Chapter 149 Wusun Ya Provokes Han Rou

Shen Qingyun’s expression darkened completely: "How is the situation over at the General's Mansion? Is Mother safe?"

Han Qing replied, "It is still relatively peaceful for now. The guards at the General's Mansion are certainly no pushovers; they will definitely protect the Madam and won't let that little princess run wild."

Shen Qingyun nodded, taking Pearl and Hanshuang with her straight to the General's Mansion.

In the end, she instructed Han Qing, "Go and inform General Xiao about this matter."

Han Qing nodded, leaping away with a single bound.

Pearl was already rubbing her palms together eagerly inside the carriage: "Miss, if that so-called little princess starts making a scene later, hide behind me and I will protect you."

Hanshuang silently sat to the side, watching her.

Pearl offered an awkward, sheepish laugh and couldn't help complaining to Shen Qingyun again: "Miss, what on earth does that little princess want? General Xiao doesn't like her, yet she actually ran all the way to the Madam's place."

Shen Qingyun shook her head. She wasn't sure if this Wusun Ya genuinely liked Xiao Jue that much; she only knew that if Wusun Ya dared to harm Han Rou, she would definitely make her crawl back to Beili on a stretcher. Beili had a harsh and freezing climate with countless princesses, so if one were casually replaced for a marriage alliance, those other princesses would probably be more than eager.

The carriage reached the General's Mansion faster than usual. Shen Qingyun hurried into the estate with a sense of anxiety, only to witness an unexpected scene.

Madam Han was gripping a bamboo-joint whip in her hand, her expression frosty, looking nothing like someone who was being bullied.

Instead, the princess Wusun Ya had the right sleeve of her robe torn open, and a curved saber lay on the ground not far from her. Wusun Ya wore an expression of bitter hatred, her young face twisted with a malignant malice unfitting for her age: "I am a princess of a realm, yet you dare to harm me! I will definitely have the Emperor punish you for this crime!"

Madam Han said in a cold voice, "Considering that you are a princess, only your sleeve was torn. If you dare attempt to harm anyone again, I advise the Princess to guard her face well."

It turned out that Wusun Ya had come to the residence to provoke her. But no matter what she said or how she mocked, Han Rou merely fulfilled her due courtesies, calmly bringing out tea and pastries to host her.

The sense of helplessness from throwing a punch into cotton made Wusun Ya burst into rage. She drew the curved saber from her waist, intending to launch a sneak attack, but she hadn't expected Han Rou to be fully prepared. Instead of letting her close in with the blade, Han Rou flicked her whip directly, wrapping it around Wusun Ya's right arm. The barbs on the whip tore through her sleeve, and the saber was consequently sent flying to the ground.

This sudden turn of events left even Nanny Chen, who stood nearby, dumbfounded. Yet she felt no fear, only gratification.

Her young miss had finally regained her former self. That set of whip techniques was as vivid and spirited as ever—truly worthy of being the legitimate daughter of the late General Han!

Wusun Ya, however, was terrified. Having previously investigated the history between Han Rou and Shen Zhifeng, she had assumed Han Rou was a soft persimmon, which was why she came to provoke her in an attempt to force Han Rou to step aside voluntarily and yield Xiao Jue to her.

Hearing Madam Han's words now, she immediately covered her cheeks with both hands and shrieked, "You're just jealous! Jealous that I am younger and prettier than you! You are already of a certain age, have you no shame? You even have a child, what face do you have to keep entangling yourself with General Xiao? You are simply unworthy of him!"

"Just who is it that is entangling themselves with me? The Princess ought to know that clearly in her heart!"

Xiao Jue's voice rang out from behind. With a look of anxious concern on his face, he rushed directly to Han Rou's side: "Rou'er, are you alright? Were you hurt by her?"

Shen Qingyun hadn't even had a chance to speak from beginning to end, so she could only stand off to the side with Pearl to watch the show.

Goodness gracious, she had just sent someone to notify Xiao Jue, yet he had arrived remarkably fast.

Pearl's eyes sparkled with brilliant light. This was truly a romance novel brought to reality! She couldn't help sighing inwardly: General Xiao looked utterly dashing at this moment!

Never expecting Xiao Jue to arrive so quickly, Wusun Ya suppressed the jealousy in her heart and said with a tearful, sobbing voice, "General Xiao, I came simply as a guest to the Han residence, but Han Rou actually harmed me. You must seek justice for me in this matter!"

Upon hearing her voice, Xiao Jue furrowed his brow so deeply it could crush a fly. He cast a cold glance at Wusun Ya: "Rou'er has the gentlest and least competitive disposition; it must be you, Princess, who were being unreasonable and making a fuss. Do you know where this is? This is the Han residence! Has the Princess forgotten how Beili was defeated by the late General Han, that you dare to run wild here?"

"Xiao Jue, do—do you not like me at all?" Seeing Xiao Jue fiercely defending Han Rou, Wusun Ya's eyes turned red.

"I, Xiao Jue, will only take one person as my wife in this lifetime, and that is Han Rou. Rou'er is the finest woman in this world; she is gentler than you, more beautiful than you, and you cannot compare to her in any way. Princess, please leave!" Xiao Jue spoke with stern righteousness, refusing to give Wusun Ya any shred of hope.

Protected behind his back, Han Rou felt her cheeks flush a visible red, sweetness welling up in her heart.

She quietly tugged at Xiao Jue's sleeve, signaling him to be slightly more tactful with the princess, fearing it might affect the peace negotiations.

Xiao Jue glanced down at her, his gaze softening considerably, and said nothing more.

Watching the two of them openly exchanging affectionate glances right before her eyes, Wusun Ya was so angry she burst into tears. She had grown up utterly pampered, cute and charming, with countless men in Beili regarding her as their dream lover. Yet now, she had run into such a clueless blockhead like Xiao Jue.

In frustration, she picked up her curved saber and ran outside. Catching sight of Shen Qingyun as she fled, she glared at her viciously.

Pearl unyieldingly glared right back.

Wusun Ya let out a cold snort and tossed out a parting line: "Han Rou, just wait. You won't be happy for long!" With that, she departed entirely.

The maidservant beside her cast a sinister look at Xiao Jue before hurriedly scurrying after Wusun Ya.

A trace of unease welled up in Shen Qingyun's heart, and she instructed Hanshuang to follow them and keep an eye on the situation.

Over there, Xiao Jue gazed at Han Rou, ensuring once more that she had not been harmed by Wusun Ya before finally setting his mind at ease. He then hurriedly began explaining the events of the past few days to her.

It turned out that Wusun Ya had been visiting the Xiao residence every single day to look for him. Finding her utterly vexing, he had no choice but to slip away and hide outside. Yet no matter where he went—even if he traveled to the outskirts of the city—Wusun Ya would persist in following him. She had even deliberately thrown herself onto his carriage upon spotting it on the road, crying out that she was afraid of being run over, thereby creating misunderstandings with onlookers.

Han Rou smiled as she listened to him finish, then used a handkerchief to gently wipe the beads of sweat from his brow: "I believe you."

A single sentence like this outweighed a thousand words. The heavy stone in Xiao Jue's heart finally lifted, and he looked at Han Rou with a foolish, happy grin.

Shen Qingyun massaged her temples: "Pearl, let's go."

It seemed she had worried for nothing. She had no desire to stay here and be an eyesore.

Pearl, however, looked reluctant to leave, clearly wanting to watch a bit longer. She followed Shen Qingyun away, casting a glance back every three steps.

The two women boarded the carriage and leisurely made their way back toward the Grand Duke's Mansion, only to be intercepted halfway.

A familiar voice rang out: "Shen Qingyun, let's talk."

It turned out to be Jiang Lin.

Pearl furrowed her brow. Why was this Marquis Heir like a persistent ghost? She had heard that Marquis Heir Jiang and his wife Shen Sisi had been growing increasingly affectionate of late; why was he still coming to pester her young miss?

Shen Qingyun had no desire to entertain him and intended to drive right past, but Jiang Lin drew closer to the carriage and lowered his voice to say: "Shen Qingyun, do you know what it feels like to be locked away in a small courtyard? You know, don't you?"