Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: “By Order of Her Highness, Take Miss Wanjiang Back With…”

Evening.

The last glow of the setting sun vanished, and night fell.

It was then that the capital city of Daxia truly unveiled its prosperous and lively veil.

The streets were crowded with pedestrians, and the shops along the roads were brightly lit.

The South Lake Pleasure Boat also began to grow noisy.

“Whoa…”

A carriage stopped. A maid in blue lifted the curtain and stepped out. In front of her, a drunkard was swaying, seemingly trying to bump into her on purpose. The maid did not dodge but stared calmly into the drunkard’s eyes. The drunkard instantly shivered, goosebumps suddenly rose on his arm, and an unstoppable chill welled up in his heart.

In the end, the drunkard swayed around the maid in blue and passed by.

The maid glanced at him, then instructed the surrounding people: “Wait here.”

“Yes.”

Then, a man wearing a small cap and a face full of smiles came out from the restaurant and the pleasure boat to greet her.

“Apologies, we do not host family members here.”

The maid was unmoved, only saying: “By order of the Grand Princess, I have come to escort the Imperial Son-in-Law back to the Residence.”

The man immediately froze. If he remembered correctly, the Grand Princess had just gotten married yesterday. And the Imperial Son-in-Law came here the very next day?

“Hiss…”

Logically, he should be happy, as this proved how attractive their pleasure boat was. However, the man felt a toothache. Would the Grand Princess, in a fit of rage, tear down their pleasure boat?

Inside the pleasure boat, the sound of the pipa floated like a sea of music.

The player was Miss Wanjiang, who was quite famous in the capital.

The woman was young, wearing a long white dress and a semi-transparent veil over her face, giving her delicate features a sense of haziness, adding a touch of simple elegance.

Besides her beauty, her musical foundation was quite deep, and her skill was extremely high. Therefore, those who usually invited her were high officials and nobles, but she refused them all.

Today was the day she had agreed with the pleasure boat to play music monthly. Although the main guests were respected, she remained unperturbed, for over the years, many had listened to her music, but only a few were true connoisseurs—in fact, she only knew of one.

Most people were only half-understanding, and her role was merely that of an embellishment, a backdrop. She was well aware of this.

So, as usual, she closed her eyes, focused her heart, and let the pipa fall into her hands!

As her jade hands lightly danced over the pipa, the sound was like a trickling stream, soft and emotional, as if narrating an ancient story, echoing within the pleasure boat.

The tone was deep and rich in meaning, seemingly able to deeply move people. Coupled with the dances performed by the surrounding maids, it made most of the people present look intoxicated.

But this was only on the surface.

If it were any other time, the crowd might truly be somewhat immersed, but right now… their minds were almost entirely focused on the two people in the middle: Xie Ning, the Imperial Son-in-Law who had just married the Grand Princess of Daxia yesterday, and Xie Yunhao, another member of the Xie family.

The two of them had started a conflict.

It was simply because when she came out to greet everyone, the Imperial Son-in-Law awkwardly asked her if he could owe her the gift for now. For her, this was perfectly fine.

The matter of giving gifts was not required by her but was a custom formed somehow over time. Perhaps these people wanted to compete with others by presenting her with the most valuable gift, thereby earning applause.

A strange need for victory.

But before she could speak, Xie Yunhao sneered: “I thought the Imperial Son-in-Law would present something decent, since entering the Imperial Family means he’s no longer on the same level as us.”

Xie Ning ignored him, even finding the time to apologize to her, the musician.

Actually, it wasn’t Xie Ning’s fault; the key was that Xie Ning didn’t know who the person opposite him was!

After apologizing, Xie Ning even had the mind to start tasting the delicacies on the square table.

Speaking of which, since transmigrating, she hadn’t had a single proper meal.

“Hold on!”

However, the next second, the chopsticks holding the dish were fiercely pressed down by a folding fan.

Xie Yunhao’s face was cold, tinged with anger.

“Is the Imperial Son-in-Law deaf? Do you really think this is a place to eat free meals? There are no free meals in this world. Is the Imperial Son-in-Law so used to begging that he carried the habit over from before entering our Xie family?”

“Or perhaps, the Imperial Son-in-Law can go back and beg his Grand Princess for some silver before coming again.”

Xie Ning lifted her eyelids and, in turn, sharply knocked Xie Yunhao’s hand with her chopsticks.

“Dirty.”

It seemed Xie Ning’s calm and dismissive attitude finally enraged him. Xie Yunhao’s facial muscles twitched. He sneered and turned to face the spectators.

“What you all don’t know is that Xie Jing is not actually a member of my Xie family; he is merely my father’s illegitimate son from outside!”

As soon as these words came out, everyone in the room was surprised.

A massive secret!

They had wondered why they had never heard of a Xie Jing in the Xie family in previous years. So he was an illegitimate son.

Xie Yunhao felt instantly delighted watching the crowd’s reaction. With the alcohol rushing to his head, he narrowed his eyes and mocked:

“Everyone should know that the Imperial Son-in-Law cannot hold an official post. And noble families like us should naturally not humble ourselves before a Princess, delaying our ambitions for a clear official career. But some people are different. Some people have been peasants since birth, naturally not understanding the pride of our noble families. Not only is he embarrassing himself, but he’s also bringing shame upon our Xie family!”

“He really thinks he can shed his illegitimate son status by latching onto the Grand Princess? An illegitimate son is an illegitimate son for life!”

Xie Ning leisurely picked up a piece of lamb pastry. It was soft, fragrant, and a bit greasy if you ate too much.

After the feeling of hunger gradually subsided, she wiped her mouth and said, “Does your father know you talk like this outside?”

In Xie Ning’s view, this person was simply an idiot, saying such brainless things in public.

“Are you looking down on the common people of Daxia?”

Xie Yunhao was startled. He also sensed the impropriety of his words, but seeing the onlookers around him ready for entertainment, he couldn’t let an illegitimate son embarrass him in front of these people!

“I didn’t say that! I was only referring to a certain person.”

Xie Ning nodded, then calmly asked: “Then are you looking down on Her Highness?”

Xie Yunhao’s tone softened upon hearing this: “I didn’t…”

But before he could finish, Xie Ning interrupted him. Xie Ning slammed the table hard and angrily rebuked: “The Grand Princess of Daxia—is she someone you can insult?!”

“Insulting the Grand Princess of Daxia is insulting His Majesty!”

“Insulting His Majesty is insulting the Empress Dowager!”

“Insulting the Empress Dowager is insulting the Former Emperor!”

“Insulting the Former Emperor is insulting every Emperor of Daxia throughout history!”

Everyone present was dumbfounded. Was it that serious…?

Wait, wait. They suddenly realized they had been played by Xie Jing, who escalated the matter.

Everyone watched Xie Yunhao gloatingly. Let’s see how you explain this now.

The capital was large, but no matter how large, any news would spread extremely quickly. Coupled with their presence, they would be fools not to immediately spread the word about today’s events when they returned.

This was an internal conflict within the Xie family. Whatever the news, it had nothing to do with them; only the Xie family would be unlucky. They were eager to watch the fun.

Xie Yunhao took a deep breath, his mind suddenly clear. He cupped his hands: “I had no intention of insulting the Grand Princess. If my words were inappropriate, I will personally apologize to Her Highness.”

Xie Ning slowly picked up the wine cup and took a sip: “Good. Then apologize to me now?”

Xie Yunhao frowned: “Why?”

“Because I am the Imperial Son-in-Law. I have the right and authority to accept your apology on Her Highness’s behalf.” Xie Ning patted Li Jing’s shoulder beside her. “Brother Li, is that right?”

Li Jing nodded heavily. He admired Xie Jing immensely at this moment. Xie Yunhao was usually bossy, and even he couldn’t deal with him.

He hadn’t expected Brother Jing to render Xie Yunhao speechless. He was truly impressed.

Xie Yunhao saw Xie Jing’s composure and felt angry, but he also knew Xie Jing was giving the Xie family face and didn’t want to blow the matter up, so he decided to take the easy way out: “Yunhao offers his apology to Her Highness here. Please convey it, Imperial Son-in-Law.”

With that, he prepared to leave.

He took one step, then was called back.

“Hold on.”

“Something else?” He turned back with a frown, then suddenly let out a scream.

It was Xie Ning who had picked up the wooden stool from under him and smashed it into Xie Yunhao’s back of the head.

“Did I say I forgive you before you leave?!” Another kick was delivered.

“Bang!”

Xie Yunhao flew backwards, knocking over countless square tables and stools along the way. He landed on the ground, curled up like a shrimp, his face pale.

“Hiss!”

“It’s a fight! A fight!”

The atmosphere in the room instantly became heated. No one was willing to leave, and even Miss Wanjiang hid behind a pillar, secretly observing.

“Ugh… You dare, you dare to hit me?!” Xie Yunhao retched on the ground, roaring in disbelief.

How dare he?

How dare he!

However, the next second, his lips trembled, and he dared not utter another sound, only because Xie Ning had, at some point, picked up a piece of broken porcelain and held it against his neck.

“I… I am… a Xie family…”

Xie Ning put her index finger to her lips: “Shhh…”

“Apologies, so am I. Also, I am the Imperial Son-in-Law. Why do you think I wouldn’t dare to hit you?”

Xie Yunhao trembled violently, his lips white.

“I, I apologized!”

Xie Ning whispered softly in his ear: “If apologies were useful, then what use would power be?”

“Will our father come to the Princess’s Residence to apologize tomorrow?”

Xie Yunhao frantically nodded: “Good, I promise you! I promise you!”

Xie Ning smiled, patting his face with the porcelain shard: “Such a good boy.”

She casually picked up Xie Yunhao’s ivory folding fan from the ground: “This will be your compensation to me. Discuss the compensation for Her Highness properly with our father when you get home.”

After speaking, Xie Ning was about to leave when she saw a familiar figure in the crowd.

Isn’t that Xiao Zhu?!

Why would she be here…

Xie Ning was about to run when Xiao Zhu blocked the doorway.

“By order of Her Highness, I have come to escort the Imperial Son-in-Law home.”

Xie Ning swallowed. She felt like she might be in trouble.

But it wasn’t over yet…

Xiao Zhu continued expressionlessly: “Her Highness has ordered that since the Imperial Son-in-Law enjoys qin music so much, this servant is to take Miss Wanjiang back to the Residence as well. Miss Wanjiang, here is your bond of servitude. Why don’t you thank Her Highness for her grace?”

Xie Ning’s vision went black. This Ning Ning… is truly done for this time!

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