In a nearby tavern,
Song Yu and Shen Qingping were drinking themselves into a stupor when Shen Qingping happened to glance out the window. In an instant, his drunkenness evaporated.
"Your Highness, that looks like... our princess."
"Ah Huan?" Song Yu walked to the window and rubbed his eyes vigorously. "It really is Ah Huan."
"Oh no, the princess is being bullied." Shen Qingping quickly patted Song Yu. "Your Highness, that’s the favorite concubine of your cousin Xu Jinruo. She’s notorious for throwing her weight around outside."
"Daring to bully Ah Huan? Do they think I’m dead?"
Song Yu rolled up his sleeves and charged outside.
A crowd had already gathered to watch the spectacle.
Lin Jiao'er was forced to kneel before Song Shihuan, her arms twisted behind her back by Baoxia.
"What kind of princess are you? I’m the favored concubine of Minister Xu of the Ministry of Rites!" Lin Jiao'er lifted her chin, her arrogance on full display.
"To hell with your ancestors—this is my family’s princess!"
With a furious roar, Song Yu appeared before Lin Jiao'er in a flash and began slapping her delicate face left and right.
Song Yu was no gentleman, nor did he restrain himself from hitting women.
Within half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lin Jiao'er’s face had swollen into a pig’s head.
"You... my lord won’t let you get away with this..." Lin Jiao'er’s lips were bruised and split, her words slurred.
"Your lord? Tell Xu Jinruo to crawl here and face me!"
The onlookers gasped in shock.
Everyone in Da Qi knew how highly the Emperor regarded the Xu family. Even the Eastern Palace and the other two princes avoided open conflict with them—not only because the Xu family had produced the late empress who once saved the Emperor’s life, but also because they had given rise to the current empress.
Yet Prince Qin had just humiliated the Xu family without a second thought.
The capital’s magistrate, Zhao Xi, arrived even faster than Xu Jinruo. Panting and nearly out of breath, he bowed hastily. "Magistrate Zhao Xi of the capital greets Your Highness, Prince Qin."
"Perfect timing. This woman committed violence in public, targeting a royal princess. Throw her into the imperial prison immediately." Song Yu looked at Lin Jiao'er’s current state and felt like vomiting.
"But... Your Highness, she’s Minister Xu’s beloved concubine."
"She’s just a concubine—a plaything, nothing more."
Lin Jiao'er, hearing this, mustered all her strength to scream at Song Yu, "I’m not a plaything! My lord adores me!"
"Shut her mouth before she spews more filth."
As Magistrate Zhao hesitated, the commander of the imperial guards, Shen Xiao, arrived with a squad. The crowd immediately shrank back.
The imperial guards were a name that could make children cry in fear.
"Your Highness, by His Majesty’s order, I am to take Lin Jiao'er into custody."
"Wait—where did Father say to take her?" Song Yu asked, worried Shen Xiao might let her off.
"The imperial prison."
Satisfied, Song Yu quickly stepped aside.
"Father!" Song Shihuan’s voice rang out. Song Yu hurriedly lifted the carriage curtain. "Ah Huan, are you alright?"
"I’m fine." Song Shihuan glanced at the whip marks on Baoxia’s hand. "Father, if Cousin Xu comes later, drag him before Grandfather and say that woman tried to disfigure me."
Dare to harm her people?
Seeking death!
By the time Xu Jinruo arrived, it was far too late.
The crowd had dispersed, Song Shihuan had been escorted home, and all that awaited Xu Jinruo was Song Yu lounging like a lord.
"Your Highness, where is Jiao'er?" Xu Jinruo’s panic seemed genuine.
"You’re asking me where Lin Jiao'er is?" Song Yu gave him a sidelong glance. "She’s probably in the imperial prison by now."
"No—!"
Xu Jinruo clutched his head and let out an anguished cry. "Your Highness, please spare her! I spoiled her too much—she’s not evil at heart, she didn’t mean to disrespect the princess!"
"Spare her?"
Song Yu laughed coldly, then dragged Xu Jinruo by the ear all the way to the imperial palace.
......
In the throne room, after hearing the full account, Emperor Yuanyou snatched a paperweight from his desk and hurled it at Xu Jinruo.
Blood trickled from Xu Jinruo’s forehead, but he dared not beg for mercy.
"That vile woman Lin—execute her by beating."
"No! Your Majesty, no!" Xu Jinruo panicked, kowtowing frantically until the floor was stained red. "I’ll discipline her strictly—she’ll never leave the Xu residence again!"
"Father, that wretch’s whip was aimed straight at Ah Huan’s face. If Baoxia hadn’t blocked it, Ah Huan’s beauty would have been ruined."
At Song Yu’s words, Emperor Yuanyou’s fury erupted.
"Xu Jinruo, have I been too lenient with the Xu family?"
The Emperor’s fathomless gaze froze Xu Jinruo mid-kowtow. For the first time, he truly felt the Emperor’s displeasure.
"Your Majesty, I am forever grateful for Your Majesty’s mercy... I would never dare..."
"Fen'er might have protected your family once or twice, but she won’t shield you forever." Emperor Yuanyou rose slowly, his presence making even Song Yu’s heart tremble.
Why was Father so enraged?
"You will personally go to the imperial prison and oversee that woman’s execution by beating." The Emperor’s voice was icy. "If she’s still alive by moonrise, I will strip you of your rank and exile the Xu family from the capital."
Xu Jinruo crawled out of the throne room on weak legs.
Song Yu glanced at the Emperor. "Father, why are you so angry today?"
"Did Ah Huan get hurt?" A flicker of something unreadable passed through Emperor Yuanyou’s eyes. Since learning that news, he hadn’t dared to face the child.
"I checked—not a scratch." Song Yu’s eyes gleamed. "But this was Ah Huan’s first time leaving the palace for leisure, and she ran into this mess. She must be terrified."
Emperor Yuanyou shot him a look. "Pick some treasures from my private vault for her."
Delighted, Song Yu scampered off.
He didn’t see the Emperor’s chilling expression behind him. "Wu Qi, investigate whether today’s incident was coincidence or orchestrated."
That fool had reminded him—Ah Huan’s first outing, and she just happened to cross paths with Lin Jiao'er?
......
In the imperial prison, Xu Jinruo raised the paddle and brought it down on Lin Jiao'er again and again.
"My lord... save me..." Lin Jiao'er’s voice grew weaker. In her final moments, she reached feebly for Xu Jinruo’s hand.
"It was... the madam who said the pastry shop you love on South Street had reopened... I wanted to buy them for you myself."
With that, Lin Jiao'er breathed her last.
Xu Jinruo dropped the paddle, his eyes bloodshot, and collapsed onto her body, wailing in grief.
