The room fell into complete silence.
Prince Qi had not expected Jiuzhu to speak such words. According to the imperial family rules of the Yun clan, a royal wife must be gentle, virtuous, and well-mannered, refraining from stirring discord among the imperial kin and instead fostering harmony and resolving conflicts.
He had assumed Ming Jiuzhu was simply young and ignorant, which was why he felt compelled to remind this future Princess Consort of Chen in such a setting. Yet, to his surprise, she acted without any regard for royal dignity, blindly following Prince Chen's lead.
The silence was broken by Prince Chen’s derisive laugh. He stood up and glanced down at the Zheng family members kneeling on the floor in apology. "Today is Fourth Brother’s joyous occasion. Whatever matter this is can wait until tomorrow."
Attendants from the Chen Prince's Mansion bowed and opened the doors. The cheerful laughter of the guests drifted in with the breeze, grating on the nerves of the kneeling Zheng family.
"A fine night should not be wasted." Prince Chen walked to the doorway and gestured. "Fourth Brother, after you."
Without waiting for Prince Qi’s response, he beckoned to Jiuzhu. "Little Pig Ming, come with me."
Jiuzhu hurried to Prince Chen’s side. Today, instead of her usual twin buns, she wore her hair in an elegant feathered updo. As she moved, the phoenix-wing hairpins beneath her hairstyle shimmered like a descending phoenix, dazzling under the glow of the red lanterns.
For a moment, Prince Qi was forced to blink against the brilliance. When his vision cleared, he felt a dark, simmering urge to rid himself of Ming Jiuzhu once and for all.
"Fourth Brother." Prince Chen suddenly met his gaze and pulled Jiuzhu behind him. "We take our leave."
Watching Prince Chen escort Ming Jiuzhu away, Prince Qi sighed wearily and turned back to the Zheng family. "Return home for now. Tomorrow, when my consort and I present tea at the palace, we will find a solution."
"Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you!" Though Countess Pingyuan was Prince Qi’s aunt by marriage, she dared not act presumptuously before him. While the world believed Earl Pingyuan's Mansion was the maternal family of Consort Ning, she knew the truth—Consort Ning and her husband were not born of the same mother. Their relationship was merely one of mutual exploitation.
"Second Cousin may be young, but he should still be disciplined." Prince Qi cast a cold glance at the Second Young Master of the Zheng Family. "Ming Jiuzhu is the future daughter-in-law favored by Consort Su. Who gave you the audacity to oppose her?"
"Your Highness," Countess Pingyuan quickly interjected, sensing Prince Qi’s lingering displeasure over the incident with the two servants, "those attendants were not arranged by our household. I beg Your Highness to investigate."
Prince Qi studied the Zheng family for a long moment before bending to help Countess Pingyuan up, his tone softening. "Aunt, you exaggerate. I merely offer a word of caution. The world is treacherous. Many know how close my maternal family is to me, and I fear jealous enemies may seek to harm you because of me."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This humble woman will tighten discipline in the household and avoid troubling you further."
"Aunt, how could matters concerning my maternal family ever be a burden to me?" Prince Qi clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. "The night is late. I shall have my men escort you home."
"Your servant thanks Your Highness."
Countess Pingyuan understood—Prince Qi was disappointed in them. Yet, being kind-hearted, he would not make things difficult for the family.
At Earl Pingyuan's Mansion, servants idly gossiped about the grandeur of Prince Qi’s wedding when word came that their masters had returned.
The servants scrambled in confusion—why had they returned so early?
"Wait!" A senior steward stopped a scar-faced man. "Scarface, you’re not needed. The master has ordered that from now on, you are not to appear in public."
Scarface forced a smile. "Then what duties am I to take up?"
"You’ll wait for the master’s arrangements." The steward flicked his sleeves and hurried off.
Watching the steward leave, Scarface touched the jagged mark on his chin, his eyes burning with fury.
The image of the girl who had slashed his face flashed in his mind, and he gnashed his teeth, his hatred unquenched. If not for the fear of leaving behind evidence, he would have dismembered her, made her suffer inch by inch before killing her.
Drowning her in the river, bound and gagged, had been too merciful.
Soon, he overheard servants whispering about why their masters had returned early.
"That Ming girl seems to have a grudge against our household. Every time she’s involved, our family suffers."
"Who knows the affairs of nobles? All we know is that whoever offends Prince Chen meets misfortune. Since the Ming girl is his betrothed, she stands with him."
Scarface traced the scar on his chin, recalling how Prince Chen and Ming Jiuzhu had shamed him for his ugliness at the magistrate’s office. His expression darkened with malice.
The Great Cheng dynasty flourished, and the capital and major cities had long lifted curfews. Even after leaving Prince Qi’s mansion, Jiuzhu could still see vendors setting up stalls along the streets.
Lady Shen lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at Prince Chen, who rode alongside. Noticing her gaze, he flashed her a polite smile.
Returning a stiff nod, Lady Shen let the curtain fall and looked at her drowsy daughter, whose head bobbed like a woodpecker’s. She pulled Jiuzhu close, letting her rest against her shoulder.
Jiuzhu nuzzled against her mother’s neck and drifted off peacefully.
Lady Shen sighed. This carefree child, who believed the sky wouldn’t fall as long as taller people stood beneath it, took entirely after her father.
When the carriage arrived at the Ming residence, Ming Jingzhou alighted from the front carriage and approached Prince Chen. "Thank you for escorting us, Your Highness."
"No need for formalities, Minister Ming. I was merely passing by." Prince Chen stole a glance at Jiuzhu’s carriage but saw no sign of her stepping out. "I shall take my leave now."
"Your Highness, forgive me for not stepping out to see you off. My daughter has always kept an early bedtime and is already asleep in the carriage." Lady Shen lifted the curtain slightly. "Safe travels, Your Highness."
Eats well, sleeps soundly, and rarely uses her head—what else could she be but a little pig?
Hearing Jiuzhu was asleep, Prince Chen turned his horse and rode off into the night.
In the misty streets, food vendors cleared used bowls while patrolling guards on horseback reminded them to mind their fires and keep the roads clean.
A drunken man staggered past, nearly plunging headfirst into a vat of boiling oil. The captain of the guards hauled him aside, but the man continued muttering nonsense, while the terrified vendor bowed repeatedly in thanks.
"Well, if it isn’t you again." Prince Chen observed the scene and addressed the guard who had saved the drunkard. "What’s your name?"
The captain hesitated—was being remembered by this prince a blessing or a curse?
"This humble officer is Yu Jian, at Your Highness’s service." Yu Jian dismounted and saluted.
"Yu Jian." Prince Chen nodded. "You have good reflexes. Wasting them as a mere captain seems a shame."
Yu Jian’s scalp prickled. Was Prince Chen about to recruit him as one of his underlings?
But the prince said nothing more. After a long look, he spurred his horse and rode away.
He watched Prince Chen's retreating figure, then glanced at the drunken man sprawled on the ground, muttering nonsense. "Take him back. Once he sobers up, let him return on his own."
Gazing once more in the direction Prince Chen had left, his heart twisted with conflict. What exactly did His Highness Prince Chen intend? Truthfully… if the monthly stipend were generous enough, becoming a lackey under the Chen Prince's Mansion wouldn’t be entirely unacceptable.
As dawn broke, Prince Qi and his consort, Princess Qi, arrived early outside Taiyang Palace, awaiting an audience with the emperor.
"Your Highness, Your Grace," an elderly eunuch stepped out of the hall and bowed to the couple. "This humble servant congratulates you both on your joyous union. Though bound by duty to the palace and unable to attend the celebrations at your mansion, I beg your forgiveness." Liu Zhongbao straightened and gestured inward. "His Majesty bids you enter."
"Thank you, Eunuch Liu." Sun Caiyao offered a graceful nod and retrieved a red envelope from her sleeve. "You’ve served His Majesty tirelessly. This is a token of our gratitude, prepared specially by His Highness."
The envelope bore the character for "double happiness." Liu Zhongbao accepted it with both hands, bowing deeply. "This old servant dares to bask in your auspicious blessings. Please, follow me."
He kept the envelope in hand, unopened, even as they entered the hall and stood before Emperor Longfeng.
"Your Majesty, Prince Qi and his consort have come to pay their respects and serve tea."
Emperor Longfeng smiled warmly at the couple. "Why so early?"
"Today marks my first audience with my bride to honor you, Father. I dared not delay." Prince Qi knelt, lifting a teacup from the attendant’s tray. "Please accept this tea, Your Majesty."
Sun Caiyao mirrored his gesture, kneeling beside him. "Please accept this tea, Father."
Liu Zhongbao moved to present the cups, but the emperor waved him off, taking them himself. After sipping, he spoke kindly, "You are now husband and wife. Cherish and support one another, share your hearts, and walk together till white hairs grace your heads."
"Your son humbly obeys your counsel."
Pleased, Emperor Longfeng turned to retrieve two jewel-inlaid boxes from a eunuch, placing one in each of their hands. "You may retire."
Prince Qi raised the gift high in gratitude before escorting his bride from Taiyang Palace.
Outside, he regarded Sun Caiyao with gentle approval. "My consort carries a faint orchid fragrance?"
She nodded shyly.
"Mother adores that scent as well. This pleases me." His words were interrupted by the approach of Consort Su, perched on a palanquin, surrounded by attendants and clutching branches of red plum blossoms.
"Well, if it isn’t Prince Qi." Consort Su’s voice dripped with lazy disdain as she looked down at the bowing couple, making no move to excuse them. "I’ve already heard of last night’s… excitement at your mansion. How bold you’ve become, wedding a daughter of the Sun Family—daring even to scheme against *my* future daughter-in-law."
"Honorable Consort, I beg you to understand—"
"Did I ask for your explanation?" Her beautiful eyes narrowed, blending charm with icy mockery. "Weren’t you raised with royal etiquette? Or have you forgotten even basic decorum?"
Prince Qi bowed deeper, silencing himself.
Yet Consort Su was far from finished. "Now that you’ve a household of your own, learn what *proper* conduct means. The Zheng Family lacked discipline, so I taught them. If *you* remain ignorant, I’d gladly instruct you in Consort Ning’s stead."
"This junior spoke out of turn. Forgive me, Honorable Consort." He bowed again.
"Today is your wedding morn. For Princess Qi’s sake, I’ll let this pass." A derisive laugh escaped her lips. "But mark me—there won’t be another chance."
"Gratitude, Honorable Consort."
As Consort Su’s procession swept toward Taiyang Palace, Prince Qi turned to Sun Caiyao with a pained smile. "Forgive me, my consort. You shouldn’t have endured such humiliation."
She shook her head. "The fault wasn’t yours."
No—the blame lay solely with Consort Su’s arrogance.
By the time they finished serving tea to Consort Ning and departed, news erupted from Taiyang Palace: the Zheng Family’s noble rank had been slashed from earl to the lowest baroncy. No consideration was spared for Prince Qi’s wedding day.
Sun Caiyao understood instantly—Consort Su’s morning visit with those plum blossoms had been to lodge a complaint with the emperor.
Glancing back at Lanxu Palace, she sighed. With the Zheng Family’s repeated demotions, Consort Ning… would not be pleased.
The Zheng Family had become the capital’s laughingstock. Yet despite the gossip, they braved the public’s scorn to apologize at the Ming residence.
With the family patriarch bedridden, Madame Zheng and her eldest son, Zheng Wangnan, undertook the humiliating task.
To their surprise, the Ming Family not only refrained from hostility but welcomed them warmly, flinging open the main gates. Observers praised the Mings for their magnanimity.
Yet the kinder the Mings behaved, the more the Zhengs squirmed, perched uneasily in the reception hall.
"Young Lady Ming," Madame Zheng forced a smile, presenting a gift list. "This is but a small token for my son’s transgressions. Please accept it."
"You honor me too much, Madame." Jiuzhu rose to return a courteous bow. "What’s past need not linger in your thoughts."
Madame Zheng’s chest ached as if stabbed. *Need not linger?!* Their title degraded, their pride trampled—how could this *not* matter?
Swallowing fury and shame, she clung to her brittle smile. What wretched fate was this?
"Master! Mistress! Young Mistress!" A servant burst in, beaming. "Eldest Master has returned to the capital!"
"Truly?!" Ming Jingzhou leapt to his feet. "My brother’s been away so long—no doubt his own estate lacks proper preparations. I’ll fetch him here at once!"
"Husband." Lady Shen caught his arm. "It’s cold outside. Don’t forget your cloak."
She then turned to Jiuzhu. "Go with your father."
Eager to meet her enigmatic uncle, Jiuzhu hopped down and raced after Ming Jingzhou.
"Ah, father and daughter—both so reckless with the cold." Lady Shen chuckled before noticing Madame Zheng and Zheng Wangnan trembling. "Are you chilled, Madame Zheng? Young Master Zheng?"
"N-no, not at all." Zheng Wangnan’s face had paled. "Your kindness is unnecessary."
It wasn’t the cold that shook them—it was sheer terror at Ming Jinghai’s return.
Every official knew: Ming Jinghai wasn’t just a scholarly top-tier graduate, but a master swordsman. During his imperial exams, he’d single-handedly subdued a band of mountain thieves, dragging them to the magistrate for bounty.
After Emperor Longfeng’s ascension, armed with the Emperor’s Sword, he’d executed countless corrupt officials. Commoners hailed him as the "Blue Sky Judge," while nobles privately called him the "Black-Faced Reaper."
They’d come to apologize—not to be cleaved in two by Ming Jinghai’s blade.
When Jiuzhu first laid eyes on her uncle, she immediately sensed he was unlike the typical refined officials. His skin was sun-darkened, his brows thick and eyes large, with a bushy beard covering his chin. A sword hung at his waist, and he walked with a vigorous, imposing stride.
"Is this…?" Ming Jinghai's booming voice softened abruptly at the sight of Jiuzhu's fair, delicate face. "My dear niece?"
"Uncle." Jiuzhu bowed to Ming Jinghai, her gaze fixed on him without blinking.
"My niece is truly lovely." Ming Jinghai rummaged through his pockets but found nothing suitable as a gift for a young girl. Finally, he untied the pouch from his waist. "I don’t know what you girls like these days. Take this money and spend it as you please."
"Father." Ming Cunfu eyed the pouch in Jiuzhu’s hand with envy—his father had never been so generous with him.
The cheerful expression on Ming Jinghai’s face vanished the moment he saw his youngest son. "While I was away from the capital, did you study? Practice your calligraphy? Did you take good care of your sister?"
Ming Cunfu: "..."
"Brother, Cunfu has been diligent in his studies and never neglected his duties," Ming Jingzhou intervened, taking Ming Jinghai’s arm. "Come, let’s return to the manor first. You can freshen up, and we’ll catch up over lunch."
"Then I’ll trouble you, Third Brother." Ming Jinghai didn’t stand on ceremony with his younger brother and followed him back to the Ministry of Personnel’s residence. Along the way, he kept stealing glances at Jiuzhu, who noticed and responded with a bright, squinty-eyed smile.
Ming Jinghai’s heart melted at his niece’s expression. Without hesitation, he unfastened the jade pendant from his waist. "Jiujiu, this pendant is of fine quality. Take it as a toy."
"Brother, no—this was bestowed by His Majesty! How can you give such a thing to a little girl who knows nothing of its value…"
"Jiujiu is His Majesty’s future daughter-in-law. What’s wrong with giving it to her?" Ming Jinghai pressed a firm hand on Ming Jingzhou’s shoulder, leaving no room for argument. "This is for my niece. You have no say in the matter."
Jiuzhu looked up at Ming Jinghai, her eyes sparkling. *Uncle is so domineering!*
As time passed, Zheng Wangnan’s legs trembled as if struck by palsy, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"Madame, it’s growing late. My son and I should take our leave," Madame Zheng said, her face pale as she stood. "We wouldn’t want to intrude on your family reunion. Farewell."
"Madame, this junior bids you farewell." Zheng Wangnan’s legs wobbled as he supported his nearly unsteady mother. "Goodbye."
"Madame and Young Master, you’ve come all this way. At least stay for a meal," Lady Shen urged with a smile. "Why rush off?"
"No, no, we couldn’t."
Madame Zheng shot Lady Shen a resentful look. *You don’t want us to stay for a meal—you want us dead.*
Lady Shen smiled as she watched the Zheng mother and son hurry away, then turned to the maidservant beside her. "Did the Master and the Eldest Master enter through the main gate?"
"Yes, Madame."
Lady Shen’s smile deepened, sweet as honey.
Just as the Zheng pair stepped out of the main hall, they collided with the bearded Ming Jinghai.
"What? Which reckless brat dared to ambush you from behind?" Ming Jinghai’s thick brows furrowed at the news that someone had targeted his niece. "They’ve got no sense of decency!"
*Thud!* The sound of someone collapsing to the ground echoed.
Ming Jinghai turned and saw Zheng Wangnan sprawled on the floor.
"Young Master Zheng, can’t even walk properly?" He strode over, hauling Zheng Wangnan up by the collar.
"Uncle," Jiuzhu pointed at the man in his grip. "It was his younger brother who pushed me from behind."
Ming Jinghai released his hold, letting Zheng Wangnan drop back to the ground. His eyes blazed with fury. "So the Zheng Family dares to bully my niece?"
"N-no, no, Lord Ming! It’s all a misunderstanding, I swear!" Zheng Wangnan’s voice quivered. "Please let me explain—no, clarify! It’s a clarification!"
"Clarify what? Do you think my niece would lie to me?" From the moment he saw her, Ming Jinghai knew—she was a Ming through and through. With only one precious girl among the three brothers’ descendants, how could a Ming ever tell falsehoods?
"I don’t want explanations." Ming Jinghai swung his massive hand through the air, making Zheng Wangnan and his mother cower. "Get out of the Ming residence now. We’ll settle this tomorrow."
Zheng Wangnan scrambled to his feet, took two steps, then remembered his mother and rushed back to support her. Together, they fled the Ming manor in disgrace.
"Don’t be afraid, niece." Ming Jinghai raised his hand to pat Jiuzhu’s head but hesitated, fearing his strength might hurt her, and withdrew it. "With your uncle here, the Zheng Family won’t get away with this."
"Thank you, Uncle." Jiuzhu beamed. "But Consort Su and His Highness already avenged me. You’ve just returned—don’t trouble yourself over such trivial matters."
"You mean Consort Su and Prince Chen?" Ming Jinghai turned to Ming Jingzhou. "Is this true?"
Ming Jingzhou nodded. "Jiuzhu is right. Consort Su and Prince Chen did teach them a lesson."
He hadn’t yet mentioned to his elder brother how Consort Su and Prince Chen sent gifts to their household every few days.
Ming Jinghai pondered, then nodded in understanding. "Well, she *is* a favored consort—ought to be good for something. What’s the point of being favored if she lets others bully you?"
Ming Cunfu silently turned his head away. *Father, you sound like a proper villain just now.*
