Lord Chen invited Jing Xinche and Mu Fengqie to stay for a meal. During the meal, Lord Chen's second daughter kept stealing glances at Jing Xinche and throwing him flirtatious looks from time to time.
It was impossible for Mu Fengqie to ignore it. Under the table, she gave Jing Xinche a hard kick. Jing Xinche looked at her innocently. What's wrong?
Mu Fengqie glanced at Jing Xinche and then at Miss Chen the Second. Jing Xinche immediately understood. So he put down his chopsticks and silently stared at Lord Chen.
Except for Mu Fengqie, everyone at the table put down their chopsticks when they saw Jing Xinche do so.
"Does Your Lordship find the food unappetizing?" Lord Chen asked nervously, looking at Jing Xinche.
"No. It's just that I have a question for you, Lord Chen," Jing Xinche said, looking at Lord Chen.
"Please go ahead, Your Lordship," Lord Chen said, straightening his face. The question that could trouble a marquis must be a difficult one.
"Does Lord Chen's second daughter have some eye problem? Otherwise, why isn't she eating properly and keeps looking this way? Is it a squint?" Jing Xinche said bluntly.
Miss Chen the Second blushed furiously at Jing Xinche's words. How could she have a squint! She was throwing him flirtatious looks. Couldn't he tell? This straight - laced man was so annoying.
The extremely embarrassed Miss Chen the Second, seeing Mu Fengqie eating regardless, turned her fire on Mu Fengqie. In her rage, she forgot Mu Fengqie's identity.
"Aren't you being completely unruly? Can't you see that everyone else has put down their chopsticks?" Miss Chen the Second glared at Mu Fengqie angrily, trying to regain the face she had just lost.
Before Mu Fengqie could say anything, Jing Xinche spoke up. This woman dared to bully his woman. She was really asking for trouble!
"Is this the upbringing in Lord Chen's family? How dare you speak to Princess Tianlin like this? Does your Chen family not take the imperial rules seriously at all?
Not to mention Qie'er's identity, just for the fact that she is treating your eldest daughter's illness, shouldn't you be treating her well? Do you not want your eldest daughter to get better?"
Jing Xinche released his aura instantly. Everyone in the hall except Mu Fengqie knelt down.
"Please calm down, Your Lordship. My daughter is young and ignorant. Please don't blame her," Lord Chen pleaded.
"Young and ignorant? As far as I can tell, Miss Chen the Second is old enough to get married. Is this still considered young and ignorant?" Jing Xinche was not easy to fool, especially when it came to a woman who dared to bully his wife in front of him.
"Please spare my life, Your Lordship. I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have disturbed the princess while she was eating. I was blind," Miss Chen the Second cried. But even while begging for mercy, she still managed to imply that Mu Fengqie was uneducated and didn't understand etiquette, and that she was less well - behaved than they aristocratic ladies.
"My woman can do whatever she wants. When did it become the business of a low - born concubine's daughter to pass judgment?" Jing Xinche said, not giving Miss Chen the Second any face at all.
Miss Chen the Second looked up at Jing Xinche in disbelief, with tears still on her face. She looked so pitiful.
No wonder Lord Chen said Miss Chen the Second was as beautiful as a fish - sinking and wild - goose - alighting beauty. Mu Fengqie looked at Miss Chen the Second's tightly clenched fingers and smiled.
She hated more than anything in her life being called a concubine's daughter. She was only one good mother short of that bitch. Why was that bitch respected as the eldest lady when she went out, while she was an unnoticed concubine's daughter?
Even this opportunity came to her only because that bitch had an accident. Otherwise, how could such a good thing ever happen to her?
Mu Fengqie had almost finished eating. She put down her chopsticks and looked at Miss Chen the Second leisurely. "I'd like to know who gave you the courage to question me."
Miss Chen the Second was intimidated by Mu Fengqie's aura. She didn't expect Mu Fengqie to be so imposing.
"Prin... Princess, please spare my life. I didn't mean it," Miss Chen the Second cried and crawled to Mu Fengqie's feet, hoping to soften Mu Fengqie's heart.
"I'm not a magnanimous person, especially not to someone who tried to seduce my man," Mu Fengqie said expressionlessly as she pulled her clothes out of Miss Chen the Second's hands.
"No... They all say that Princess Tianlin is the kindest person. You can't do this. And... And this is the Qin Dynasty. You're a princess of Tianlin. You can't punish me," Miss Chen the Second was really panicked and just blurted out whatever came to her mind.
After hearing Miss Chen the Second's words, Mu Fengqie didn't speak immediately. Instead, she slowly looked at Jing Xinche. "A Che, did you hear that? I'm a princess of Tianlin. I think we'd better keep some distance. What if someone suspects that you're colluding with Tianlin?"
Jing Xinche stared at Mu Fengqie with wide eyes. What did this have to do with him? Why was he the one who suffered in the end? Jing Xinche was unhappy. Since he was unhappy, he wouldn't let others have a good time either.
"Humph! I've really seen something today. Lord Chen is truly amazing!" Jing Xinche said sarcastically to Lord Chen.
By this time, Lord Chen was already terrified. He regretted not keeping his second daughter out. Now, she had offended these two people.
If it was just offending Jing Xinche, there might still be room for negotiation. But offending Mu Fengqie meant that there was no way to gain any favor from Jing Xinche.
"I'll accept whatever punishment Your Lordship decides," Lord Chen said, having already given up on Miss Chen the Second. This stupid woman would only drag them down sooner or later. It was better to get rid of her earlier.
If Jing Xinche took action, he might even get some benefits. But if he did it himself, he would have to do it secretly. Otherwise, his reputation would be ruined.
"Forget it. I'm not that petty. As long as Miss Chen the Second apologizes to me, this matter will be over for me," Mu Fengqie said, leaning on Jing Xinche's shoulder.
"Did you hear that, you wretch? Apologize right away!" Lord Chen glared at Miss Chen the Second fiercely, his eyes full of threats.
Miss Chen the Second knew that if she didn't apologize today, her father wouldn't let her off easily, and her life would be miserable from then on.
"Sorry..." Miss Chen the Second said in a low voice. If it weren't for Mu Fengqie's good hearing, she wouldn't have been able to hear what Miss Chen the Second said.
Miss Chen the Second tightly grasped her sleeves to stop herself from crying out. She hated it! Why was her birth so humble? Why could everyone ride over her?
"I remember Miss Chen the Second isn't engaged yet, right?"