The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 173: A Stick to Drive Them Out (5)

Upon this realization, Yun Qianyue suddenly felt less resistant to being forced by Old Lord Yun to learn literacy from Rong Jing. Since the owner of this body must have had good reasons for maintaining a facade, and since she'd succeeded in fooling the world so completely for over ten years, that itself was a skill worth respecting. Yun Qianyue had only been playing the part for a few days and already felt it was a chore. It was clear that she fell short in terms of patience. Was she really going to lose to the original owner's tolerance? Certainly not! So, she decided it was best to continue the act.

"Miss, are you alright?" Cai Lian asked softly, noticing Yun Qianyue standing motionless with an ever-changing expression.

Yun Qianyue quickly masked her expression. Just as she was about to reply, the carriage came to a sudden halt, and a mocking male voice sounded from outside, "I wondered whose carriage was strutting down the street like a peacock. Turns out it's the little troublemaker from the Yun Prince's residence!"

The sudden interruption snapped Yun Qianyue from her thoughts, and she looked up.

Cai Lian's face changed, and she whispered, "Miss, it's the young prince from the Xiao Prince's residence, Leng Shaozhuo."

The young prince from the Xiao Prince's residence? Yun Qianyue frowned. "Ignore him. Keep moving!"

"Miss, I don't think we can move. Young Prince Leng has blocked the road completely," Cai Lian replied in a low voice. "He's brought quite a few people, likely intending to cause you trouble, knowing you were leaving the residence."

"Do I have some grudge against him?" Yun Qianyue asked.

"Oh dear, Miss! If you forget anything, you shouldn't forget your feud with Young Prince Leng! It's far more than a grudge! Not only did you snatch several children from him recently, which infuriated him, but just days ago, you burned down Wangchun Tower, destroying a girl named Jiaojiao, one of his favorites. Young Prince Leng must be holding a deep grudge!" Cai Lian explained nervously. "You set the fire and went into the palace the next day, then stayed at the Prince's residence to learn literacy. Later, with the presence of Prince Jing by your side, Young Prince Leng couldn't find a chance to settle the score with you. Now it seems he was lying in wait."

"Oh, I see!" Yun Qianyue narrowed her eyes.

"Yun Qianyue! Didn't you hear me? Are you mute? Or did you get so badly hurt when you fell in Lingtai Temple's underground chamber that you've gone stupid?" Leng Shaozhuo's mocking voice sounded again. He was drawing closer to the carriage.

Cai Lian trembled and quickly leaned closer to Yun Qianyue, unable to hide her fear. This time, her sharp tongue was replaced by a nervous stutter, "Miss... w-what do we do?"

Yun Qianyue's expression didn't change, remaining calm. Before Leng Shaozhuo could lift the carriage curtain, she opened it herself, meeting his gaze with a frosty look. "I'm not mute! And I'm certainly not stupid! I was just appalled by the sound of your voice. It's by far the most grating voice I've ever heard; it made my ears feel infested."

"Yun Qianyue! What did you say? You're asking for death!" Leng Shaozhuo's face contorted in rage.

Yun Qianyue took in the sight of the young man before her. Around the same age as Rong Jing, Ye Qingran, Yun Muhan, and Ye Tianyu, his appearance was leagues beneath theirs. Clad in gaudy robes, he had the air of a debauched prince. His face was sallow, and his steps lacked strength, a clear sign of someone who indulged excessively. This was the young prince of the Xiao Prince's residence? He was a disgrace to the title!

Yun Qianyue sighed inwardly. It turned out not all men in this world were paragons of beauty.

She gave Leng Shaozhuo a disdainful once-over before closing the curtain, unwilling to waste her intelligence on him.

"Miss?" Cai Lian whispered. Seeing her mistress remain calm helped her own nerves settle a bit. She thought of how Leng Shaozhuo had been humiliated by Yun Qianyue before, which made her feel less afraid.

"What's his name?" Yun Qianyue asked Cai Lian.

"His name is Leng Shaozhuo, Young Prince Leng," Cai Lian replied with a sigh. It seemed her lady didn't even know the name of the person she held the deepest grudge against. Was it because Leng Shaozhuo was too insignificant, or because her lady was just too forgetful?

"What a waste of a name," Yun Qianyue scoffed.

Just as Cai Lian was about to say something, she heard Leng Shaozhuo's furious voice outside, "Yun Qianyue, what kind of look was that?"

"The exact look you saw," Yun Qianyue replied indifferently.

With a loud "snap," the carriage curtain was thrown open, revealing Leng Shaozhuo's twisted face. His eyes bored into Yun Qianyue, practically smoldering with rage, as if he were trying to burn her alive. His face contorted into a sinister sneer. "Yun Qianyue, I heard your martial arts are crippled. Let's see how you act arrogant now!"

Yun Qianyue glanced at the twenty or so brawny men standing behind him. Retracting her gaze, she replied coolly, "I don't need martial arts to be arrogant."

"Humph! I'll teach you a lesson today! If I don't make you cry for mercy and avenge my Jiaojiao, my name isn't Leng Shaozhuo!" Leng Shaozhuo spat, his eyes ablaze with malice. He waved a hand, shouting, "Get her! This young prince will teach her a lesson today!"

"Yes, Young Prince!" The twenty or so burly men stepped forward at his command.

"Miss..." Cai Lian hastily stepped in front of Yun Qianyue, her small frame trying to shield her.

"What are you afraid of? Step aside!" Yun Qianyue gently pushed Cai Lian aside, snatching the whip from the carriage driver. She gracefully leapt down from the carriage. As the men lunged at her, she cracked the whip with a snap, striking two men with precision. They stumbled back, and Yun Qianyue took advantage of the opening, cracking her whip several more times in rapid succession. A chorus of yelps and curses filled the air as her strikes found their marks, sending the men reeling.

"Get her! Worthless fools!" Leng Shaozhuo shouted angrily, shocked to see Yun Qianyue, supposedly powerless, wielding the whip with such force.

The burly men charged again, but Yun Qianyue's whip was relentless, snapping unpredictably yet always effectively. Each strike landed squarely, leaving them helpless and unable to approach her.

In moments, the twenty or so men were left struggling to get close to her, with Yun Qianyue emerging unscathed, while they retreated, disoriented and disheveled.