Xue Zining looked at the woman who had woken her up early in the morning with a scowl. "What business do you have with me, young lady?"
"Who are you? Why are you in the East Palace?" the woman asked indignantly.
"Does it concern you who I am?" Since she hadn't slept well, Xue Zining's tone was quite blunt.
The woman's anger seemed to be ignited immediately. "How can it not concern me? There shouldn't be other women here with my Jin gege."
Wen Nuan, also woken by the commotion, couldn't help but peek out the door and ask, "Miss Ning, do you need me to drag her out? She's making it impossible to sleep."
Xue Zining looked at the woman and said calmly, "Firstly, I am staying here with the consent of your Jin gege. Secondly, you barged in without permission. Is this how the noble ladies of Hua country are raised?"
The woman was taken aback and retorted angrily, "Who are you? How dare you say that to me?"
Just then, Ming Gu hurried over from outside and bowed before the woman, "Your servant greets Princess Fenghe."
Seeing Ming Gu arrive, Princess Fenghe said, "Ming Gu, tell this princess who this woman is and why she is in the East Palace?"
Ming Gu glanced at Xue Zining. Honestly, she didn't know who this woman was either. However, looking at the Crown Prince's affection for her, it seemed genuine, not fake. Moreover, the residence the Crown Prince had arranged for Miss Ning was the place a future Crown Princess should occupy.
"Replying to the Princess, Miss Ning is a guest of the Crown Prince," Ming Gu answered.
Princess Fenghe was stunned. She had been invited by Jin gege himself? Before, when she wanted to stay overnight in the East Palace, Jin gege had always refused. She thought Jin gege didn't like women staying in the East Palace. Now, to let a woman of seemingly low status reside in the East Palace, how could she not be angry?
"Have her escorted out by my command," Princess Fenghe said furiously.
Ming Gu was taken aback. She hadn't expected Princess Fenghe to say such a thing. The Crown Prince had explicitly instructed her not to let anyone disturb Miss Ning. She didn't know how the gatekeepers had let Princess Fenghe in. Now, if she had to drive out Miss Ning, wouldn't the Crown Prince be furious with her when he returned?
Ming Gu stepped forward and bowed, "Princess Fenghe, Miss Ning is a guest of the Crown Prince. Without the Crown Prince's order, no one is allowed to be rude to Miss Ning."
Princess Fenghe was thoroughly enraged. How dare a servant refuse her? She slapped Ming Gu and angrily said, "What are you to dare refuse me? I showed you some respect because you are a female official in Brother Jin's palace, but don't mistake that respect for the capital to command me. It is not your place to make decisions."
Ming Gu lowered her gaze and said, "The Princess's scolding is correct."
Xue Zining and Wen Nuan, standing nearby, watched in stunned silence. Wen Nuan couldn't help but exclaim, "This... she actually hit someone?"
Xue Zining looked up at Princess Fenghe, her gaze darkening. She hadn't expected this Princess Fenghe to resort to hitting someone at the slightest disagreement.
Princess Fenghe saw Xue Zining looking at her and her face contorted with rage. "What are you looking at? Will you walk out of here yourself, or should I have someone drag you out?"
Wen Nuan walked out from the room and stood beside Xue Zining, cracking her knuckles. "Miss Ning, should we just let her be so arrogant? I think she really deserves a beating."
Xue Zining rarely agreed with anyone, but she nodded. "Indeed. However, this is the East Palace. It doesn't seem appropriate to resort to violence."
Wen Nuan shook her head. "How is it inappropriate? She was the one who spoke disrespectfully first."
Princess Fenghe, seeing the two discussing her, became even more furious. "Guards, drive these two out for me!"
Ming Gu quickly tried to intervene. "Princess Fenghe, absolutely not. The Crown Prince will be furious when he returns."
At Princess Fenghe's signal, the two maids beside her pushed Ming Gu aside and sneered, "Ming Gu, you should worry about yourself. Offending my princess is not something a mere slap can resolve."
Ming Gu was about to intervene again, but was stopped before she could. She was surprised to see it was Xue Zining. "Miss Ning."
Xue Zining said, "You can't stop them, and you'll only suffer needlessly. Let them come. I'm not afraid of them."
Ming Gu didn't believe it. The people Princess Fenghe brought looked like servants who knew some martial arts. If Miss Ning were to get hurt, the Crown Prince would punish her when he returned.
The woman behind Miss Ning stepped forward, cracking her fingers ominously, and pulled Ming Gu aside. "Ming Gu, don't worry. With me, Wen Nuan, here, no one can harm a single hair on Miss Ning."
"Drag them out," Princess Fenghe said disdainfully.
The servants behind Princess Fenghe stepped forward to grab Wen Nuan's arm. But who was Wen Nuan? One of the protectors of Qianjin Tower. How could she let them touch her?
A punch landed squarely on the face of the first man to step forward. With just one punch, the man heard bones crack, felt intense pain, and something slid down from his nose.
"It hurts, it hurts..." the man cried out, grinding his teeth.
This punch immediately deterred the other servants who were about to charge.
Princess Fenghe saw this and roared, "Charge! I'll double their pay!"
With a generous reward, bravery followed. The servants surrounded them again. Wen Nuan tucked the hem of her skirt into her waist and sneered, "Then I'll play with you all."
Saying that, Wen Nuan charged into the crowd.
Ming Gu, standing nearby, covered her mouth in fear and worried, "Miss Ning, will she... will she be alright?"
"Are you talking about those servants, Ming Gu? Don't worry, Wen Nuan will go easy on them."
Ming Gu quickly said, "No, I'm worried about Miss Wen Nuan."
Xue Zining heard this and said, "If you're worried about Miss Wen Nuan, there's no need. Nothing will happen to her."
Princess Fenghe, hearing Xue Zining's words, coldly sneered, "You truly aren't worried about your maid. I'm afraid..."
Before she could finish her sentence, her vision blurred. A dark shadow landed heavily on the ground at her feet. She instinctively took several steps back in fright. Upon seeing the person whose appearance was unrecognizable, she couldn't believe it. Was this her subordinate?
Then, several people were thrown down at her feet.
Princess Fenghe was stunned. She looked up to see the woman called Wen Nuan smiling at her, with blood spatter on her face, exuding an eerie aura.
Princess Fenghe almost collapsed to the ground. If it weren't for her maids supporting her, she would have indeed fallen.
"You..."
Wen Nuan clapped her hands. "So fragile? I haven't even had my fill of fun."
"Wen Nuan, that's enough. You've frightened the Princess," Xue Zining said calmly.
Wen Nuan gave a cold smile. "If this is frightening, then if they saw me kill someone, wouldn't they wet their pants?"
Everyone present was taken aback. Kill someone? What was the background of this young lady?