Chapter 313: Zhi Wan: Who Is My Cousin Taking Me to See?
Chapter 313: Chapter 313: Zhi Wan: Who Is My Cousin Taking Me to See?
Xuanyuan Jing was tripped by Zhi Wan and fell flat on her face. Utterly humiliated, she was seething with rage when she saw Lu Zhan suddenly appear. He pulled Zhi Wan onto his horse, and the two rode off together as if no one else existed, disappearing from view.
Consumed by jealousy and hatred, she pounded the ground and roared, "I’m going to kill that bitch Zhi Wan!"
Seeing how furious she was, Ouyang Zhenzhu worried she would lash out like a rabid dog. She quickly gestured to her guards, preparing to slip away, but Xuanyuan Jing’s sharp eyes spotted her.
She was looking for someone to take her anger out on, and since Ouyang Zhenzhu was always close to Zhi Wan, she was the perfect target.
She stood up and bellowed at her subordinates, "Seize Ouyang Zhenzhu and bring her to me!"
Ouyang Zhenzhu scrambled behind her guards and shouted furiously at Xuanyuan Jing, "Don’t think you can ignore the law and attack someone in broad daylight just because you’re a Commandery Princess! If you dare touch me, I’ll report you to the Emperor! Even a Prince is judged as a commoner if he breaks the law, let alone you!"
Xuanyuan Jing sneered. "We’ll see if you get the chance." With that, she brandished her horsewhip and advanced on Ouyang Zhenzhu.
Ouyang Zhenzhu had talked tough, but seeing her opponent’s menacing advance, she was still a little intimidated.
So she turned to bolt.
But she had only taken two steps when someone grabbed her by the collar.
"Aren’t you usually so feisty? Why so timid now?"
Ouyang Zhenzhu was furious at being grabbed by the collar, but her eyes lit up the moment she recognized the voice.
For once, she didn’t snap back at him. Instead, she instinctively grabbed his hand.
"You couldn’t have come at a better time! That rabid dog Xuanyuan Jing is about to attack—hurry up and deal with her!"
The newcomer was none other than Duan Ling.
He raised an eyebrow at her hand, a smirk tugging at his lips. Shielded by his sleeve, he took the opportunity to grasp her hand and pull her slightly closer. "Ouyang Zhenzhu," he whispered, "you’ve held my hand. You have to take responsibility for me now!"
Ouyang Zhenzhu was still reveling in the joy of finding an ally. When she heard him, the happy look on her face froze. "What did you say?"
Duan Ling didn’t answer, instead pulling her behind him and announcing in a loud voice, "Prince Gao Yang conspired with rebels in an attempt to usurp the throne! The Emperor has decreed that Prince Gao Yang be stripped of his rank and made a commoner. His children are also to be stripped of their titles and exiled immediately. Without an imperial command, they are forbidden from ever stepping foot in the Capital City again!"
Xuanyuan Jing, who had been charging forward menacingly, froze in her tracks. She stared at Duan Ling in disbelief. "You’re lying!"
"Whether I’m lying or not, you’ll know as soon as you return to your mansion, Commandery Princess. The Imperial Guard has likely surrounded Prince Gao Yang Mansion by now," Duan Ling said calmly.
"No, you’re lying to me!" Xuanyuan Jing shook her head frantically.
’Her father was the Emperor’s own son. How could her grandfather possibly demote him to a commoner?’
’This had to be a lie Duan Ling cooked up just to get back at her for Ouyang Zhenzhu.’
"Believe what you want." Duan Ling shrugged, unconcerned.
Ouyang Zhenzhu was stunned speechless, completely forgetting that Duan Ling had just held her hand.
’He must have made it all up just to help her,’ she thought.
"Commandery Princess, what are you still doing here? There’s trouble at the mansion!" Just then, a servant from Prince Gao Yang Mansion ran up, his face grim as he shouted.
Xuanyuan Jing’s heart sank. She grabbed the servant’s arm and demanded sharply, "What could possibly happen at the Prince Mansion? Stop talking nonsense!"
The servant looked at her with pity and said helplessly, "How would I dare make something like this up? The Prince committed an offense at the hunting ground last night. The Prince Mansion is surrounded by the Imperial Guard. The Princess Consort sent me to find you. The mansion... is done for."
Hearing this, Xuanyuan Jing’s vision went black, and she collapsed.
At this, the guards from her mansion didn’t dare approach. They immediately scattered and fled.
’Prince Gao Yang Mansion was done for. What was the point in going back? To be exiled along with the Prince?’
Only the servant who had delivered the message didn’t run. They loyally hoisted Xuanyuan Jing onto their back and started toward Prince Gao Yang Mansion.
Watching this unfold, Ouyang Zhenzhu snapped out of her daze. She tugged on Duan Ling’s sleeve and asked, "Is Prince Gao Yang Mansion really done for?"
"Of course," Duan Ling confirmed with a nod.
In truth, the Emperor had shown Prince Gao Yang mercy.
Otherwise, given his crimes, Prince Gao Yang should have been beheaded.
Receiving a firm answer, Ouyang Zhenzhu breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. Without the Prince Mansion backing her, Xuanyuan Jing won’t be able to act so high and mighty anymore."
Duan Ling paused, then said, "I’ll have my father go to your home tomorrow to propose marriage. You don’t object, do you?"
"What?" Ouyang Zhenzhu stared at him, wide-eyed, thinking she must have misheard.
Duan Ling was amused by her reaction. "We’ve already held hands. Isn’t a marriage proposal the next logical step?"
Ouyang Zhenzhu finally snapped out of it. "Don’t be ridiculous!" she said, flustered. ’But why is my heart racing?’
’What’s gotten into Duan Ling? Why would he suddenly say he’s going to propose to my family?’
’Why is my face so hot?’
"I’m serious," Duan Ling said.
Feeling incredibly awkward, Ouyang Zhenzhu turned to run, only to see her brother approaching from a distance.
"Brother!" she exclaimed, running toward him as if he were her savior.
Ouyang Lei was a little surprised to see Duan Ling there. "What are you doing here?"
Duan Ling glanced at Ouyang Zhenzhu, who was hiding behind her brother. Instead of answering the question, he said, "Leizi, I was just thinking tomorrow is an auspicious day. I’d like to have my father visit your family to propose marriage."
Ouyang Lei looked completely baffled. "Propose marriage? Who are you proposing to?"
"To your parents, of course," Duan Ling said with a perfectly straight face.
Ouyang Lei froze for a second. Then he saw his sister hiding behind him, averting her gaze, and he suddenly understood.
He cracked his knuckles and suddenly swung a fist at Duan Ling.
"I treated you like a brother, and you’re trying to make a move on my sister? You damn lecher!"
...
Meanwhile.
After her cousin pulled her onto the horse, Zhi Wan was in a daze for a long time.
She only snapped out of it when she saw the city gates. She immediately grabbed the man’s sleeve and turned to ask, "Where are we going?"
"I’m taking you to see someone," Lu Zhan explained simply. With one hand steadying her slender waist and the other holding the reins, he urged the horse quickly out of the city.
The horse carried the two of them out of the city and for several more miles before finally stopping in front of a private villa.
After dismounting, Lu Zhan lifted Zhi Wan down.
"Who are you taking me to see, Cousin?" Zhi Wan asked, her curiosity piqued.
"You’ll know once we’re inside," Lu Zhan said, taking her hand and leading her into the villa.
Chen Jiu, who was waiting there, immediately came forward to greet them. "Princely Heir, Miss."
"What’s their condition?" Lu Zhan asked.
Chen Jiu glanced at Zhi Wan before lowering his voice. "Still breathing."
Listening to their exchange, Zhi Wan grew even more bewildered.
’Who in the world had her cousin brought her here to see?’