After their meal, Li Xueyue and Yu Zhen went their separate ways. He had to oversee the training of the new batch of Imperial soldiers whereas she decided she would entertain Heiyue for a while. But on her way there, a burly servant rushed up to her, dressed in clothes she did not recognize.
To her sheer surprise, it was actually Marquis Qin. He was clothed in dark robes that showed visible signs of wear and tear. His sleeves were wet and his clothes emitted a strong stench of alcohol.
“Marquis Qin, this is highly improper!” Xiao Hua instantly scolded.
Guards rushed in front of the Crown Princess to shield her, protecting her at all costs.
Xiao Hua led the pack with her frigid glares and a displeased scowl. She struck a protective hand out to block anyone from coming near the Crown Princess—especially, a wild and rabid dog like the Marquis.
There was a crazed look in the Marquis’s blotched red eyes. His hair was haphazardly combed up and it was a mess. It looked as if he had done it himself. His once jovial, yet cunning features were twisted in sheer desperation.
“Princess, Princess, please grant me an audience!” he cried out, his voice sounded hoarse and harsh on the ears.
Li Xueyue relished in the satisfaction of seeing him in such a pathetic state. Seeing the proud man in her childhood so broken like this, her chest swelled.
She had never seen the composed Marquis appear this disheveled as if he had been chased through the forest by a tiger.
If Li Xueyue recalled from her conversation with Yu Zhen, the Emperor had stopped taking his medicine. Which meant, the Emperor no longer tolerated Marquis Qin. The arrogant merchant had just lost his biggest customer.
“The Crown Princess is a busy woman. She does not have the time to entertain sudden audiences like this, especially that of a lowly merchant,” Xiao Hua snapped.
She pulled her dress back and wrinkled her nose as if disgusted by the sight of him.
Marquis Qin snarled at the disrespect. His head hung low, glowering at the ground. Just weeks ago when he was dressed in wealth and gold, the servants bowed to him, even the ones serving the Crown Princess.
“Why not? She’s standing right here! This audience will take no more than a few minutes of her spare time,” Marquis Qin loudly bickered.
His voice raised an octave, oozing with desperation.
Marquis Qin’s attention snapped back to the highly guarded Crown Princess. There were soldiers surrounding her on all sides. She was safe, but from what? It was not like he was here to threaten her life!
“Princess, please have compassion upon me. I have worked myself to the bone to fulfill your request. Please grant me this audience with you!” Marquis Qin cried out. He took a step closer, but the soldiers drew their weapons.
Li Xueyue’s lips curled in amusement. “I like the sound of you begging.”
Marquis Qin stiffened. His eyes narrowed into slits as he ground his teeth.
“Beg some more,” she mused.
Marquis Qin wanted to kill her. He wished she had been violated by those invaders. He had hoped she was violated in the worst way possible, and every part of her was defiled.
Marquis Qin had prayed to the high heavens that she was ravaged to the point of no return and that everyone who looked at her would be disgusted.
Alas, all of his hard work was yet again, in vain. Marquis Qin was commissioned to gather a group of men that abhorred the Crown Prince.
It was a difficult task, for the Crown Prince was frightsome who terrorized the hearts of many. Who would be bold enough to admit that they hated the Crown Prince?
Marquis Qin did not know the purpose for these men as he was just told to gather them. But when he learned of what happened, he was initially horrified, until he quickly became entertained.
“It seems the Marquis no longer needs an audience with you, Princess,” Xiao Hua sniped. She jutted her chin in the air and turned her back to him, showing blatant discourtesy.
“It would be best not to soil your eyes so early in the afternoon, Princess. We fear your appetite for afternoon tea will be ruined,” Xiao Hua softly said with a bow of her head.
Marquis Qin’s fingers itched. He wanted to yank this wench by her hair and throw her to the ground. It would not be the first time he had hurt a woman. He had done it many times yesterday, and the days before that. Until, all of his wives fled from his house, and no one remained. Those money-grubbing whores!
The second they learned about his misfortune, they all packed up. When the servants and guards disappeared, they ran as fast as they could.
Some even hung themselves, for they had nowhere to return but the Underworld. The thought of being married to a poor, but abusive husband had disgusted them too much.
“A-afternoon tea?” Marquis Qin stuttered out. It took everything within him to control his anger, or else, he would’ve snapped at her.
This bitch of a Princess was ignoring him for afternoon tea?! As if that was more important than conversing with him?
“Yes, Marquis Qin,” Xiao Hua deadpanned. “We’d invite you but…” She eyed him disdainfully from head to toe, her lips curling.
“Servants do not dine with their masters,” she concluded.
Marquis Qin nearly strangled the maidservant. His hands had itched to do so. Blinded by a flash of red, he nearly acted on his instincts until he saw the guards. He did not want blood to spill, especially when he came unarmed.
“A-afternoon tea is alright, I will be finished with the conversation before the tea is served, Princess,” Marquis Qin finally said whilst turning to the Crown Princess.
He rubbed his calloused hands together. The skin had toughened from all the hard work he had to do since he was a child, for he was born a peasant. But it became rougher when he let power get over his head and used them to abuse his wives.
“Hmmm…” the Crown Princess hummed.
Marquis Qin wished he could gouge out those beady eyes of hers. She was looking at him with contempt. It was written all over her face. She was repulsed by the sight of him. Then, she flashed him a smirk.
“Beg for one.”
“W-what?” Marquis Qin muttered.
“The Princess meant if you want to see her so badly, get on your knees and beg,” Xiao Hua spat out.
Li Xueyue was initially surprised by how bold Xiao Hua was. She spoke the words that Li Xueyue wanted to say, but couldn’t, due to her reputation. But it was fine if a maidservant said it. As long as Xiao Hua would be protected afterward.
“B-but Princess—”
“Go and grovel like a dog,” Xiao Hua deadpanned.
Marquis Qin had never wished to kill someone so badly. This servant…who the hell did she think she was?! Who was she talking to? He was a Marquis, a prestigious title bestowed by the Emperor himself!
He had never faced this type of embarrassment all his life. Not even as a peasant child, did someone treat him with this much contempt. His ears burned from being publicly shamed. There were a few wandering eyes in the hallway, quietly watching the show before them.
Curse his damned luck for encountering the Crown Princess in such an open hallway, without walls, except for thin pillars of wood that held up the ceiling. Everyone was able to see his humiliation.
“It seems this peasant is reluctant to beg, Princess. Let us be on your merry way,” Xiao Hua lightly said. She bowed her head and gently smiled.
“Princess, today’s menu is white rose tea, served with your favorite pastries,” Xiao Hua pleasantly commented, as if there wasn’t anyone else with them. She didn’t seem the least bothered by the disgraceful man beside her.
The pitiful Marquis was gripping onto his last straw of sanity. It was evident he was dirty and desperate. The rug was yanked from underneath his feet. The curtains were opened, and his true nature was revealed.
The words of wealth that flowed from the maidservant’s mouth nearly killed him. He was here, begging and disheveled, whereas the Crown Princess would be enjoying her tea, privileged and comfortable.
“Princess…” Marquis Qin finally whispered out. His knees trembled with the action, refusing to obey his command.
Marquis Qin was hopeless. He had no one else to turn to, except her. All of his “friends” and customers suddenly turned their backs on him. He did not know why.
Li Xueyue watched as Marquis Qin lowered himself to the ground. He bowed his head and placed both hands on the floor. She had never felt this kind of satisfaction in her life. Her chest was filled with warmth, knowing the young Xueyue of the past, would soon get her redemption.
“Princess, as a lowly servant, I beg of you, to please grant me an audience.”
