Chapter 30: Make it Clear
Chapter 30
Yuan Qingling suddenly grabbed her wrist and dragged her in, "I want to know, but I think there\'s nothing the four of us can\'t sit down and talk about nicely."
She was certain that Yuwen Hao and Prince Qi were in the hall. Based on what she had learned about the situation so far, she also knew why the Prince and Princess of Qi had come to find Yuwen Hao, so Chu Mingcui must be standing outside and not going in.
She saw her come up with an excuse to insult and provoke her, willing to do anything to anger her and prevent her from staying in the palace and getting close to the Retired Emperor.
"Let go of me!" Chu Mingcui didn\'t expect her to do this, and turned pale with fright. With a flick of her pinky finger, the sharp edge swept across Yuan Qingling\'s wrist, trying to force Yuan Qingling to let go.
Yuan Qingling had a stubborn temper since she was young. If she wanted to do something, she would do it even if she had to stake her life on it.
So all the way in, droplets of blood dripped down, staining the floor in clusters of pomegranate flowers.
"Prince Chu, Prince Qi!" After taking the reckless approach, Yuan Qingling no longer cared about etiquette. She dragged Chu Mingcui directly into a chair and sat her down, then took out a handkerchief to bandage her own wound, not forgetting to say, "The Princess of Qi has something to tell us."
Seeing her manhandle Chu Mingcui, Yuwen Hao\'s eyes darkened and he asked coldly, "What are you trying to do?"
Chu Mingcui had just been in an awkward situation, but after sitting down, she immediately tidied up her appearance and looked at Yuan Qingling lightly.
She didn\'t believe Yuan Qingling would dare to repeat what she had said earlier. Not only was Prince Chu here, but Prince Qi was also present. Anyone with a sense of shame would not speak of bedroom matters.
But she had misjudged. Yuan Qingling raised her head to look straight at Prince Chu after bandaging her wrist, "Just now, the Princess of Qi told me that when you were alone with her on Wenchang Tower, you told her you have to take medicine in order to consummate our marriage, and that you can never forget her in this lifetime, telling me to give up hope. Finally, she said she was the one who threw Fu Bao down, and since she was willing to tell me this, I\'m sure she can say it in front of you as well."
Chu Mingcui\'s face changed dramatically. She immediately covered her face and cried, her whole body trembling, "You...why are you fabricating this? Why are you trying to frame me?"
Yuwen Hao stood up and walked over to Yuan Qingling. His whole being was gloomy and terrifying, his eyes swirling with storms as he raised his hand, looking like he was about to slap her.
Yuan Qingling raised her head, anger bursting in her eyes, "Go ahead and hit me. If you slap me, I guarantee none of us four will live. I\'m willing to stake my life playing this game with you!"
Yuan Qingling had touched Yuwen Hao\'s reverse scale, and the anger in his eyes grew even stronger. His hand swung down, but Prince Qi quickly stood up to grab Yuwen Hao\'s hand, "Fifth Brother, don\'t argue with such a shrew."
Yuan Qingling pulled out her hairpin, seeking to protect herself. She looked extremely angry and agitated. "Prince Qi, shut up. If I\'m a shrew, your princess is a poisonous woman. What can you do after marrying a poisonous woman? Does she really love you? She only loves that you\'re the Emperor\'s son."
Prince Qi\'s eyes were cold as he said, "This prince has seen bold women before, but never one as malicious as you. Aren\'t you afraid of divine retribution for slandering Mingcui like this and distorting right and wrong?"
When Yuan Qingling heard this, she almost wanted to laugh. Divine retribution? Were these the words of a prince?
No wonder Chu Mingcui was so impatient. She had married a heartless man. If she didn\'t make plans, when would things ever happen?
Chu Mingcui was still crying, but in her heart she scolded Prince Qi for being stupid.
She knew that Prince Qi would eventually believe her, but he wouldn\'t be able to stand up for her. She could only seek help from Prince Chu.
She stood up with tears brimming in her eyes and looked at Yuwen Hao pitifully.
"Prince Chu, I know she hates me, but I didn\'t say any of the things she claimed earlier. I, Chu Mingcui, would rather die than utter such shameful things."
In other words, she was not so shameless as to bring up such matters.
"As for saying I threw Fu Bao down, that is even more preposterous. I have been a vegetarian for years, not violating the precept against killing. I wouldn\'t even step on an ant, let alone Fu Bao."
Her tears slid down her cheeks from the corners of her eyes. The glistening teardrops rolled down her fair cheeks, indescribably pitiful and moving.
Prince Qi felt extremely distressed and put his arms around her. "Right and wrong are decided by the heart. Don\'t argue with such a shrew."
Chu Mingcui was held in Prince Qi\'s embrace, but looked at Yuwen Hao with sorrowful eyes.
Yuan Qingling watched this scene coldly. She truly felt it was laughable rather than angering.
A beauty\'s words were worth ten thousand of her own arguments.
However, the wild fury in Yuwen Hao\'s eyes gradually faded away, and eventually, his gaze became calm again. He said to Prince Qi, "You two leave first."
"Alright, we\'ll leave first. Fifth Brother, don\'t get angry. Just treat it as the ravings of a madwoman." Prince Qi was afraid Yuwen Hao would beat the princess in the palace and make a scene in front of the Emperor, which would be even harder to resolve.
After speaking, he pulled Chu Mingcui away.
Chu Mingcui was practically spewing blood. Why were they leaving now? The matter was not yet cleared up.
She turned reluctantly to look at Yuwen Hao and choked out, "I hope His Highness can restore my innocence."
Yuwen Hao nodded slightly. "Go back first."
Chu Mingcui had not received any assurance. She felt very stifled and angry, but now it was inappropriate to make another scene. She had no choice but to leave with Prince Qi.
She didn\'t even dare to give Yuan Qingling a sideways glance.
Yuwen Hao retracted his gaze and looked at Yuan Qingling, who was gripping the hairpin tightly. Her hair was loose, with two strands falling down, and the hair on her forehead was stuck to the corners of her eyes with sweat. It revealed a pair of phoenix eyes glaring fiercely.
"Don\'t come near me!" Yuan Qingling held up the hairpin, glaring at him. "Don\'t go too far. I\'m not afraid of you."
She was already mentally prepared. If he tried to hit her again, even if she couldn\'t beat him, she would make sure to injure him before going down.
Yuwen Hao walked over to her, frightening Yuan Qingling into a reflexive reaction. She directly stabbed the hairpin into his arm.
The hairpin pierced in.
She had used all her strength.
After stabbing him, she was also shocked by her own actions. This was the first time she had ever injured someone with a weapon.
Blood seeped from his plain robe, staining and expanding into a palm-sized blotch.
Yuwen Hao looked at the flustered Yuan Qingling, and recalled when she had treated Fu Bao, even sticking her hand in to handle the wound and suturing it. Was this the same person?
Yuwen Hao pulled out the hairpin and tossed it onto her body. She reflexively caught it, then heard him say lightly, "Let\'s eat."
He walked past her and sat down at the dining table.
And his arm was still bleeding.
Yuan Qingling tidied her hair and put on the hairpin, carefully watching him, unsure of his intentions.
Yuwen Hao glanced up at her. "Sit down and eat."
Yuan Qingling shook her head. "Explain yourself clearly."
"Not everything needs to be crystal clear. This prince apologizes for almost hitting you earlier." Yuwen Hao placed the chopsticks on the bowl across from him and said lightly.
Apologize?
Yuan Qingling slowly walked over and hesitantly sat down across from him. Yuwen Hao cleared his throat, frightening Yuan Qingling into leaping up. She grabbed the hairpin with one hand and pointed it at him sharply, shouting, "What are you trying to do?"