Chapter 28: Who is the One Committing Insubordination?!
To the rhythmic clatter of hooves, a tall, pitch-black steed burst into view. The young man seated upon it was clad in martial attire, topped with a wolf-shaped helmet. His sword-like brows slanted upwards, his eyes shone like stars, and the bridge of his nose was high and straight—dazzlingly handsome. Most striking was the skin from his left cheek to his forehead, traced with a simple yet magnificent totem, beautiful as a work of art, delivering an intense visual impact.
It wasn’t that Huangfu Chang’an hadn’t seen handsome men before, but this youth, exuding a cool and dashing aura in every gesture, offered a different kind of scenery compared to her two imperial brothers back in the palace.
“Fourth Brother, you’re just in time,” the girl in the lead pointed her whip at Huangfu Chang’an, who was blocking the horse. “This fatty claims he has a grievance and wants us to uphold justice.”
Hearing this, the youth, looking as refreshing as a breeze under a clear moon, finally raised his eyes to look directly at Huangfu Chang’an.
He looked down from his high steed, his slender chin slightly lifted, pitch-black eyes hidden amidst narrowed lashes, his expression arrogant and unbridled.
“What grievance do you have?”
Seeing that the other party wasn’t the type to arrest people indiscriminately, Huangfu Chang’an felt a surge of joy and quickly said, “That man just now insisted on falsely accusing this lowly one of stealing his jade pendant. He even conspired with the constables to take me to the yamen, trying to torture a confession out of me…”
Hearing her say this, the head constable immediately panicked and rushed forward: “General, you must not listen to his sophistry! This person is clearly a thief. Not only did he steal the jade pendant, but he also beat someone into critical condition right on the street!”
“Right, right! He is speaking nonsense, the villain suing the victim first! General, look, my servant was beaten by her until he was critically injured; he’s about to breathe his last—”
The man in luxurious clothes turned and pointed at the bodyguard who had just collapsed on the ground wailing. However, unexpectedly, during the argument, that person had already sat up. He was covering his neck with one hand and staring at the dried blood on his palm with the other, his face full of confusion.
Seeing this, the man jumped in fright: “You… how did you get up again?!”
“I… I don’t know…” The bodyguard sitting on the ground touched his neck gently, finding it incredible. “It seems… it doesn’t hurt anymore…”
Seeing his accusation crumbling, the man kicked the servant in frustration. “Useless thing!”
He then strode forward, grabbing Huangfu Chang’an’s sleeve, stubbornly insisting she stole the jade pendant.
“General, please see clearly. It is a fact witnessed by everyone that this brat injured my servant just now! I just don’t know what trick she played! If the jade pendant isn’t on him, why is he acting guilty and refusing a body search?!”
“In that case, search him.”
Li Qingchi spat out the few words indifferently, feeling very bored.
Seeing his demeanor, Huangfu Chang’an knew that this guy simply didn’t want to get involved, nor did he intend to uphold justice for anyone; he just wanted to resolve the incident as quickly as possible. She couldn’t help but feel indignant, raising her head with a cold snort.
“Who dares to search me?!”
“Audacious commoner! You dare show disrespect to the General?!” The head constable grabbed the hilt of his saber and shouted loudly, determined to overwhelm the other party with his imposing manner!
Huangfu Chang’an spat disdainfully: “Why should I respect a guy with eyes but no pupils, who turns black into white?”
“You dare call my Fourth Brother blind and unreasonable?!” The girl raised her eyebrows and swung her whip, ready to strike.
Li Qingchi raised his hand to stop her, looking down at Huangfu Chang’an with superiority: “If the jade pendant is found on you, I’ll throw you into prison. If it’s not found on you, I’ll throw him into prison. How about that?”
“Eh?! This…” The man who had insisted Huangfu Chang’an stole the pendant was startled, his aggressive momentum instantly weakening. However, things had developed to this point, and he couldn’t back down now. He gritted his teeth and agreed, “Search him!”
Huangfu Chang’an, however, refused.
Are you kidding? She is the dignified Crown Prince of a nation. To be searched in public? If this got out, wouldn’t she become the laughingstock of the world? Where would the dignity of His Highness the Crown Prince be?!
“No searching allowed!”
Li Qingchi didn’t expect her to be so unappreciative. His face darkened, revealing a hint of impatience.
“Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. My patience is limited! Based on your insubordination just now, this General could award you thirty military strokes!”
Huangfu Chang’an smiled coldly.
“It’s not yet clear who is the one committing insubordination!”
“Presumptuous!” Li Hanxing was furious. She waved her hand and lashed her whip straight at Huangfu Chang’an’s face, determined to teach this ungrateful commoner a lesson.
This time, Li Qingchi didn’t stop her, and Huangfu Chang’an didn’t dodge.
First, she couldn’t dodge. Second, she provoked them to force Bai Su to show herself. According to the current situation, if that girl didn’t come out to smooth things over, she, the master, would really suffer a loss.
Just a second before the whip could land on Huangfu Chang’an’s face, a chilling sword glint flashed out in an instant. Swift as lightning, it sliced through the girl’s steel-like whip in mid-air. The terrifying aura even startled Li Qingchi’s mount.
Although Bai Su felt very aggrieved by Huangfu Chang’an’s behavior, she still had professional ethics and wouldn’t abandon her master in a crisis. She hadn’t acted earlier because she saw that Huangfu Chang’an could handle it herself. But now, the girl’s whip contained sharp internal energy; it was definitely not something Huangfu Chang’an, who knew no martial arts, could withstand.
“Who goes there?!”
The person’s movement was too fast; Li Hanxing only saw a figure and didn’t see the face clearly, causing her to feel apprehensive.
Suddenly, an “Ouch” was heard from the crowd. A man resembling a skinny monkey was pushed out, falling heavily to the ground. As dust rose, a round white jade pendant with traces of blood fell out from his person, gleaming colorfully and dazzlingly under the sunlight.
“My jade pendant!”
The pot-bellied man exclaimed, quickly running over to pick it up. He looked left and right, wiping it repeatedly with his sleeve like a treasure, terrified that the edges might have been chipped.
The head constable was stunned at first, but upon reacting, he immediately seized the opportunity and ordered his men to detain the skinny monkey: “Aha! So it was you, a reckless commoner seeking death, who stole the jade pendant and caused this constable so much trouble! Men, tie him up and throw him into jail!”
“Hmph! Is there no business left for this young master now?”
Huangfu Chang’an sneered disdainfully, patted her butt, and turned to leave.
“Hold it!” Li Hanxing shouted sternly at her. “Who said you could go?!”
Huangfu Chang’an glanced back at her: “Otherwise, what else do you want?”
Li Qingchi sneered: “I’ve grown up this big and haven’t seen anyone more arrogant than myself. I didn’t expect that after returning to the Imperial City three years later, even a lowly commoner would dare to climb on my head and act wild. If I don’t teach you a lesson, wouldn’t I lose face?!”
Before his voice had even faded, Li Qingchi leaped up, flipping off the horse’s back. Before Huangfu Chang’an could even see clearly, a menacing chill rushed toward her face. With a clang, it collided with Bai Su’s long sword, stopping just an inch from Huangfu Chang’an’s cheek. The sharp sword energy even sliced off a strand of Huangfu Chang’an’s hair.
Holy shit! Scared me to death!
Huangfu Chang’an clutched her violently beating chest and gasped for breath, staring dumbfounded at the two people confronting each other coldly at close range. It felt as if she could sense the terrifying aura of a duel between legendary swordsmen atop the Forbidden City, but this was too damn immersive, wasn’t it? Could you two fight a bit further away?!
She certainly knew that this youth wasn’t making such a big fuss to target her, but rather to force Bai Su to reveal her skills. Although she didn’t know martial arts, she could tell that the martial arts of the two people before her were evenly matched; neither could easily defeat the other!
“Qingchi, stop!”
While the two were in a stalemate, a woman came riding from the back of the cavalry unit. Dressed in white on a white horse, she looked as graceful as an immortal.
Li Hanxing immediately went up to greet her: “Second Sister, why did you come over?”
Li Hanqi raised her eyes to sweep over the two who were still fighting with swords drawn, and scolded again: “Qingchi, put the sword away!”
Having no choice, Li Qingchi sheathed his curved blade and sat back on his horse.
Bai Su, expressionless, sheathed her sword and cupped her fists in a salute to Li Hanqi: “Second Miss, thank you.”
After speaking, Bai Su turned back to Huangfu Chang’an: “Master, let’s go.”
Staring blankly as Huangfu Chang’an left with a young, beautiful, and highly skilled woman, the onlookers couldn’t help but complain internally: Damn, what is this situation?! What is the background of that short, fat, round person that could make the Second Miss of the Li family personally intervene? And with such courtesy?!
“Second Sister!” Li Hanxing was indignant. “Why did you stand up for them! That guy doesn’t look like anything good at first glance!”
Li Qingchi looked at Li Hanqi with a cold, handsome face, his eyes equally filled with disdain and confusion.
Li Hanqi lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a bitter smile.
“He is not someone you can afford to provoke. You will know why in a couple of days.”
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