Song Qiming immediately stopped in his tracks, silently put Song Anhao down, took his hand, and walked behind Song Jinzhao to back her up.
With fierce eyes and a highly raised chin, there was not a trace of fear on his face.
Xiao Rongyan was so furious he almost snapped his teeth.
Taking a deep breath, he forced the stifling frustration in his chest down into his stomach to endure it.
"How would I know about the grudge between you and Prince Qi? I was merely curious as to why the County Princess couldn't cure him. It seems your reputation as a divine doctor is nothing but a sham."
Song Jinzhao retorted in a calm tone, "I have never claimed to be a divine doctor. It is merely an empty title given by the common people who think too highly of me. Only a god can cure any disease, and how could a mere mortal like me dare to compare myself to the divine? Your Highness would do well to listen less to such baseless rumors."
Looking around and seeing everyone staring at him as if watching a play, the intense sense of humiliation made Xiao Rongyan clench his fists so hard they nearly shattered.
To be openly contradicted in public by a lowly born County Princess of a different surname meant she completely disregarded him as a prince.
"Your Highness Prince Ying, this is the women's banquet area. You have come the wrong way."
Duke Zhenguo walked over with a smile, lifting the curtain and gesturing for Xiao Rongyan to return to the men's seating area.
This single sentence made the gazes of all the female guests present turn meaningful once again.
He hadn't taken the wrong way at all; he had clearly barged in on purpose to cause trouble for County Princess Linghui.
Today was the wedding banquet of Princess Yongjia and the Duke of Qing.
As an older brother causing a scene at his own sister's wedding, His Highness Prince Ying truly had no sense of propriety.
Xiao Rongyan sharply flicked his sleeves and left the Duke Zhenguo's estate with a dark face, not looking back once.
Seeing this, the crowd began to whisper among themselves.
"I didn't expect the conflict between County Princess Linghui and His Highness Prince Ying to be so deep. There will definitely be more drama to watch in the future."
A woman at the next table discreetly signaled toward Song Jinzhao's back with her eyes. "When County Princess Linghui was assassinated back then, everyone knew in their hearts who the real mastermind was. The grudge was forged long ago."
"Do you think County Princess Linghui really refused to treat Prince Qi's eye on purpose?"
Another woman curled her lips and said disdainfully, "Who knows? But if it were me, I wouldn't want to treat him either."
Why would you save someone who wanted to kill you? You'd only wish for them to die faster.
The crowd fell silent, a hundred different thoughts racing through their minds.
This just proved that doctors were the last people you should provoke, especially highly skilled ones, lest you fall gravely ill one day and have no choice but to wait for death.
They wondered if the imperial physicians from the Shuobei Kingdom could save Prince Qi's left eye.
If he truly became blind, he would be a ruined prince. Not to mention losing any chance at the throne, what difference was there between being unable to see and being dead?
After the wedding banquet ended, the conversation between Song Jinzhao and Prince Ying quickly spread.
Eventually, not only did Xiao Chengjing in the imperial palace learn of it, but even Xiao Rongche, who was staying in his own princely estate, heard the news.
He flipped the table over with a single slap, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"I think he's just gloating! How dare he use my eye as a topic of gossip! Xiao Rongyan, you've really done it now!"
His towering rage terrified everyone in the Prince Qi's estate so much that they didn't dare to move. They felt a chill around their necks, as if their heads would roll in the very next second.
Seeing that no one spoke up, Xiao Rongche roared loudly, "Why hasn't the imperial physician that Gong Linjue promised arrived yet?"
"Has the letter been delivered? If they still don't come, send someone to the Shuobei Kingdom to hurry them up!"
Everyone fell to their knees in unison, not even daring to breathe loudly.
A trusted aide who had rushed over to calm him dropped to his knees with a thud. Ignoring the pain, he crawled over to Xiao Rongche.
"Your Highness, the letter has already been sent urgently by courier. Perhaps the imperial physician from the Shuobei Kingdom is already on the way. Please wait just a little longer."
Xiao Rongche stomped his foot forcefully to vent his frustration.
He roared in anger, his eyes filled with sorrow and despair.
"Wait, wait, wait! Gong Linjue has been gone for almost half a year! Why hasn't the imperial physician arrived yet? Why hasn't he come?!"
