Since discovering her clairvoyant eyes, Wang Qingyao's first reaction upon seeing anyone, handsome or beautiful, was to see through them and revel in it alone.
This young man was slender with handsome features, perfectly fitting Wang Qingyao's not-so-strict aesthetic.
But the moment he spoke, Wang Qingyao recognized his identity and immediately retracted her clairvoyant gaze.
This scumbag didn't deserve it.
She feared her eyes would be tainted.
"What did you say?"
"I said you're arrogant, ruthless, and malicious!"
"The sentence before that."
Tian Yu was on leave today and only returned home from the academy around noon. Upon arriving, he went to greet Madam Tian, only to find his mother bruised and battered, lying on the bed moaning in pain.
He learned that she had been beaten in an alley the previous afternoon.
The attacker had also warned her to stay away from the second daughter of the Wang family.
"I merely thought that since we had wronged her, I went up to speak a few words out of guilt. Who knew she would turn hostile and later have me cornered and beaten in the alley! I knew she had been harboring resentment. Now that she's climbed onto a high branch, she's become lawless..."
Madam Tian wept torrents of tears, clutching Tian Yu's arm, begging him to seek justice for her.
Tian Yu, without even stopping to eat, rode his horse to the Wang family.
Although he and Wang Qingyao had been betrothed, they were not well acquainted, and had spoken only a handful of times. However, from the other young ladies of the Wang family, he had a slight understanding of her character: sensitive, suspicious, aloof, cold-blooded, and willful...
A girl with such a dark psyche was perfectly capable of retaliating with violence.
He arrived in a fury, intending to confront her. He had expected Wang Qingyao to deny it or make excuses, but he hadn't anticipated her asking so casually what he had said.
He paused, his anger slightly abating, and unconsciously replied, "You shouldn't have sent someone to beat my mother..."
"Not that sentence, the one before it."
"...Even if our Tian family wronged you..."
Wang Qingyao let out a long sigh and smiled faintly, "Yes, that's the one. Say it a few more times."
Tian Yu: "..."
His thoughts were completely thrown into disarray. It took him a while to reorder them in his mind.
However, when seeking retribution, the worst thing was to lose momentum and become disheartened.
"Did you send someone to beat my mother?" he questioned Wang Qingyao, his voice regaining its composure.
Wang Qingyao smiled sweetly, "It wasn't me."
"But the attacker warned her to stay away from the second daughter of the Wang family!"
My, my, Prince Ding'an was truly arrogant!
If anyone else had said this, Wang Qingyao might have suspected them of holding a grudge.
But if it was Prince Ding'an, he truly had the backing to say it.
As Wang Qingyao's future husband, Prince Ding'an was someone she couldn't help but inquire about.
A dandy, extravagant, shrewd businessman, the little overlord of Duanjing, fearless...
These were all labels attached to Prince Ding'an.
Therefore, if he had beaten someone, and avenged her, his future Princess Ding'an, he didn't feel the need to hide it at all!
Moreover, he had a righteous cause.
Wang Qingyao raised an eyebrow, "Oh, really?"
That expression was truly asking for a beating...
Tian Yu suppressed his anger, "What do you mean by that? Do you know something?"
Wang Qingyao calmly met his gaze, "You should ask your mother what she said and who she offended."
"You indeed know the inside story."
Since she was to be the future wife of the little overlord of Duanjing, she should now possess the demeanor of an overlord's wife.
Wang Qingyao straightened her back and said slowly, "Yesterday, I went to Xinghua Tower for a meal. Your mother came uninvited, asking me not to forget our past relationship once I became Prince Ding'an's Consort, and to help you advance your career.
Her words were clear and distinct, her voice crisp, and the maids eavesdropping in the courtyard heard them perfectly.
Tian Yu's pale face instantly flushed red.
Wang Qinglin, who had been hiding in the shadows watching the drama unfold, could no longer stand by. She came out, warned the maids in the courtyard, and sent them away. Then she turned to Wang Qingyao and said, "Second sister, don't talk nonsense. What past relationship do you have with Brother Yu? How could Aunt Tian say such a thing?"
Wang Qingyao sneered, "Yes, what past relationship do I have with Young Master Tian? Madam Tian is indeed fond of joking."
Tian Yu's expression was extremely awkward.
He knew Wang Qingyao was not lying.
"Even if Aunt Tian said something you didn't like to hear, you shouldn't have sent someone to beat her!" Wang Qinglin said heartbrokenly. "If others find out, they might think all the young ladies of the Wang family are as cruel and malicious as you!"
Wang Qingyao smiled enigmatically, "You've misunderstood. It wasn't me who sent people; it was Prince Ding'an. Madam Tian was unlucky; Prince Ding'an happened to hear everything she said."
Tian Yu's heart sank to the bottom, his entire body turning cold.
Prince Ding'an was in the adjacent private room? What a coincidence!
Wang Qinglin's expression froze. She stared at Wang Qingyao in disbelief. After a long moment, she recovered and continued, "Then why didn't you advise Prince Ding'an? Aunt Tian is an elder after all! I knew you've always been resentful about the broken engagement; you've always hated us!"
Wang Qingyao looked at her earnestly, "Shouldn't I resent you?"
Wang Qinglin: "..."
"Actually, it's not as much resentment as you might think. I'm even somewhat grateful. If you hadn't colluded to break the engagement first, I wouldn't have become Prince Ding'an's Consort."
Colluded...
Wang Qinglin felt deeply insulted by that word.
She and Tian Yu were clearly in love...
Her eyes blazed with fierce anger, her sharp gaze as if she could tear Wang Qingyao to shreds.
Patience, patience...
She remembered Madam Bai's plan and fiercely clenched her fist hidden beneath her sleeve, glaring at Wang Qingyao in silence.
Wang Qingyao continued, "However, you did wrong me. So, on the day we went to the palace, I deliberately took a set of your jewelry. Consider it compensation for my emotional distress. From now on, let's forget each other. Don't keep bringing up my engagement to this Young Master Tian; it disgusts me."
Her disdainful gaze and tone struck Tian Yu to the core.
He looked at the girl standing tall before him, her eyes gentle yet resilient, as if seeing her for the first time.
Was this truly Wang Qingyao?
Was this the girl who used to be afraid to speak to him, who always liked to hide in corners and gaze at him secretly?
He couldn't utter a word, nor did he have anything to say.
After a long pause, he sincerely bowed to Wang Qingyao, "I apologize. The Tian family will not mention it again."
This time, it was Wang Qingyao's turn to be surprised. She hadn't expected Tian Yu, who seemed to be playing the role of a scumbag, to have some backbone!
Deeply shaken, Tian Yu still politely bid farewell and left Lijing Courtyard.
Upon returning to the Tian residence, he immediately went to see Madam Tian.
Madam Tian excitedly climbed out of bed, grabbed his arm, and asked, "Did you beat that little slut for me?"
Tian Yu looked at his mother with a face full of exhaustion and weariness.
"Mother," he said, "stay away from the second daughter of the Wang family from now on, and don't mention my engagement to her again."
Madam Tian froze, "What did you say?"
"I will earn my own future; I don't need others to scheme for me."
Madam Tian's face flushed. She knew her son knew everything and hastily explained, "Don't listen to that little slut's nonsense, I just..."
"Prince Ding'an heard everything you said; he was the one who sent people to beat you."
Madam Tian felt as if struck by lightning, her face turning deathly pale, "Prince... Prince Ding'an?!"
The person in the adjacent private room was Prince Ding'an? What a coincidence!
She was stunned into silence. She absolutely dared not confront Prince Ding'an, so she still held Wang Qingyao responsible.
"That little slut from the Wang family must have said something!" she said hatefully. "I won't let her off!"