Chapter 112: Prince Jing’s Covetousness

Chapter 112 Prince Jing's Covetousness

After A Man left with the little princess, A Yuan's heart was in knots.

Though Lin Qingshuang wasn’t a mother, she could understand a mother’s feelings.

"The men’s banquet is held in the Changning Hall at the back. Just cut through the side corridor."

If Noble Consort Su openly intended to make things difficult for them, A Yuan was powerless. Now, she could only rely on Xie Zheng or Wei Xun to mediate.

"Thank you."

Lin Qingshuang’s words gave A Yuan’s panicked heart some direction. Taking advantage of the commotion, she stood up and headed toward the side corridor.

Noble Consort Su held a teacup, smirking at the sight. She turned and gave a meaningful glance to her confidante, who nodded and disappeared into the hall.

Empress Zhang was meek by nature and never liked stirring trouble, but today Noble Consort Su had gone too far.

"General Xie has just proved his loyalty through service. Sister, don’t discourage our loyal men."

Noble Consort Su’s smug expression faltered. She tapped her long nails and said, "Sister need not worry. I know exactly what to do."

My Jinsheng may be spoiled, but she wouldn’t take the little girl’s life. Besides, her real target was A Yuan. If Jing'er succeeded, Young General Xie would become his brother-in-law.

The thought of the throne nearly in her grasp made Noble Consort Su’s smile deepen.

......

A Yuan stepped out of Funing Hall. The side corridor was nearly empty, with only a few palace maids passing by. The night wind blew, sending the palace lanterns swinging under the eaves.

She didn’t notice the path darkening until a pair of hands pulled her behind a pillar.

"My little beauty, you’ve finally come."

Prince Jing had been waiting here after receiving the confidante’s message. Drunk, his eyes were cloudy and lustful.

A Yuan’s heart skipped a beat when someone suddenly grabbed her arm.

"You—let me go!"

Frantic to save A Man, she only wanted to break free and call for help.

Changning Hall was right before her—she could already hear the sounds of revelry from inside.

Prince Jing wasn’t about to let her go now.

"Be good, little beauty. This prince knows how to please."

They say a beauty under lamplight has a special allure. A Yuan was already stunning, but now, with her eyes wide with fear, she looked even more alluring.

Prince Jing swallowed hard, his pulse racing with desire.

He had his way with countless women, yet none could compare to her. This bewitching beauty, neither girl nor woman, held his gaze captive.

"Follow me, and I’ll make you my consort!"

A prize like this should be savored. Even if she had borne Wei Xun’s child, he didn’t care.

Prince Jing tugged at A Yuan’s arm, trying to pull her into his embrace.

"Control yourself!"

A Yuan let out a startled cry and shoved him away. Prince Jing, drunk and unsteady on his feet, was indeed pushed back, but a woman's strength was no match for a man's.

*Slap!*

"You bitch!" Prince Jing swung his hand at her with a flash of brutality in his eyes. Though A Yuan dodged, the force of the blow still grazed her, sending her crashing hard against a pillar.

"Here I come, sweetheart—ugh!"

Just as Prince Jing reached her and A Yuan raised the hairpin, Wei Xun appeared.

"A Yuan, are you all right?"

Wei Xun chopped at his neck like a blade, dropping him before he knew what hit him.

"It's an honor to be chosen by me," Prince Jing had said earlier, staggering toward her as if hearing a joke. "Don’t you dare refuse me!"

He despised women who resisted. Those with fiery tempers in the past had all been tamed by his whip.

If not for A Yuan's beauty and usefulness, he would have already taken out the whip to teach her a lesson.

"I’m not worthy of your attention, Your Highness." A Yuan pressed her back against the pillar, gripping a hairpin tightly in her palm.

She’d sooner die than let him have her.

But A Man... poor A Man.

Never before had A Yuan hated power more.

Because of power, Madam Wei looked down on her, Noble Consort Su bullied her, and now even Prince Jing sought to defile her.

"Spare you?" Prince Jing staggered toward her, smug arrogance etched on his face. "What this prince desires, he always obtains. Little woman, it’s best not to resist—or I won’t hold back."

With a leering grin, he unbuckled his belt, his smug arrogance making it clear he had planned this.

No wonder the hallway was deserted when she arrived. A Yuan’s stomach dropped. Pinned between the pillar and him, she gripped the hairpin so hard its tip bit into her palm.

Gazing at Wei Xun’s worried face, A Yuan's mind was still in a daze. Tears pooled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. His chest ached as if pricked by needles, a sharp, stabbing pain.

"You’re safe now. I’ve got you."

Wei Xun swiftly stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, though inside, he was seething.

Had he not heard A Yuan's scream, had he not arrived in time—he dared not imagine the consequences.

His dark eyes turned icy as he glared at Prince Jing like he was already dead.

He’d pay for laying hands on her!

"I... I'm fine."

The sting in her palm snapped A Yuan back to reality. She tightened her grip, her fingers slick with blood, yet she felt nothing.

"My lord, please—save A Man!"

After what had just happened, A Yuan's heart raced even faster.

The imperial harem was a den of wolves—she had to find her daughter quickly!

From her anxious words, Wei Xun pieced together what had occurred in the Hall of Auspicious Peace, his heart just as frantic.

Noble Consort Su and Prince Jing had come prepared today. Though A Man wasn’t in mortal danger, he couldn’t bear the thought of his daughter enduring even the slightest grievance.

"Don’t panic, I’ll go look for her right now!"

......

The Imperial Garden.

The little princess pointed at the steep rockery and snapped at A Man, "Climb up!"

The rockery was piled with jagged stones, tall and treacherous. A Man, just a three-year-old girl, had no hope of climbing it.

"What, you dare disobey me? Guards, disfigure her face!"

The little princess had long been jealous of A Man for being prettier than her. Hands on her hips, she commanded the palace maids.

A Man stared at the dagger in the maid’s hand, retreating in terror.

She didn’t want her face ruined!

The palace was horrible—everyone here was mean.

"What are you waiting for? Hold her down!"

The little princess glared, and the maids exchanged glances before rushing toward A Man.

"No!"

The little girl was seized by the arms and pinned against the rockery. Just as the blade was about to strike, someone stepped out from behind the rocks.

"What are you doing?"

Zhou Chen, refusing to eat, had dodged the eunuchs and maids to hide. Unexpectedly, he caught Zhou Jinsheng bullying someone.

"Hmph! Can’t you see? I’m having her face slashed!"

Though younger than him, the little princess was his elder by generation and thus unafraid.

Zhou Chen’s young face turned stern, his resemblance to the Crown Prince flashing with disgust.

Pressed against the rockery, A Man was crying so hard she could barely speak. "Brother, save A Man... A Man doesn’t want her face cut..."

Zhou Chen's normally detached heart clenched. He already despised Zhou Jinsheng’s cruelty, and seeing the little girl’s pitiful tears left him no choice but to act.

He looked over the little princess's shoulder and blinked.

"The Emperor's coming!"