Zheng Wei, however, had already extended his own hands and fiercely swung them at the roof of the carriage. The roof shattered instantly, and the people inside leaped out, scattering in all directions.
Once outside, Shen Xiaoyan finally understood what was happening.
In front of their horses stood a chestnut-red steed.
Riding it was a beauty.
The beauty's lips were like fire, gently curving upwards, revealing an extraordinary charm.
"I knew it. Who would be in such a shabby carriage? I didn't expect it to be you."
The woman said, curling her lips into a delicate, alluring laugh.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at the woman with some confusion. Her words clearly indicated she knew someone among them, but who?
Shen Xiaoyan didn't have to wait long for the woman to provide the answer.
"Sima Han, Yue Qingxin. For the past half month, the Imperial Capital has been turned upside down because of the two of you, yet you still couldn't be found. Now, His Majesty has decided to stop searching, and you've appeared. It seems you've been observing from the shadows all along."
Although the woman's words were harsh, everyone present gleaned useful information from them.
They hadn't expected that just as they were preparing to emerge and enter His Majesty's sight, he would be actively searching for them.
While regrettable, weren't there other ways?
Wasn't this woman before them precisely the method sent to them?
"Zheng Caiying, it's been a few years, and you haven't changed at all," Yue Qingxin said with a smile.
Zheng Caiying heard Yue Qingxin's words, lifted her chin proudly, and said, "This young lady possesses natural beauty; it will never change, no matter how many years pass."
Yue Qingxin shook her head. "You've misunderstood me. I meant your sharp tongue hasn't changed one bit..."
"You..."
Zheng Caiying's eyes widened, and she glared furiously at Yue Qingxin. She wanted to say something, but she was so enraged that she couldn't articulate a single word.
Yue Qingxin raised her eyebrows at her. "What? What did I do? I know I'm speaking the truth, and you don't need to admit it so quickly. Look, you're so agitated you can't even speak."
As Yue Qingxin spoke, Zheng Caiying's face grew even more unpleasant, eventually darkening like the bottom of a pot.
Shen Xiaoyan, having overheard their exchange, looked at Yue Qingxin with admiration.
She never imagined Yue Qingxin could say such things.
Even more surprisingly, she managed to anger such a beautiful woman to this extent.
"Uncle Huo, are you alright?"
On the other side, Lu Taobao walked over to Huo Si, who was half-lying on the ground, and crouched down, asking with concern.
Huo Si shook his head. "It's nothing serious."
Seeing no visible injuries on Huo Si, just a footprint on his stomach, Lu Taobao asked, "Then what just happened?"
Huo Si glanced at Zheng Caiying and slowly replied, "Just now, this young lady's horse was moving too fast. I couldn't avoid it in time and collided with her."
"Actually, it was just two horses bumping into each other, nothing major. As I was about to apologize, she leaped off her horse and kicked me out of the carriage."
"After kicking me out, she looked at the carriage roof with her sword, and then I saw the carriage shatter..."
The interior of the carriage didn't break because of the sword strike from Zheng Caiying, but Lu Taobao had no desire to explain at that moment.
This girl was truly feisty.
If she were a man, this kind of indiscriminate aggression would make her a tyrannical figure in the Imperial Capital.
However, for a woman to be so brazen, it must be either because she possessed immense power or had a formidable backing.
From her conversation with Yue Qingxin just now, the fact that she dared to address Sima Han, who had already regained his princely status, by name, indicated she belonged to the latter. Her backing was indeed substantial.
Shen Xiaoyan, having just gotten up, was still wondering who this Zheng Caiying was.
But thinking of her surname and observing her demeanor, she immediately understood. This must be Zheng Caiying, the daughter of Prince Duan Zheng Xiang.
Zheng Xiang's wife was Lady Lian, named Lian Jun.
The Lian family was an old and established lineage in the Imperial Capital.
Although their family members were not currently holding high positions, their deep-rooted influence and substantial foundation were undeniable.
After marrying Zheng Xiang, Lian Jun bore him a son and a daughter.
Their son was named Zheng Fan, who was one year older than Zheng Wei.
From a young age, Zheng Fan received tutelage from various renowned masters, excelling in both literature and martial arts, which earned him great favor from Zheng Xiang.
Zheng Caiying, on the other hand, was Lian Jun's youngest daughter.
In this era, having a son was crucial for status and security.
However, Lian Jun, who had grown up in pampered luxury, felt no external pressure.
After marrying Zheng Xiang and subsequently giving birth to a son, who grew up to be exceptionally capable, she had little to worry about.
Years later, when she was pregnant with Zheng Caiying, she wished for a daughter.
Ten months later, she indeed gave birth to a daughter, Zheng Caiying.
As Lian Jun's long-desired daughter, Zheng Caiying was naturally doted upon.
Zheng Fan, who was several years older than Zheng Caiying, was also extremely protective of his sister.
Even the usually stern Zheng Xiang was very fond of Zheng Caiying, as she was beautiful, charming, and learned to be affectionate as she grew up.
Such an upbringing shaped Zheng Caiying's personality.
She was not only sharp-tongued but also venomous at heart.
Three years ago, at just thirteen years old, Zheng Caiying was already notorious in the Imperial Capital as a young tyrant.
She held no regard for the scions of any noble family. If she took a disliking to anyone, she would confront and beat them.
Afterward, she harbored no fear, as her father, Prince Duan, would always support her, making her unafraid of anything.
And Yue Qingxin was one of the people she particularly disliked.
Zheng Caiying had a spirited, or rather, a fiery temperament.
Yue Qingxin, on the other hand, gave the impression of a warm spring, gentle and serene.
Naturally, Yue Qingxin's type was more favored by men.
Furthermore, although Yue Qingxin's father and Zheng Xiang held different positions, one civil and one military, their social standing was comparable.
Therefore, many people liked to compare Yue Qingxin and Zheng Caiying.
Influenced by societal norms, Yue Qingxin was naturally more favored by elders.
Later, Yue Qingxin was betrothed to Sima Han, becoming a princess, thus surpassing Zheng Caiying in status. This made Zheng Caiying even more resentful of Yue Qingxin.
Although she was a few years younger than Yue Qingxin, her competitive spirit was no less.
Among the princes, only Sima Han was unmarried at the time, so Zheng Caiying considered the position of Fifth Prince's consort her prize.
This wasn't to say she was particularly fond of Sima Han.
She had met him only a few times and spoken with him even less.
However, when someone she had marked as her own suddenly belonged to someone else, Zheng Caiying naturally became furious.
Thus, even after Yue Qingxin became the Fifth Prince's consort, she would still pick fights with her from time to time.
At that time, Yue Qingxin would adopt a conciliatory attitude or offer apologies.
This left Zheng Caiying with a sense of frustration but also a feeling that her efforts were insufficient.
After a series of such incidents, Sima Han became aware of the situation. He publicly reprimanded Zheng Caiying, and their animosity was thus forged.
Shen Xiaoyan, recalling what Zheng Wei had told her about Zheng Caiying, felt a peculiar sense of relief, accompanied by a new development.
After listening to Huo Si's account, Zheng Caiying cast a cold glance at him.