I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 39

Qi Yuxiao raised her eyebrows slightly and walked a few steps closer. She used the whip in her hand to lift Wei Hanzhang's chin, looking at her with a dismissive expression. Gradually, a coldness emerged in her eyes as she sneered, "No wonder you're sisters with Wei Hanyu; you both inherit the same seductive charm."

"Your Highness, be careful with your words!" Wei Hanshuang pulled her cousin's arm and stepped in front of her, coldly saying, "Today, our Wei family was invited to congratulate you on your coming-of-age ceremony, not to be insulted."

"What kind of insult is this?" Qi Yuxiao covered her mouth and laughed mockingly. "Isn't it your sister Wei Hanyu who has experienced true humiliation?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the expressions of those around changed.

Last winter, the incident where the Fifth Young Lady of the Zhongyong Marquis's residence was abducted and subjected to repeated humiliation was no longer a secret in the capital. Even though people discussed it privately, that was something to be done behind closed doors; who would dare bring it up in front of her two younger sisters?

What kind of grudge was this to bring up such a painful scar?

The expressions of the young ladies around varied; some were worried for the two sisters, while others watched with glee.

Faced with such targeted ridicule, Wei Hanzhang did not panic. She stepped out from behind her cousin, looked up at the proud and disdainful noble lady before her, and gently asked, "May I ask what offense I have committed against you, Your Highness, that warrants such harsh treatment?"

Seeing that Wei Hanzhang spoke softly, her face calm, and even wore a slight smile as she spoke, Qi Yuxiao, who had intended to humiliate her thoroughly, felt that her deliberate provocation did not achieve the desired effect and was instantly filled with anger and embarrassment. "I just find you unpleasant; do I need a reason to be offended?"

With a flick of her wrist, she whipped the long column beside Wei Hanzhang, creating a fierce wind that swept toward Wei Hanzhang's face, leaving a faint red mark, startling the nearby noble girls into gasps.

Qi Yuxiao completely ignored the commotion she caused and coldly commanded Wei Hanzhang, "Kneel down!"

As a court-bestowed first-rank noble lady, she indeed had the right to command unentitled noble girls to kneel in respect.

If everyone were to bow together, it would be one thing, but singling out someone to kneel was a clear act of humiliation.

Wei Hanzhang's hands clenched into fists under her sleeves. In her two lifetimes, this was the first time she had been so publicly targeted. If she knelt down, she would become the laughingstock of the noble ladies' circle, making it impossible for her to socialize in the future.

Not only did she refuse to kneel, but she also stood even straighter. At fifteen, Wei Hanzhang was half a head taller than Qi Yuxiao, momentarily taking on an imposing stance.

After a brief standoff, Wei Hanzhang's smile faded completely. She looked at Qi Yuxiao and said, "A gentleman can be killed but cannot be humiliated. If I have offended you in any way, please feel free to speak plainly, without resorting to malicious provocation."

"A gentleman can be killed but cannot be humiliated? You Wei family girls still have a sense of dignity?" Qi Yuxiao scoffed coldly and shouted, "I want to humiliate you! What will you do about it?"

She raised her wrist high, ready to strike again with the whip when a few voices of conversation suddenly emerged from around the corner of the corridor. Several male guests were approaching this way.

Leading them was the heir of Duke Chen, accompanied by several young masters from various noble families, including Wei Yunshan.

Upon seeing the scene here, the group paused slightly but did not stop walking.

Qi Yuxiao's expression stiffened. No matter how willful she was, she knew that in duke Qi's manor, she was the host and Wei Hanzhang was the guest. It was unreasonable to bully a guest, and it wouldn't be appropriate to escalate the situation.

After hesitating for a moment, she reluctantly lowered her hand and coldly said, "Today you are lucky. In the future, remember to avoid me from a distance. Otherwise, this whip will eventually land on you!"

Wei Hanzhang pressed her lips together in silence.

Qi Yuxiao glared at her unflinching face and, with a hint of jealousy, said, "If it's not yours, let it go. Otherwise..."

As she threatened, she retracted the whip and strode away.

Her final words left Wei Hanzhang utterly confused.

Clearly, this was her first meeting with the noble lady, yet the other party treated her like a top enemy, full of insults and threats.

Not long after Qi Yuxiao left, the young masters approached, greeting each other, but no one mentioned what had just happened.

However, Wei Yunshan noticed the unusual expressions on his two younger sisters' faces and exchanged a questioning glance.

They had been too far away to hear the conversation, only seeing Qi Yuxiao raise her whip.

Wei Hanshuang linked her arm with her sister's. Even in front of so many people, she shook her head and didn't want to say more, not even to her own brother.

"I'm feeling a bit tired," Wei Hanzhang said, unable to stay at Duke Qi's manor any longer. She spoke softly, "Please tell Mother I'm heading home first."

"I'll go back with you." Since she couldn't stay, Wei Hanshuang didn't want to linger either.

After asking Wei Yunshan to convey the message, the sisters were about to leave. However, as they stepped down the last flight of stairs, Wei Hanzhang, lost in thought, stumbled slightly and nearly twisted her ankle. Fortunately, at that critical moment, someone caught her by the elbow.

A deep male voice came from beside her, "Miss, be careful."

It was the usually silent heir of Duke Chen, Chen Zishu.

Though he had not yet married at a young age, he had already been appointed Minister of Justice. He was undoubtedly a rising star among the noble young men in the capital, the top choice for many ladies.

This was the first time Wei Hanzhang had seen Chen Zishu, and he indeed appeared to be a handsome man with remarkable poise.

But none of that mattered; what was important was the sound of his voice and that phrase, which inexplicably felt familiar to her.

Wei Hanzhang furrowed her brows in thought for a moment before realizing, startled. She remembered the last time at Jiaofangsi when she had stumbled because of Gu Yundan's push and nearly fallen to the ground, she had also been caught in the same way.

Hadn't the person then also said, "Miss, be careful"?

Seeing the uncertainty on her face, Chen Zishu offered her a delicate bottle, saying, "You can use this for the injury on your face."

"......" Wei Hanzhang lowered her gaze to the medicine in front of her, momentarily speechless.

Since childhood, she had encountered many gestures of goodwill, so she was not unfamiliar with this. At this moment, her only thought was that it was a good thing they were away from the crowd; otherwise, the lively atmosphere that had just been building over there would probably be disrupted by this young master's actions and fall silent again.

She remained calm, but Wei Hanshuang was quite startled, her usually composed expression showing slightly enlarged pupils.

Wei Hanzhang politely declined, "Thank you for your kindness, Young Master, but there's no need to trouble yourself."

"The skin on your face is delicate; ordinary ointment won't work quickly. This will only take two days," Chen Zishu said, still holding the medicine bottle without putting it away. His gaze softened with a hint of a smile as he gently continued, "If you're truly worried about owing me a favor, you might as well thank me again. After all, when I helped you at the entrance of the Jiaofangsi, I didn't even get a proper look from you."