Nonsense! She’s Not a Bad Woman! - Chapter 102

The heavy doors of Changping Hall swung open, and Ziyuan froze when she saw the two people outside.

Why were they here?

And from what she just overheard from the Sixth Young Master of Pingyang Marquis’ Estate… was the Young Marquis peeking at her lady?

The thought made Ziyuan’s gaze sharpen with undisguised disgust and fury as she glared at Jiang Qiyun.

“I did not!” Jiang Qiyun immediately shouted in defense. But to Ziyuan’s ears, his desperate denial only sounded like a flimsy excuse blurted out in panic.

Inside, Qiao Wanyan and He Baozhu stepped out.

The two men at the door looked over at once, their eyes flickering with a flash of amazement.

That morning, Qiao Wanyan’s attire had already been dazzling enough, but now, dressed in the ethereal Feathered Rainbow Garment, she looked like a celestial goddess descended from the ninth heavens—breathtaking beyond words.

Situ Yue found himself unable to tear his gaze away. In that moment, a pang of regret rose within him.

He had originally come here after learning, quite by accident, that Qiao Wanyan was changing clothes inside Changping Hall. His plan was simple: ruin her reputation, refuse to marry her, and force her into disgrace so she would never be able to hold her head high in the capital again.

But now, seeing her like this, Situ Yue suddenly thought—perhaps marrying such a woman wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Even if she were nothing more than a decorative vase, she was certainly pleasing to the eye. Besides… he had never slept with a beauty this enchanting before.

“What happened here?” Qiao Wanyan asked.

Ziyuan quickly replied, “Miss, the Young Marquis was lurking outside the window, secretly peeking at you.”

Qiao Wanyan’s brows twitched faintly. She glanced at Jiang Qiyun, then at Situ Yue.

The instant their eyes met, Situ Yue immediately stepped forward and said righteously, “That’s right, it’s just as your maid said! I saw the Young Marquis sneaking this way, so I grew curious and followed him. Who would have thought I’d catch him skulking by the window, spying inside?”

For the first time in his life, Jiang Qiyun tasted the bitterness of slander. To him, this felt worse than being beaten to death.

Situ Yue was scum—but he hadn’t expected him to be this shameless!

“He’s stealing all the words I was going to say!” Jiang Qiyun ground his teeth and barked angrily.

Situ Yue only shook his head in mock pity. “Young Marquis, a true man admits to what he’s done. Denying it serves no purpose.”

“Are you looking for death?!” Jiang Qiyun roared and kicked at him.

Situ Yue fell to the ground, clutching his stomach, but his gaze still clung shamelessly to Qiao Wanyan. “See? The Young Marquis flies into a rage when exposed.”

Inside, Situ Yue was secretly laughing to himself—he was a genius.

Even if the Young Marquis beat him half to death, it was only a beating. But if Qiao Wanyan believed he had been the one spying, the scandal would blow out of proportion. Especially here, inside the palace—if word reached the Emperor, he’d be finished.

But now? With the blame pinned neatly onto Jiang Qiyun, he could sit back and watch the two of them tear each other apart. Who could be smarter than him?

“I didn’t! I really didn’t!” Jiang Qiyun shouted hoarsely. It was his first time being falsely accused, and having grown up pampered and revered, he didn’t even know how to defend himself. After all—he had no evidence!

No witnesses, no proof. And with Situ Yue spouting slander so convincingly, anyone who saw his smug face might actually believe him.

Qiao Wanyan studied the two men carefully. She recalled the valley beneath the cliff last time—Jiang Qiyun had not acted like a lecherous man then.

If he were truly like Situ Yue, her innocence would already have been ruined. And if that had happened, she would have ordered Lu Jinye to kill him on the spot, silencing him before the Crown Prince ever found her again—then later, she’d find an opportunity to dispose of Lu Jinye as well, erasing every loose end.

But Jiang Qiyun wasn’t the kind of man who lusted after women. On the other hand, everyone in the capital knew Situ Yue was a notorious libertine.

She knew perfectly well who had been peeping at her.

But…

Hadn’t Jiang Qiyun already caused her enough trouble?

As Qiao Wanyan walked out of the palace hall, Jiang Qiyun saw her coming straight toward him. Instinctively, he covered his cheek with his hand.

This vicious woman had no other hobby—whenever she was upset, she’d slap people without a shred of hesitation.

Qiao Wanyan paused, then lifted her leg as if she were about to kick him in the most vital spot. Jiang Qiyun reacted almost instantly, both hands flying down to shield himself.

But the moment his hands left his face, Qiao Wanyan seized the opportunity—swift, accurate, and merciless.

Smack!

Zi Yuan: Serves you right! That’ll teach you to peek at my lady!

He Baozhu: Tch, the brat got off easy! Taking advantage and only paying with a slap—does he even understand why he’s being punished?!

Jiang Qiyun clutched his burning cheek, glaring furiously at her. “I already told you it wasn’t me! Why won’t you believe me?!”

Qiao Wanyan didn’t bother to answer. His temper surged uncontrollably. Whipping his head around, he spotted Situ Yue still sprawled on the ground clutching his stomach. With long strides, Jiang Qiyun marched over and kicked him hard, venting his anger.

He didn’t dare lay a hand on Qiao Wanyan, but this bastard? He could beat him black and blue.

Situ Yue curled into a ball, protecting his head while taking the brunt of the blows. Even then, his shameless mouth didn’t stop running. “Look, look! Little Marquis is flying into a rage out of shame!”

Qiao Wanyan could only sigh inwardly. Situ Yue truly was a shameless man with a venomous tongue.

Peeking at her in secret—if not for Jiang Qiyun, he might have barged straight into the hall by now.

And without solid evidence, even if she made a scene, there’d be no way to punish him. What’s more, today was the Emperor’s grand birthday celebration. If trouble broke out now, the Emperor would be forced to handle it fairly on the surface—but inwardly, he would be furious.

No one wanted their most important day disrupted. Even if she was the wronged party, she might still bear the brunt of his anger.

She had no intention of doing something so disadvantageous to herself.

As for Situ Yue—she had plenty of ways to make him regret being born, but now was not the time.

After all, tonight’s real show hadn’t even started. How could she waste her energy on trash like him?

“Jiang Qiyun,” she sneered, “I thought your head was full of dog dung, but at least you weren’t a hypocrite. Who knew? Turns out you’re no different.”

The moment those words landed, Jiang Qiyun’s fists and feet rained down even harder on Situ Yue.

At first, Situ Yue could still endure. But soon, he was bawling like a child, crying for his father and mother, begging for mercy.

Jiang Qiyun didn’t stop. Blow after blow landed until Situ Yue’s face was swollen beyond recognition and his cries grew hoarse, no sound left in his throat.

Just then, the palace maid who had earlier delivered the Rainbow Feather Dress returned. She froze at the scene before her but, after asking a few questions and getting no straight answers, decided to focus on her task.

“Second Miss Qiao, Her Ladyship has a matter she requires you to handle personally. Please come with me.”

He Baozhu tried to follow, but the maid politely arranged for her to be escorted to the Tai’an Hall instead.

Only then did Jiang Qiyun deliver one final savage kick. The sound of a bone snapping echoed in the air, and only then did his anger subside somewhat.

Straightening, he stood tall over the half-dead Situ Yue, a cold, arrogant glint in his eyes, his handsome face filled with an icy ruthlessness.

“Blind fool. Just you wait—this young master will deal with you yet!”