The furious Third Princess

Ning Sang-sang's eyes lit up as she watched the young women enter, and she murmured inwardly:

These girls from the Hundred Flowers House really are fresh and lovely.

Hearing Ning Sang-sang's thoughts, Yan Xuanjing's brows knitted almost imperceptibly. When the pungent scent of rouge and powder on the courtesans reached him, his frown deepened. "All of you, leave," he said coolly. He truly disliked their smell.

A chill rose in the young women's hearts at Yan Xuanjing's cold voice, and they all stopped in their tracks.

Ning Sang-sang looked at Yan Xuanjing. Seeing his tightly furrowed brows and how plainly he disliked having these girls wait on him, she could not help pursing her lips. Such a fussy brat, she grumbled inwardly, then said to Aunt Hong, "Auntie Cuihua, take them outside."

Fine, fine. Let's do what that fussy brat Yan Xuanjing wants, lest his mood turn unstable and he decide to destroy heaven and earth again.

Aunt Hong hurriedly nodded in respectful assent, then led the young women back out.

Ning Sang-sang watched their retreating figures with a reluctant gaze, thinking to herself:

Next time I come here, I mustn't bring that fussy brat Yan Xuanjing. He ruins all my fun.

Listening to Ning Sang-sang's thoughts, Yan Xuanjing could not help giving a cold little snort. His voice carried a hint of mockery as he said, "If you're so reluctant to part with them, Third Miss Ning, why not take them home as maids?"

Ning Sang-sang heard the mockery in Yan Xuanjing's voice, but she did not get angry. Instead, she seriously considered his suggestion and decided he was quite right. If she brought them home as maids, she could listen to songs and watch performances every day. She nodded. "Sixth Prince, you're right. I'll go find Auntie Cuihua later and buy a few pretty girls from her to be my maids."

Yan Xuanjing: "..."

Seeing that Ning Sang-sang wanted to buy girls from the Hundred Flowers House as maids, Ning Hui felt his purse, which held only a few pieces of silver. He thought to himself that he had not brought much money. Would the Hundred Flowers House let them buy on credit? If not, he would have to thicken his skin and ask Brother A-Xuan for a loan.

Ning Sang-sang had brought the conversation to a dead end, and silence settled over the private room. No one spoke. Since the others were silent, she said nothing either, merely gazing at the lovely scenery outside the window and murmuring inwardly:

The Third Princess has probably gone to Yan Xuanjing's residence to look for him by now. She really is so bewitched by him that she's lost her very soul. Even with his peerless face ruined and both legs crippled, she still keeps trying to get her hands on him and make him her male consort. She's utterly obsessed with him.

Hearing Ning Sang-sang's thoughts, Yan Xuanjing's face darkened beneath his mask, and gloom filled his eyes. Sooner or later, he would deal with that disgusting woman. Just then, he heard Ning Sang-sang say, The Third Princess is so obsessed with Yan Xuanjing. If someone let her know that State Uncle Yang had improper designs on him and was the one who left him disfigured and crippled, she would definitely go after State Uncle Yang.

At these words, Yan Xuanjing's eyes flickered, and an idea immediately formed in his mind.

Ning Hui's eyes lit up at Ning Sang-sang's thoughts, and he too had an idea. On their way back later, he would find someone to tell the Third Princess that Yang Wenguang had done this to Brother A-Xuan, so she would go after Yang Wenguang.

Once Ning Sang-sang stopped muttering inwardly, Yan Xuanjing looked at Jingzhe and signaled with his eyes for him to wheel him outside.

Having served him for over ten years, Jingzhe understood his look at once. He stepped forward and wheeled him out.

Seeing this, Ning Hui asked, "Jingzhe, where are you taking Brother A-Xuan?"

"To relieve himself." Jingzhe casually made up an excuse to brush him off, then wheeled Yan Xuanjing out of the private room. Once they reached an empty corridor, he stopped, stepped around in front of Yan Xuanjing, and crouched down, asking respectfully, "Your Highness, what are your instructions?"

Yan Xuanjing beckoned to him. Jingzhe leaned his ear closer, and Yan Xuanjing whispered a few words into it.

After listening, Jingzhe's eyes brightened. "Rest assured, Your Highness. I'll see to it right away."

With that, Jingzhe stood, turned, and hurried away.

Watching Jingzhe leave, Yan Xuanjing's lips curved into a cold smile. A fine show of dogs biting dogs was about to begin...

Rather than have Jingzhe wheel him back, Yan Xuanjing maneuvered his wheelchair into the private room himself. Inside, Ning Sang-sang and Ning Hui were gazing absently at the scenery outside. Both siblings turned toward him when he entered. Seeing that Yan Xuanjing had returned alone, with no sign of Jingzhe, Ning Hui asked in confusion, "Brother A-Xuan, where's Jingzhe?"

"He left to take care of something," Yan Xuanjing said.

Left to take care of something? Ning Hui's eyes lit up. Could Brother A-Xuan have sent Jingzhe back to deliver the news to the Third Princess?

Ning Sang-sang turned her gaze away from Yan Xuanjing and resumed admiring the scenery, while thinking about the Third Princess.

In the book, the Third Princess was Consort Yu's daughter. Consort Yu was the current empress dowager's niece and had grown up with the emperor, becoming the white moonlight of his heart. After Consort Yu died of illness, the Third Princess was raised at the empress dowager's side, and both the empress dowager and the emperor lavished all their affection on her.

Spoiled from childhood, the Third Princess had grown arrogant and domineering. When she reached marriageable age, she took a liking to Li Bao, the top imperial examination scholar. The emperor immediately bestowed marriage upon them and even granted them a Princess's Residence.

Yet less than a month after their wedding, the Third Princess grew tired of Li Bao, divorced him, and began secretly keeping male consorts.

When word reached the emperor, he merely kept one eye open and the other closed, allowing her to keep them.

This made the Third Princess even more unrestrained. She began openly keeping male consorts and searching everywhere for handsome men without status.

When the Third Princess saw Yan Xuanjing's face, she fell in love at first sight and swore she would have him. It became an obsession.

Even after Yan Xuanjing's legs were crippled and his face ruined, the Third Princess never gave up on possessing him.

It was precisely this obsession that led to her horrific death. Thinking of her miserable end, when Yan Xuanjing had ordered her forced into prostitution and she was tormented until living was worse than death, Ning Sang-sang could not help drawing a sharp inward breath.

Xuanzi really is ruthless. Still, the Third Princess deserved what she got. Relying on her title and the favor she enjoyed, she spent every day ruining innocent men from respectable families.

Yan Xuanjing: "..."

Meanwhile, an ornate carriage stopped outside the Hostage's Residence, with four tall, saber-bearing guards standing beside it.

The carriage curtain lifted, and a maid stepped down first, then helped a beautiful woman in sumptuous attire alight.

Chu Yuzhu stepped down and looked at the tightly shut gates of the Hostage's Residence, her eyes flashing with determination. This time, through threats and inducements, she would make Yan Xuanjing submit to her. She walked up to the gates and told the maid beside her, "Zijuan, knock."

Zijuan immediately stepped forward and pounded hard on the gates of the Hostage's Residence, shouting, "Open up! Open up! The Third Princess is here! Hurry and open the gates to welcome her!"

No one answered. Zijuan knocked even harder and shouted even louder.

Still receiving no response, Zijuan turned to Chu Yuzhu. "Princess, the people in the Hostage's Residence are pretending to be deaf and refusing to open the gates. They don't want to let us in."

Chu Yuzhu's face instantly darkened. Yan Xuanjing was growing bolder by the day. A mere hostage dared to slight her like this? Outrageous!

"Guards, smash these gates open," she ordered coldly. Since Yan Xuanjing refused the offered wine only to drink the wine of punishment, she would no longer show him any courtesy.

Just as the guards were about to carry out her order, footsteps sounded behind the gates. They soon opened, revealing Xifeng's expressionless face. Looking at Chu Yuzhu, he said flatly, "Third Princess, His Highness is not at home. Please leave."

Before Chu Yuzhu could respond, Zijuan snapped angrily, "Xifeng, how dare you! My princess came to the Hostage's Residence in person to see the Sixth Prince, yet you dare bar her from entering? Aren't you afraid she'll report you to His Majesty when she returns and have you charged with gross disrespect?"

Like dog master, like dog servant, Xifeng silently grumbled. He glanced expressionlessly at Zijuan, then turned to Chu Yuzhu and said evenly, "Third Princess, His Highness truly is not at home. Even if you enter, you won't find him."

"Not at home?" Chu Yuzhu frowned. "If Yan Xuanjing isn't here, where is he now?"

"Third Princess, His Highness went out with Fourth Young Master Ning for a change of scenery," Xifeng said.

Before Chu Yuzhu could answer, Zijuan cut in. "Princess, he must be lying to you. The Sixth Prince is definitely inside."

"If I'm lying to you, may heaven strike me with lightning. If you're spouting nonsense, may heaven strike you with lightning," Xifeng told Zijuan expressionlessly.

Zijuan fell silent.

Seeing Xifeng's earnest expression, which did not seem like a lie, Chu Yuzhu angrily turned to leave.

Zijuan hurried after her.

Watching Chu Yuzhu climb into her carriage and depart, Xifeng's eyes flashed with a chill. One day, he would deal with every last person who bullied His Highness!

Furious that she had failed to find Yan Xuanjing, Chu Yuzhu returned to the Princess's Residence in her carriage. As soon as she alighted, a guard approached and said respectfully, "Princess, someone delivered a letter for you."

Chu Yuzhu looked at Zijuan, who immediately took the letter from the guard. She opened the envelope and examined it carefully, then handed the letter to Chu Yuzhu once she was sure nothing was wrong with it.

Chu Yuzhu unfolded the letter. As soon as she read its contents, her expression changed. That Yang Wenguang truly did not know the height of heaven or the depths of earth! He dared covet the man she had set her sights on and had even poisoned him. He must be tired of living!

"Your Highness, what's wrong?" Seeing Chu Yuzhu's expression, Zijuan immediately asked with concern.

Chu Yuzhu did not answer her, merely saying in a low voice, "Go inside and call out more men. Come with me to State Uncle Yang's Residence."

"Yes, Princess," the guard answered respectfully, then turned and went inside.

Chu Yuzhu climbed into the carriage in a fury, and Zijuan hurried after her.

Seeing Chu Yuzhu's gloomy expression, Zijuan asked with concern, "Princess, what happened?"

Without answering, Chu Yuzhu tossed the letter to Zijuan.

Zijuan picked it up and read it. Only after finishing did she understand why the princess was so angry.

Imperial Uncle Yang had actually dared covet the Sixth Prince, whom the princess had set her sights on, and had even ruined his face and crippled him. He truly had no idea how close he was to death!