"Lying isn't what good children do."
Du Ru paid no heed to Song Shihuan's words, continuing to leer at her with a sleazy expression. The madam nearby chimed in, "Young Master Du has connections with His Highness Prince Chu—he holds immense influence. If you go to the Du residence, you’ll want for nothing. Who knows? You might even stumble upon greater fortunes."
The more they spoke, the deeper the murderous glint in Song Shihuan’s eyes grew.
"Will you move aside or not, little girl?" Du Ru barked at Gu Mingzhu. "Men, drag this insolent brat away!"
She was pretty enough, but compared to the jewel before him, she paled in his eyes.
Just as Du Ru’s lackeys were about to lay hands on Gu Mingzhu, Song Shihuan’s lips curled into a smirk, her gaze fixed on Du Ru as if he were already a dead man.
"Guards!"
At her command, hidden guards materialized, shielding Song Shihuan and Gu Mingzhu. The Du family servants who had dared to act were swiftly pinned to the ground, powerless to resist.
"Y-you... who are you?" Du Ru finally faltered, stumbling backward in panic.
"I already told you—I happen to have a connection with Prince Chu as well."
"You just wait! I’ll fetch my father!" Du Ru jabbed a finger at Song Shihuan’s nose, blustering.
Song Shihuan only laughed, radiant with amusement.
"Running home to Daddy after losing a fight?"
"Then I’ll fetch mine too."
Gu Mingzhu burst into laughter, doubling over and clutching her stomach. She knew it was inappropriate, but... it was just too hilarious.
Someone actually thought they could outmatch a princess by calling for their father.
......
Du Ru soon returned with his father, County Magistrate Du, in tow—along with a swarm of bailiffs and his mother, Madam Sun, all bristling for a confrontation.
"Outrageous! Assaulting others in broad daylight!" County Magistrate Du declared, condemning Song Shihuan outright. "Hiring thugs to pose as royal guards? Did you think you could intimidate this official?"
If she were truly someone of importance, how could she have been trafficked into his jurisdiction?
"Father, it’s these two insolent girls! They even dared to claim ties to Prince Chu," Du Ru spat. "To disrespect our Du family in Zhenling County is to spit on your authority!"
"Ties to Prince Chu?" Madam Sun scoffed. "Not just anyone can claim kinship with the imperial family. The Princess of Chu is my own younger sister!"
Thanks to that connection, the Sun family ruled Zhenling County with an iron grip.
"Seize them and throw them in the dungeons!"
As County Magistrate Du gave the order, bailiffs raised their batons and advanced.
Song Shihuan sighed in exasperation. "So impatient. Your father’s here, but mine hasn’t arrived yet."
With a flick of her wrist, her guards restrained the bailiffs effortlessly—like plucking chicks from a coop.
"Father, summon every man we have!" Du Ru snarled. "I refuse to believe there’s anyone in Zhenling our Du family can’t crush! If we don’t settle this today, how will we ever hold our heads high again?"
As the crowd of onlookers swelled, sweat beaded on County Magistrate Du’s forehead. A gnawing unease took root, but as the head of the Du family, he couldn’t back down before two girls.
"Call for reinforcements," he ordered.
Gu Mingzhu nodded eagerly. "Yes, bring everyone! Hurry up!"
Might as well deal with them all at once.
......
An hour later, the sight of their forces sprawled on the ground finally shattered County Magistrate Du’s confidence.
"Who are you people?"
"Funny thing—she also has ties to Prince Chu," Gu Mingzhu explained sweetly. "And her connection... might be a tad closer than yours."
"This official won’t waste time on you two. Men, retreat!"
A cold dread gripped County Magistrate Du as he tried to slink away.
"Leaving so soon?"
Song Shihuan’s eyes flashed with fury. "Hold them. Until my father arrives, not a single one of you steps foot outside."
"I am the magistrate of Zhenling County! How dare you obstruct me?"
"Obstructing you is the least of it." Song Shihuan’s voice dripped with disdain. "I could kill you where you stand, and no one would bat an eye."
Imperial guards, lying in wait, now encircled the brothel, sealing every exit.
"Your Highness, His Royal Highness Prince Qin is riding here posthaste. Please remain calm."
The guard knelt before Song Shihuan, reverence in his eyes.
Her Highness?
Prince Qin?
The Du family’s faces drained of color.
"What of the traffickers?" Song Shihuan demanded, her regal bearing now unmistakable—as if crushing the Du family required no more than a thought.
"They’ve been arrested and sent to the capital’s imperial prison. His Majesty was enraged and personally ordered Chief Shen to investigate."
His Majesty!
Each word from the guard deepened County Magistrate Du’s despair until his legs gave way, collapsing to his knees.
Which princess stood before him?
If she were from Ping Prince's Mansion or Prince Qi's Mansion, Prince Chu might still intercede... but if she belonged to that family—
Sweat poured down his face as he prayed to the heavens not to let the Du family perish here today.
"These men are seasoned criminals. The children they’ve trafficked must number in the hundreds," Song Shihuan seethed, her blood boiling. Teenage girls, barely of age, defiled by these beasts—only the harshest punishment would quell her rage.
"By my order, raid the Du residence and arrest the madam. Every accomplice goes to the imperial prison. Better to execute the innocent than spare the guilty."
Her voice trembled with fury.
"You’ve committed atrocities and crossed paths with me. Consider this your lucky day."
Silence fell, thick with terror.
......
Song Shihuan and Gu Mingzhu comforted the three rescued girls while the others knelt in the brothel, waiting for three agonizing hours—until a thunderous voice shattered the tension.
"Who dares abduct this prince’s daughter?"
"Do you take the Qin Prince's Mansion for fools, thinking us too merciful to act?"
The roar came before its source. At the sound, County Magistrate Du finally fainted.
Qin Prince's Mansion...
Of all possibilities, why did it have to be their princess?
The Du family was doomed.
