Chapter 12: Slapping Their Own Faces

Led by the steward of Prince Duan’s Mansion, Xiao Rui arrived at a courtyard in a remote corner. As soon as he entered, he heard sarcastic voices coming from the main room.

“Guard against everything, but it’s hardest to guard against thieves from within the family! How dare they reach their dirty hands into Prince Duan’s Mansion!”

“Are you getting sloppy because you think you have the Seventh Highness backing you?”

“Like master, like servant! Oh, you still don’t admit it?”

“Still daring to glare at me? You’re looking for death!”

Thud thud…

Then came the sounds of punches and kicks.

Xiao Rui was furious. He kicked the door open and barged inside.

He saw Gao Quan tied up, curled on the ground, covered in wounds and bruises all over his body. Three servants were still beating him. They stopped when they saw someone kick the door open.

“Sev…Seventh Highness…”

The three trembled in fear, almost kneeling down. Seeing the steward behind Xiao Rui, they barely held back their panic.

“How dare you!” the steward shouted first. “Even when beating a dog, you must consider its master! I told you to lock him up, did I tell you to hit him? This is outrageous. I will definitely report to the Princess Consort and have you severely punished.”

After saying this, the steward smiled apologetically at Xiao Rui. “Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely report to the Prince and the Princess Consort to punish these wicked slaves! I suppose they were just filled with righteous anger. Gao Quan betrayed your trust and tarnished your reputation, so in a moment of fury, they gave him a little lesson!”

“Your Highness, this servant did not steal anything!” Gao Quan lifted his head and roared, his eyes filled with determination.

“This servant is willing to die to prove my innocence! I didn’t steal!” Gao Quan hadn’t cried while being beaten, but now seeing Xiao Rui, he could no longer bear the grievance of being wrongly accused.

Xiao Rui clenched his fists. The rage in his heart made him grit his teeth.

“Untie him.” Xiao Rui’s voice was icy.

“This…” The steward hesitated for a moment and asked, “Your Highness, should we wait…”

Slap!

Xiao Rui swung his hand and directly slapped the steward across the face, sending him stumbling to the ground.

The steward covered his red, swollen cheek, stunned.

“Last time. Untie him!”

Xiao Rui shouted through gritted teeth.

Intimidated by Xiao Rui’s gaze, the steward yelled in fear, “Untie him, untie him…”

The three servants hurriedly loosened Gao Quan’s bonds.

Xiao Rui stepped forward to support Gao Quan and asked, “Can you stand?”

Tears streamed down Gao Quan’s face. He tried hard not to sob, then nodded forcefully in response. Enduring the pain in his body, he shakily stood up.

“Can you walk?” Xiao Rui asked.

“Yes,” Gao Quan replied.

Xiao Rui turned and left. Gao Quan followed closely behind.

Xiao Rui first returned to his residence. He smashed the four treasures of the study and the jade artifacts Emperor Xia had rewarded him with yesterday and threw all the pieces into the garden pond.

“Your Highness, this… this is a great act of disrespect!” Gao Quan said in horror.

Watching the bubbles rise from the sinking fragments, Xiao Rui shouted, “Want to mess with me? Fine… let’s go!”

After saying that, he went to the courtyard where Xiao Feng usually stayed to see Cao Wan.

When he reached the crescent moon gate, he was stopped by guards.

“Your Highness, our Princess Consort has ordered that she has caught a chill and should not receive guests,” the guard said firmly.

Xiao Rui’s anger had not subsided.

But he also knew his current capabilities did not allow him to barge in recklessly.

“Your Highness, I’m fine. Let’s go back,” Gao Quan hurriedly advised.

Xiao Rui gave him a reassuring look, then shouted at the guard, “Go and announce that the treasures His Majesty rewarded yesterday have been lost in Prince Duan’s Mansion. This prince’s servant was searching everywhere and was accused of theft. Since the Princess Consort is ill and my elder brother is not in the mansion, then this prince will enter the palace to confess his crime before His Majesty. When His Majesty inquires, hmph, theft of imperial rewards shows that Prince Duan’s Mansion is also a den of thieves.”

Having said that, Xiao Rui turned and left.

The guards blocking the way broke out in a cold sweat. If this matter reached Emperor Xia… oh dear, big trouble.

They hurried to find the Princess Consort, Cao Wan.

Cao Wan was drinking tea. She had arranged everything that happened in the morning. She disliked the Seventh Highness, Xiao Rui. Providing him food and lodging was one thing, but not helping her own husband and instead sneaking around to show off before Emperor Xia was truly hateful.

“Princess Consort, it’s bad, it’s bad…” A guard requested an audience outside the door.

“What’s all the noise?” Cao Wan asked with a frown. The maid beside her quickly opened the door and scolded the guards.

The guard entered the room, knelt in the parlor, and said urgently, “Princess Consort, the Seventh Highness claims that the treasures His Majesty rewarded yesterday were stolen. He ordered Gao Quan to investigate and search, but Gao Quan was falsely accused of theft. Now he is preparing to enter the palace to confess his crime, and he also said Prince Duan’s Mansion is a den of thieves.”

“What?” Cao Wan was startled and quickly stood up.

Originally, Prince Duan’s Mansion was in the right. They had caught Gao Quan stealing “red-handed,” making Xiao Rui lose face, leaving him with no grounds to cause trouble. But now, he used the loss of the imperial rewards as an excuse to counterattack fiercely, throwing mud at Prince Duan’s Mansion.

Come on then, let’s hurt each other.

Which was more serious: a servant, Gao Quan, stealing treasures from the mansion, or imperial rewards being stolen within Prince Duan’s Mansion? Xiao Rui had no one else to worry about. Come on, let’s play.

Cao Wan felt a bit panicked and wiped her sweat. She feared that once this matter reached Emperor Xia, although not a major issue, it might cause him to be dissatisfied with Xiao Feng, or even…

“Hurry, stop Xiao Rui! No, I’ll go myself!”

Cao Wan shouted as she ran out.

Was Xiao Rui really going to the Imperial Palace to complain?

Of course not.

Prince Duan’s Mansion might not care about face, but he still did.

He just wanted to vent his anger, so he deliberately slowed down, allowing Cao Wan to catch up.

“Xiao Rui, seventh brother, seventh brother…” Cao Wan called his name, then felt it wasn’t affectionate enough and quickly changed her address.

Xiao Rui stopped and looked at the panting Cao Wan.

Truly a Princess Consort, she had elegant features and the demeanor of a noble lady. It was just that her heart was somewhat venomous.

“Seventh brother, where are you going?” Cao Wan asked.

Xiao Rui sneered. “Sister-in-law has caught a chill, so I shouldn’t disturb you. My elder brother isn’t home either, so naturally I must enter the palace to confess my crime. You also know, losing the treasures Father rewarded is a great act of disrespect.”

“If it’s a great act of disrespect, why make it known to everyone? If you anger His Majesty, wouldn’t it be even worse?” Cao Wan tried to persuade him. “How about we keep this between heaven, earth, you, and me? Let’s not bother His Majesty anymore.”

“How can that be!” Xiao Rui shouted. “This personal servant of mine, while searching for the imperial rewards, took the opportunity to steal from the mansion and was caught red-handed by the mansion guards. This is outrageous! I must truthfully report to Father, have his hands chopped off. Since I employed someone unfit, I will also request punishment for myself.”

Cao Wan’s mouth twitched. She smiled and said, “Seventh brother, don’t be hasty. The mansion guards saw Gao Quan sneaking around and thought he was stealing. Now that it’s clear he was looking for something, since he wasn’t stealing, why let things become unpleasant? If this reaches His Majesty, your poor judgment in employing someone unfit would show, and His Majesty would be disappointed if he knew.”

“So, we won’t enter the palace?” Xiao Rui asked.

“No, we won’t,” Cao Wan said with a smile.

Xiao Rui narrowed his eyes and suddenly said, “Not entering the palace is fine. But since Gao Quan was wrongly accused, those who beat him and those who captured him must give me an explanation!”

“What explanation?” Cao Wan asked.

“Slap their own faces until they bleed,” Xiao Rui said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Cao Wan’s face turned extremely unpleasant.