Duan Xinghui steadied himself. He knew he wasn't wrong; the one he loved was Er Ya. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder why she couldn't empathize with him just a little. Once a man loses his job—his source of pride—he can feel incredibly inferior. Now, Duan Xinghui found himself in a drunken stupor every day, feeling as if the road ahead was completely dark.
Returning to the Duan Residence with a bottle of wine, he ran into Madame Duan, who was anxiously rushing out.
"Mom, what's wrong?" he asked.
Seeing her son's state filled Madame Duan with sorrow, but she had more pressing matters to address. "Er Ya has gone to raise a fuss at the Princess Residence," she informed him hurriedly.
Duan Xinghui jolted awake from his stupor. He dropped the bottle and turned to head towards the Princess Residence, his heart racing with anxiety. Even he wasn't sure why he felt this way, but he could not deny a sudden desire to see Princess Jiahui. There was also a glimmer of hope that she might plead with the Emperor on his behalf.
When he arrived at the Princess Residence, he spotted Er Ya, dressed in green, kneeling at the entrance. The guards were watching her vigilantly, and a crowd had gathered to gawk at the scene.
For some inexplicable reason, Duan Xinghui felt hesitant to approach her. A torrent of conflicting emotions swirled within him, leaving him numb.
Meanwhile, Ning Shu was irked to hear from Xiao Hong that Er Ya was causing trouble outside. Despite her efforts to keep things calm, the people from the Duan Residence insisted on coming to her doorstep. It was unbelievable.
Ning Shu stroked the whip at her waist. Xiao Hong recognized this gesture as a sign of the princess's rising anger. All the guards at the Princess Residence had been trained by her, effectively serving as her whipping practice targets.
Determined to confront the situation, Ning Shu walked toward the doors, eager to see what kind of ruckus was unfolding. However, she was fully aware that they shouldn't blame her for any lack of politeness.
As she stepped out, time seemed to slow for Duan Xinghui. Princess Jiahui, as always, was dressed in equestrian attire, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, a whip at her side. Her presence was both refreshing and elegant, prompting the onlookers to sigh in admiration.
Ning Shu halted at the top of the steps, sizing up Er Ya, who was kneeling on the ground. Er Ya had applied cosmetics, with her brows drawn into thin lines, and wore a delicate silk garment. Ning Shu couldn't help but think that the outfit didn't suit her at all.
With her naturally thick eyebrows and large eyes, Er Ya's attempt to create a more refined look only made her features appear unnatural. The impression she left on Ning Shu now paled in comparison to their first encounter at the city entrance.
As Er Ya gazed up at Ning Shu, she felt the princess exuded an almost ethereal beauty, surrounded by a halo of light. Despite not wearing any jewelry, Ning Shu appeared peerlessly elegant and noble, making Er Ya feel even more inferior.
She recalled Yuan Dong's words: Princess Jiahui was meant to be Duan Xinghui's wife, and he was supposed to be the Emperor's brother-in-law. Yuan Dong had said that Er Ya's actions had caused Princess Jiahui's anger, leading to Duan's fall from grace as a general.
Er Ya had come to plead with the princess on Duan Xinghui's behalf. "Princess, do you still remember me?" she asked, her tone hopeful.
Ning Shu raised an eyebrow. Was it appropriate for Er Ya to use that kind of tone with a princess?
"Princess, a thousand wrongs, ten thousand wrongs—they're all my wrongs. I beg you, please don't blame Duan anymore," Er Ya cried. "Please don't be angry anymore. As long as you don't blame Duan, you can have me do anything."
Duan Xinghui, watching from the crowd, felt a mix of emotions—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty. He was both moved and humiliated by Er Ya's desperate plea.
Meanwhile, Ning Shu felt like her patience was wearing thin. What on earth did this mean? It almost made her seem like a petty scoundrel who took pleasure in tearing couples apart. She had never intended to meddle in anyone's love life, yet these people insisted on seeking her out.
Er Ya's words sounded like she was trying to leverage her position to resolve private grievances. If they were upset, they should confront Li Wen, the one who issued the imperial edict. Why were they coming to her? They treated her as if she were a pushover!