Angry?
What right does Princess Serenity have to be angry? At today’s Peach Blossom Festival, the one with the greatest right to be furious is Serena Feng.
Serena Feng didn’t look back. With her back to Princess Serenity, she said, “Your Highness needn’t be so polite with me. Even if we do this again, I won’t be afraid. It’s just a shame about those six men…”
This was both a threat and a negotiation.
If Princess Serenity has even a shred of sense, she’ll compromise!
Once she loosed this arrow, Serena Feng wouldn’t breathe a word about what happened in the side courtyard. Otherwise…
Serena Feng is on good terms with William Wang Jinling and General Warren Yu—this is nothing like a murder outside the walls. Anything that happens at the Royal Country Villa can absolutely be investigated. Even if it can’t, the scandal could still be thrown onto Princess Serenity.
Princess Serenity was left speechless, her confidence shaken and humiliation burning in her cheeks.
She wasn’t afraid of the incident leaking out; what she feared was the First Young Master finding out and seeing her as a cruel, ruthless woman.
The First Young Master is such a flawless person—she absolutely could not let him see her true, ruthless side.
Princess Serenity’s face cycled from livid green to deathly pale. In the end, she swallowed her pride and compromised, sitting down with a heavy thud, humiliation twisting her features as she ordered Qiu Hui, “Go.”
Qiu Hui’s face was bloodless, all her pride and bravado gone. General Qiu’s daughter—good in name, useless in reality. (Serena’s thought)
“Didn’t you hear me? Hurry up! You—yes, you all, drag her over. If you can’t, you’ll take her place.” Princess Serenity snapped, casually pointing at the nearest girls.
Save yourself, not your friends—several noble girls singled out by Princess Serenity rushed forward, dragging Qiu Hui a hundred meters away. As Qiu Hui panicked, they placed an apple on her head.
Daring to use Serena Feng’s father as leverage? That’s like the old immortal hanging himself—tempting fate and practically begging for disaster.
“Qiu Hui, don’t blame us. If you want to blame someone, blame Serena Feng. Stand still.”
With that, they left Qiu Hui behind and ran off.
Terrified that Serena Feng’s arrow might stray and strike them, the girls scrambled away in a panic, hearts racing with fear.
“No, no, Father, save me…” Qiu Hui wailed, her voice cracking as the apple on her head fell again and again. (Spoken dialogue)
“How is this supposed to work? You girls, go hold her steady. Don’t worry, my archery is excellent—even blindfolded, I can hit the mark.” (Serena’s spoken line)
Whether I hit the person or the apple, well, that’s another matter.
In the whole grove, only Serena Feng could still smile. She raised her arrow and, pointing at two palace maids, laughed.
Princess Serenity sighed and waved her hand. “Go on.”
The two maids braced themselves and went over, finally holding Qiu Hui steady so the apple stayed put.
“All right, I’m going to shoot now!” Serena Feng closed her eyes and drew the bow…
The grove fell silent. Everyone shut their eyes, not daring to watch.
A sharp whoosh split the air. Every heart seemed to stop.
“Ah…”
The girl named Qiu Hui screamed.
A foul stench filled the air!
The general’s daughter, Qiu Hui, was so terrified she lost control and urinated in front of everyone—her shame and rage nearly unbearable.
When everyone opened their eyes, they saw Serena Feng toss her bow and arrow to the ground. “How boring. I hadn’t even shot, and you’re already like this? Aren’t you supposed to be a general’s daughter? You’ve disgraced your father. He used to serve under mine—must’ve been a lowly soldier, otherwise he wouldn’t have raised such a useless daughter.”
Serena Feng made no attempt to hide her contempt and arrogance.
She insulted not just Qiu Hui, but her father as well.
Daring to use Serena Feng’s father as leverage? That’s like an old immortal tying a noose around his neck—begging for trouble and tempting fate.
The others looked at the girl with pity, while Serena Feng just sneered.
Cheap sympathy.
If they really felt sorry, why hadn’t any of them volunteered to take her place?
Sympathy? What about Qiu Hui makes her worthy of pity?
Just moments ago, she was the loudest about making someone else the human target. Now that it’s her turn, she’s afraid?
Too late!
Serena Feng can be bullied—but her father cannot be insulted!
“Take her away.” Princess Serenity was seething with hatred and resentment, but couldn’t show it. She could only restrain herself and vent her anger on the disgraced Qiu Hui.
Serena Feng’s disruption killed everyone’s mood for the archery contest. One by one, the girls turned to Princess Serenity, hoping she’d stand up for them.
Yes, stand up for them.
Even though Qiu Hui was humiliated, they all felt it too. Today was supposed to be about mocking Serena Feng—but what happened?
Instead, they were the ones shamed. It was infuriating.
Princess Serenity didn’t disappoint. She took a deep breath and forced a stiff smile. “Miss Feng, your archery truly is remarkable—worthy of your father’s legacy. But I wonder how your tea and zither skills compare? Earlier, the young ladies competed, but it doesn’t matter. Today, we’ll hold a special session just for you. After all, you are…different from the rest.”
That last line dripped with sarcasm.
“Heh, she really is different—a woman any man can have. If not for the princess’s mercy, she’d never be allowed at the Peach Blossom Festival.”
A young woman in willow-yellow stepped out, her jade rings chiming sweetly at her waist.
She was the daughter of Duke Zhen—Lady Bianca of Wu’an. She’d often bullied Serena Feng in the past and seemed to fancy Adrian Dongling.
“Lady Bianca,” Serena Feng greeted her with a graceful bow, careful not to give Bianca any excuse to pick a fight.
“A general’s daughter—I expected you to be crude, but you know your manners. Too bad you don’t know shame.” Lady Bianca was clearly out to embarrass Serena Feng.
If not for the setting, Serena Feng would have rolled her eyes.
What do you think? Who do you think you are?
No wonder the old Serena Feng was so timid and insecure—these girls bullied her openly, one after another.
But she’s not the same Serena Feng anymore. The old Serena would just bow her head and cry, but now—even a princess couldn’t intimidate her, let alone a mere county princess.
Serena Feng gave Lady Bianca a long, mocking look. In front of a doctor, you’d better guarantee your own purity before talking about someone else’s.
Serena Feng’s lips curled in regret. "With your noble status, I thought you’d be ice-pure and jade-clean. Turns out there are exceptions…"
Someone in the crowd gasped, snapping the girls back to attention. Instantly, every gaze locked onto Lady Bianca, hungry for scandal.
Serena Feng would bet her medical degree that Lady Bianca was no virgin. If she couldn’t tell as a doctor, she might as well quit.
She really wasn’t a virgin—but that didn’t matter, as long as no one ever found out. Unlike Serena Feng, whose so-called scandal had been blasted across the whole capital. Lady Bianca’s heart hammered in her chest, panic rising as she realized the crowd’s suspicion was growing.
She really wasn’t a virgin, but so what? No one would ever find out—unlike Serena Feng, whose scandal was the talk of the capital.
"Whoever’s quick to protest is the one I mean, Lady Bianca." Serena Feng gave her a knowing look, her gaze sharp and merciless, letting Bianca know she wasn’t fooled for a second.
Ah…
Someone in the crowd gasped, snapping the girls back to attention. All eyes turned to Lady Bianca.
No way—Lady Bianca isn’t pure? But she hasn’t even been engaged yet.
The stares made Lady Bianca deeply uneasy. She rushed to defend herself, voice trembling with desperation as she tried to prove her innocence, shouting:
“Serena Feng, stop slandering me! Everyone in the capital knows your story. Don’t spread lies about others just because you’re not innocent yourself.”
They might dislike Serena Feng, but they didn’t mind seeing another noblewoman’s scandal exposed. (Serena’s observation)
They might dislike Serena Feng, but they didn’t mind seeing another noblewoman’s scandal exposed.
If Lady Bianca really was as Serena Feng claimed, then… (Serena’s inner monologue)
A look of eager amusement flashed across the girls’ faces. (Serena’s observation)
This year’s Peach Blossom Festival was turning out to be quite the show! (Serena’s inner monologue)