The people from the other two branches of the family looked stunned.
“Second Madam Zhan, is this really true?”
Second Madam Zhan sneered. “Why don’t you go out and ask around yourselves?”
Everyone’s expression changed.
“We can’t keep such a curse in the Zhan family.”
“What an ill-omened woman. If she stays in our household, she’ll bring us nothing but disaster.”
“The Cheng family is truly shameless. They actually shoved an unmarriageable piece of trash into the War King’s residence. Hurry up and give her a divorce letter so she can get out!”
Everyone cursed Cheng Yao, looking at her with the same disgust and hostility they would reserve for a rat crawling out of a filthy ditch. Their malice was unmistakable.
Cheng Yao was so angry her teeth ached. They were all sucking Zhan Haoting dry—how were they any better?
She was just about to roll up her sleeves and teach them each a lesson when the corner of her eye caught sight of a wooden wheelchair slowly turning in from the end of the corridor.
The wheels seemed to be made of some special material; they made no sound at all as they rolled forward without a whisper. No one had noticed.
Cheng Yao’s eyes shifted. She suddenly pinched her thigh hard, twisted the hem of her clothes helplessly, and muttered in protest, “My family members all died of illness. I didn’t curse them to death. I’m not an omen of death…”
Her innocent eyes were wet with tears, red as a rabbit’s. She looked helpless and pitiful.
“Look at her, pretending to be pitiful again.” Second Madam Zhan shuddered in disgust. “Do you think you can seduce Haoting with those shameless tricks and then act as though no one can touch you? Get out of here before you make us sick!”
“She is my wife. Second Aunt, where exactly do you expect her to go?”
The man’s deep, cold voice rang out.
Second Madam Zhan whipped around.
Zhan Haoting was right behind her.
He sat upright in the wheelchair, dressed in a black brocade robe embroidered with a ferocious, coiling python. The outfit made him look even more imposing and stern.
Although he was unable to walk, his presence was overwhelming, lofty, and commanding.
Cheng Yao hurriedly scampered behind him.
With a powerful man protecting her, she had no desire to fight anyone. Besides, her hands hurt after hitting people.
When she caught the faint scent of blood on him, her heart tightened. She asked in a small voice, “Where did you go?”
Zhan Haoting replied casually, “I just dealt with two servants who made a mistake.”
“The ones who were bribed to tamper with the incense?”
“Yes.”
“You killed them?”
“I prefer to eliminate future trouble once and for all.”
Listening to the exchange between husband and wife, everyone’s expressions shifted.
It seemed Cheng Yao held a much higher position in the War King’s heart than they had imagined.
Second Madam Zhan steadied herself and immediately began to complain. “Haoting, you’re finally back. You have no idea what Cheng Yao—”
Zhan Haoting cut her off. “Second Aunt, you should address her as the princess consort.”
Everyone froze, an inexplicable sense of panic rising in their hearts.
He was actually defending Cheng Yao!
And he was angry.
Zhan Qingrou pouted. “But, Big Brother, Cheng Yao hit Sister-in-law.”
That wretched woman had married into the family through underhanded means. She had no right to call herself the princess consort!
Zhan Haoting’s gaze turned sharp. “She is your sister-in-law!”
Zhan Qingrou puffed out her cheeks, clearly dissatisfied.
Her big brother had been bewitched by that beauty. He was beyond saving.
Zhan Haoting’s face darkened. No one dared to speak, and the atmosphere became tense and oppressive.
After what felt like an eternity, he lowered his head and looked at Cheng Yao. “Why did you hit her?”
Cheng Yao pointed at Feng Xianxian. “She said I was playing tricks on you, and then she insulted me.”
She then pointed at everyone else and said mournfully, “They called me an omen of death and wanted to drive me out.”
Zhan Haoting’s gaze grew cold and sinister.
He had already investigated the entire matter thoroughly. The substitution bride had been arranged by Cheng Lan, while Cheng Yao was innocent.
Moreover, someone had added something to the incense last night. He had lost control as well, and with no experience or restraint, he had been far too rough with his little wife.
Her face was still somewhat pale, and she was probably feeling unwell. Yet she had been forced to stand there first thing in the morning and endure the judgment of the entire family.
She had truly been wronged.
When he did not respond, Cheng Yao’s heart grew uneasy. If he chose to side with his family, she would immediately pack her things and leave.
The Old Madam snorted. “You hit someone, and now you have the nerve to accuse others first?”
“Grandmother, she is the princess consort. Anyone who shows her disrespect has the right to teach them a lesson.” Zhan Haoting swept his gaze over everyone. “From the moment she married me, she became my wife. Her past is in the past, and no one is to bring it up again. If anyone has a problem with that, they may move out of the War King’s residence.”
What?
Did that mean he intended to split up the household?
How could they allow that?
The men of the Zhan family were either still studying or holding insignificant positions in the imperial court. Not one of them had any real ability.
If they left the War King’s residence, who would take them seriously?
The family members exchanged glances, not daring to say a word. They all lowered their heads and shrank back like quails, looking as though they were silently begging to be spared.
Feng Xianxian’s face still bore a vivid handprint. Jealousy and hatred raged inside her, and she nearly tore her handkerchief to pieces.
Cheng Yao had hit someone and openly defied the Old Madam, yet Zhan Haoting was still protecting her!
Why?
Cheng Yao, you wretched woman. Just you wait!
“Wasn’t she supposed to serve tea?” Zhan Haoting reminded them.
A maid immediately stepped forward with a tray bearing a teacup.
Cheng Yao was just about to kneel when the Old Madam mocked, “A dignified princess consort kneeling before an old woman like me? Forget it. If you’re unwilling, I’m afraid these old bones of mine can’t bear the honor. I might even lose years off my life.”
Tch. Who was she trying to put on an act for?
Cheng Yao instantly straightened her back.
Zhan Haoting said, “Then she need not kneel.”
His tone was icy, and he showed the old woman no indulgence whatsoever.
The Old Madam nearly choked with rage. Her aged face turned alternately green and white.
Cheng Yao picked up the blue-and-white porcelain teacup from the tray and bent down to hand it to her.
A sinister glint flashed through the Old Madam’s eyes.
Cheng Yao sensed that something was wrong. Her thoughts raced. Just as the other woman’s hand was about to touch the teacup, Cheng Yao suddenly let her own hand tremble and knocked it over.
She cried out, “Ah!”
The teacup crashed to the floor beside her feet, shattering into pieces.
The boiling tea quickly scalded the back of her hand, turning it bright red.
Zhan Haoting’s expression instantly became frighteningly dark.
Cheng Yao’s watery eyes were red, and she fought back her tears as she looked utterly pitiful.
Seeing the Old Madam’s stunned and furious expression, she felt secretly delighted.
Her strategy was simple: take the enemy’s route and leave them with nowhere to go.
Second Madam Zhan struck first. “Cheng Yao, you didn’t want to serve Grandmother tea, so you deliberately knocked the cup over to scald her? How vicious can you be?”
Cheng Yao’s almond-shaped eyes brimmed with tears, and her entire hand trembled. “Second Madam, didn’t you see? I’m the one who got burned.”
“You’re saying the Old Madam deliberately knocked the teacup over and scalded you?” Second Madam Zhan laughed in exasperation.
But before she could say anything else, Zhan Haoting’s cold voice rang out beside her.
“Since Grandmother does not wish to drink it, there is no need to serve her tea.”
The Old Madam was so furious that smoke nearly came out of her head. Her lips trembled. “Haoting! Can’t you tell that she’s using a self-inflicted injury to drive a wedge between us, grandmother and grandson?”
“I believe what I see with my own eyes.”
Without changing expression, Zhan Haoting turned his wheelchair and headed out. He glanced at Cheng Yao from the corner of his eye, and in the end, he could not resist adding, “Are you not coming to have that treated?”
Cheng Yao obediently followed him to the side.
A guard handed over a jug of cold water. Zhan Haoting first rinsed the back of her hand, then took out an exquisite porcelain bottle, scooped out some ointment, and gently applied it to her skin.
Her slender wrist was held in his rough, broad hand. The faint scent of medicine lingered in the air, cool and soothing as it eased the searing pain.
Cheng Yao stared dazedly at Zhan Haoting, her little heart pounding.
Sunlight streamed through the window, accentuating the exquisite, sharply defined features of his profile.
The way he earnestly applied ointment to her wound was incredibly handsome!
His thin lips were flushed, and the little bead of flesh in the center of his lower lip was so sensual. She had kissed them last night—they were soft and jelly-like. Kissing him had felt so good.
Perhaps her gaze was too heated, because Zhan Haoting began to feel somewhat uncomfortable under her stare. He released her hand. “Let’s go back.”
……
Cheng Yao pushed Zhan Haoting back to her own courtyard.
A maid brought out breakfast and set it on the table, filling it to the brim with dishes.
Cheng Yao’s appetite was instantly whetted. Just as she sat down, she heard Zhan Haoting say, “The princess consort only said last night that she would take responsibility for me, and today she’s already asking for a divorce agreement. Is your heart somewhere else while your body remains here, or did you finally see that I’m a cripple and regret your decision?”
There was a hint of jealousy in his tone, but the remaining nine-tenths were pure mockery.
Cheng Yao realized at once that something was wrong, so she put on an aggrieved expression. “I thought the person you wanted to marry wasn’t me. Your family doesn’t like me either. Wouldn’t it be better for me to leave on my own than to wait until you grew tired of me and cast me aside?”
Then, belatedly, she realized something. “Wait—you heard everything I said? And you just stood by and watched them bully me?”
