Volume 1, Chapter 4: The Regent’s Backing

"What kind of scoundrel dares to mock me? Are you tired of living?" Xiao Ruyan’s face turned green with rage, but upon turning to see who had spoken, she was struck dumb with shock.

"Insolence! How dare you behave so wildly in front of the Prince?" the personal guard, Wang Hu, barked.

The Prince?

The crowd turned pale, their gazes shifting in unison toward the handsome man striding toward them.

Regent Xie Tingmo radiated a chilling aura, a faint, disdainful smile playing on his lips. Dressed in a black python robe embroidered with golden threads, he appeared both majestic and imposing. His brows were etched with an intimidating authority, and his eyes were like the vast, deep starry sky—profound and mysterious, leaving no one daring to gaze upon them for long.

"Greetings to the Regent!"

"This old woman pays her respects to the Regent!" Old Madam Xiao and the others bowed in unison.

"I was unaware of the Regent’s arrival, please forgive me, Your Highness!" Old Madam Xiao said, her face plastered with a sycophantic smile.

Xie Tingmo came to a halt, making no move to allow the household members to rise. He curled his lips into a smile of mysterious intent, cast a sidelong glance at the Old Madam, raised an eyebrow, and spoke slowly, "Forgive you? Ha, hahahahaha—"

As he laughed, the smile on his face gradually froze, and his cold gaze swept across the scene.

What immense audacity. Qingqing had barely escaped the jaws of death, and not only did this manor fail to welcome her, they had even greeted her with clubs.

Very well. Excellent, indeed!

"The Old Matriarch of the Wuan Marquis Manor truly knows how to joke. If I were to forgive you simply because you asked, wouldn't I be losing all face?"

Xie Tingmo’s refusal was brutally direct. Old Madam Xiao’s face drained of color, clearly not expecting him to deny her an exit. She hurriedly forced a smile, "Your Highness is joking. As a Prince, your heart must be vast; you surely wouldn't hold a grudge against a younger generation!"

The Old Madam bowed her head and signaled to Xiao Ruyan.

Xie Tingmo was a notoriously cunning and ruthless figure, one who often controlled the situation with a mere smile, disposing of his enemies without a sound. On the surface, he appeared tender, yet his actions were swift and vicious. All the powerful officials in the court kept their distance, fearing they might inadvertently displease this living Yama.

"Ruyan pays respects to the Regent. I beg Your Highness, for the sake of my sister, please spare me this once!" Xiao Ruyan said, her eyes brimming with feigned, coquettish tears.

"Oh? Qingqing, do you think I should spare her?" Xie Tingmo’s lips curled into a wicked smile, the coldness in his eyes melting instantly as he looked at Xiao Qingqing.

The transformation happened in the blink of an eye, leaving Mu Wanwan momentarily dazed.

Regaining her composure, she said, "Reporting to Your Highness, my mother and grandmother just said that the reputation of the Marquis Manor is of utmost importance, and that my stepsister’s unruly behavior offended you—Qingqing does not dare to beg for your mercy."

"You... how can you stand by and watch her suffer? Ruyan is your sister!" Lady Fang, seeing Mu Wanwan not only failing to plead for mercy but adding fuel to the fire, was consumed with rage and immediately began to scold her.

"Oh my, Mother, don't you always pride yourself on upholding the rules?" Mu Wanwan looked surprised. "Qingqing respects you, Mother; how could I possibly break the rules?" Her eyes were filled with schadenfreude.

Seeing the Old Madam about to speak, she cut her off, "Grandmother, the future of the Marquis Manor and Father’s career must not be affected by my sister’s actions, don't you agree?"

Old Madam Xiao froze, her half-open mouth snapping shut.

In her eyes, the women of the Marquis Manor were merely stepping stones. They were nothing more than chess pieces to be married off to the powerful to secure status and wealth for her son, the Wuan Marquis, Xiao Jinghai. Although Xiao Ruyan was the legitimate daughter of the current wife and held high status, she was far less valuable than the future of the manor.

"Grandmother?" Xiao Ruyan’s eyes widened in disbelief, likely never imagining that as the legitimate daughter of the manor, she would one day be abandoned.

"Mother, Mother, save me!" she cried, looking at Lady Fang with pleading eyes.

"Noisy!"

Xie Tingmo spat out the word coldly. He raised his right hand and crooked his index finger slightly. The guard, Wang Hu, understood immediately and stepped forward.

*Slap! Slap!*

Wang Hu delivered two heavy blows to Xiao Ruyan’s face, holding nothing back. Her cheeks swelled instantly, and blood spilled from the corners of her mouth.

"You?" Xiao Ruyan glared at Wang Hu, but upon catching Xie Tingmo’s gaze, she immediately clutched her face and began to sob, "Wuwuwu, I have no face left to live on."

Wang Hu looked at Xiao Ruyan’s tear-stained face with zero sympathy. He said, "Hmph, if the Second Miss truly feels she has no face left, then remember this: do not offend the Regent or the Prince’s estate ever again! This time, it is only a minor punishment out of respect for the Eldest Miss. If you offend again, you may not be so lucky."

After speaking, he turned to offer a flattering smile to Mu Wanwan, thinking, *The Eldest Miss is not only the future mistress but also the person the Prince holds dearest to his heart. I must stay in her good graces.*

Mu Wanwan’s lips twitched violently, and she cursed internally: *You damned fool, you should have kept hitting her! Who gave you permission to hold back for my sake? I was hoping you’d beat that white lotus Xiao Ruyan to death! Who wants you to use my reputation as an excuse?*

She cast a glare of extreme dissatisfaction at Wang Hu, which sent cold sweat running down his back—*Oh no, he had displeased the Eldest Miss again.*

*Alas, the Eldest Miss is still so kind-hearted. Dealing with the wolves and tigers of the Wuan Marquis Manor, she really shouldn't be so soft-hearted...*

Wang Hu looked at Xie Tingmo with a pitiful expression, the look of someone who had been on the receiving end of such glares before. Xie Tingmo gave him a reassuring look, then turned to Mu Wanwan, "Qingqing, don't worry, Wang Hu knows how to measure his strength, this—"

He was interrupted by Mu Wanwan, "Your Highness, I am not worried at all!"

She wasn't just not worried; she felt the beating hadn't been hard enough—not even a single tooth had been knocked out.

Mu Wanwan rolled her eyes internally, feeling depressed. "My stepsister is used to speaking without thinking. Today she could offend Your Highness, and tomorrow she could offend other high-ranking officials. Grandmother is getting on in years and lacks the strength, and Mother is too soft-hearted... It is fortunate that Your Highness stepped in to discipline her, otherwise, the Marquis Manor would surely face a great disaster because of her one day."

Mu Wanwan spoke with such sincerity that it sounded as if she were genuinely concerned for the manor, but Lady Fang could not find any joy in it. She looked at her daughter’s swollen face, then shot a venomous glare at Mu Wanwan.

"Your Highness, look, Mother seems to agree with me, doesn't she?"

Mu Wanwan smiled coquettishly, causing Lady Fang to choke on her own breath, unable to swallow or spit out her resentment. However, with the Regent’s gaze now fixed upon her thanks to Mu Wanwan’s reminder, she was forced to wear a forced smile.

Xie Tingmo scanned Lady Fang up and down, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

He had received a letter today stating that Xiao Qingqing had returned to the Wuan Marquis Manor. He had rushed over in a frenzy, bringing his men with him. At a single glance, he had spotted that figure he had been longing for amidst the crowd.

She was no longer the weak creature she once was; she finally knew how to fight back.

Yet, this realization made his heart ache so much he could barely breathe. Qingqing must have suffered immense pain; otherwise, how could someone so gentle and kind have changed so much in just half a month?