Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: “Pei Shujing, Apologize!”

Miss Wanjiang is dead?

Just because she plucked one wrong string, she was ordered to be executed?!

Xie Ning stared blankly at the Grand Princess: “Why?”

“What why?”

Pei Shujing, sitting in her wheelchair, looked puzzled. What was Xie Jing losing his mind about first thing in the morning?

“How did she offend you? Why did you kill her?”

Although Xie Ning only had a brief exchange of words with Miss Wanjiang, it was precisely for this reason that her innocence was highlighted.

Xie Ning was actually not an overly kind-hearted person. After confirming she had transmigrated to ancient society, she naturally had to be prepared.

She knew how worthless human lives were in ancient times. Here, the power of high-ranking officials was unrestrained; they killed people like cutting grass, and the common people only had the right to live humbly.

She had also set a psychological pre-condition for herself: if it didn’t concern her, she would pretend not to see it.

But this Miss Wanjiang was different.

Did Miss Wanjiang really die just because she plucked one wrong string?

No, Xie Ning knew the truth. She had embarrassed the Grand Princess by going to the South Lake Pleasure Boat the day after their wedding, but because Xie Ning showed her exploitable value, the Grand Princess vented her anger on an innocent bystander.

Therefore, that Miss Wanjiang died because of her!

She died for me!

That was why Xie Ning was so angry, so sorrowful.

Pei Shujing’s tone suddenly turned cold: “Are you questioning this Princess?”

Pei Shujing found it ridiculous. When had Xie Jing ever cared about anyone else’s life?

Now, upon hearing about Wanjiang’s death, he came to question her. In her view, Xie Jing was simply putting on an act.

Is he trying to pretend to be a kind person to win my favor?

Or perhaps… Pei Shujing chuckled: “Did the Imperial Son-in-Law fall in love with her?”

Xie Ning shook her head, her eyes red.

“Why must there be a reason?!”

“She is a person! An innocent life!”

“I can accept you hitting me, I can accept you constantly trying to humiliate me, but why vent our feud on an innocent person!”

Pei Shujing’s eyes narrowed: “What is the Imperial Son-in-Law talking about? When did this Princess have a feud with the Imperial Son-in-Law?”

Xie Ning gave a tragic smile: “Of course there is no feud. How dare commoners like us have a feud with the noble Grand Princess?”

She had always held expectations for the Grand Princess. She always felt that the Grand Princess’s madness was entirely due to some special reason. But she was wrong. She was wrong to view this world through the eyes of a modern person, much like an ancient farmer imagining the Emperor planting crops with a golden hoe.

The Grand Princess was no different from those people.

In the eyes of these high-ranking officials, the lower-class people were merely numbers on a register, fish on a cutting board.

Xie Ning pursed her lips: “Apologize.”

“…What did you say?” Pei Shujing asked incredulously.

“I told you to apologize.” Xie Ning repeated, ignoring the tension that felt like a storm was brewing.

The atmosphere instantly froze. Xiao Yu and Xiao Zhu, who had nothing to do with the matter, couldn’t help but look up.

At this moment, the relationship was undoubtedly broken.

Pei Shujing was almost amused into anger. She waved her hand: “The Imperial Son-in-Law is tired. Take him down to rest.”

She really didn’t want to tangle with Xie Jing anymore. Setting aside whether Wanjiang was truly dead or not, how dare Xie Jing question her?

She was tormented until she wished for death, and now she saw the perpetrator standing in front of her, accusing her of disregarding human life. It was truly disgusting, truly repulsive!

At this moment, Xiao Zhu tried to step forward and pull Xie Ning away, but Xie Ning shrugged off her arm.

Xie Ning stared intently at the Grand Princess: “She is dead. Won’t you even say an apology?”

“You are truly unreasonable, Pei Shujing.”

“You don’t need to chase me away. I will leave myself.”

Silence.

No words.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Zhu stood like two statues, daring not to make a sound.

Only Pei Shujing laughed, a cheerful, ‘hehe’ sound.

But if one observed closely, they could see her body trembling slightly.

“Stop.”

Xie Ning paused her steps but continued to walk forward.

“Swish!”

A sound of air being torn came. It was Xiao Zhu’s foot lashing out towards Xie Ning’s abdomen.

But Xie Ning raised her arm to block it. As Xiao Zhu’s pupils constricted, Xie Ning simultaneously kicked her in the stomach.

With one kick, Xiao Zhu was sent flying. She covered her stomach, stood up, and looked at Xie Ning in disbelief.

“Actually, I can fight well,” Xie Ning said, a hint of disdainful smile curving her lips.

Before she transmigrated, she had a neighbor in her hometown who taught Meihua Fist (Plum Blossom Fist). Because they lived close, Xie Ning’s parents sent Xie Ning to learn martial arts there from a young age, and she only stopped practicing after she left her hometown for university.

Otherwise, did they really think she, an ordinary person, could deliver a fatal blow to Xie Jing?

If she were truly an ordinary person, she might not even be able to hold the iron shard steady in her panic.

“How well can you fight?” Pei Shujing, sitting in the wheelchair, showed a dismissive smile.

Xie Jing could fight?

What a joke.

She had never heard of Xie Jing practicing martial arts in the previous life. Besides, how could a martial artist’s knees be so soft?

Thinking of this, Pei Shujing felt annoyed. Xie Jing was subservient to the Emperor and the Xie family, yet so defiant towards her.

Xie Ning pointed at Xiao Zhu, who was clutching her stomach: “I have no problem beating her.”

Pei Shujing covered her mouth with the back of her right hand and burst into laughter.

She thought that Xiao Zhu was simply caught off guard and unprepared, which gave Xie Jing confidence.

She sighed deeply, controlling her mocking laughter: “Since that’s the case, I’ll let you fight her once. If you lose, you will be beaten to death! If you win, this Princess will listen to you and apologize.”

“Good. But if you go back on your word, I’ll beat you too.”

Pei Shujing narrowed her eyes, staring at Xie Ning, and Xie Ning met her gaze without evasion.

Pei Shujing let out a soft “Hmph,” and picked up a grape from the porcelain dish held by Xiao Yu: “Xiao Zhu, fight until he is dead.”

“Yes.”

Xiao Zhu took a deep breath. Her Highness had not practiced martial arts, so she didn’t know, but Xie Jing’s reaction and parrying ability just now undoubtedly proved that his claim of being able to fight was true.

But so what?

Since Her Highness ordered her to fight to the death, she would fight to the death!

Xiao Zhu walked slowly. Her waist was straight, and each step left a faint imprint on the floor.

Xie Ning was fully focused.

The battle began with one of Xiao Zhu’s unreasonably fast straight punches.

Xie Ning had anticipated it. Her heart was calm.

After more than ten years of Meihua Fist practice, she had long developed the ability to “perceive the cicada before the autumn wind stirs.”

In a flash, Xie Ning’s small head was about to be smashed like a watermelon by Xiao Zhu’s punch.

Xiao Zhu’s face suddenly changed drastically, and she wanted to leap back, but the straight punch had already been launched and could not be retracted.

Xie Ning settled her stance, sank her qi, and her hands formed palms, like scattered plum blossoms, pushing out. She timely braced Xiao Zhu’s wrist beside her face, blocking the punch.

Xie Ning’s arm trembled slightly. She felt a difference in strength between her body and the opponent. She thought it was reasonable; her being able to fight didn’t mean the original Xie Ning had practiced.

Xiao Zhu’s other descending punch suddenly extended her index, middle, ring, and little fingers, stabbing towards Xie Ning’s face, like a feline extending its sharp claws. Furthermore, they produced a sharp whistling sound. If the strike landed, Xie Ning’s face would inevitably be covered in bloody holes, causing instant death.

Fortunately, as soon as Xie Ning’s hands blocked the punch, she instinctively stepped sideways, maneuvering to Xiao Zhu’s flank.

Simultaneously, Xiao Zhu’s left leg unexpectedly kicked out sideways. The crisp sound was like a ringing bell, fast, accurate, and fierce, aimed straight at Xie Ning’s chest and abdomen, like a tiger’s tail turning into a steel whip!

Adopting the Meihua Stance, Xie Ning channeled her physical power into her right palm, which whistled down, narrowly blocking Xiao Zhu’s gut-kick.

Palm and leg met. Xie Ning’s body shook again. Even the explosive power of the Meihua Stance was almost insufficient to counter that kick. Xie Ning secretly regretted the large gap in strength.

She couldn’t let this continue.

A contest of pure strength was clearly a losing battle. Now, she could only rely on technique to win.

Xie Ning took the opportunity to advance again, closing the distance. She struck with her elbow sideways. A crisp snap erupted, and the power surged, forcing Xiao Zhu to retreat a step and push back with her left palm.

Clap!

As soon as Xiao Zhu blocked, Xie Ning’s subsequent attacks came one after another, giving her no chance. They were like endless floating plum blossoms, constantly landing on Xiao Zhu, growing more frequent and stronger. The gap in strength between the two quickly began to close.

Xiao Yu, standing behind Pei Shujing, stared intently at Xie Ning. Pei Shujing also gradually noticed that something was wrong.

Boom boom boom! Clap clap clap!

The more Xiao Zhu fought, the more startled she became. She felt the opponent’s strength growing stronger, only because every time she tried to counterattack, Xie Ning would borrow her force, forcing her into a defensive posture.

She felt she couldn’t remain passive any longer. If she continued to be worn down like this, she would lose the power to counterattack soon. Not only would she fail to carry out Her Highness’s order, but she would also lose to someone she had always looked down upon—a scenario she couldn’t accept!

Xiao Zhu took a deep breath, quickly adjusted her posture, increasing the distance between her and Xie Ning. Then, her back and waist sprang, and her right hand formed a fist. Propelled by immense force, it slammed towards Xie Ning with a loud, grating sound in the air.

Xie Ning neither dodged nor retreated, meeting the punch with her own.

Bang!

Both their fists and arms recoiled, their bodies swaying, resulting in an even match.

An even match!

This was not only due to Xie Ning constantly borrowing force, but also a result of Xiao Zhu’s physical exhaustion and diminished strength.

Xiao Zhu seized the moment to breathe and adjust, quickly trying to recover her strength, but as soon as her power started to return, her gaze froze, because Xie Ning’s offense followed immediately. There was no sign of fatigue on his face, and even his breathing was even and steady!

Xie Ning secretly sneered. Although the original body had not practiced martial arts, over ten years of practicing the pile stance had already formed a special breathing technique etched into her soul. Let alone being tired now, even if she continued fighting for a while longer, her breathing wouldn’t falter!

In Xiao Zhu’s shock, Xie Ning got ahead of her, sidestepping, and slamming her elbow into Xiao Zhu’s chest.

Xiao Zhu hurriedly raised her hand, but Xie Ning’s elbow strike pushed her hand open and struck her chest.

A dull ache in her chest forced Xiao Zhu to retreat. Xie Ning’s right hand flashed out like lightning, grasping her left wrist. With a pull back, she swung Xiao Zhu’s body back towards her own knee.

Thump!

Xiao Zhu collapsed, clutching her stomach. She tried to endure the pain and struggle to get up but fell down again.

Xie Ning ignored her, turning instead to look at Pei Shujing, whose eyelids were lowered.

“Apologize.”

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