Volume One, Chapter 20: The Wife's Face Was Soiled

Xiao Qingyu and Li Chaoyang stood their ground, both wearing calm expressions.

Without hesitation, Xiao Qingyu furiously rushed forward, pushing Li Chaoyang firmly behind her. Then, with fearless resolve, she strode directly toward the fierce lion.

With each step, her gaze grew sharper, laced with a subtle thread of deadly intent.

Reaching the lion, she suddenly raised her hand and tore the gleaming golden hairpin from her head, gripping it tightly.

Without mercy, she plunged the hairpin into the lion’s eye.

In an instant, the lion let out a piercing, agonized roar.

It opened its massive jaws—large enough to swallow an adult—revealing razor-sharp fangs as it lunged ferociously at Xiao Qingyu.

Yet, she showed no sign of backing down.

Swiftly withdrawing the golden pin deeply embedded in the lion’s eye, she drove it again with force into the creature’s neck.

At once, a fountain of warm, crimson blood erupted, splattering across Xiao Qingyu’s fair and delicate face.

Though grievously wounded, the damage from the golden pin was not fatal. The lion did not collapse but was instead thoroughly enraged, becoming even more frenzied and ferocious.

At that moment, a figure flashed from behind—it was Li Chaoyang!

With agile skill, he snatched a long sword from a nearby guard and, with a lightning-fast strike, plunged it straight into the lion’s heart.

With that final, precise blow, the lion crashed to the ground, stripped of its previous majesty.

Xiao Qingyu clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Well done."

"I truly admire this grand gift from Prince Yu; I like it very much. But this unruly beast must learn obedience. If it still refuses, then it shall never speak again," she said coldly, enunciating each word with icy resolve.

Xiao Tingyu smiled faintly, applauding, "I wholeheartedly agree with the princess. But you must be careful not to act alone—if you were to get hurt, it would be a great loss."

"After all, with the Regent here, how could he let anything happen to you?"

It was meant to pit Li Chaoyang and Xiao Tingyu against one another.

Xiao Tingyu’s gaze shifted to Li Chaoyang, his brows knitting as his expression darkened.

"Regent’s skill is unmatched! That strike was as swift as lightning and absolutely precise—truly well-deserved fame!" Xiao Tingyu said, a faint, almost mocking smile playing on his lips.

Before he finished, Li Chaoyang slowly drew from his sleeve a finely embroidered handkerchief, gently wiping the blood from his hand.

Without hesitation, he stepped toward Xiao Qingyu.

She instinctively took a half-step back, eyes wide, fixated on his advancing figure, her mind racing: What does he intend?

At this moment, the relationship between Li Chaoyang and Xiao Tingyu felt ever more inscrutable to her, and she could barely determine whether they had secretly allied.

He slowly raised his right hand, still holding the bloodstained handkerchief.

With tender fingers, he delicately lifted a corner, carefully wiping the blood from Xiao Qingyu’s cheek.

"Your face is dirty," Li Chaoyang said softly, his touch gentle as if fearful of causing her pain.

Taken aback by this sudden tenderness, Xiao Qingyu was momentarily at a loss.

From beginning to end, Li Chaoyang had not even glanced at Xiao Tingyu once.

She turned to Xiao Tingyu and cast him a provocative look without concealment.

"My husband’s attention to detail is truly remarkable!" she said coquettishly, a hint of pride in her voice.

"Were you frightened just now, my lady?" Li Chaoyang asked.

"With my husband here, how could a mere little lion scare me?" Xiao Qingyu replied with a proud smile.

"Such conduct is unbecoming! For a woman to be pulling and tugging in public is utterly disgraceful!" The group of elder ministers below frowned deeply, their faces clouded with displeasure.

But Xiao Qingyu was long accustomed to their disapproval.

She smiled, unfazed, and retorted, "Could it be that Inspector Liu’s relationship with his own wife is strained? Otherwise, why would he be so intolerant of the intimate moments between husband and wife?"

Her words immediately incited laughter among those present.

If there was anyone she preferred not to provoke, it was her. Inspector Liu had just walked into the firing line.

The sharp sarcasm left Inspector Liu’s face flushed with rage, his beard bristling. He glared fiercely at Xiao Qingyu, unable to find a suitable reply, and angrily lifted a wine cup, draining it in one gulp.

Xiao Qingyu gently took Li Chaoyang’s hand, her voice soft, "Husband, the time has come. Let us proceed to the wedding ceremony."

Together, they walked hand in hand to the center of the great hall.

Xiao Qingshan sat steadily upon the main seat. When they reached him, they knelt side by side to pay their respects.

As the officiant’s powerful voice rang out, "Husband and wife bow to each other, enter the bridal chamber, ceremony complete!"

The wedding concluded perfectly.

Soon after, Xiao Qingyu was escorted by numerous palace maids into the inner chambers, quietly sitting by the bedside awaiting Li Chaoyang’s arrival.

Beside her, Ling Zhu couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Your Highness, today is your great day. Why do you seem so unperturbed?"

Xiao Qingyu lifted her chin slightly, picking up a piece of preserved fruit from the table and smiling lightly, "Why would I be nervous? I am at ease—eat when I must, sleep when I must. After all, he is only the Regent. What could he possibly do to me? I am not afraid of him!"

Ling Zhu spared her the truth—when the Regent returned to the capital, His Highness was utterly panicked.

"How is the investigation on Xiao Tingyu proceeding?"

"Your Highness, as reported, all cities have been successfully reclaimed. Strangely, the people of Yan only seem to have learned of this now; before this, they apparently knew nothing of Prince Yu’s title."

Hearing this, Xiao Qingyu’s brow furrowed tightly, "There is definitely something suspicious. Someone must be covertly assisting his return."

"Originally, there was only Li Chaoyang in the capital, but now with Xiao Tingyu’s arrival, it seems one wave of trouble has barely settled before another arises."

Xiao Qingyu continued, "Immediately dispatch more agents to closely monitor every move of Xiao Tingyu. Whatever he does or whomever he meets, it must be thoroughly investigated and recorded."

"And that old fox must not be spared either."

Having said this, Xiao Qingyu took a deep breath and sat back down in her chair.