"Audacious!" Ning Shu exclaimed coldly as she swung her whip, knocking the sword from Duan Xinghui's hand and sending it flying. The blade embedded itself in the wall, quivering slightly.
All of this happened in just a few seconds. Duan Xinghui was stunned to realize the sword was no longer in his grasp and turned to Ning Shu in confusion. Today, she wore a simple outfit—lady's riding gear—that made her look valiant and heroic.
Gone were the elaborate clothes and hairpins; there wasn't a single unnecessary adornment on her. Duan Xinghui had never seen Jiahui like this before. She was incomparably refined and cold, her gaze directed at him filled with indifference.
For some reason, Duan Xinghui felt a profound sense of loss. He was used to Jiahui looking at him with adoration, and the abrupt absence of that gaze left him feeling frustrated. To him, it was a mark of pride to have a high-status woman like a princess admire him, so the lack of that admiration felt disappointing and vexing.
"This general greets the Princess." Reluctantly, he managed to salute her. It was hard for him to accept—having to bow to a woman, especially to his future wife. His ego struggled with this reality.
Ning Shu scoffed. "This general? Duan Xinghui, has Imperial Older Brother restored your rank just for you to call yourself 'this general'?"
In the original storyline, Duan Xinghui hadn't been dismissed by Li Wen, but now that he had been, his status ironically matched Er Ya's. Ning Shu smirked contemptuously. A noble princess had to lower herself to accommodate Duan Xinghui's male ego.
But now that he lacked the status for Er Ya to admire, how would this supposed true love last?
Duan Xinghui's heart sank as he muttered, "This worthless commoner knows that the Princess holds a grudge against me, but my mother is innocent."
Seriously? So now Duan Xinghui was trying to defend Madame Duan? Ning Shu let out a cold laugh. "This princess hasn't done anything to Madame Duan. But even if I had, what could you do about it?" His logic was downright absurd.
Ning Shu interpreted Duan Xinghui's words: he was essentially saying her high status had suffocated him, which was why he harbored resentment.
Forget that. Ning Shu responded with an unapologetic middle finger.