"The young lady is simply too kind," Ying Xue said, harboring resentment towards the old madam and no desire to care about her life or death.
Xiao Man gave a wry smile, "You mean to say I'm too soft-hearted, don't you?"
"This subordinate dares not."
"What I can do is limited to this, and cannot be more," Xiao Man said softly. "The Dugu family, and the Xiao family as well, perished because of me. No matter what, I will have my revenge. Everyone who harmed my family must pay the price. No one will be an exception."
"Even the Prince of Qin?"
"Even the Prince of Qin!"
The next morning, He Qingyi accompanied the Old Madam Xiao to Gan Ye Temple to pray for blessings. It was almost the seventh day since Xiao Zhen's demise. It was reasonable for the Xiao family's women to go out of the city to pray, and no one paid it any mind. Moreover, as the backbone of the Xiao family, Xiao Man was constantly around the imperial capital, and everyone's attention was focused on her.
Due to the impeachments from the Dali Temple, Yaoyue Tower suffered another blow. The court ordered the arrest of the rebels of Yaoyue Tower, and anyone found harboring them would be punished as an accomplice.
The vast imperial capital, seemingly peaceful on the surface, was in reality a turbulent undercurrent.
The guards patrolling the streets did not let any suspicious carriages or people pass. When the carriage of Princess He An was stopped again, her expression instantly turned grim.
"You dare to stop the carriage of the Prince Zhao's estate? Do you have no eyes, or no brains?" the head maid beside Princess He An scolded.
"Please forgive us, Your Highness. We are acting under orders. Moreover, the remnants of Yaoyue Tower have not been eradicated, and the streets are not entirely safe. Our increased patrols are for the peace of the imperial capital. We ask for your understanding for any offense caused."
Princess He An lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at the leading guard, "Are you from the Shendu Battalion?"
"Replying to Your Highness, yes."
"If I recall correctly, this patrolling matter should be the responsibility of the City Defense Battalion. Why are the guards from the Shendu Battalion here to patrol?"
"The City Defense Battalion has been incorporated into the Shendu Battalion. The security of the imperial capital is now entirely handled by the Shendu Battalion," the leading guard said gently. "We apologize for disturbing Your Highness. Please forgive us and allow us to pass."
Princess He An's expression was somewhat impatient, but she suppressed her temper and did not erupt. She lowered the curtain, urging the coachman to depart quickly. The leading guard watched the carriage disappear, then looked in another direction. If he wasn't mistaken, Princess He An had come from the direction of Zhuque Street, where all the princes and princesses resided.
"Captain."
"How is it? Any sign of Yaoyue Tower remnants?"
"Replying to Captain, none found."
"Continue searching," the leading guard ordered. "Search carefully. No one has privileges, and no suspicious spots are to be missed. The spring hunt is approaching. If those rebels cause any trouble, you can all lose your heads. Be warned."
"Yes, Captain."
The leading guard led his men to search the Zhuque Street area. Princess He An of the Prince Zhao's estate appearing here was unlikely to be a coincidence. "I heard that Princess He An is not yet married. Do you know the reason?"
"Ah, that, I know," a guard said with a grin, leaning in. "Almost everyone outside knows. Prince Zhao is keeping Princess He An to sell at a good price."
"Sell at a good price?" The captain looked confused. "Isn't Princess He An around twenty?"
"Nineteen, not yet twenty. She's also famous on the Fengyun Ranking, a dream lover for many young men in the imperial capital. However, Princess He An has always been noble and disdains young talents from humble backgrounds. She wants to marry the most prominent person in Yusheng."
"The Emperor?" the captain asked in surprise. "Isn't the Emperor her own uncle?"
"Captain, Prince Zhao is selling her at a good price, for the future emperor," the young man whispered. "He intends for Princess He An to become the future empress."
The captain instantly understood. No wonder she came from this direction. It seemed Prince Zhao intended to marry his precious daughter to one of the princes. Cousins marrying cousins, strengthening ties, this was common.
"I wonder which prince Prince Zhao favors."
"Who else could it be?" the young man nudged towards the east. "It must be that one he favors!"
As the patrolling guards were searching Zhuque Street, a woman rushed out of the Prince Qin's estate and collided with a guard. Before the guard could react, she backhanded him, making his head ring. Su Dan Novel Network.
"You lowly dog, who do you think you are, daring to take advantage of me!" The woman who had run out of the Prince Qin's estate was none other than Luo Bingqing.
Luo Bingqing's face was filled with hatred. She had bumped into someone, yet she was the one who struck first. The guards of the Shendu Battalion were all treasured by their families. Apart from being suppressed by Xiao Man, they had never suffered at the hands of any other woman. Just as he was about to retaliate, he was stopped.
"Miss, you bumped into him first. Why are you hitting him?"
"What if I hit him?" Luo Bingqing's eyebrows were knitted in anger. "I am a woman of His Highness Prince Qin. It is your honor to be hit by me, a mere servant. Move aside, good dogs don't block the way."
The person in charge signaled his men to move aside and watched Luo Bingqing leave before retracting his gaze and looking towards the Prince Qin's estate. It was common knowledge that there were two women in the Prince Qin's estate: Prince Qin's junior sister and the orphan of General Dan, Dan Yuyan. It was rumored that Dan Yuyan was the gentlest of them all, so this must be Prince Qin's junior sister.
"Captain, you're just going to let her go like that?"
"People from the Prince Qin's estate are best not provoked," the man in charge said softly. "Even if she is just Prince Qin's plaything, one must consider the owner before hitting a dog."
"But you said no one has privileges?"
"What do you mean by privilege? I mean no one can harbor rebels. She is a young lady, alone. Where could she hide rebels? In her stomach?"
The crowd erupted in laughter and continued their patrol. Only the soldier who was hit rubbed his face in grievance. A guard beside him nudged him, "Don't be upset. Who told her to be Prince Qin's woman? Even our commander has to show some respect to His Highness Prince Qin."
"Last time, His Highness Prince Qin even went to the Shendu Battalion to back up the commander. What is Prince Qin's intention? He has women in his estate, yet he provokes our commander. Is he not afraid that our commander will chop him up in anger?"
"I call you foolish, but you don't believe it," the guard beside him rolled his eyes. "Men have wives and concubines, that's tradition. When our commander becomes the main wife, others will be secondary, a perfect compromise."
"I think you're the foolish one!" the assaulted soldier grumbled. "Have you forgotten? General Xiao once declared that daughters of the Xiao family would not be concubines, nor would they share a husband. Our commander has truly inherited the Great General's teachings. Would she allow her future husband to take concubines? Furthermore, our commander is engaged to Master Wen. She has nothing to do with Prince Qin, understood?"
"I still think Prince Qin and our commander are the most compatible," the other man rubbed his chin lewdly. "What do you think, Commander Wen's frail body, when on the bed, would I be on top or you?"