175 – Regressive Dispersion of Cannon Fodder
In the past, who did not praise Princess Yanqing for her beautiful appearance and ingeniously and delicately wrought figure? This was the first time someone had said that she did not have a single good point. When she realized that Qin Mian dared to be disrespectful to her, she burst into a rage.
Qin Mian didn’t give her a chance to speak as he sneered, “And the most important thing is that this Lady heard Princess Yanqing is 26 years old. Looking at you ‘miss’, aren’t you at least 30 years old this year? A word of advice from this Lady: it’s a grave crime to pretend to be a member of the Imperial Clan, so leave now while no one is looking,” said Qin Mian with a caring and compassionate manner.
“I look like 3…30 years old?” Princess Yanqing was stabbed several times. Steaming in rage, she glared at Qin Mian. Her chest unsteadily heaved.
Qin Mian faintly darted a glance at her and turned to admire the flowers.
Princess Yanqing touched her face in disbelief. All of a sudden, she turned around and threw a slap at her nearest maid. She said angrily, “You, speak! Does this princess really look 30 years old?”
Qin Mian frowned, “Hey miss, if you force your maid, she won’t dare tell the truth. If you want to hear the truth, this Lady will tell you. Your eyebrows are thin and curved, but they are too sparse to look energetic; your eyes are too small and not bright enough; your skin is dull and dark, the face powder can’t hide the spots; your hair is dry and split, not lustrous enough…”
All the maids had the same incomprehensible look on their faces, looking at Qin Mian in a dumbstruck. When they suddenly came to their senses, they fell on their knees in fear and trepidation.
Hearing this, Second Princess Consort felt uneasy. She covered her chest and secretly congratulated herself that it was not her who was criticized. She sympathized with Princess Yanqing and looked at Second Prince in consultation, “Your Highness, aren’t we… getting out to stop Lady of the State Defender Duke?”
Second Prince shook his head slightly and looked at Qin Mian in the distance from the crack of the flowering branches. There was an obscure and strange smile in his dim eyes.
Princess Yanqing was so angry that she trembled all over, even the dangling ornaments on her bun shook and swayed. Her venomous eyes were fixed on Qin Mian. “You, shut up for this Princess!”
Qin Mian said clearly, “No wonder your skin is bad. Why do people who are easy to get angry get old quickly? That’s the reason. Enough, this Lady has been long-winded with you. Not afraid to tell you that Princess Yanqing will come to the Second Prince Establishment today. If you’re sensible, hurry to leave.”
Princess Yanqing had many ways to prove her identity, but she was so angry that she couldn’t remember anything for a moment.
Qin Mian leisurely turned to leave. As he walked, he continued to admire the flowers.
When Princess Yanqing saw his figure was about to disappear, she finally thought of a way to prove her identity. She raised her voice and cried out, “Someone, come! Bring my Imperial Second Brother here!”
Qin Mian raised an interesting smile on his lips. If today’s play ended like this, he would be disappointed.
After a while, he heard the flurried footsteps approaching behind him. He turned around and saw Second Prince and Second Princess Consort coming together. He bowed and cupped his hands as he said, “Greetings, Your Highnesses Second Prince and Second Princess Consort. Princess Yanqing hasn’t appeared up to now, presumably she won’t come. Wonder if this Lady can return home?”
Second Prince couldn’t see whether he really didn’t make out the identity of Princess Yanqing, or pretended. He took a look at Princess Yanqing and could only introduce her, “Lady of the State Defender Duke, this is Princess Yanqing.”
Princess Yanqing had a sullen face as she raised her chin haughtily.
Qin Mian put on a surprising look. He deliberately tried to cover up his previous impoliteness to Princess Yanqing in front of the Second Prince and Second Princess Consort. He looked at Princess Yanqing with sincere eyes and said with a sincere tone, “So, this is Princess Yanqing. Sure enough, the rumors are true: fish sink, goose alights1; hiding the moon, shaming the flowers2. She is proven to be the golden branch, jade leaves3. This humble one has been discourteous.”
Second Prince opened his mouth awkwardly. He didn’t know how to react for a moment.
Princess Yanqing did not look happy because of Qin Mian’s praise. Instead, her face was a mix of green and red. Having heard what Qin Mian said before, what he said now was a kind of naked irony to her. Yet, what Qin Mian said now was good words, so she couldn’t punish the other party for saying good words to her. In front of Second Prince and Second Princess Consort, she also couldn’t question the other party as to why he said those ugly words. That would only make her lose face.
She understood that she had to suffer this concealed loss. She looked at Qin Mian with hatred. She suppressed her anger and mildly asked, “Are you Lady of the State Defender Duke?”
“That I am.” Qin Mian respectfully asked, “Venture to ask, what can I do for Princess?”
Princess Yanqing looked at him coldly and said to Second Prince and Second Princess Consort, “Imperial Second Brother and Imperial Second Sister-in-law, don’t you say you still have something to do?”
“Yanqing, we’ll leave it to you. We’re going to entertain other guests.” Second Prince and Second Princess Consort said “excuse our absence” to Qin Mian and turned to leave.
Princess Yanqing went to the stone table and sat down. She looked at Qin Mian meaningfully. “Lady of the State Defender Duke, how’s the State Defender Duke? Presumably, Lady of the State Defender Duke didn’t know that this Princess and State Defender Duke were acquainted with each other over a decade ago.”
Qin Mian said in surprise, “Really? Seeing that Princess cared so much for my husband, your relationship must have been quite close before. I’d like to ask Princess to help me with something. Wonder if Princess willing to help?”
When Princess Yanqing saw that he didn’t find the hole she had dug, she inwardly sneered. With a sweet smile on her face, she said with an arrogant attitude, “What’s it? Speak about it first.”
“I heard that eight years ago when my husband was an officer in the Capital, a woman with a higher status forced him to marry her.” Qin Mian’s face showed anger and hatred. “In order to get rid of the woman, my husband had no choice but to ruin his appearance. Princess is innately intelligent; you must be able to understand how humiliating it is for a man to be forced to such a state by a woman? However, I asked him many times who the woman was, but he didn’t want to tell me. I venture to ask Princess to help me find out the woman’s identity. Once I know who she is, and I won’t let her go! Of course, if Princess is willing to help, I will be very grateful to you.”
Behind the rockery, Second Prince heard it very clearly and shook his head to himself. Yanqing is not an opponent of Lady of the State Defender Duke at all.
Second Princess Consort also showed two points of fear toward Qin Mian.
Looking at Princess Yanqing again – her face turned pale and her left hand trembled so much that the teacup she held fell to the ground with a “pa”. The tea soaked her embroidered shoes.
“Princess, are you alright?” Panic-stricken, the maids ran to support Princess Yanqing.
“Princess?” Qin Mian looked at her suspiciously and considerately said, “I’ve been bold. If Princess thinks it’s difficult, just take it as if I hadn’t said that.”
Princess Yanqing shook off her maids’ hands and asked calmly, “How will you ‘not let her go’?”
Qin Mian gave a wee smile, “Princess probably doesn’t know who I am – I’m a doctor. A few days ago, a man sent two beauties to my husband. Did Princess know how I fight back— Ah, Princess is noble. Can’t let those dirty your ears.”
Princess Yanqing was flustered and asked, “What’s it? Just speak out what is on your mind. This Princess will forgive you for your misconduct!”
“Uhm… Obedience is better than politeness.” Qin Mian carefully worded, “I’ve given the man a kind of medicine so that within three days he will… In short, be overwhelmed to the extent of wishing to die. Some of the words, I really can’t tell Princess. However, this matter should have been spread all over the country. If Princess wants to know, you can make a little inquiry.”
In her heart, Princess Yanqing was afraid yet curious and unrequited. She looked coldly at her maid beside her and asked, “Do you know this?”
The senior maid beside her hesitated for a while, but still went to her ear and whispered.
Princess Yanqing gave a low cry; her eyeballs rolled up and she fainted to the ground.
Qin Mian was very surprised. “Is Princess sick? Quick, go to report to His Highness the Second Prince.” After that, he quickly retreated to stand one zhang [3.3m] away.
Second Prince and Second Princess Consort already had a good view of everything. They were afraid that something might happen to Princess Yanqing in their residence. As soon as they heard the maids shouting, they quickly walked over.
Second Prince gave Qin Mian a profound look with inquiring eyes. Qin Mian looked back blankly.
Second Prince withdrew his line of sight and told the maids, “Help the princess back to the room to rest.”
“Yes!”
The maids supported Princess Yanqing to leave with Second Princess Consort following. Only Qin Mian and Second Prince were left there.
“Your Highness, this matter has nothing to do with me!” Qin Mian quickly got rid of any suspicion; he looked only somewhat panicked.
Second Prince felt a profound sense of powerlessness. On the surface, it really had nothing to do with Qin Mian. Anyhow, Yanqing was a member of the Imperial Clan; he was obliged to express an attitude.
He was about to open his mouth when a manservant trotted over, “Reporting, Your Highness. State Defender Duke is here.”
Second Prince turned and looked over. Lei Tie, dressed in black, strode forward with vigorous and steady steps. He had no expression on his face. As soon as his indifferent eyes saw Qin Mian, they were replaced by a simple yet unforgettable tenderness.
“Salute, Your Highness the Second Prince.”
Second Prince cupped hands and returned the salute, “State Defender Duke.”
“I come for my Lady.” Lei Tie went to Qin Mian and stood still, “Wonder if we can leave now?”
Second Prince said with a smile, “Certainly. The garden tour is about to come to an end. State Defender Duke and the Lady can do as you wish.”
Lei Tie nodded to him.
Qin Mian cupped his hands in obeisance to Second Prince and left with Lei Tie.
“Wife?” asked Lei Tie to Qin Mian.
Qin Mian said with a smile, “Do you think I’ve been bullied?”
Seeing that Lei Tie came to pick up Qin Mian in person, the rest of the Ladies knew that it was not groundless to hear that the State Defender Duke and his wife were deeply in love – they were envious. Even though they married well, their husbands had never been so attentive and considerate.
Footnotes
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