The usually calm Gu Beiyue now had an ashen face. He was the Head Imperial Physician, the closest man to the emperorâs side. Both in and out of the court, the palace ministers had to pay him their respects. Unfortunately, he was helpless before such an unreasonable and obstinate princess. He had hoped that General Mu could say something on Han Yunxiâs behalf, but the general only stood silently watching from the doorway.
Han Yunxi didnât feel like defending herself to the princess, but kept her questioning. âThen may I ask Princess Changping if you have an arrest warrant?â
If the members of the imperial family committed a crime, the courts of justice dealt with them as well. But to arrest anyone, they needed a warrant. As the wangfei, Han Yunxi fell under the jurisdiction of the empress dowager, who was also responsible for issuing the warrant for her arrest.
âNot right now!â Princess Changping spoke with the assurance of someone with justice on their side.
âSo that means Iâm not an offender right now, either,â Han Yunxi said, controlling her temper. Princess Changping hemmed and hawed, debating how to reply. Yet Han Yunxi abruptly spoke out. âIf you donât have it right now, then what are you doing here? Hurry up and beat it!â
Without an arrest warrant, what was this princess rampaging about here? Even if Changping was a princess, she was the Qin Wangfei and her senior. Her imperial aunt!
Startled, Princess Changping snatched Han Yunxiâs hand in disbelief. âHan Yunxi, youâre so audacious. You acted fierce and dared to talk to me this way!â
âWhy shouldnât I dare?â Han Yunxi replied, giving her a dark look. As a doctor, what pained her heart most was her treatment being interrupted and her patients being disturbed. As a female, what she hated were woman like this, who showed off their status and ordered others about without reason!\nPrincess Changping was frightened by Han Yunxiâs look and hastily threw her hand off, backing up a couple of steps. What was going on, she was actually scared of this woman? Princess Changping tried to ignore the mysterious dread in her heart. She wouldnât admit it! She was here to put Han Yunxi in her place, not lose face in the process! In a fit of anger, she started to curse her out.
âHan Yunxi, what are you acting arrogantly for? Youâre just a good-for-nothing woman who waltzed yourself into those gates. Do you really think youâve flown up a branch and became a phoenix? Let me tell you, a good-for-nothing will forever be a good-for-nothing! A sparrow will forever be a sparrow! Even if you think youâre an onion, thereâs no need for people to choose you for their dipping sauces! Slut!â
Slut!
Princess Changping put special emphasis on that insult as she pointed a finger towards Han Yunxiâs nose. Han Yunxiâs face turned pale as her hands turned into fists, narrowly resisting the urge to hit someone. Still, she remained calm. This wasnât the time to stir up trouble, but to save someoneâs life. Right now, she was in the role of a doctor.
Within these three days, sheâd have to save Mu Qingwu as soon as his poison showed signs of emerging. Nothing else could be allowed to happen. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself down to speak simply. âPrincess Changping, you say Iâm a good-for-nothing because I donât understand the medical arts. Then may I ask if you do?â
These words were enough to make the princess stutter. âIâŚIâŚâ
Han Yunxi took another breath. How much patience did she need? For the sake of her patient, sheâd risk it all.
âSo then, Princess Changping, Iâll have to trouble you to be more respectful with your words. Moreover, this wangfeiâs your imperial aunt. Are you supposed to rave and shout at your seniors if you want to show courtesy? Iâll say it one last time. Please leave and refrain from disturbing the patient.â\nAn imperial aunt truly was senior to a princess, each of whom respected the other. But things were even more different in Tianning Country. Princess Changpingâs imperial uncle was the Duke of Qin, and her imperial aunt, the Qin Wangfei. The Duke of Qin couldnât be compared to a typical royal relative. Even the emperor had to make allowances for him! A wife followed the status of her husband in terms of hierarchy and seniority, so Han Yunxi even had ample rights to punish Princess Changping.
And yet, the princess only gave a loud laugh after her shock. âIm, imperial aunt? Han Yunxi, youâre really bold! My imperial uncle didnât want you at all, but a shameless woman like you walked into his house yourself! You dare talk about things like the imperial aunt to the princess? Youâre even worse than a prostitute!â
Prostitute?
These words made everyone present suck in a cold breath. Before any of them could recover, Han Yunxi suddenly raised her arm and viciously slapped Princess Changping across the cheek. The pah! of impact was loud and bright!
Insufferable and unbearable! Maybe a younger uncle could bear it, but not the imperial aunt! Against a person like Princess Changping, enduring things were useless, explaining things were worthless. If you could take action, forget about words. Han Yunxi had thoroughly exploded!
Princess Changping was slapped silly for a moment, her exquisite white skin sporting a large red mark. Han Yunxi had really hit her hard. Around them both, even the Mu Liuyue tucked away in hiding couldnât help but gaggle at the sight. Heavens, this woman Han YunxiâŚshe really dared! Very quickly, Princess Changping recovered and started wailing, her wild hands grabbing for Han Yunxi.
âYou slut! You dared to slap the princess!â
âIâll get you for this! Even motherâs never hit me before, who do you think you are?!â\nâHan Yunxi, you despicable criminal, you prostitute!â
âŚâŚ
Han Yunxi expertly caught Princess Changpingâs hands and gave her a stern rebuke. âEnough! So young and already full of crude language, how did your mother raise you? What kind of mother was she?â
These words shocked Princess Changping. Heavens, this woman not only dared to hit her, but insult her mother too?
âHan Yunxi, youâre monstrously audacious!â Princess Changping howled, struggling fiercely. But no matter what she did, she couldnât get free. âGuards! Guards, grab her! Hurry!â
With this shout, the two guards by her sides were about to come forward when Han Yunxi gave them a ferocious glare. âYou dare to apprehend Qin Wangfei? When did you ask permission from His Highness Duke of Qin? Who made you all so bold?â
The Duke of Qin, her husband. This name made for a shining shield wherever it went. The two guards hesitated, and Princess Changpingâs spirits sank. âHan Yunxi, let me go or else Iâll tell the emperor!â
With a cold snort, Han Yunxi flung Princess Changping to the side. âGo ahead. Iâll just be waiting here for the Duke of Qin to take me away himself.â
The princess bumped against a side table as tears flooded her face. Her anger made her face turn red. How could she dare look for her father, the emperor? He never agreed to let her marry Mu Qingwu and hated it when she ran off to the generalâs estate. Moreover, if news of this really spread to the Duke of Qin, she wasnât sure itâd work in her favor. Princess Changping covered her face and spoke hatefully, âHan Yunxi, you had the nerve to hit me. I definitely wonât let you off!â
When she was done, she suddenly stomped her feet before running out the door, the two guards and Mu Liuyue hastily following after her. Unexpectedly, they actually shut the door behind them, locking Han Yunxi inside. What kind of pace was this?\nâHan Yunxi, just you wait! Just you wait for me!â
âDonât think about leaving this room even half a step! Iâll definitely make you pay!â
âŚâŚ
Princess Changpingâs clamor rose from the outside as Han Yunxi looked gloomily at the locked doors. What was wrong with this time period? Could she even save a person in this state?
Soon enough, the princessâ voice faded, though it wasnât clear if sheâd left. But at least the room was quieter now. Han Yunxi exhaled slowly as she lowered her darkened eyes. Something complicated flitted across Gu Beiyueâs gaze as he spoke.
âEsteemed wangfei, that slap just thenâŚâ
âShe deserved it!â Han Yunxi snapped.
All right, so she was in a bad mood. Whoâd be happy with a woman cursing at them? Yes, so sheâd walked through the gates herself, but only because she had no choice. Sheâd never thought of herself as respectable beyond reproach, nor did she want to be the Duke of Qinâs wife. But she still had self-respect and thought herself rather decentâmagnanimous with a clear conscience and nothing base about her.
Instead, Gu Beiyue replied, âEsteemed wangfei, that slap was marvelous. But Princess Changping saidâŚthat she didnât have an arrest warrant âright nowâ?â
Slightly stunned, Han Yunxi realized that she overlooked this particular detail between everything else. She glanced nervously towards the door. It couldnât be thatâŚ
For better or for worse, it was something unavoidable. Han Yunxi decided not to think too much and drank a mouthful of water before resuming her bedside vigil. âImperial Physician Gu, as long as you believe me, itâs enough.â
She observed Mu Qingwuâs complexion, checked his pulse, measured his temperature, and tested his blood for poisons anew. She was very certain that the poison would appear within three days! All her conclusions she reported to Gu Beiyueâand yet as soon as she finished, someone opened the doors.\nThe North Court Official from the justice courts spoke up. âQin Wangfei, this is an arrest warrant certified by the empress dowager herself. Youâve been reported for attempted assassination of the young general Mu Qingwu, so please come with me.â
The people from the justice courts had arrived!
Sure enough, Princess Changping didnât come empty-handed, but prepared things ahead of time. Sheâd long planned to lock up Han Yunxi in jail! Only, to have the empress dowager issue her arrest warrant was really a bit too cruel. What was an arrest warrant? It signified that there was substantial evidence to take someone into custody without additional explanation. Theyâd slowly question her after she was locked up.
No matter how you put it, Han Yunxi was still the daughter of the empress dowagerâs lifesaver. Was the empress dowager this eager to eradicate her and her family? In addition, the justice courts didnât have proof that Han Yunxi was the assassin, only a wrong conclusion.
This was clearly abuse of power in the name of avenging personal wrongs!
Gu Beiyue had realized this long ago and couldnât help but cry out, âRidiculous!â
Han Yunxi sucked in a deep breath, cool and indifferent. She knew that this was the type of power that couldnât be moved by a hundred explanations. She understood, too, that to survive peacefully in this world, she had to submit herself and listen to orders, but it just wasnât something she could learn. Han Yunxi personally pushed aside the doors and walked outside, only to seen the North Court Official standing with Princess Changping, flanked by five or six officers. Ignoring the smug-looking princess, Han Yunxi gave the North Court Official a cold look.
âMay I ask the North Court Official what crime this wangfei has committed?â
âYouâve been reported for assassination attempts on the young general Mu Qingwu, lying and cheating the generalâs residence, and using treatment as an excuse to poison the young general,â the North Court Official stated in a loud voice, as if these things had really happened.\nâA complete setup! North Court Official, I can verify that the esteemed wangfei is innocent. I was involved in the diagnosis as well,â Gu Beiyue was very much for upholding justice.
The North Court Officialâs reply was frigid. âNothing else needs to be said. This is the empress dowagerâs arrest warrant. Sheâs very concerned about this matter, so you can save the words for the justice courts when you cooperate with us for the investigation. Those who want to give evidence can put them on record at the justice courts as well.â
âNorth Court OfficialâŚâ Gu Beiyue wanted to keep explaining, but the North Court Official raised a hand to stop him.
âImperial Physician Gu, itâs no use saying more. As a servant of the imperial house, you should clearly understand what an arrest warrant means.â
Gu Beiyue could only close his mouth and look at the taciturn Han Yunxi with her head bowed. His warm gaze was filled with distress. What kind of crime did this woman commit in trying to save a life?! Seeing the disappointment in Han Yunxiâs eyes, Princess Changping and Mu Liuyue felt exceptionally smug. They waited to see her lose hope, throw a fit, and cry out for injustice.\n