Chapter 44: Meddlesome Visitors (Part One)

Chapter 44: Meddlesome Visitors (Part One)

"Move aside..."

After leaving Yun Ji's quarters, Su Rao found neither Su Er nor Su Han around. They seemed to have disappeared, and Master Huishan was busy personally preparing medicine for Yun Ji. Thus, she had no choice but to head to the vegetarian hall at Wanglu Temple herself.

Little did she expect to encounter such obstacles even before leaving the purple bamboo forest.

It was Zhao Lianxin and Shulan.

"The young lady of the Su family is truly well-bred, to be so shameless."

Shulan stood in Su Rao's way, her expression seemingly defending her own mistress.

"Good dogs don't block the path. Can't you understand human language?"

A hint of coldness flashed across Su Rao's eyes as a dark glint emerged. She had no patience for this pair of servant and mistress. She had enough troubles for the day, and these two would do well to show some tact and not provoke her further...

Her gaze swept down from top to bottom across Zhao Lianxin's figure.

Who on earth was this woman?

She liked Yun Ji and yet she was targeting her like this...

"Su Rao, you... You really have no manners, an ugly woman..."

Slap...

A sharp sound of a slap interrupted Shulan's tirade, her hand covering her face in disbelief.

Zhao Lianxin was also stunned, never expecting Su Rao to actually slap Shulan so brazenly.

"A mere servant, your master hasn't even spoken, what right do you have to comment on me, a young miss, and even dare to call me by my name directly."

Su Rao rubbed her right hand, fully embodying her rogue nature.

She had made it clear - don't provoke her again.

"Zhao Lianxin, you've raised your servants well, so well that they don't even understand basic etiquette. Before the master has spoken, the servant is already presuming to act on their behalf. Today, Miss Su has truly gained some insight."

In just a brief moment, Su Rao had identified the person before her.

In Langjing City, there was only one woman apart from the royal princess who could call Yun Ji 'Ji Yue-gege' with such affection – it was none other than Miss Zhao, Yun Ji's supposed childhood sweetheart.

Shulan's face flushed even redder with anger, her left cheek now swollen.

Zhao Lianxin quickly pulled Shulan behind her for protection.

"Su Rao, don't push your luck. Even clay figurines have their limits..."

"Huh, if I'm being excessive, then as they say, good dogs don't block the path. Are you, Zhao Lianxin, not even a good dog but rather a vicious hound?"

With her arms crossed, Su Rao maintained her usual rebellious demeanor and took a bold step forward, a mischievous smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Her eyes darkened with intensity.

"Su Rao, you..."

Zhao Lianxin suddenly clenched her delicate hands.

Spotting this, Su Rao scoffed again, "What now? Are you planning to start a fight or play the victim? If you want to put on an act, do it when your brother Jì Yuè is around. Who are you trying to impress here with your constant melodrama? Save your troubles for someone else, I've got no time to waste on your white lotus and green tea antics."

Fed up with the endless bickering with Zhao Lianxin, and considering she had no relationship with Yun Ji, Su Rao simply shoved her aside with considerable force.

"Miss..."

"Watch out, Miss..."

Seeing Zhao Lianxin on the verge of falling, a figure stepped in ahead of Shulan, catching her and promptly stepping back three paces.

"My apologies for the intrusion."

Bowing slightly, the man's gaze then fell upon Su Rao.

"Why is this lady so enraged, to the point of taking action like this?"

When the day starts on the wrong foot, it stays that way every moment. She shouldn't have left her home today.

Her apricot-colored eyes gradually blossomed with a peachy glow, becoming even more radiant and enchanting.

Su Rao's gaze fell upon the unexpected interloper who had meddled in her affairs.

Gentle and refined, a gentleman of impeccable demeanor.

Even if a celestial being stood before Su Rao at this moment, it seemed as if nothing could extinguish her heart full of restlessness and rage, and she directly switched into her venomous mode:

"You have too much time on your hands, meddling in others' affairs. It's none of your concern how this young lady conducts herself. If you aspire to be a hero saving the beauty, you'd first need someone to find you worthy. You may think yourself as gentle as jade and debonair, but that doesn't make you a hero. If you're ill, go see a physician."

Following the barrage of criticism, Su Rao turned her sleeves and left promptly, fearing that if she stayed any longer, she might succumb to the urge to vent her frustrations through violence.

"Prince Maple, I sincerely apologize. Lotus Fragrance has brought trouble to Prince Maple..."

Su Rao's biting wit left Rong Feng utterly stunned.

Zhao Lianxin's face flushed red as well, but fortunately, her broad-brimmed hat concealed her embarrassment. Seeing Rong Feng being overwhelmed by Su Rao's scolding, she knelt down in apology, filled with guilt.

"Miss, please don't trouble yourself. It was merely a small favor. I'll take my leave now."

Rong Feng regained his composure and, noticing Su Rao entering the dwelling, quickly spoke before striding past Zhao Lianxin without paying attention to how she addressed him. He hadn't come dressed in his princely attire.

Zhao Lianxin's knees were still bending when they froze once more.

Her delicate hands clenched tightly.

"Su... Rao..."

The humiliation of today...

"Miss, let's find Prince Four and have him intervene. That ugly girl is too much. How could she behave like that?"

Shulan was about to pull Zhao Lianxin to find Yun Muyi and Yun Muyue.

"Shulan, the humiliation I've suffered today, I will avenge it myself."

Yun Muyi and Yun Muyue had just left their quarters when they were informed by the guards that Prince Jing and Prince Liu had accompanied Prince Rong Feng to Wanglu Temple to request Master Huishan to prescribe a health-restoring formula for Empress Yun in the distant Dan Liang Kingdom. Upon hearing this, the two brothers immediately headed for the main hall.

Zhao Lianxin didn't follow them. She had stayed behind specifically to wait for Su Rao, hoping to embarrass her. She and Prince Jiyue had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, and she wanted Su Rao to realize her position and stay away from Yun Ji. However, Su Rao's audacious behavior far exceeded Zhao Lianxin's expectations. Not only did her plan fail, but she was now the one humiliated and left with no dignity.

As soon as Su Rao stepped into the courtyard, Rong Feng followed closely behind. Seeing that she was heading towards Yun Ji's quarters, he swiftly positioned himself in front of her.

"Miss Su..."

This time, Su Rao hadn't worn her hood, revealing the scar on her forehead – a symbol of her identity. Not only Yun Lang, but no one in the three kingdoms was unaware of the ugly, lascivious daughter of the Su family in the Yun Clan, who had ruined her face by scaling a wall in her infatuation with Prince Jiyue.

Now, as Su Rao returned, Rong Feng assumed she was going to pester Yun Ji.

"What do you want? Who are you? I've already left, yet you still chase after me. Don't you have better things to do?"

Blocked like this, she had already come back, and he still pursued her. Did he really think she, Su Rao, would tolerate such intrusion? She couldn't bear it anymore, nor should she. Why should she endure it? Why did she always have to be the one to endure?

A tinge of crimson appeared at the corners of her eyes.

With a movement of her hand, Su Rao rushed forward, ready to engage in combat.

Rong Feng didn't get the chance to finish his words; he swiftly dodged out of the way.

Amidst the biting wind, the two figures moved with lightning speed. Rong Feng avoided each attack without countering, provoking Su Rao's growing anger.

"What kind of skill is it to keep dodging? You had the courage to be a hero and save a beauty, but not the skill to take my blows?"

Her actions became more ruthless, her scarlet dress and crescent white robe billowing in the commotion.

A hint of crimson began to surface in Su Rao's bright, apricot blossom eyes, reminiscent of the devastating fire that seemed to have consumed her rationality. Why should she endure any longer?

She was Su Rao now, not Qin Rao. She had no reason to tolerate, right?

Bending her wrist into a hook, she raised her foot and launched a series of vicious strikes. Each move carried a sense of lethality, astonishing Yun Ling with their brutality.

Rong Feng, experiencing it firsthand, felt his heart tremble. This daughter of the Su family was likely not as helpless as the rumors suggested.

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Rong Feng's reflexes slowed for just an instant. Su Rao's solid kick landed squarely in his abdomen, leaving a visible footprint on the pristine moon-white robe. Rong Feng retreated abruptly, clutching at his stomach in agony.

What a cunning kicking technique.

Rong Feng could no longer afford to underestimate her.

But Su Rao ceased her attack. Just as her foot connected with Rong Feng, she heard a soft whisper in her ear: "Su Rao."

It was Yun Ji's voice.

His brief call was like a cool breeze, instantly calming Su Rao down. Her movements came to a halt.

Yun Ling had informed Yun Ji about Su Rao's unusual behavior.

After taking the medicine, Master Huishan had used acupuncture to put Yun Ji to sleep.

Yun Ling had initially intended not to disturb him.

Although Yun Ling knew that Yun Ji would hear the commotion between Su Rao and Rong Feng, he still wished to delay the moment as long as possible.

Given the sudden surge of murderous intent emanating from Su Rao, Yun Ling dared not delay any further. She hurriedly roused Yun Ji from his slumber.