The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 185 - 184

Chapter 184

The night passed, and dawn approached, bringing with it the news of Ben Yanggong’s death, which quickly spread throughout the capital. The people of the capital gossiped that even immense power could not preserve one’s life and that wicked people would soon face their karmic retribution. That’s because when Ben Yanggong was alive, he was known for his arrogance and bullying the weak. Consequently, upon his death, those he had oppressed eagerly spread stories of his cruelty non-stop, hoping to destroy his reputation posthumously.

The ones who grieved the most were, undoubtedly, Ben Guogong and Ben Furen.

They had to endure the loss of their only son right before their eyes, helpless to do anything about it. Additionally, they had to witness the destruction of their son’s reputation, causing their hearts to break repeatedly.

In the end, the overwhelming grief led Ben Guogong, the pillar of his household and a senior court official, to resign from his position. He cited the need for himself and his wife to live their remaining years in peace and away from turmoil, driven by the irreplaceable loss of their only son.

Hearing this, the Emperor felt deep sympathy for the loyal official who had served diligently for more than half his life, contributing as much as any military or civil official. Thus, the Emperor granted Ben Guogong’s request, allowing him to relinquish his titles and live as a commoner as he wished.

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince had now lost the support of the Guogong Manor. With Ben Yanggong’s death, some of his remaining supporters, who used to be with Ben Yanggong, had disappeared, while others had shifted allegiances. Previously staunch allies now positioned themselves neutrally, mirroring Ben Guogong’s stance and avoiding involvement in any power struggles.

Worse still, some of the Crown Prince’s former followers began switching sides, aligning themselves with the Fifth Prince, his rival!

Amidst these unfolding events, the previously calm waters started to show signs of turbulence. The undercurrents, unnoticed by many, hinted at potential significant upheaval in the future...

Ma Feng Restaurant

After Mu Yingying finished listening to the report from her subordinates, she gave further instructions, "Proceed with the next phase of the plan. Remind the rebel group to move quietly and not to beat the grass and startle the snake."

"Understood," the man in black replied quickly before leaving.

Once Mu Yingying was alone in the room, she picked up her tea and sipped it, passing the time while waiting for Lu Jiu. She had sent him to handle some errands, and if all went well, he should be back soon.

A short while later, she heard a commotion from the entrance of the restaurant below. Initially, she wasn’t interested, but her eyes caught sight of a familiar figure of Lu Jiu through the window, causing her to turn her attention to the scene below with interest.

At the entrance of Ma Feng Restaurant, which was lined with large carriages, Lu Jiu had just returned from his errands. He stepped down from the carriage, intending to enter the restaurant to meet Mu Yingying. However, before he could step inside, a high-pitched voice called out from the side.

"Stop!"

Lu Jiu continued walking, not thinking the voice was directed at him. His mind was focused on reaching the private room where Mu Yingying was. Suddenly, a figure stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"I told you to stop. Didn’t you hear me!?"

Lu Jiu, who was scolded by the woman before him, frowned slightly but stepped around the woman to avoid her. Yet, she moved to block his path again. No matter which way he turned, she was there to obstruct him.

"How dare you ignore me! When I tell you to stop, you stop!"

The woman shouted again, her voice filled with arrogance and haughtiness. She lifted her chin slightly, revealing her spoiled demeanor. This woman was none other than the Seventh Princess, the Emperor’s favorite daughter.

The Seventh Princess gazed at Lu Jiu’s tall figure with infatuation, wondering which noble family he belonged to, and why his appearance was so strikingly handsome. Just a glimpse of him from afar had captivated her so much that she had to stop him without thinking. She knew that if she let him go, she would regret it deeply.

In contrast, Lu Jiu looked at her with cold eyes, his face showing increasing annoyance. He cared nothing for her royal status or her admiring gaze; he felt only irritation!

"Move,"

Lu Jiu said curtly, his voice so icy that it sent a shiver down the Seventh Princess’s spine. His cold eyes made her feel a hint of fear, but his striking features emboldened her to suppress that fear.

"I won’t move!... Which noble family do you belong to? I’ve never seen you before,"

The Seventh Princess demanded, lifting her chin and glancing at his face intermittently. It was clear how much she was interested in him. Earlier, she had been sitting in her carriage in front of the restaurant when she saw him, his strikingly handsome face prompting her to rush out and stop him without thinking.

Today, she was determined to know him!

Seeing that the woman had no intention of moving, Lu Jiu’s expression grew more irritated. He repeated his command, his voice even colder and it also contained a hint of danger.

"Move!"

"How dare you! Do you not know who I am!? How dare you ignore me like this!"

The loud voice of the Seventh Princess, the favorite daughter of the Emperor of Daliang, echoed in the ears of the handsome and noble young man, the Crown Prince of the Basui Region, who stood in front of her. He did not utter a single word, his face growing colder.

An improper thought briefly crossed his mind as he stared, with his chilling gaze, at the arrogant woman before him, resembling a spoiled noble daughter accustomed to having her way.

This woman was extremely annoying. If he cut out her tongue, she wouldn’t be able to speak so much and irritate him...

Lu Jiu turned his face away, hoping to avoid seeing the arrogant display of the woman blocking his path. His heart longed to meet the woman he adored.

"Tell me your name and family! Before I order the soldiers to arrest you for disrespecting a princess like me!"

The Seventh Princess threatened, escalating her intimidation tactics without intention of stopping or letting go. She used her royal status to frighten him, whether through direct or indirect ways, by threatening of using soldiers or guards or by leveraging her authority. However, Lu Jiu was Lu Jiu, and he remained unfazed.

No matter how much the woman before him tried to coerce him, the Crown Prince of the Basui Region was unaffected. She wasn’t even in his sight. Every word she spoke to elevate herself or to intimidate him with her power was dismissed from his mind without a second thought.

At that moment, Lu Jiu chose to walk past the Seventh Princess as if she were nothing but air. But the Seventh Princess would not be deterred.

"Stop! Where do you think you’re going? You can’t just ignore me like this!"

She hurriedly grabbed his arm before he walked past her. However, before her hand could touch his arm, Lu Jiu deftly evaded and glanced at her with disdain.

"You!...You. How dare you look at me with such contempt! No one has ever dared to look at me like that since I was a child," she panted in anger, pulling out a whip and striking it against the ground with force, then pointing it at him.

"You are the first to treat me this way. Fine! For your bravery, I, the Seventh Princess shall grant you a reward, and that reward is death!"

The Seventh Princess declared, lashing out at Lu Jiu with her whip. He easily dodged her attack, but she continued to lash out wildly. Though he evaded her strikes, bystanders were caught in the chaos, suffering injuries.

What began as an encounter where the Seventh Princess, the Emperor’s favorite, pursued a handsome man in front of the restaurant quickly turned into a frenzied scene. The beautiful princess lost her composure, creating a chaotic uproar.

The noise reached the private rooms on the second floor of Ma Feng Restaurant, drawing the attention of those inside, who stepped out onto the balcony to observe.

"What’s happening downstairs? Who dares to cause such a commotion in front of the restaurant?"

A woman seated near the balcony, next to the staircase, asked her companion, who then replied, "I don’t know, but she looks familiar, like...I’ve seen her somewhere during the Hundred Flowers Festival. But I can’t place her. Help me look, maybe you recognize her."

These conversations reached the ears of the important guests inside the restaurant, who were enjoying tea and discussing personal matters. Initially, they ignored the commotion, so they pretended like they heard nothing.

However, upon hearing the next exchange, they turned to each other in shock, their expressions growing serious like never before.

"I remember now! She’s the Seventh Princess, the Emperor’s favorite daughter!"

"The Seventh Princess, the sister of the Fifth Prince? Wh...what on earth is happening? Wh...what is she planning to do!?"

The two women exclaimed in alarm upon recognizing the princess, who was wildly brandishing her whip at someone while shouting. Meanwhile, the group inside the private room, now aware of the arrogant voice’s owner, was equally astonished.

Especially the older brother, who realized that the owner of the voice was his younger sister, the Seventh Princess. The four of them did not hesitate and immediately rushed out of the private room, heading downstairs to prevent the situation from escalating further.

"Answer me! Why are you ignoring me? Hey! I order you to answer me!"

The Seventh Princess shouted at Lu Jiu angrily, raising her whip, ready to strike the man who had not uttered a word in response to her. However, everything abruptly stopped when someone grabbed her whip.

"Stop this at once!"

"I won’t stop!"

She yelled back furiously, turning to see her brother of the same mother, the Fifth Prince, his face now darkened. Seeing him, her rage dissipated instantly. Her wild and fierce demeanor faded, replaced by anxiety and fear over her brother’s wrath.

In addition to the Fifth Prince, she also noticed De Chaikun and her dear friends, De Qianqing and Qian Minmin, approaching. Their eyes, however, were fixed on the man behind her, and that person was none other than Lu Jiu.

Lu Jiu, with his noble and striking appearance, exuded an aura of authority that surpassed even that of the Crown Prince. The Fifth Prince himself felt a twinge of unease at the dangerous presence emanating from this stranger.

The Fifth Prince examined the unfamiliar man with curiosity. His demeanor wasn’t that of a scholar or a typical nobleman, and his distinguished features were unfamiliar. Who was this man...?

"May I ask your name, sir? If it’s not too much trouble, could you introduce yourself?"

De Chaikun politely inquired, also intrigued by the stranger’s identity. Such a noble aura and demeanor were definitely not something an ordinary person would have. However, how could he have never heard of such an outstanding man before?

"My name is Lu Jiu,"

Because of the other party’s polite attitude, Lu Jiu responded with equal courtesy. He was not concerned about revealing his identity, knowing it would be difficult for these people to trace him.

Upon hearing the response, De Chaikun fell silent for a moment, trying to recall if there was the Lu family in the capital that had a notable son like this young man. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t think of any, so he asked further, "I’ve never heard of anyone with the surname Lu in the capital. You must not be from here, correct?"

"Correct. I am a merchant from another city," Lu Jiu replied indifferently, his face emotionless.

Upon hearing this, everyone concluded that Lu Jiu was a common merchant in the capital, whose striking appearance had caught the princess’s attention, leading to her pursuit. The Seventh Princess, upon hearing that Lu Jiu was a commoner, pointed at him and issued an authoritarian command.

"Since you are just a commoner, I will grant you the honor of serving as my personal attendant in the palace. You should feel proud!"

With those words, no one dared to oppose the Seventh Princess. It was accepted as normal since Lu Jiu was merely a common merchant. Serving the princess was considered the highest honor for a lowly merchant.

Just as the Seventh Princess thought everything would go her way, Lu Jiu’s response made her smile freeze momentarily. Her eyes widened in disbelief, which quickly turned into the embarrassment of being rejected.

"No, I already have someone I want to serve."

With that, Lu Jiu turned away from the Seventh Princess, no longer wanting to see her face. At that moment, the image of another woman, the one he was devoted to, appeared in his mind. His previously cold face softened with a warm smile at the corner of his mouth.

"..."

The Seventh Princess was momentarily speechless, feeling utterly humiliated. The handsome man had rejected her with such a cold tone, not even sparing her feelings even if she had extended her kindness. She had planned to bring him into the palace as her personal servant, but his complete disinterest from beginning to end reignited her anger.

"You! How dare you reject me. What woman could be more worthy of your service than me!?"

Lu Jiu’s irritation grew at her words. Before he could respond, a melodious voice of a woman came from behind him.

"I must apologize, Your Highness. He is my fiancé. It is only right that he chooses to serve me. Wouldn’t you all agree?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

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