Volume One, Chapter 10: Let This Princess Come in Person!

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Ning Zhuo’er suddenly turned to her eldest sister, Ning Ling, who had just been warned. The princess had offended their eldest sister, but her strength was not something any princess could easily oppose! Could this grand wedding... become a battlefield?

Ning Ling showed no fear; instead, she smiled faintly and confronted Qin Yuan with an expression utterly devoid of fear.

One was the daughter of the Marquis of Ning Anyang, the other a remnant of the old Southern Gong clan from the previous dynasty—like fire and water!

“Princess! I, Ning Ling, have said that today, the young master must not be disturbed, not even when the appointed time arrives!” Ning Ling was resolute.

Qin Yuan’s brows knitted as she stepped forward, “What? You intend to block me, the princess?”

In terms of presence, Qin Yuan was no weakling. She knew this woman before her might be a remnant of the previous dynasty, but as the third-ranked disciple of the Zhu Lu Academy, Qin Yuan’s martial arts had already reached the master level! At her age and strength, she was naturally confident and unrestrained.

“To block, of course I will!” Ning Ling replied bluntly. “Don’t think that because my young master stands alone, the Ning Anyang Marquis’s household can use him as they please. In my eyes, my young master can act as he wishes!”

Qin Yuan understood the implication clearly: what kind of bond was this that made this remnant of a past dynasty so loyal to Xie Zheng? What charm did he, Xie Zheng, possess?

Qin Yuan added, “The Qin family will not harm Xie Zheng!” That much she could guarantee.

Ning Ling sneered, “And how can you, a mere woman, protect him fully?”

“By the name ‘Qin Yuan of the Academy’!” Qin Yuan answered.

That name carried weight.

Yet Ning Ling still looked down on her, thinking her naive.

“Looks like only after a fight will you understand the true weight of those four words.”

Qin Yuan prepared to strike.

Ning Ling nodded.

“Then let’s see whether your words are bigger than your strength.”

Ning Zhuo’er was already troubled by the scene. What if her eldest sister, without holding back, ended up killing the princess? What then?

Young master! Could you please finish this quickly? Otherwise, Qing’an Palace would be thrown into chaos today!

Her silent wishes seemed effective.

The door to the young master’s room opened, and Xie Zheng appeared, stretching with a face full of stubble, but when he saw Qin Yuan and Ning Ling about to clash, he was stunned. “What are you two about to do?”

Ning Ling said, “Sparring!”

Qin Yuan looked at him, frowning, “Xie Zheng, do you even know what day it is today?”

Startled by the direct question, Xie Zheng’s face paled instantly as he noticed Qin Yuan’s red wedding robe, and memories surged back.

“Damn! It’s the wedding day.”

Qin Yuan crossed her arms disdainfully. “So you do know?”

Xie Zheng immediately ordered, “Ning Ling, what are you standing there for? Go prepare my wedding clothes!”

As soon as he gave the command—

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Ning Ling’s proud and unyielding expression shifted dramatically. She quickly became a devoted maid, flustered as she hurried to prepare the ceremonial robe.

“Yes, young master!”

Watching Ning Ling’s two contrasting personas, Qin Yuan found it hard to believe they were the same person. Then she glanced at Xie Zheng, who scratched his head awkwardly, hardly the image of a man to whom even a remnant of an ancient clan like Ning Ling would submit.

Xie Zheng smiled sheepishly. “By the way, how far has the princess’s wedding procession gone?”

Qin Yuan rolled her eyes and sat on a nearby stone bench, striking the pose of an ice-cold beauty. “Wait until you’re dressed before we talk!”

Xie Zheng could tell she was genuinely annoyed. Understandably so—who would want their husband to forget the wedding day and act so casually about it?

He didn’t want the arranged marriage.

But since the marriage could not be annulled, he had no choice but to accept reality. And if he failed to appease the princess, the news would certainly reach the Marquis of Ning Anyang’s household in Qing’an Palace.

Who could blame a father for being unwilling to let go of his daughter, especially when she was marrying a fool who didn’t even care about the wedding? The Marquis would not forgive that.

Calm her down, calm her down! That was Xie Zheng’s only thought.

While Ning Ling prepared the robes, Xie Zheng approached the stone table and looked at Princess Qin Yuan, who had long since discarded her bridal veil, her expression cool and distant.

He grinned and said, “I’m really sorry. I was so absorbed in practicing the princess’s ‘Gou’ character manual that I lost track of time. But don’t be angry; I promise to give you a complete and proper wedding ceremony!”

Qin Yuan had long since seen through him.

“So what’s your real intention?”

Seeing she had caught on, Xie Zheng admitted frankly, “Please don’t tell your father what happened today. Afterwards, I, Xie Zheng, will make up for these mistakes!”

For survival, he had to flatter Qin Yuan first.

Qin Yuan was displeased. “Since ancient times, a woman’s reputation is paramount. A husband not showing up on his wedding day is a serious breach of etiquette. To put it bluntly, you’re making me lose face. After this, the people in the capital will say I’m a shameless woman!”

“Do you even know what ‘shameless’ means?” Xie Zheng was embarrassed under her sharp critique.

The word ‘shameless’ was harsh, both in ancient times and today, especially in a dynasty where a woman’s purity was highly valued.

Xie Zheng was clearly at fault.

Qin Yuan, seeing him silent, realized she had the upper hand but knew her limits. After all, it was she who was marrying him, and he was forced into the marriage.

But who was she?

Qin Yuan!

Did she not care about her own dignity?

So when he finally took responsibility for his mistakes, Qin Yuan relented.

“I’ll reluctantly forgive you.”

Her saintly forgiveness finally made Xie Zheng breathe a sigh of relief.

After Ning Ling handed over the bright red ceremonial robe and Qin Yuan dressed, Ning Ling said, “Princess, then let’s begin!”

“Mm,” Qin Yuan replied.

Ning Ling, not wanting to act as matchmaker, naturally passed the task to Ning Zhuo’er.

After she announced the traditional three bows and nine kneels, what followed was...

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...being led into the bridal chamber!

But as Xie Zheng held Qin Yuan’s arm, his body suddenly heated up; his eyes turned red, and a wave of heat swept through him, igniting a small fire in his abdomen.

At that moment...

Qin Yuan sensed something wrong and noticed the residual heat radiating from him. She immediately looked at him.

“Xie Zheng, what’s wrong?”

His eyes glazed over, mouth dry, he tried to loosen his collar, but the exposed skin flushed red as well.

“Hot... very hot!”

“Thirsty... very thirsty...”

Startled by his reaction, Qin Yuan asked Ning Ling, “What’s wrong with your young master?”

Ning Ling suddenly remembered, “The ‘Gou’ character manual causes physical reactions once the second-grade breakthrough is reached. It can easily affect the body.”

“Is there a remedy?” Qin Yuan supported Xie Zheng, worried by his discomfort.

“There is!” Ning Ling continued. “But, Princess, I doubt you’ll be willing.”

Qin Yuan was blunt, “Cut the nonsense, just say it!”

Ning Ling explained, “Princess can use her body to help dissipate the residual heat. This is the side effect of the ‘Gou’ character manual.”

Qin Yuan’s cheeks flushed crimson.

Ling’er spoke up first, “No! My lady will not consider this for now!”

Actually, this shouldn’t have been said openly.

But to lose herself to someone she didn’t love was something the lady had confided before.

So Ling’er warned.

Yet the annoying Ning Ling added fuel to the fire, “If the princess refuses, I’ll have to find someone else!”

Hearing the words “find someone else,” Qin Yuan felt inexplicably disgusted, as if something precious was being defiled. Even if she accepted it, it would be hard to bear.

She seemed unaware...

She had already come to regard Xie Zheng as her own.

“Princess, my young master never forces anyone. If you’re unwilling, I can do it instead!”

When Ning Ling said this, Qin Yuan panicked.

If she served instead, would that make the princess the second?

No way!

Qin Yuan was especially sensitive about such matters.

After much thought and planning, before the wedding, Qin Yuan had done more than nothing—she investigated Xie Zheng’s history and whether he had any hidden ailments.

The truth was, Xie Zheng had remained chaste for her sake.

Therefore, Qin Yuan’s disgust lessened considerably.

From now on, he would belong only to her. She guarded what was hers fiercely and would never allow a second person to violate him.

Thus...

Her ears flushed red, biting her lip gently, Qin Yuan finally made up her mind.

“Fine, then I, the princess, will do it!”