Chapter 51: Fighting with Uncle Over a Woman

The matter happened too suddenly, and Luo Yunqiao was too late to dodge.

Suddenly, a spear flew in from outside the door, piercing straight through Luo Yunzhen's chest. The woman's body collapsed heavily to the ground, yet she still muttered with her dying breath, "I am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis's Estate..."

Fresh blood splashed onto Luo Yunqiao's face, but she remained completely oblivious, quietly retreating to her original spot.

Xiao Muyuan entered the room and, upon catching sight of Luo Yunqiao's appearance, his eyes filled with heartache. Before he could utter a word, he saw Luo Zefeng charging toward him with bloodshot eyes, roaring furiously, "Xiao Muyuan! You may indeed hold a high and mighty position, but by what right do you kill Zhen'er? Do you have any regard for imperial law in your eyes, or any respect for our Marquis of Jing'an's Estate?"

"What is the Second Young Master of the Luo family so anxious about?"

Xiao Muyuan's expression remained indifferent. He cupped his hands in salute toward Old Madam Luo and said, "This Prince has already reported all the misdeeds committed by the Second Miss Luo to His Majesty. His Majesty believes that such a venomous-hearted woman truly deserves no place among the living, and has ordered this Prince to execute her on the spot. This Prince is merely following orders... Instead of being in such a rush to seek justice for others, the Second Young Master would do better to carefully consider how to absolve himself of his own crimes."

Luo Chao had remained silent this entire time, but now he suddenly sprang to his feet, shouting angrily, "What is the meaning of the Prince of Yan?"

"This Prince has already ascertained that the execution of those servants driven out of the estate involved Luo Zefeng as an accomplice. Since this concerns a capital murder case, this Prince naturally has to take him into custody to stand trial."

"You wretched fool!" Luo Chao kicked out, sending Luo Zefeng sprawling to the ground.

In the past, he had indeed favored Luo Yunzhen somewhat more, merely thinking that a young daughter's mistakes could not possibly amount to unpardonable crimes. He had never expected matters to spiral completely out of hand today, though he could easily have found an excuse to gloss over it.

However, if Luo Zefeng fell into ruin, the reputation of their Marquis's Estate would be utterly destroyed.

He hurriedly put on a fawning expression toward Xiao Muyuan and said, "Your Highness, the Prince of Yan, these actions were entirely the doing of that outsider woman we took in. My foolish son was merely deceived by her. I beg Your Highness to put in a good word before His Majesty so that this matter at least remains hushed up."

"Oh? Is the Marquis of Jing'an expecting this Prince to bend the law for personal favors?" Xiao Muyuan shot him a murderous glance, instantly plunging the Marquis into panic.

Smiling ingratiatingly, Luo Chao immediately pulled Luo Yunqiao forward in front of Xiao Muyuan and said, "The Prince of Yan and my little daughter are deeply devoted to one another, and in the future, we will all be one family. If her second brother bears a criminal charge, she will never be able to hold her head high in the capital either."

Luo Yunqiao was abruptly pushed into Xiao Muyuan's arms, her pupils contracting sharply.

She had only just proven her innocence, yet she was treated thus by Luo Chao. It was clear that she truly should never have returned to the Marquis of Jing'an's Estate in the first place.

Xiao Muyuan lowered his gaze to look at her, reaching out to gently wipe the bloodstain from her cheek. There was undisguised tenderness in his eyes as he said, "The Marquis of Jing'an need not try to forge any ties with this Prince. His Majesty remembers the Marquis's meritorious service in assisting the dragon ascent to the throne, and has thus shifted all the blame entirely onto the Second Miss Luo—as for everyone else in your Marquis's Estate, they are all absolved of guilt."

There was not a trace of surprise on Luo Chao's face; instead, he let out a cold snort and boasted brazenly, "He would naturally never dare to make a move against my family, unless he no longer wants his imperial throne!"

Luo Yunqiao's body stiffened slightly.

Although she could not pinpoint the exact reason, she instinctively felt there was a deeper meaning hidden beneath those words.

"His Majesty considers that the Eldest Miss Luo has suffered greatly, and has specially commanded this Prince to escort her into the palace." Xiao Muyuan gripped her wrist firmly. "Eldest Miss Luo, if you please."

Before Luo Yunqiao could even react, she was being led away by the hand.

Once inside the carriage, she violently shook off Xiao Muyuan's grip, her face flushing red. "How can Your Highness the Prince of Yan be so devoid of propriety? Pulling and tugging in broad daylight—does Your Highness think my reputation isn't ruined enough already?"

"What does that matter? If there are any idle gossip and rumors outside, this Prince will simply marry you," Xiao Muyuan teased playfully.

Yet, deep affection still lingered within his dark eyes.

He and Luo Yunqiao had merely met by chance, yet he found himself step by step utterly captivated by this woman.

Luo Yunqiao looked at the depth of affection in his eyes and almost found herself sinking into it.

Suddenly, a sound echoed from outside. She abruptly pushed him away, though her face remained burning red as she said, "Your Highness the Prince of Yan should not make sport of me—"

"The events of three months ago completely destroyed my reputation. I am truly unworthy of Your Highness the Prince of Yan, and I beg Your Highness never to utter such joking remarks again."

As her voice trailed off, she was the first to step down from the carriage.

It was Luo Yunqiao's first time entering the imperial palace, and she was entirely unfamiliar with the paths. With no palace attendant to guide her at the moment, she had no choice but to wait for Xiao Muyuan.

Who could have expected that she would run into Xiao Jinglin instead?

News of what Luo Yunzhen had done had already reached his ears. Naturally, he was no longer foolish enough to cover for Luo Yunzhen, but neither did he wish to let go of the marriage alliance with the Marquis of Jing'an's Estate.

With a gentle tone, he said, "Qiaoqiao, I never imagined that Yunzhen would commit so many acts to harm you. I was completely played for a fool by her as well. Now that I know the error of my ways, please do not hold it against me anymore, all right?"

Luo Yunqiao had dealt with him more than once before, and she had long since seen through the insidious craftiness hidden beneath his pleasant exterior. Previously, she had only interacted with him frequently in order to force Luo Yunzhen to reveal her true nature.

Now, there was no longer any need to pretend.

She took a step back to widen the distance between them and said, "This humble subject's status is lowly. How would I ever dare to hold a grudge against the Third Imperial Prince? If I were to displease Your Highness, I fear I would be punished all over again. I beg Your Highness to stay far away from me in the future to spare us both the misfortune!"

Xiao Jinglin frowned imperceptibly.

He had indeed been dissatisfied with this marriage arrangement with Luo Yunqiao in the past, but now he had no other choice.

He had originally assumed that Luo Yunqiao was still the same as before—that a little coaxing from him would have her trailing obediently behind him once more, calling him "Third Brother" at every turn. Now, however, the reality caught him completely off guard.

Suppressing his surging emotions, he reached out to grab Luo Yunqiao's hand. "Qiaoqiao, I know I've done many things to wrong you in the past, and it is entirely reasonable for you to hate me, but—"

"Could it be that my worthy nephew does not understand human speech, or did you fail to hear Eldest Miss Luo telling you to stay away from her?"

Xiao Muyuan reached out, pulling Luo Yunqiao directly into his own embrace. He cast a deliberately provocative glance at the prince and said, "Everyone in the capital knows of your disdain for Eldest Miss Luo, yet here you are, thrusting yourself forward to speak with her. Could it be that you wish to give the capital a royal spectacle to laugh at?"

"Imperial Uncle jests." With him present, Xiao Jinglin did not dare to act presumptuously. "The one bound to me by marriage has always been the Eldest Miss of the Marquis's Estate. Naturally, Her and I cannot remain overly distant."

Luo Yunqiao was entirely enveloped in Xiao Muyuan's scent, her heart beating frantically. She struggled twice, but to no avail.

Hearing Xiao Jinglin's words, she simply gave up struggling altogether and retorted, "The Third Imperial Prince should refrain from making such jokes. Just three months ago, you boldly declared that you would rather marry a beggar than take me as your wife. To claim now that we are betrothed is utterly laughable—not to mention that the Prince of Yan and I are deeply devoted to one another. Could it be that the Third Imperial Prince intends to snatch a woman from his own uncle?"

As soon as these words left her lips, both men in the courtyard wore expressions of sheer disbelief.

Although Xiao Muyuan knew she was merely using him as an excuse, he could not suppress a secret surge of elation. His gaze toward Xiao Jinglin turned even colder and sharper. "Why haven't you lost yourself from my sight yet?!"