Capítulo 140: Poder gostar abertamente

"Ye Jiangshu!" Just as Jiangshu was deep in thought, racking her brain for a way to call off the marriage, her sleeve was suddenly yanked hard from the side.

Jiangshu paused in her steps and slowly turned her head. As the brilliant glow of the palace lanterns illuminated the other woman's face, a glimmer of surprise appeared in her eyes: "Miss Hou?"

"I have called you several times already! Are you deaf, blind, or mute?" Hou Tingke shouted at her.

Not only had she stolen her precious Brother Changxun, but now she dared to ignore her presence entirely! Did she truly have no regard for the daughter of a Grand Princess?

"Miss Hou, your words are quite misguided. Jiangshu is sharp of hearing and clear of sight, and my speech is perfectly fine; I am neither deaf, blind, nor mute. If you ask me, it must be that something is wrong with Miss Hou's throat—otherwise, how could someone speak so clearly and yet produce no sound?" Jiangshu retorted without mercy.

"You—!" Hou Tingke was left speechless. Raising her hand, she prepared to strike Jiangshu across the face.

At that moment, Zhu Xuanrao happened to be walking by, arm in arm with Zhu Changxun. Seeing the scene, she hurriedly let go of him and ran over, grabbing the girl's arm: "Hou Tingke, what do you think you are doing?"

"A mere daughter of a court official dares to show such disrespect to me? Am I not allowed to teach her a lesson?" Hou Tingke shook her off violently, glaring at her with fury.

"Oh? You dare to show disrespect to me, a Princess? Tell me, how should I teach you a lesson in return?" Zhu Xuanrao lifted her hand to brush off her sleeve, offering a threat.

"You... what right do you have to discipline me?" Hou Tingke retreated two steps instinctively.

Zhu Xuanrao lifted her small chin in arrogance and said haughtily: "By the right that I am addressed as a Princess, while you are merely addressed as 'Miss'."

"We are both of royal kin! We are the same, just with different titles," Hou Tingke insisted, refusing to back down.

Zhu Xuanrao gave a mocking laugh: "How could we be the same? Don't forget, my father and the Emperor are brothers born of the same mother, both sons of the Empress Dowager. Your mother, the Grand Princess Shouyang, was the daughter of the late Empress Chen."

"The Empress Dowager has said that in her heart, my mother, the Emperor, Uncle Lu, and Aunt Ruian are all the same, just like her own children."

"Hmph, even so, I bear the surname Zhu, while you are nothing more than a Hou." Zhu Xuanrao said this with immense pride.

"What is so great about having the surname Zhu!" Hou Tingke, overcome with agitation, shouted out, "I am his cousin on his mother's side; I can love Brother Changxun openly and legitimately! But you—you are his cousin on his father's side. If you harbor any improper thoughts toward Brother Changxun, that is incest, and you would be..."

"Tingke, that is enough!" Zhu Changxun walked over, his face ashen, and interrupted her in a cold voice.

Because of her outburst, the people around them had all turned to look, their gazes like those of spectators watching monkeys at a street circus.

"Brother Changxun..." Hou Tingke walked toward him, looking aggrieved, and tugged at his sleeve. "Have you forgotten? You promised me that day that no matter what I did wrong or what I said wrong, you would never lose your temper with me."

"Is that so?" Zhu Changxun's eyes flickered slightly.

That Qin Sang had actually made promises to others in his name! It seemed there were some things he needed to address once he returned to the manor.

"Yes," Hou Tingke nodded like a chick pecking at grain.

"Since that is the case, apologize to Xuanrao and Miss Ye, and we shall consider this matter settled," Zhu Changxun scanned Jiangshu and Zhu Xuanrao, speaking with cool indifference.

"This..." Though Hou Tingke was unwilling, she dared not defy his command. After a moment of hesitation, she finally curtsied toward Jiangshu and Zhu Xuanrao: "Sister Xuanrao, Miss Ye, I am sorry. I was wrong."

"I am a Princess who does not hold grudges against petty people; I forgive you, you ignorant little girl." Zhu Xuanrao smiled triumphantly and took Jiangshu by the hand: "Third Sister-in-law, let's go!"