Volume 1, Chapter 4: Abducting the Princess in Broad Daylight

“Let go, let go, Ying’er, I was wrong. Our Ying’er is uniquely beautiful and virtuous in all the world. To have married you is a blessing beyond generations, hehe.”

Feeling that special affection, Zhu Yu’s expression turned sour, and he could only force a smile as he spoke.

“Aren’t you often at the Entertainment Bureau? Why don’t you see if any of the girls there catch Prince Qin’s eye?” Tang Ying looked at Zhu Yu with a half-smile, half-smirk.

“Alright, Ying’er, I really only go to listen to the music at the Entertainment Bureau. I haven’t laid a finger on any of them. Didn’t I take you there before as well?”

“Hmph, who knows?” Tang Ying haughtily placed her hands on her hips.

“Alright, I’ll let you off this time. Let’s settle the bill, and we’ll also go have some fun at the Entertainment Bureau.”

“Okay.”

~

At the same time

“Second Young Master, look over there! That lady is truly exquisite!”

A lecherous man suddenly spoke to the leader of their group.

“Hiss~” The leader glanced over.

His eyes fixed on Tang Ying as he said, “Pangzi, you’re the adopted son my father recognizes, and you’ve just come back with me from the battlefield. You can just call me Second Brother; we’re family, no need for formality.”

Then he added, “I quite like this lady, Second Brother. If we invite her back to the manor, once I’ve had my fun, I’ll reward you all by letting you share this earthly beauty.”

The leader’s face was full of lust as he licked his lips, barely able to contain his impatience.

“Second Brother, just watch. Don’t worry, my brothers and I will snatch her for you. I hope this lady lives longer than those others before her; it would be a shame otherwise,” the man called Pangzi said with a look of false tenderness.

“Hahaha, Second Brother, this deadbeat Pangzi has learned to pity women now. Everyone knows he’s the one who’s killed the most girls before.”

“Yeah, he’s the one who did them in…”

The others accompanying them teased shamelessly.

“Enough, enough. We have business to attend to. I can’t wait any longer,” the leader interrupted impatiently, urging them on.

…

Zhu Yu was pointing at the hairpin on Tang Ying’s head, asking the shopkeeper, “How much is this hairpin?”

“Young master, this hairpin is a premium piece from our shop, forty taels of silver.”

The shop assistant’s eyes gleamed with slyness as he spoke respectfully.

“How much!?” Zhu Yu nearly choked on his words. “A low-grade, cloudy jade, just a decent design, and you dare charge so much?”

“Buy it or not, young master. Do some comparison outside. Almost all the other shops get their stock from our Shen family’s trading house. In the entire Ming, you’ll spend the least wasting money here.”

The shop assistant spoke impatiently, looking down on Zhu Yu as if he were a pauper.

‘The Shen family, huh,’ Zhu Yu thought, finding Shen Wansan’s arrogance increasingly unbearable, his impression of him soured.

“Enough, poor man. If you can’t afford it, put the item down and get out. Don’t disturb our business,” the assistant urged.

Zhu Yu was about to command his guards to throw money at the assistant in anger when—

“Assistant, put this lady’s bill on my tab. The Yongjia Marquis’s residence will send someone to pay later.”

The leader of the group soon arrived at the couple’s side, arrogantly instructing the assistant.

“Yes, sir! You have great taste. I wish you success in winning the beauty’s heart.”

The assistant bowed, flattering the leader with Tang Ying.

“Hahaha, of course! Here’s the tip!”

“Lady, would you like to come with me? I will treat you well,” the leader greedily appraised Tang Ying, his lust growing uncontrollable.

“Oh? You’d better ask my future husband first. I obey him and dare not disobey,” the woman said disdainfully, casting a scornful glance at the leader, then looking at Zhu Yu with grievance.

The leader and the shop assistant’s behavior ignited a blazing fury in Zhu Yu’s heart.

Damn it, in this Ming Dynasty, someone actually dares to snatch his wife?!

This was truly a new experience.

These reckless nobles only dared approach because Zhu Yu thought having his guards around was unnecessary and disturbed the private moment with Tang Ying, so they had been pushed aside.

Calmly, Zhu Yu toyed with Tang Ying’s hair, helplessly watching his beloved’s antics, while signaling his guards to stand down.

Glancing sideways at the beasts before him, he suppressed his rage and said, “No matter whose dogs you are, I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll spare your lives. Now get lost.”

“Hey! Who the hell do you think you are, speaking like that? This here is Zhu Yu, Second Young Master of the Yongjia Marquis’s residence. Watch your tongue! The Second Young Master has his eye on your woman. It’s your good fortune. Hand her over, or don’t blame your grandfather if I get rough!” Pangzi’s adopted son said arrogantly, utterly unconcerned.

“Hey, Pangzi, the lady is still here. Behave yourself, or we’ll look like bullies. But this young man here, well-dressed but clearly a pauper.”

“I’ll be generous for this lady’s sake. I’ll give you ten taels if you cooperate. Know that the Yongjia Marquis isn’t someone you can provoke,” Zhu Yu said calmly, as if all this were only natural.

“Not good enough. Even if I add your miserable lives, it’s still not enough,” Zhu Yu’s eyes flashed with sharp intent as he spoke coldly.

“Hmph, don’t take my kindness for weakness! Hit him! No matter life or death, I’m responsible if anything happens!”

“Take the lady away. Don’t soil our eyes. Send her to my annex and look after her well.”

Zhu Yu’s opponent, Zhu Yu, could no longer suppress his anger and growled his order.

Just as a fist was about to strike Zhu Yu, a rough hand grabbed it.

“Who are you? How dare you block people from the Yongjia Marquis’s residence!” the owner of the fist growled menacingly, while the others stopped and stared at the man before them.

The man held the fist tightly with one hand, then turned and bowed slightly, saying, “Your Highness!”

“Qin Er, help them kneel and loosen their joints.”

“Yes!”

Qin Er turned and ordered the other guards, “Start.”

Without delay, they ruthlessly attacked the group of debauched nobles until one by one they lay prostrate on the ground.

At this moment, the group was still reeling from hearing the word “Your Highness.”

“Report, Your Highness. As per your command, the matter has been resolved.”

Qin Er half-kneeling, reported to Zhu Yu.

“Good. Stand up now,” Zhu Yu said, helping Qin Er to his feet.

Then he looked into the crowd, “Let me see who dares to snatch the woman who is to be my future princess? Who thinks they can be my grandfather?”

Zhu Yu surveyed the group with a half-smile.

Zhu Yu finally snapped out of his lust-driven haze, realizing the trouble he had caused. He hurriedly approached Zhu Yu and said,

“Your Highness, we spoke nonsense just now, unaware of your presence, and caused offense. Now that we have been punished, I hope Your Highness can forgive me.”

“Oh? Forgive? Weren’t you arrogant just now? Too bad I’m very petty. You lay a hand on my woman, how could I forgive you? Or shall I teach you a lesson?”

Zhu Yu looked fiercely at Zhu Yu, killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Seeing no way out, Zhu Yu slowly stood and said,

“Your Highness has already punished me. I admit fault since I was the first to err. But if you want to do anything further, don’t forget, my father is the Yongjia Marquis, and you are only a prince.”

“Be careful; your position as prince might become unstable.”