Chapter 26: Drag Him Out and Behead Him

This was an item Qiao Qingyun had worn every day since returning to the General’s Manor—a talisman against sudden misfortune, a safeguard for her life.

As soon as the innkeeper laid eyes on it, his pupils widened in shock. Hong Ying sneered coldly. “If Miss hadn’t come to see for herself, we’d never have known the general’s restaurant had been ruined to this degree!”

“Isn’t this blatant robbery?” she added, fanning the flames. Sensing the situation had gone awry, several of the burly men at the back immediately tried to flee.

“Zhong Shi.”

“Yes.”

With a flash, Zhong Shi blocked their path. In the blink of an eye, he had them all subdued, sprawling awkwardly on the ground.

“Weren’t you demanding money? Qing Luo, give it to them. Zhong Shi, have you killed before?”

At Qiao Qingyun’s words, the innkeeper’s heart plummeted into his stomach. Zhong Shi hesitated for a moment, then nodded solemnly. “I have.”

“Good. Drag these men out and behead them.”

“Yes!”

“No, please! Miss, don’t! Miss, we know we were wrong! We were momentarily blinded by greed! Please, we beg you, spare us!”

The innkeeper fell to his knees, banging his forehead against the floor so hard it seemed he felt no pain. Before long, blood stained the ground beneath him.

Qiao Qingyun, however, remained utterly unruffled by the scene. She sipped her tea calmly, as if none of this concerned her in the least.

“Miss…” Zhong Shi, uncertain how to proceed, turned to Qiao Qingyun for guidance.

“This restaurant was left to me by my father. I will not tolerate anyone sullying it. Drag them outside, turn them over to the county office. However much they’ve stolen, make them return it all.”

“Yes.”

Zhong Shi accepted the order without hesitation and, gripping the men as easily as if they were chicks, headed straight for the authorities.

At first, Zhong Shi had seemed more like a frail scholar than anything else. But now, his actions drew the notice of many.

“Who is this young man? Why is he dragging out the innkeeper and chefs from Green Sprout Kitchen?”

“Hey! Young master, don’t cause trouble! Those are General Qiao’s people. If you stir things up, what will you do?”

A well-dressed young woman inside called out a warning.

But Zhong Shi, no longer so stiff and awkward, replied coldly, “By order of the general’s daughter, I am delivering these filthy men to the authorities. Miss wished to visit her own restaurant and sample the food, but these fools offended her.”

“When she learned of their filthy deeds, she sent me to the county office to restore Green Sprout Kitchen’s good name!”

“Well said!” The crowd burst into applause, but Zhong Shi paid them no mind and continued dragging the men away like helpless chicks.

The woman who had spoken was none other than Princess Yongning.

“Princess… Isn’t the Crown Princess-to-be not supposed to leave her quarters before her wedding? How come…”

Her new personal maid, Pin’er, voiced her confusion. Yuan Rou smiled, her lips curling with amusement. “Even if my royal brother says nothing, why should I meddle? But that young man seems unfamiliar to me.”

Pin’er immediately grasped her meaning. “I heard the Crown Princess-to-be was just at Green Sprout Kitchen. Perhaps…”

“Mm.”

With the troublemakers gone, Qing Luo had to personally prepare a few dishes. After all, she intended to eat with them once the food was ready.

At least the freshly brewed tea gave Qiao Qingyun something to soothe her throat.

“Miss, you could have had my brother cut that man down just now,” Hong Ying grumbled, still annoyed by the innkeeper’s insolent words to Qiao Qingyun.

“And what good would killing him do? Also, from now on, address me as Young Master,” Qiao Qingyun replied with a smile.

Hong Ying immediately understood. “Yes, Young Master.”

Qing Luo had already adapted to the new title. But when the food was finally ready, the first to arrive was not Zhong Shi, but—

Yuan Rou!

“Is Miss Qiao here?”

Hearing Yuan Rou’s gentle voice, Qiao Qingyun understood at once that if her identity was exposed, it would draw attention. Fortunately, she had applied only the lightest makeup before leaving the manor.

Unless someone was exceedingly close to her, they would not recognize her face.

Qing Luo instinctively wanted to answer, but a look from Qiao Qingyun stopped her.

Yuan Rou, though she appeared an innocent princess, was not someone to be underestimated; if she wished to destroy someone, it would be all too easy.

As expected, Princess Yongning’s maid Pin’er searched everywhere, but found no trace of Qiao Qingyun, only Qing Luo.

“Your Highness…” Pin’er glanced at Qing Luo. Qiao Qingyun also realized Qing Luo had been discovered and quickly nudged her, speaking deliberately, “Qing Luo, is that someone you know?”

Qing Luo instantly understood, rose promptly, and greeted Yuan Rou with a graceful curtsey.

“May blessings be upon Princess Yongning.”

At the mention of Princess Yongning, Qiao Qingyun and Hong Ying both stood and bowed to Yuan Rou.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

Yuan Rou nodded, her white gauze dress accentuating her elegance all the more. Her beautiful eyes swept the room, pausing with some uncertainty on Qiao Qingyun’s face. She frowned slightly. “And who might this be?”

Before Qing Luo could speak, Qiao Qingyun rose with an air of composure, hands clasped in salute. “Blessings upon Your Highness. I am Yun Jian, brother to Miss Hong Ying from her hometown. I have come to visit my sister, as I heard Miss Qiao was recently betrothed and my sister finally had some free time.”

“I see…” Though suspicion lingered in her gaze, Yuan Rou could not place where she had seen this face before, though it seemed familiar.

“And where is Miss Qiao?”

Finally, she looked away, allowing Qing Luo and the others to breathe again.

“Miss was unwell after being affronted and has returned home. She instructed Qing Luo and Hong Ying to host Brother Yun in her stead.”

Qing Luo lied smoothly, her words seamlessly easing Qiao Qingyun from suspicion.

“Very well. If you see your lady, do pass along my regards.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Seeing that she would get nothing more, Yuan Rou abandoned her attempt to probe Qiao Qingyun’s character. She could only wait for another opportunity.

She was just turning to leave when fate intervened—the cup of tea Qiao Qingyun had spilled earlier had not fully dried. As Yuan Rou stepped forward, her foot slipped, and she suddenly pitched backward.

“Your Highness!”

Pin’er reached out to steady her, but Qiao Qingyun was swifter still. Eager to test her own agility, she darted forward, wrapped an arm around Yuan Rou’s waist, and pulled her into a safe embrace.

“Ah!”

Yuan Rou’s face drained of color from the shock, but she found herself safely cradled in Qiao Qingyun’s arms.