Chapter 26: The Confrontation
Wang Wei wheeled himself angrily toward Haoyu's chamber, his heart pounding with a mix of rage and determination. Unbeknownst to him, Princess Hua and Chen Xui were sneaking behind him, their curiosity piqued by the tension radiating from the prince.
"What brings you here, puppet?" Haoyu sneered, his confidence seemingly restored after recovering from the blow Princess Hua had dealt him.
"Did you harass my wife?" Wang Wei asked gently, his voice low and dangerous. Princess Hua, who had been trailing closely behind, exchanged a surprised glance with Chen Xui.
"Your Highness, he called you his wife," Chen Xui whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief. The air crackled with tension as the two men glared at each other, the weight of their words hanging heavily in the room.
"Your wife? Did she tell you I harassed her? You don't really deserve her; you're just sick," Haoyu retorted, a smirk playing on his lips.
Wang Wei's expression hardened, and without a word, he ordered the guards to seize Haoyu. They moved quickly, binding his hands and feet.
"I am your master!" Haoyu shouted defiantly at the guards, but they stood firm, unwilling to defy Wang Wei's orders.
With a grim determination, Wang Wei picked up a rod and began to beat Haoyu mercilessly, the sound of flesh meeting wood echoing through the chamber. Blood splattered across the floor as Haoyu writhed in pain, desperately trying to escape the onslaught.
Just as Wang Wei moved closer to the hot iron, intent on inflicting further punishment, General Wang and Madam Feng burst into the room.
"Wang Wei!" General Wang shouted, his voice booming with authority. "How could you do this to your brother?"
"Brother, did you just call this brat my brother?" Wang Wei exclaimed, his voice laced with fury. "He isn't my brother! He dares to harass my wife, and you still refer to him as my family?"
General Wang's expression hardened as he shot back, "So you want to beat him on behalf of the princess? Did you actually see him doing that?" His tone was sharp, filled with disbelief at Wang Wei's accusations.
"Princess Hua is my wife, and nobody in this house dares to harass her," Wang Wei replied, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.
"He is cute when he is angry and fierce," Princess Hua whispered to Chen Xui, a smile creeping onto her face as they eavesdropped from the shadows.
"You want to kill my son for your wife?" Madam Feng interjected, her voice dripping with disdain. "What could possibly attract my son to your wife? His fiancée is far more beautiful than Princess Hua. Why do you want to kill my son?"
"Really?" Wang Wei shot back, his anger flaring.
"Wang Wei, I have tolerated your rude behavior because I felt pity for you and your sister since your mother's death," General Wang said, his tone stern.
"You don't deserve to mention my mother," Wang Wei spat, his eyes blazing with fury.
"I am your father!" General Wang declared, slapping Wang Wei across the face.
"You slapped me, and yet you don't deserve to speak my mother's name," Wang Wei replied defiantly, his grip tightening around the rod as he turned to strike Haoyu again, who was cowering behind Madam Feng.
"Wei!" General Wang yelled, his voice filled with desperation.
"Brother!" A familiar voice called out, causing Wang Wei to freeze. It was Wang Mei, her presence a calming force amidst the chaos.
"Father," Wang Mei bowed respectfully, her eyes darting between the two men.
"You okay?" General Wang asked, surprise etched on his face as he took in the scene.
"Brother," Wang Mei said softly, moving closer to Wang Wei and nodding her head, urging him to relent.
Madam Feng seized the opportunity to pull Haoyu away, who was barely able to stand after the brutal beating. It had been a harrowing day for him, filled with pain and humiliation.
General Wang stormed out, his anger palpable, leaving behind a tense silence. After a moment, Princess Hua and Chen Xui hurried back to their chamber, their hearts racing.
They stood in silence, pretending to know nothing of the turmoil that had just unfolded, but Princess Hua's face betrayed her concern. She realized the trouble she had caused for Wang Wei, and witnessing General Wang's slap made it clear that he was not a man to be trifled with—neither was her husband.
As they watched Wang Mei wheel Wang Wei into the library, the weight of the day's events settled heavily on their shoulders, leaving them to ponder the consequences of their actions.