"Who dares!"
Shen Zhou's eyes turned cold. Just as he was about to shout to stop them, he heard Yi Yuan's voice, as sharp as shattering jade from Mount Kunlun, ring out angrily.
A Yuan!
Ye Xi's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but smile.
Seeing Ye Xi's expression, Shen Zhou felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
Before he could react, Yi Yuan had approached menacingly. With a heavy shove, he pushed Shen Zhou away from Ye Xi.
Ignoring Shen Zhou's complex gaze, Yi Yuan took Ye Xi and led her far away from him on his own. Then he carefully shielded her behind him. His eyes were as sharp as swords, firmly fixed on Yun Qianying:
"So it's you who wants to take away the person of this king?"
Yun Qianying couldn't help but shiver, and she stammered:
"I... I... It was she who disrespected the royal family and struck first. I was just... uh... following orders..."
Only at the end did she suddenly remember that Yi Zhen had never given such an order.
Glancing at Yi Yuan across from her, Yun Qianying knew she wouldn't get the better of the situation. So she simply grabbed the maid Xiliu beside her and pushed her forward, shouting:
"It was she who said your Miss Xi did it on purpose and even struck someone. The red mark on her face is still there. If you have any doubts, just ask her."
Xiliu was terrified. She never expected Yun Qianying to so simply push her out as a scapegoat.
Her legs went weak, and with a "thud," she knelt on the ground. Shaking like a sieve, she kowtowed "bang, bang."
"Please spare my life, Your Highness. Please spare my life... This humble maid was blind and offended the noble one. I... I didn't know this was Miss Xi's carriage, so I spoke nonsense. Please spare my life, Your Highness..."
Xiliu now truly regretted it to the core.
Just now, she was still glad that she had only offended Ye Xi and not Liu Mengxian. Now, she wished she could go back a few moments ago and slap herself hard.
Who could have known that this shabby - looking carriage actually belonged to Miss Xi, the one in the heart of Prince Yu'an!
If she had known this, she would rather have offended ten Liu Mengxians than one Miss Xi. After all, the Liu family was not as terrifying as Prince Yu'an.
"Humph—"
With a cold snort, just as Yi Yuan was about to speak, the carriage that had been silent since before finally showed a little sign of movement.
Yu An reached out to lift the curtain, revealing Yi Zhen, who was lazily reclining on a jade couch inside.
"Uncle Wang,"
Yi Zhen yawned lazily, and there was a glimmer of water in her beautiful eyes:
"Why are you so angry?"
"I just wanted to take a little nap. What's happened again?"
"Your Highness the Princess sure sleeps well,"
Yi Yuan said with a forced smile:
"With such a big commotion, you didn't hear a single sound."
"Uncle Wang is over - praising,"
Yi Zhen showed no sign of embarrassment. She smiled charmingly:
"If my maid is ignorant and has offended you, Uncle Wang can punish her as you see fit."
"However, she was just newly transferred to my side and really doesn't understand the rules yet. I hope Uncle Wang will show mercy."
Yi Yuan gave Yi Zhen a cold look and didn't respond to her. He just casually waved his hand and calmly ordered:
"Since this maid likes to talk nonsense and fabricate crimes out of thin air, Lin An, take her down and cut out her tongue."
Then he turned to Yun Qianying beside him:
"As for her..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Yun Qianying was so scared that she rushed behind Shen Zhou and shouted:
"A Zhou, save me!"
Shen Zhou instinctively wanted to dodge but forced himself to hold still. He looked up at Ye Xi behind Yi Yuan, but didn't get a single glance from her.
A bitter feeling welled up in his heart.
Shen Zhou unconsciously clenched his fists. Just as he was about to speak while keeping a calm expression on his face, he heard Liu Mengxian say first:
"Your Highness, please calm your anger. No matter what, Qianying is the daughter of an official. We can't punish her privately. It would be too damaging."
"A Yuan,"
Knowing that Yi Yuan had long been impatient with Yun Qianying, Ye Xi was afraid that he would act impulsively and something really bad would happen to Yun Qianying. Under everyone's noses, especially with Yi Zhen around, Yi Yuan would surely become the target of public criticism. So Ye Xi quickly persuaded:
"I'm fine for the time being. Let her off for now."
"Later, send someone to tell General Yun about this. We'll file a small complaint against her. Then General Yun will surely punish her."
Yi Yuan wasn't stupid. He never really intended to punish Yun Qianying severely. Now that he heard Ye Xi say so, he naturally agreed.
With a faint smile, Yi Yuan said:
"Okay."
After saying that, he turned to Mian Xiao:
"She falsely spread the Princess's order, bullied others by relying on her power, and damaged the reputation of the royal family. Immediately arrest her and throw her into prison. She can't be released until she repents."
"Yes."
The two of them took the order and immediately went into action separately.
Xiliu was so scared that she couldn't even stand up. While crying out "Your Highness, save me," she was dragged away by Lin An.
Yun Qianying let out a shrill scream and clung tightly to Shen Zhou, refusing to let go.
"No! I won't go to prison! I'm the legitimate daughter of the Yun family. My father is a first - rank official, and my brother is the top scorer in the imperial examination! You can't arrest me! Ah—"
Mian Xiao didn't care what she was shouting. He came up and grabbed Yun Qianying's arm without any tenderness, trying to take her away.
"A Zhou! A Zhen!"
Yun Qianying was crying and trembling with fear:
"Save me. Are you just going to watch me being taken away like this?!"
"Uncle Wang,"
Yi Zhen looked reluctant, but didn't move an inch:
"Xiaoying was deceived by others and didn't do it on purpose. She's a delicate noble lady. How can she go to such a dirty place as prison?"
"I beg Uncle Wang to be merciful and let her off."
"Your Highness the Fourth Princess is wrong,"
Ye Xi raised her willow - like eyebrows slightly and retorted directly for the first time:
"Throughout history, there have been many noble ladies who have been imprisoned, and almost all of them have suffered torture. Miss Yun will just spend a few days in prison. She just needs to repent and won't be tortured..."
Ye Xi deliberately raised her voice so that everyone present could clearly hear the last six words. Then she continued:
"She'll just have to do without a soft bed and delicious food. Such a little hardship should be bearable for Miss Yun, who grew up on the border since childhood."
Yi Zhen's expression changed slightly.
With Ye Xi's words, if Yun Qianying suffered any hardships in prison, it would have nothing to do with Yi Yuan and the others.
Yi Zhen gave Ye Xi a meaningful look and pretended to be in a difficult situation:
"Although that's true, but..."
Yi Zhen didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she seemed to have made a great decision:
"Forget it. Since Miss Xi has said so much, if I plead for mercy again, wouldn't it seem like I'm being partial?"
This was a way of shifting the hatred onto Ye Xi.
"How can you say that?"
Shen Zhou frowned and tried to excuse Ye Xi:
"This wasn't Miss Xi's order..."
"Second Cousin."
Yi Zhen directly interrupted Shen Zhou. Her eyes were slightly cold:
"Xiaoying has always been on good terms with me and has had many interactions with our Shen family. This time, she made a mistake and is being punished. This is the most helpless time for her. The prison is dirty and cold, and it's winter now. It must be a hundred times colder than usual."
"I'll send someone to take some things there later. You might as well go with them. It can be regarded as a gesture of goodwill from the Shen family."
The implication of Yi Zhen's words was very obvious. Shen Zhou pursed his lips and finally didn't say anything more.
During this time, Yun Qianying and Xiliu had been gagged and taken away.
Yi Yuan didn't want to see either of them. He turned around, protected Ye Xi, and got into the carriage that had been pushed out. Then they turned around and left without saying a single polite word.
"Second Cousin,"
Watching them leave, Yi Zhen narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly:
"Once you've set the trap, be sure to inform me."