly that he developed Parkinson's disease as he pointed at her.
"You wretched child, have you lost your mind? Since ancient times, a woman must obey her father before marriage and her husband after marriage. Your marriage is naturally my decision, how dare you interfere?"
Qi An acted swiftly, grabbing the finger pointing at her.
"Damn you. You old bastard, listen to me clearly. Only I have the final say on my business. What you guys say is just bullshit."
With a "crack," Qi An broke off that finger, and Yun Zhihong screamed in agony as he clutched his hand.
Qi An looked at Yuan Bai, who was so frightened that he quickly stepped back: "What...what are you going to do? Don't come any closer."
The mother and daughter were so frightened that they huddled together and kept backing away.
Han, though outwardly fierce, was inwardly weak and said unwillingly, "You...you've been seen naked by men and you still won't get married. Once word gets out, no one will want you for the rest of your life."
Qi An paused, turned around, and Yuan Bai immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Does Madam mean that if a man sees her body, she must marry him?"
"What you mean, Miss, is that it's a blessing I, a lowly maid born to a foot-washing maid, am to become the prince's concubine? Is that right?"
The two trembled and dared not answer.
"In that case, I'll keep this good fortune for you. You're welcome."
"What...what are you doing? No...ahhh..."
Amidst their terrified screams, Qi An stripped them naked, leaving them with nothing but their undergarments.
Yun Zhihong forgot to scream, Yuan Bai was dumbfounded, and A Lian was so frightened that she was speechless.
Hearing the scream, the guards who arrived late pushed the door open and rushed in to protect the emperor.
As a result, what they saw were two pale, fleshy bodies, and the guards stood there dumbfounded.
Miss, you're so fair-skinned!
Madam, it's so big...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com