When a "Sea King" is Bound to a System [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 9

“Oh, what’s all this excitement? What are you all talking about? Let me listen too. It’s quite boring sitting alone.”

Jiang Yan walked to Jiang Zhen’s side and naturally took her arm, her attitude making her stance perfectly clear.

Liu Han Shuang’s face changed, and then she scoffed, “Hmph, she’s just a bastard. I can’t be bothered to argue with her.”

She said this and turned to leave, but Jiang Yan stretched out a hand and blocked her path.

“Second Miss Liu, I want you to apologize to my elder sister.”

Originally, she didn’t want to break the peace, but since the other party kept calling her “bastard,” she no longer cared about her manners as a young lady or the face of their two families.

With a brazen and foul-mouthed daughter like this, the Liu family would be finished sooner or later.

Liu Han Shuang was taller than Jiang Yan but shorter than both Jiang Zhen and Tang Rong. She didn’t have much presence in the middle, but she was used to being arrogant in her own home, so when she heard Jiang Yan’s words, her expression was one of disbelief.

“Did I hear that right? You want me to apologize to this illegitimate girl of unknown origin? Do you know who I am?!”

Jiang Yan maintained a sliver of rationality and said coldly, “It doesn’t matter who you are. Everything should be based on reason. Your manor is hosting a feast today, and my sister and I came with our mother to attend. Yet you, in front of so many people, used such vulgar language. Is this Minister Liu’s way of treating guests?”

Almost all the young ladies had gathered around. Most were there to watch the drama, but a small portion stood with Jiang Zhen, showing their contempt for Liu Han Shuang’s behavior.

Liu Han Shuang became anxious as more and more people gathered. In a fit of anger, she pushed Jiang Yan. Jiang Yan stumbled backward. Fortunately, Jiang Zhen grabbed her hand, otherwise, the back of her head would have hit a stone.

Tang Rong couldn’t stand it any longer. She stepped in front of Jiang Yan and said sharply, “Second Miss Liu, I demand that you immediately apologize to the Jiang sisters. Otherwise, the Princess will not be attending any more of your manor’s invitations in the future.”

Jiang Yan knew Tang Rong was genuinely angry.

She was usually a kind and approachable person, but now she was even using the words “the Princess” to pressure Liu Han Shuang with her identity.

‘Right, there are so many young ladies here, but the Princess of Yong’an has the highest status. No matter how arrogant Liu Han Shuang is, she can’t do anything to her.’

Jiang Yan thought Liu Han Shuang would apologize obediently, but she clearly overestimated the other’s intelligence.

“You’re all bullying me! Bullying me for a bastard! I’m going to tell my father!”

She ran away with a twisted expression, shocking everyone present.

Jiang Yan was dumbfounded for a long while before turning to Tang Rong. “Elder Sister Rong, are there really people in the world as foolish as a pig?”

Tang Rong was amused by her description and stroked her hair, asking with concern, “Are you alright?”

Jiang Yan shook her head.

She was now more concerned about Jiang Zhen’s state. She was the one who had been hurt the most.

With Liu Han Shuang calling her a bastard in front of so many people, Jiang Zhen must be feeling terrible.

“Younger Sister Zhen, please don’t take those words to heart. That Liu Han Shuang always speaks without a filter. When I go back, I’ll tell my mother about this and ask her to find an opportunity to reprimand Madam Liu.”

Jiang Yan felt that this plan would probably not work.

It was well-known that Liu Feng doted on his concubine and was abusive towards his legitimate wife. He also neglected his legitimate daughter, Liu Hanyue, and spoiled Liu Han Shuang and her mother to an outrageous degree. If he weren’t afraid of being criticized, he would have divorced his wife and made his concubine the official wife long ago.

Even if Madam Liu were reprimanded, it would be useless because she couldn’t and wouldn’t control Liu Han Shuang and her mother.

Ultimately, this matter had to be resolved by taking action against Liu Han Shuang herself.

Jiang Yan glanced at Jiang Zhen and noticed that her expression hadn’t changed. It was as if what had just happened was someone else’s business, and she was just a spectator.

Outsiders couldn’t see any flaws. Even Tang Rong, who was so close to her, thought she was unaffected.

Only Jiang Yan knew how tightly she was clenching her hand under her sleeve.

‘Is she afraid that no one will stand up for her, which is why she’s acting this way?’

Jiang Yan felt a little sorry for her. She slipped her hand into her sleeve and covered her clenched fist.

“Elder Sister, don’t be afraid. The General’s Manor will have your back.”

Zhang Zhihui, a master of self-preservation, had not said a word from beginning to end, but Zhang Ziyan, in her innocent way, spoke up for Jiang Zhen, saying, “Our sisters are on your side too. Don’t be afraid of that blabbermouth, Liu Han Shuang!”

Zhang Zhihui had a headache and wished she could cover her sister’s mouth.

What was their small Minister’s Manor compared to the General’s Manor? They probably didn’t even need their help.

‘What a fool.’

“Younger Sister, why are you frowning? Don’t you want to help Younger Sister Zhen?” Zhang Ziyan looked at her sister and asked sincerely.

“Of course, I do. My sister and I are on the same side.”

Zhang Zhihui looked helpless, but she didn’t seem angry. She simply looked down at her sister, with a hint of doting in her expression.

Jiang Yan averted her gaze and shook her head. ‘How could that be? They are sisters, I must have seen wrong!’

Jiang Zhen’s hand loosened slightly. Jiang Yan seized the opportunity, pried her fingers open, and laced them with hers, turning to give her a comforting look.

Jiang Zhen was momentarily dazed by the smile in front of her. She instinctively tried to clench her hand into a fist again but hurt Jiang Yan in the process. Jiang Yan winced and said without any hesitation, “It’s okay. If you want to clench, just clench. It doesn’t hurt me.”

Tang Rong’s gaze swept over the two of them, and she came to a conclusion:

“You two sisters have such a good relationship.”

Jiang Yan smiled even more brightly and replied, “Right? I think so too.”

Jiang Zhen lowered her eyes and looked at the blooming flowers in front of her, saying nothing.

“Father, it was them! They ganged up and bullied me! You have to stand up for me!”

Liu Han Shuang’s voice came from the distance. The smile on Jiang Yan’s face instantly disappeared, replaced by a cold look in her eyes.

‘Just waiting for you all!’

Liu Han Shuang came running up to Jiang Yan and the others, crying and holding on to Liu Feng. She seemed to be weeping, but her eyes held a triumphant look.

Liu Feng always indulged his daughter and would try to fulfill even the most unreasonable requests. Now that she had been bullied, he naturally came to stand up for her.

However, when he saw Tang Rong, he changed his mind. He decided to find someone of lower status to apologize to his daughter to make her happy.

“Princess of Yong’an, it’s so good that you are here. My Han Shuang must have offended you all somehow, so you all ganged up to bully her?”

Tang Rong’s momentum was not less than his. She retorted, “Minister Liu, you really know how to twist the truth. Your Second Miss was rude first. How did it turn into us bullying her?”

“They did bully me! They stopped me from leaving and made me apologize to this… to her!” Liu Han Shuang pointed at Jiang Zhen, crying as she accused the group of their “crimes.”

Jiang Yan let out a cold laugh. “What did you almost say? Second Miss Liu, why did you stop? Are you afraid that if you say it, you’ll be in the wrong, so you’re deliberately blurring the focus of the matter?”

This was the first time Jiang Yan and Jiang Zhen had made a public appearance. Liu Feng had never seen them, so he asked, “And who are you?”

“Minister Liu, it doesn’t matter who I am. Your daughter insulted my elder sister first. Is it too much to ask her to apologize? I just didn’t expect that your daughter would run to you to complain. She really is…”

“She really is the pot calling the kettle black!”

Zhang Ziyan stole Jiang Yan’s words, her face full of righteous indignation.

Zhang Zhihui sighed and did not stop her. It seemed she had completely given up on trying to “cure” her.

Jiang Yan looked at Zhang Ziyan’s puffy cheeks and suddenly found her adorable.

Liu Feng looked at the Zhang sisters, and his face immediately changed. “You’re so glib and speak nonsense. Is it you two who bullied Han Shuang?”

Jiang Yan was completely dumbfounded. She never expected Minister Liu’s actions to be so audacious.

This tactic of diverting blame was brilliant!

He couldn’t afford to offend Tang Rong, so he decided to target the Zhang sisters. Jiang Yan mentally gave Minister Liu a hundred thumbs-ups.

Before the Zhang sisters could speak, Tang Rong spoke up.

“Minister Liu, was I not clear enough? No one bullied your daughter. She was in the wrong first. Instead of disciplining your own daughter’s words and actions, you come here to accuse others. You really are a great father.”

Liu Feng could hear the sarcasm in Tang Rong’s words, but he refused to admit his daughter was wrong and continued to be unreasonable. “No matter what Han Shuang said, it was unintentional. But it is inexcusable for so many of you to bully her. I won’t make things difficult for you; just apologize to my daughter, and this matter will be over.”

Jiang Yan: ‘Oh, wow, I’m just blown away!’

She now felt that this Minister Liu must have been bewitched by his concubine. Otherwise, a person with any intelligence would not do this much for an illegitimate daughter.

She didn’t want to get into a pointless argument with such a muddled person, otherwise, her own intelligence would surely decrease.

“Minister Liu, I’ll say this one last time. Have Liu Han Shuang apologize to my elder sister in front of everyone, or this matter will not be over.”

Liu Feng’s face sank, and he looked at Jiang Yan with disgust. “What right do you, a stinking little girl with milk still on her breath, have to speak to an official like this!”

“Then what about me? Do I have the right, Minister Liu?”

Yuan Feng’s voice came from behind. Jiang Yan looked over, and her expression was not good.

Jiang Yan was a little uncertain. If her mother knew that Liu Han Shuang had insulted her elder sister, would she stand up for her?

Originally, she could have handled this herself, but now it had become a bit complicated.

If they just talked things out and came to an amicable agreement, she would be absolutely disgusted.

Yuan Feng walked closer, first glancing at Jiang Yan. Seeing that she was fine, she looked at Jiang Zhen and then calmly shifted her gaze away from her and toward Liu Feng.

“Minister Liu, you really have a grand air of authority. Someone who didn’t know would think my daughter had committed some unforgivable crime that needed your judgment.”

Liu Feng looked at Yuan Feng, and his previous arrogance was gone. He put on a fawning smile.

“Madam General, what are you saying? I was just joking with your daughter.”

Yuan Feng held Jiang Yan close, a sarcastic smile on her face. “Joking? Minister Liu, you’re truly a child at heart, joking with a ten-year-old child like this.”

After Yuan Feng spoke, she gently patted Jiang Yan’s hand. Jiang Yan immediately understood and burst into loud sobs.

“Mother, this uncle is so scary. I didn’t do anything wrong, but he wanted to hit me.”

Liu Feng was flustered and his voice rose in question, “When did I want to hit you? Don’t falsely accuse me!”

“Waaah, it was so scary! He was just threatening me like that.”

The surrounding noble ladies started whispering amongst themselves. Yuan Feng’s face was ashen.

“Minister Liu, my general is still defending the borders, braving the elements for the stability of our country, dealing with wolves and tigers every day, yet his daughter is being bullied like this in the capital. If this were to get out, it would surely break the hearts of a million soldiers.”

Jiang Chengsha was a Hussar General commanding a million troops. All the soldiers were those who had fought with him in bloody battles, and their loyalty was extremely high. What Yuan Feng said was perfectly justified.

Sweat had already broken out on Liu Feng’s head, and Liu Han Shuang, knowing she had caused trouble, shrank behind Liu Feng, as quiet as a chicken.

“Then, what does the Madam wish to do?”

Yuan Feng: “I won’t make things difficult for you. You apologize to my daughter, and this matter will be over.”

Liu Feng’s eyes widened, and his face turned ashen, as if he had been subjected to a great humiliation.

“You want me to apologize to a snot-nosed girl?!”

“Minister Liu, watch your words. Standing in front of you is the daughter of Hussar General Jiang Chengsha!”

The words “Hussar General” put undue pressure on Liu Feng. His expression changed several times, but in the end, he lowered his head.

“I apologize, Second Miss Jiang. I, Liu, was blind. I hope you will forgive me.”

Tears still clung to Jiang Yan’s face, and a hint of mockery flashed in her eyes.

“That’s enough, that’s enough. I forgive you. But Minister Liu, you should be more careful next time. Don’t just stand up for your daughter, she’s quite a burden to her father.”

Liu Han Shuang: “What did you say?!”

“Han Shuang, be quiet!” Liu Feng shouted at his daughter in time to prevent further trouble.

He couldn’t even get the better of Yuan Feng, let alone Han Shuang.

Liu Feng looked at the onlookers with great humiliation, gritting his teeth and saying to Liu Han Shuang, “Let’s go!”

“Wait!” Yuan Feng’s voice was cold and icy. “Minister Liu, do you think that’s it?”

Liu Feng was startled. At the same time, he was filled with resentment, and his voice involuntarily became much louder. “What further instructions does the Madam have?!”

“I dare not give instructions. But your daughter insulted my Jiang Zhen. Do you really intend to just take her and leave?”

“Yuan Feng, don’t push your luck!”

“You’re the one pushing your luck! A daughter who doesn’t know her place like this should be locked up where no one can see her. But you insist on letting her out to disgust others. If you can’t discipline her, someone else will. Today, I will be the first person to discipline her. If you are unwilling to apologize to my daughter, then slap yourself ten times. Remember today’s lesson, so you don’t make the same mistake again.”