Bai Zheng narrowed her eyes slightly and was about to take a step back. Suddenly, she felt light on her feet. After a dizzy spell, she found herself out of her original position.
Feng Linyuan let go of the hand that was holding Bai Zheng's arm. With a flick of his sleeve robe, he stood in front of Bai Zheng with his hands behind his back, blocking Zheng Yan who was still trying to rush over and grab her. Although his expression remained calm, there was a faint hint of anger in his words: "Miss Zheng, please behave yourself."
The Marquis of Gaochang finally came to his senses and quickly stepped forward to grab the struggling Zheng Yan. "Yan'er, don't be rude!"
"I've heard that the Fourth Prince has been in low spirits since he was engaged to Miss Zheng. I, the Crown Prince, thought it would be a good thing for him to have a virtuous wife to keep him in line. Now I've finally witnessed Miss Zheng's way of managing her husband. It truly makes me look at her in a new light!"
Feng Jingye stepped into the room. Apparently, he had seen the whole process. His gaze towards Zheng Yan was extremely cold.
"Second brother, you don't understand. We blind men really need Miss Zheng's guidance." Feng Jingyi, who followed him into the hall, said with a cold smile.
Everyone in the hall stared coldly at Zheng Yan, who was firmly held by the Marquis of Gaochang but still muttering curses.
"You shameless slut! Whore! You seduce any man you can get your hands on! You're a promiscuous woman! A vixen! Shameless! You can't live a day without men, can you..."
The vulgar words kept pouring out of Zheng Yan's mouth. Bai Zheng couldn't help but frown tightly.
"Enough!" The Princess of Pingyang's face turned as white as a sheet. She stood up abruptly. As someone who had grown up in the deep palace, she made a decision almost immediately. She quickly walked up to Zheng Yan and slapped her hard.
"Slap!"
Zheng Yan fell silent instantly. She stared at her mother with wide eyes in a daze.
"You unfilial girl! Shut up and apologize to Miss Bai San immediately!"
For some reason, Bai Zheng subconsciously turned to look at Bai Di and Su Muxiao. Bai Di had her head down, so it was hard to see her expression. But there was an obvious flash of excitement in Su Muxiao's eyes.
Bai Zheng frowned. If Feng Jingyang's strange behavior before was to arouse Zheng Yan's dislike for her, then why did Su Muxiao seem so pleased when Zheng Yan was punished by the Princess of Pingyang?
Something was definitely wrong.
"Mother! You hit me for this slut!" Tears welled up in Zheng Yan's eyes immediately. She almost roared.
Feng Jingxuan's face was extremely cold. Suppressing the impatience in his eyes, he said word by word: "Miss Zheng, very good. The Marquis of Gaochang's family truly has excellent upbringing!"
The Princess of Pingyang shuddered, then shouted: "Stop your nonsense here! Kneel down!"
Zheng Yan had never suffered such humiliation before. She stared at her mother with wide eyes in disbelief.
"Your Highness, please calm down. Miss Zheng is just deeply in love with my cousin, which made her lose her composure. Zheng'er is always magnanimous and won't take this to heart."
In the silent hall, Bai Di spoke slowly.
Bai Zheng raised her eyebrows. This Bai Di was really good at playing the good guy.
However, although Zheng Yan had scolded her, she hadn't really hurt her. Instead, the slap from the Princess of Pingyang left a clear fingerprint on Zheng Yan's face, which made Bai Zheng feel quite satisfied. Naturally, she wouldn't haggle with this spoiled young lady.
Especially since it was obvious that Bai Di and Feng Jingyang were behind today's incident, and Zheng Yan was just a victim.
Thinking of this, Bai Zheng nodded and replied: "Your Highness, I'm fine."
"Don't act so sanctimonious!" Zheng Yan shouted angrily.
Feng Jingye's voice was as cold as ice: "If it weren't for the protection of the Marquis of Dingyuan, Miss Bai's face might have been scratched by now. How could she choose a husband then? If the Fourth Prince has such a wife, how can his family be peaceful in the future? I, the Crown Prince, should report today's incident to the Emperor truthfully and ask him to reconsider the Fourth Prince's marriage!"
"Second brother is right. We such unworthy men are not worthy of Miss Zheng." Feng Jingyi said slowly.
Hearing that her marriage with Feng Jingyang might be in jeopardy, Zheng Yan's face turned as pale as a sheet.
The Marquis of Gaochang and the Princess of Pingyang also changed their expressions greatly. The Marquis of Gaochang immediately let go of Zheng Yan and scolded: "Hurry up and apologize to Miss Bai San. Only when she forgives you will the Highnesses calm down."
Zheng Yan turned around stiffly and saw Feng Jingyang turning his head away. She couldn't see his expression. Tears welled up in her eyes again, and her face was full of humiliation, anger and uneasiness.
Feng Jingye didn't say a word, nor did he refute. It seemed that he was confirming what the Marquis of Gaochang had said. Only when Zheng Yan apologized and admitted her mistake would he spare her.
Zheng Yan gritted her teeth. She scanned the people in the hall who were looking at her coldly. Step by step, she moved in front of Bai Zheng. The muscles on her face were twitching, but she just couldn't say a word.
Bai Zheng also didn't say a word. She silently looked at Zheng Yan in front of her.
This young girl, although spoiled, willful and unreasonable, was truly infatuated with Feng Jingyang. But today, she was used by Feng Jingyang like this...
Bai Zheng narrowed her eyes. She wanted to see what tricks Bai Di and Feng Jingyang were playing by dragging Zheng Yan into this mess!
Feng Linyuan's expression was calm. There was no trace of emotion in his eyes when he looked at Zheng Yan. He stood straight beside Bai Zheng, as if still protecting her in case Zheng Yan suddenly attacked.
Zheng Yan felt extremely humiliated. She turned to look at her parents for help again. Her parents, who used to protect her no matter how willful she was, were now winking at her to continue apologizing.
Zheng Yan turned back, gritted her teeth tightly, and finally stepped forward. Slowly, she bent her knees and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito: "Please forgive me, Miss San."
A pair of slender hands stretched out horizontally, blocking Zheng Yan's movement.
There was no emotion on Bai Zheng's delicate face: "Miss Zheng, you don't need to be so polite. I'm fine."
Zheng Yan tightened her lips and stood up.
"Miss Zheng and the Fourth Prince are a perfect match. No one can separate them." Bai Zheng said slowly.
Zheng Yan suddenly looked up.
"Bai Zheng sincerely wishes you two to get married soon and be a loving couple."
"Yan'er, hurry up and thank Miss San for her generosity." The Princess of Pingyang quickly said.
The meaning in Bai Zheng's words was very obvious. She wouldn't ruin Zheng Yan's marriage with Feng Jingyang because of today's incident.
Zheng Yan's expression was complicated. She lowered her head and said softly: "Thank you, Miss San."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince." Seeing that Zheng Yan had finally calmed down, the Marquis of Gaochang and the Princess of Pingyang exchanged a look, then bowed to Feng Jingye and said: "It's my fault for not teaching my daughter well. She offended Your Highnesses and Miss San today. I apologize to everyone on behalf of Yan'er."
"Forget it. The Marquis of Gaochang was busy with Miss San's marriage today, so he didn't have time to teach Miss Zheng. This is not the Marquis's fault." Feng Jingye said lightly.
The Princess of Pingyang quickly said: "Now that all the Highnesses are here, let's not waste any more time. Let's start the marriage - selection banquet?"
Seeing Feng Jingye nodding, Feng Linyuan looking calm, and Feng Jingxuan and Feng Jingyi looking non - committal, the Princess of Pingyang smiled again and stretched out a hand: "Your Highnesses, please."