Zhan Feiyu knew that the Wu'an Marquis's estate would not let the matter rest. Whether it was purely due to the death of You Bawu, or the calculations of those behind the scenes, since she had been implicated, she could not escape unscathed.
However, Zhan Feiyu did not expect that the one coming to cause trouble this time would not be the Marchioness Du. On second thought, it made sense. The Marchioness Du had just threatened the censors, and Marquis You had feigned to confine her to the estate. Naturally, she would not be released so early in the morning to cause a scene.
"Princess Rui?" Zhan Feiyu, who had put down her chopsticks, was slightly startled. She looked at He Sheng and He Nuan, puzzled. "Is this the backing the Marchioness has brought?"
Although she hadn't been in the capital for long, Zhan Feiyu was aware of the prestige of the Rui Prince's estate. After all, it bore the royal surname, being a cousin of the Emperor. It was truly surprising that the Princess Rui, who held a super-first rank, would condescend to visit Yufeng Tower.
He Nuan hesitated, still pondering how to explain. Outside, the sound of banging on the door echoed, clearly indicating that Princess Rui and her entourage were growing impatient.
"Let's go take a look first." Zhan Feiyu stood up, took the handkerchief He Nuan handed her, and wiped her mouth. She then checked her hands to ensure there were no ink stains.
Even with her teacher as a backer, the person outside was clearly not to be trifled with, and was also a member of the imperial family. All were ants beneath imperial power. Judging by the madness of the Marchioness Du, Zhan Feiyu did not believe Princess Rui would be reasonable.
Yufeng Tower was still sealed due to the issue with the cook, Yao Damin. According to news from the Wen family, they planned to reopen after the New Year. Therefore, Zhan Feiyu headed straight for the side entrance.
Perhaps not wanting outsiders to know that a Princess of super-first rank was appearing in public, Princess Rui had not made a grand display this time, omitting her usual retinue. However, even so, the alley outside the side entrance was still filled with people.
With a creak, the side door opened. As Zhan Feiyu stepped out, she saw the impeccably uniformed estate guards standing on both sides of the alley. Flanking the carriage in the center were four maids and two matrons, followed by four stern-faced guards, one of whom was older and presumably the head guard.
The head maid standing to the side glanced at Zhan Feiyu, then respectfully reported to the person in the carriage, "Your Highness, the person is out."
The carriage door remained tightly shut. Princess Rui leaned forward slightly, peering out through the white silk gauze on the carriage door. In the blurred vision, she could only make out Zhan Feiyu's build. She was merely a young girl.
"Convey my words: if she is sensible, she will accompany me to the Wu'an Marquis's estate, and I will spare her life." Seemingly unwilling to waste time and energy on an irrelevant person, Princess Rui then sat up straight, her eyes half-closed as she rested.
As for the possibility of Zhan Feiyu refusing, Princess Rui had not even considered it. She had come in person, which was already a great honor for this girl. Otherwise, she would have simply had her arrested and taken to the Wu'an Marquis's estate, where her fate would be uncertain.
The head maid, Jinyu, walked over arrogantly, looking disdainfully at the short Zhan Feiyu. She wondered which family this little girl came from, thinking she was still in her own home after arriving in the capital, so unrestrained and fearless, not afraid of having her throat slit and being dumped in a mass grave.
Tilting her chin slightly, Jinyu's voice was clear, "Since Miss Zhan has heard, please accompany the carriage. Don't cause an unpleasant scene for everyone."
Zhan Feiyu did not move her feet. She ignored Jinyu, who was talking to herself, and looked in the direction of the carriage. "Replying to Your Highness, the Wu'an Marquis's estate is holding a funeral. I have no dealings with the Marquis's estate, so I will not go to cause trouble."
The direct cause of You Bawu's death was his lustful intrusion into the Chang family's backyard. The root cause was the schemes of those behind the scenes. Zhan Feiyu was not so kind as to attribute his death to herself.
As for attending the memorial service at the Wu'an Marquis's estate, considering that the Marchioness Du dared to make her a human sacrifice, Zhan Feiyu felt that if she truly went to the Marquis's estate, she would probably overturn the mourning hall in a fight. Therefore, it was better not to go.
Jinyu, who almost thought she had misheard and was about to turn away, spun back around. "What did you say?"
"You dare refuse?" Inside the carriage, Princess Rui, who had been resting, suddenly opened her eyes. Her gorgeously made-up face instantly flushed with anger. "You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
"I have made Your Highness's trip in vain," Zhan Feiyu repeated, not very respectfully. It was merely a refusal to go to the Wu'an Marquis's estate, but judging by the expressions of the people from the Rui Prince's estate, one would think she had committed some heinous crime.
With a creak, the carriage door finally opened. Jinyu no longer paid attention to Zhan Feiyu and hurried back to attend to her.
Unlike the haggard appearance of the Marchioness Du yesterday, Princess Rui was adorned in resplendent jewelry. Her high bun and golden hairpins and dangling ornaments were dazzling. Her makeup was exquisite, but her eyes, besides nobility, held a haughty arrogance and meanness.
Walking forward with the support of her maids, Princess Rui said with a dark expression. She had already stooped to this level, yet a mere girl dared to refuse her. "Are you truly not going?"
Both the alley and Zhan Feiyu in front of her made Princess Rui frown with disgust. If it weren't for Sheng Ye, this lowly girl wouldn't even have the right to speak to her!
Having seen Zhe Jing's arrogant and disdainful demeanor before, Zhan Feiyu was unfazed by Princess Rui's contemptuous gaze. She merely adhered to the etiquette of status and respect. "It is inconvenient for me to attend the memorial service at the Marquis's estate. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
Letting out a cold laugh, Princess Rui became enraged. "Who do you think you are? Do you really think I'm negotiating with you? Take her away, alive or dead!"
With a flick of her long sleeves, Princess Rui turned directly and walked back to the carriage. She shouldn't have come. It would have been more efficient to have the guards simply arrest this lowly girl and take her there.
Before the Prince's personal guards could make a move, two whistling sounds flew from over the wall.
The two stood on either side of Zhan Feiyu, and with He Sheng standing in front, it was clear they were prepared for a bloody battle, even if the opponent was the royal Rui Prince's estate.
The atmosphere in the alley suddenly became tense. Kuang Xu, as the deputy commander of the Rui Prince's guards, eyed the two appearing assassins warily. From their aura, he could tell they were masters of masters.
Recalling the Zhe estate's previous defeat and the Wu'an Marquis's estate's loss yesterday, Kuang Xu's right hand, resting on his sword hilt, tightened slightly. Once a fight broke out, regardless of the final outcome, the Prince's estate would surely lose more than ten lives. Their combat effectiveness, however strong, could not compare to these specially trained assassins.
With one hand on Jinyu's arm, Princess Rui, who was about to board the carriage, said unhappily, "Commander Kuang, why haven't you acted yet?"
"Your Highness, if we act, there will inevitably be casualties." Deputy Commander Kuang's attitude was respectful. The Prince's guards were all meticulously trained. It would be too much of a waste if they died here.
Princess Rui hesitated for a moment. It wasn't that she cared about the lives of these guards, but if they died, it would be difficult to explain to the Prince if he investigated.
If that slut Liang Wenyi were to instigate further, the Prince would surely think she was heartless and didn't care about the lives of these guards.
Caught in a dilemma, Princess Rui looked at Zhan Feiyu angrily. "Since that's the case, burn this dilapidated place for me!"
She wanted to see where this lowly girl would go if she had no place to live!
This time, it was Zhan Feiyu's turn to be stunned. The Marchioness Du dared to kill people in the street yesterday, and Princess Rui wanted to set a fire today. Was she at odds with the capital?
Deputy Commander Kuang received the order and turned to look at Zhan Feiyu, whose eyes were wide with shock. The young girl was indeed suffering an unwarranted disaster, but who told her to provoke the Wu'an Marquis's estate? Once You Bawu died, no matter how frantic the people of the Wu'an Marquis's estate were, the Emperor would show leniency.
"Your Highness, this Yufeng Tower is the property of the Wen family," Zhan Feiyu had to remind her.
The shops on East Street in the capital were almost as profitable as they were golden. If Princess Rui burned it down, even the Wen family would feel the pinch.
Moreover, there was wind today. If the fire spread to the shops on either side, it might even spread. By then, it wouldn't just be the shops destroyed; lives might even be lost.
"This Princess lacks no money!" Princess Rui sneered arrogantly. Besides, what if the Wen family knew? Would they dare to go to the Rui Prince's estate to demand money?
If there were a fight, He Sheng and the others could indeed protect Zhan Feiyu, but if Princess Rui wanted to set a fire, considering the more than twenty guards standing in this alley, if they dispersed to act, He Sheng and the others would be unable to stop them, as they would be unable to defend Zhan Feiyu.