Chapter 97: Like It or Not
Translator: Kats Editor: Perriemix
Xia Chunyu received the news that Liu Li was going to Heavenly Residence. He was informed that Little Jing reserved the Lan Ting Xuan in an attempt to resolve the conflict between Liu Li and Yaoyao.
However, in the eyes of Liu Li, Yaoyao was a mere low-life and she could do anything to her as she pleased. Attempting to resolve the conflict with peace talks was ridiculously naïve and it would never work.
Xia Chunyu was afraid that Yaoyao would get overpowered, so he rushed to her aid immediately.
Xia Chunyu was not surprised to hear Liu Li’s death threats even before he climbed up the stairs.
The door to the room opened and its three occupants turned to look at in surprise.
Did Chunfeng tell Brother Chunyu of their plan? Helian Jing figured that his friend thought that they would need a more imposing figure.
Ye Jiayao was equal parts shocked and angry. Did he rush here to protect his fiancé?
Liu Li barely managed to hold in her groan. Great! Xia Chunyu’s here to oppose me again!
Under the gaze of the three puzzled and angry people, Xia Chunyu showed no emotion. He simply strode towards Liu Li and snatched the sword from her. He casually flicked the sword away and it plunged into the pole on the opposite side of the room.
“Are you done?” Xia Chunyu asked Liu Li, his voice raised.
Liu Li looked at Xia Chuyu mournfully. This man was about to be her husband, why was he looking so fiercely and hatefully at her?
Feeling wronged, Liu Li suddenly burst into tears. “Why are you yelling at me? I am being bullied, you should be helping me!”
Ye Jiayao was muddled. She had thought that Chunyu was going to yell at her for daring to go after his fiance, but instead, his anger seemed to be directed at Liu Li.
“You were being bullied?” Xia Chunyu sneered. “Liu Li, how many people have you made miserable in your 17 years of life? Do you remember General Zhu? He only looked at you a little longer than you liked, and you made him an archery target. He lost an eye and almost lost his life, too. The prince’s companion, Mr. Liu, who you had locked in an alley overnight, drenched from head to toe, just because he read a poem that mentioned your name. He contracted a high fever and was sick for three months after that.
“And there’s Zhao Qixuan, who you had thrown into a lotus pond in the middle of the night just because of a joke. Did you even care that he almost drowned? The servants and the eunuchs in the palace don’t last long, not because they were doing a poor job, but because you are too difficult to serve.”
Xia Chunyu stepped closer to her. “You feel good when you throw your weight around and make others suffer for some imaginary crime. Just once, did you even think of how they would feel? You are the bully, Princess. Li Yao only bested you with words, and yet you act as if he’d physically assaulted you. What, you can’t take what you dish out?”
Liu Li took a staggering step back. If she hadn’t held onto the table behind her, she would’ve fallen down.
However, Xia Chunyu wasn’t done yet. He wanted his message to really resonate with the spoiled princess. “Do you really think everyone respects and loves you just because they’re bowing and kissing the ground you walk on? Don’t you know what they’re really thinking? What they’re calling you behind your back? Tell me, Liu Li, have you ever thought of what would happen to you if you were to lose the aegis of the Empress Dowager? When you get in trouble, will anybody come to your aid?”
“Stop! I don’t want to listen to you. You are a bastard! I don’t want to talk to you!” Liu Li screamed hysterically, feeling like she was going crazy. No one had ever dared to speak to her like this before. How could he? Tears flowed out from her eyes uncontrollably.
Ye Jiayao watched what was happening with the fascination she reserved for car crashes. She knew it was going to be horrible, but she couldn’t look away. Oh, Chunyu. Aren’t you worried that your fiance will call off your wedding after this?
Helian Jing looked at the tightly closed door on the left, his anxiety rising. This was so much more than the humiliation they were planning for Liu Li.
“You don’t want to listen because your noble ears are only used to sweet talks. You don’t want to listen because you can’t face the ugliness of your heart. Liu Li, your father was known for his nobility. Yet, here you are, shaming him by how horrid and vile you are acting. You are bringing disgrace to his reputation,” Xia Chunyu said frankly. “Even if you don’t want to hear it, I had to say this, Liu Li. I just couldn’t stay silent anymore. Take care of yourself, Princess.”
Xia Chunyu grabbed Yaoyao’s hand and made a move to leave.
“Xia Chunyu, don’t you dare walk out on me!” Liuli shrieked, throwing a teacup to the floor by their feet. How could he leave holding her enemy’s hand after scolding her?
To their surprise, the door on the left opened and a handful of people rolled out.
“Ay, ay! I told you not to squeeze me. Get up, my leg is going to be crushed!” Zhao Qixuan, who was squashed at the bottom, nagged.
The strangers get to their feet and met the eyes of the four people in the room.
Xia Chunyu took a closer look at the interlopers. Zhao Qixuan, Chunfeng, Mr. Liu, General Zhu… all the gentlemen bullied by Liu Li.
What’s going on? Xia Chunyu glared at Yaoyao and she looked down, her mouth set into a thin line.
Xia Chunyu shifted his glare to Little Jing, but he dodged his eyes, too.
This was Ye Jiayao’s initial plan, invite those who had been bullied by Liu Li for the past few years. They were hiding in the closet to watch how Ye Jiayao was going to beat the princess. She never imagined that Chunyu would rush here to her defense.
Liu Li was indignant. So many people had witnessed the most awkward and mortifying moment of her life! Everyone heard her being teased by Li Yao and being scolded by Xia Chunyu. How could she ever show her face again? For the first time in her life, she became the joke.
“I will never forgive all of you! This is not over!” Liu Li cried in despair. She pushed past Xia Chunyu and ran downstairs.
Helian Jing said, “I’ll make sure she really leaves.”
He raced out after his cousin.
Zhao Qixuan laughed merrily. “Brother Chunyu, you were great! You’ve done what no one else had been able to. I admire you!”
Xia Chunyu rolled her eyes and made a shooing gesture. “This is nonsense. Get going, all of you.”
Everyone rushed out, feeling relieved. They felt like a huge weight on their chest had been lifted up and they could finally live peacefully. The female monster had been slain…
“Um, your brother doesn’t look too happy,” Zhao Qixuan told Xia Chunfeng.
Xia Chunfeng was concerned about that, too. This was the first time he saw his second brother lash out like that; it was scary.
“Is it alright for us to leave Li Yao there with him?” Zhao Qixuan glanced up at the stairs worriedly.
Xia Chunfeng said hesitantly, “It should be fine. My brother’s not unreasonable.”
“Why don’t we just stay and see for ourselves?” Zhao Qixuan suggested.
Ye Jiayao wanted to slip out with the others, but Xia Chunyu held onto her tightly.
“Care to explain all that?” Xia Chunyu asked coldly, his intense gaze boring into her.
“What, um, what is there to explain?” Ye Jiayao stumbled.
“What were they doing hiding in that room?” Xia Chunyu wasn’t stupid. He already had a pretty good guess of what had happened, but he wanted to hear Yaoyao say it.
“I called them to here for, erm, uh, moral support. Was that not okay?” Ye Jiayao lied. Damn it! How was she supposed to know that he’d come here and scold Liu Li?
“You called them? Really? I didn’t realize that you have such great power,” Xia Chunyu said sarcastically. “Tell me, Yaoyao, whose idea is this?”
Ye Jiayao flung his hand away. He was holding onto her so tightly, she felt like her bones were going to break.
“Why are you so angry? What did I do to you? And why are you even here? Didn’t you say that you didn’t want to see me anymore?
Xia Chunyu said angrily, “How could you be so stupid to go against Liu Li on your own? Did you really think that a few clever words will shame her enough to leave you alone? Did you think that if you embarrass her, it will solve all your problems? If it wasn’t for me…”
“I can take care of my own problems. No one asked you to come here!” Ye Jiayao huffed.
“You can take care of your own problems? Ha! You dragged Chunfeng and Little Jing to this harebrained scheme of yours! I didn’t know you could be so good at taking advantage of people.”
Xia Chunyu really didn’t mean that. Yaoyao was never one to take advantage of others’ generosity. What he was really annoyed about was that she didn’t ask for his help. Why must she always seek Little Jing and Chunfeng? Those idiots would only provide her with bad ideas.
Ye Jiayao bristled. She got right into his face and spat out, “If you call standing up for your friends taking advantage, then sure, I exploited them real good. Do you want to punish me? Do you regret offending your intended? Go on then. Tie me up and bring me to her as a peace offering.”
His brows scrunched up. “What are you talking about? What intended? What nonsense rumors did you hear from others this time?”
“I don’t know, you tell me.” Ye Jiayao stared at him coldly. “Heir-Son Lord, if there’s nothing else, I’d like to leave.”
“Stop!” Xia Chunyu yelled after her.
Ye Jiayao ignored him and continued walking.
Xia Chunyu’s jaw tightened. Stubborn, silly girl! Why can’t you just listen to me?
He marched forward, grabbed her arm, and hauled her downstairs as if he was lifting a little chick.
“Hey, hey! Ease up! That hurts!” Ye Jiayao cried out, piqued.
Xia Chunyu harrumphed. His pace didn’t slow down, but he did loosen his grip on her. He dragged her to his horse and gently deposited her onto the back of the animal.
“What are you doing? I don’t want to ride with you! I am perfectly capable of walking on my own!” Ye Jiayao wanted to jump down.
Xia Chunyu hopped onto the horse and held onto her tightly, caging her in. He said fiercely, “Shut up.”
“Who are you to tell me to shut up? I thought you said we don’t know each other anymore! Why are we riding the same horse?”
He stayed quiet.
Ye Jiayao rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you worried that your fiance might see us? She might think that you’re gay.”
“For the last time, I don’t have a fiancé,” Xia Chunyu said grumpily. Nothing had been finalized yet, why was this rumor going around?
“I don’t care. It’s none of my business. I only care about my reputation. Now, let me down or else…”
“Or else what?”
Well, she really couldn’t do anything to him. For one, they’re on a moving horse, not to mention that he’s stronger, bigger, faster… she really was no match for him. Desperate, she said, “I’ll bite you.”
They both fell silent at that, their thoughts going back to the moment they shared on the little cottage at Black Wind Ridge. Suddenly, the hostile tension between them sweetened.
Zhao Qixuan and Xia Chunfeng came out from the corner of the street, watching Li Yao and Chunyu’s retreating form thoughtfully.