033. The Noble Daughter

Le Qianxue sat on the soft couch, her face sour; she truly had no desire to sit with Young Master Li.

Li was eating heartily. “Qianxue, when do you think we should visit your father together and get our engagement settled as soon as possible?”

Qianxue nearly choked on her own saliva. Her eyes widened in disbelief—how could someone be so self-absorbed?

“Young Master Li, what engagement? I have no intention of marrying you.”

“But Qianxue, your father is very pleased with his future son-in-law!” Li, convinced of his own charm, tilted his head and gave a smile he thought was suave, though it only highlighted his unattractiveness.

Qianxue lost what little appetite she had and did her best not to look at him.

“Young Master Li, you certainly have an abundance of confidence. Even if my father is satisfied with you, whether I marry or not is up to me, not him.”

“Qianxue, how can you say that? Marriage is a matter for one’s parents and the matchmaker!”

“You know my reputation well enough by now. Do you really think I’d listen to my father or meekly obey some matchmaker?” Qianxue almost laughed. She knew exactly what Li was after.

If he thought he could gain something from her, he was sorely mistaken.

For a moment, Li was speechless. Qianxue’s words weren’t wrong; after all, she was famous throughout the capital for being headstrong and independent.

He looked at her—she was even more beautiful than before. Just a glance at her profile was enough to intoxicate a man.

She no longer resembled the foolish girl she once was. If he married her now, it wouldn’t be much of a hardship.

So, why not simply force her hand, leaving her no choice but to marry him?

He moved closer. “Qianxue, a young lady shouldn’t act like this. Listen to me—”

Li’s mouth was slick with grease as he approached Qianxue, suddenly lunging at her.

She never expected him to turn into a beast so quickly! The sight of his fat, greasy face nearly made her retch.

He grabbed her hand, trying to kiss her. “Qianxue, come now, I know you like me.”

Enraged, Qianxue snapped, “Who would ever like a pig like you?”

Li froze—did she just call him a pig?

He lost all restraint and tried to overpower her. “Qianxue, don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! Marrying me is the greatest fortune you’ll ever have. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re well satisfied!”

Qianxue arched an eyebrow. “Really? You dare say that? Looking at you, I doubt you’d last longer than a cup of tea. Not that it matters, since you’ll never be a man again!”

With that, she ruthlessly kicked him between the legs.

Li’s face turned white, and he screamed in agony, clutching himself and rolling on the floor.

Qianxue snorted, brushed off her clothes, and looked at him with contempt. To think he could force himself on her with so little effort—she had eyes, after all.

The main hall of Yi Hong Courtyard was full of guests, but when screams erupted from the second-floor private rooms, someone was kicked downstairs, smashing through a table.

Li passed out, terrifying the guests, who scattered in a panic.

Qianxue walked to the corridor and glanced down. It looked like Li would live.

She clapped her hands. Why hadn’t Yin Susu returned yet?

Nearby, Lord Mu and Lord Zhuang, having heard the commotion, came out to see what was happening. They froze at the sight of Qianxue.

“Le Qianxue?” Lord Mu regarded her with newfound respect; after all, she had fetched Yuan Tianci to save him before. “What are you doing here?”

This was a place for men—what was Qianxue doing here?

Lord Zhuang looked over and recognized the man on the ground. “Isn’t that Minister Li’s son? Qianxue, did you do this to him?”

Qianxue couldn’t be bothered to explain. “Lord Mu, Lord Zhuang, it’s just a minor incident. Go back to your drinks.”

With that, she walked downstairs.

The two noblemen exchanged glances. Who would have thought Qianxue could be so fierce? Whatever Li had done to deserve this, it must have been serious.

Qianxue intended to find Yin Susu, but after circling the place, she couldn’t spot her.

After asking around, she learned Yin Susu had gone out back.

She found her in the rear courtyard, skulking about and peering at something.

“What are you looking at?” Qianxue tapped Susu on the shoulder.

Yin Susu jumped and quickly turned, clapping her hand over Qianxue’s mouth and dragging her behind the artificial rockery.

Puzzled, Qianxue whispered, “What’s going on? Why so secretive?”

Yin Susu answered in a low voice, “This place is dirty business. I just saw them locking up girls they’d snatched and forced to work here.”

“Is that so?” Qianxue replied. “I thought all the girls here sold themselves willingly.”

That was, after all, the law of Tianlong—no one, not even parents, could sell their daughters into brothels against their will.

So Qianxue had originally thought Tianlong a decent place, with little darkness.

Yin Susu whispered, “Not everywhere is like my old Drunken Painting House. This brothel belongs to the Second Prince in secret. Of course they act without fear.”

Qianxue snorted. “The Second Prince is no good, always relying on the Yang family for support.”

Yin Susu gritted her teeth. She despised this most of all. “Xue’er, you should leave. I’m going to get those girls out.”

Qianxue raised an eyebrow. “Leave? Why not invite me to join in something so noble?”

“But you—you're the eldest daughter of the General’s Manor. Everything you do affects your family’s fate,” Susu said.

Qianxue just smiled. “So what? I usually avoid trouble, but I won’t stand by for forced trafficking.”

Besides, with the Second Prince behind them, reporting to the authorities would be useless—officials only protected each other.

The Chief Justice would never get involved in such minor matters.

Yin Susu said, “No wonder we got along right away. We both despise evil.”

“Wrong,” Qianxue replied. “It’s not about hating evil. I just want to put the Yang family in their place.”

No one in the capital dared cross the Yangs. The Empress Yang had falsely accused her in the palace, and Qianxue hadn’t even retaliated yet. It wasn’t too late to start now.

The two discussed their plan and split up—Yin Susu to steal the keys, Qianxue to take down the guards at the door.

Yin Susu soon returned with the keys and unlocked the cellar, where dozens of young girls were imprisoned for disobedience.

She hurriedly led them out, but at that moment, the old madam of the brothel arrived. Seeing them causing trouble, she shouted, “Who are you? How dare you make a scene in my Yi Hong Courtyard?!”

These were all beautiful girls—letting them escape would be a huge loss.

Qianxue stepped forward. “A scene? What about your business of abducting girls—how do you explain that?”

The madam’s face turned pale—indeed, it was a disgraceful secret. But with the Yang family and the Second Prince behind her, she was unafraid.

“What’s it to you? If you meddle in my affairs, I’ll have you seized and put to work here as well!” she shouted, signaling her men. “Grab them! Don’t let anyone escape!”

The guards rushed forward, but Qianxue scattered some poison powder. Though they had some martial skill, they were no match for her.

The imprisoned girls screamed in terror, but some gathered their courage and fled the brothel.

The place descended into chaos. Many guests had already left. Lord Mu and Lord Zhuang watched Qianxue battle the guards in amazement.

The General’s daughter fighting in a brothel—what a spectacle!

The madam, enraged that her men were being defeated so easily, screamed, “Do you even know who backs me?”

Qianxue placed her hands on her hips and smiled. “Of course I do. Why else would I cause such a ruckus?”

The madam had seen many, but never someone so fearless.

She retreated a step, stammering, “You… you… just wait, you’ll be sorry!”

Meanwhile, Yin Susu, seeing that nearly everyone had escaped, called out, “Miss, it’s getting late. Let’s go.”

Qianxue nodded, glanced at the madam, and smiled. “Auntie, you’d better stop this business. Or at least stop doing the Yang family’s dirty work.”

With that, the two strode out of Yi Hong Courtyard without a care.

Back at the General’s Manor, Le Yongcheng was still at the palace; he likely wouldn’t return until late.

But word of Qianxue’s uproar at Yi Hong Courtyard soon swept through the capital.

Not only that, but rumors of her “molesting” Zhan Lianjing resurfaced. Many concluded that Le Qianxue was growing ever more reckless and unruly.

Dusk had not yet fallen when someone arrived from the palace.

Hua Tao burst in, panic-stricken. “Miss, something awful has happened! The palace has summoned you! After today’s incident at Yi Hong Courtyard, I fear His Majesty is calling you to answer for your crimes!”

Qianxue frowned slightly. She hadn’t expected the Emperor, newly returned to the capital, to summon her so soon. Who knew how much ill Yang the Prime Minister had spoken of her?

“It’s nothing. Wait for my return,” Qianxue replied, and followed the eunuch to the palace.

Hua Tao was beside herself with worry, but Qianxue remained as nonchalant as ever. Yin Susu, however, was unconcerned; Qianxue always managed to find a way.

In the Hall of Heavenly Dragon, the Emperor of Tianlong, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes, sat upon his throne. He glanced at Qianxue, his expression unreadable.