Chapter 26: An Apology to My Benefactor-Spoilers nos Comentários: Depois de Encontrar um Novo Amor, o Príncipe Herdeiro Enlouqueceu(Coelhinho Laranja)

Looking at Sheng Mingyue’s face, flushed with indignation, Jia’an shrugged and said dismissively, "What consequences? What could you possibly do to me?"

"You... you are simply outrageous!" Sheng Mingyue stepped forward, gripping Jia’an’s wrist with a stern expression. "You have injured someone without cause. Come with me to see the Prince!"

Jia’an let out a mocking laugh. She twisted her wrist, caught Sheng Mingyue’s right hand, and forced it back behind her. "You’re as thin as a bamboo pole; do you really think you can handle me?"

"Young Mistress!" Song Guo’s face paled. She rushed forward to pull at Jia’an. "Let go! If anything happens to the Young Mistress, the Prince will not let you off!"

A glint of interest flickered in Jia’an’s eyes. She arched a brow and asked, "I merely twisted an arm, and you’re acting as if it’s a matter of life and death. You Central Plains people are as frail as ants."

"Let go."

"Jia’an!"

Two voices rang out simultaneously. Jia’an turned her head, utterly indifferent, only to see her mother walking toward her with a face full of fury.

Rong Zhao hurried over to them. Seeing Sheng Mingyue’s face, pale with pain, a surge of anger rose in his heart. He looked at Jia’an with cold eyes and said in a deep voice, "Insolent girl! Where have you learned your manners?"

Rong Min followed close behind him, calling out sharply, "Jia’an, let go at once! Have you no sense of decorum?"

"Making such a fuss," Jia’an scoffed. Finding the situation boring, she shoved Sheng Mingyue’s hand away and stood to the side with her arms crossed.

Sheng Mingyue stumbled back a few steps, losing her footing.

"Benefactor..." Rong Zhao caught her by the shoulders, his expression showing a rare trace of panic. "Did you strain your wound?"

Sheng Mingyue shook her head, lowered her gaze, and whispered, "I am fine, My Lord. It is just that this young lady also injured Song Guo."

Rong Zhao frowned. His gaze swept over the red, swollen bump on Song Guo’s forehead and finally settled back on Jia’an. "You are truly audacious."

Rong Min glanced at Song Guo’s injury with disdain before turning to reprimand her daughter. "Since you have come to Great Chu, rein in that temper of yours! This is your Imperial Uncle’s estate, not a place for you to run wild!"

Jia’an turned her face away, grumbling reluctantly, "I know, Ana."

Rong Min’s face darkened, and she lowered her voice. "How many times must I tell you? From now on, living in Great Chu, you must call me Mother!"

Jia’an toyed with her fingers, murmuring "mm" in an absent-minded way, clearly not listening.

Rong Min sighed and looked at Rong Zhao with an apologetic expression. "Zhao, Jia’an grew up wild in the Northern Desert. She is restless and unconventional, not like a typical young lady. She is a bit mischievous, but her heart is not bad. She will improve after living in Great Chu for a while."

Rong Zhao pressed his thin lips together, his gaze still fixed on Jia’an as he said coldly, "Apologize to my benefactor."

Jia’an froze, unable to believe her ears. "Me? Imperial Uncle, you want me to apologize to a servant?"

Rong Min furrowed her brows, her tone filled with displeasure. "Zhao, this is going too far. Jia’an is my daughter, a princess of the Northern Desert..."

"Elder Sister, are you going to continue spoiling a child with such a wicked temper?"

"When one makes a mistake, one must admit it." Rong Zhao narrowed his eyes, stepping in front of Sheng Mingyue, his tone brook no refusal. "Mingyue is not a servant. Twice she has saved my life; she is, for all intents and purposes, half a master in this Prince’s mansion."

"Now," Rong Zhao stared intently at Jia’an, enunciating each word, "apologize to her."

"If you refuse, I shall have to teach you a lesson on your mother's behalf. Otherwise, I fear you are unworthy of calling me Imperial Uncle."

"I..." Jia’an faltered, instinctively looking to her mother. "Ana, I don't want to..."

Rong Min raised her eyes, glanced at Sheng Mingyue standing opposite them, and said lowly, "Go and apologize to your Imperial Uncle’s benefactor."

"Ana!"

"Go!"

Rong Min’s anger flared, her voice rising uncontrollably.

Startled by her mother's outburst, Jia’an took a reluctant step forward. She sidled up to Sheng Mingyue and muttered, "I only threw the pinecone because I thought it was fun... I know I was wrong..."

Rong Zhao looked back at his benefactor and said gently, "Do not kneel. Just accept her gesture."

Upon learning the girl's status, Sheng Mingyue could not help but feel anxious. Catching a glimpse of the Grand Princess’s livid expression, she quickly smoothed things over. "So it is the Young Princess. I, too, was offensive just now; I beg the Young Princess to be magnanimous."

It was just a bow—to stay alive, it was no loss of face!

Jia’an, still fuming, refused to take the olive branch Sheng Mingyue offered. She let out a heavy huff and retreated behind her mother.

Rong Min pulled Jia’an behind her, took a deep breath, and said softly, "Zhao, the Grand Princess’s mansion has not yet been fully repaired, and the palace is stifling. I fear we mother and daughter will have to borrow lodging with you for a time."

"Mo... Mother!" Hearing this, Jia’an was immediately displeased and tugged hard on Rong Min’s sleeve.

Rong Min brushed her hand away and said with a forced smile, "Since you now have young women in your household, I see they are of a similar age to Jia’an. Putting them together will provide her with some playmates."

*[Falling into the hands of that little demon, the cannon-fodder elder sister and the little physician are in for a miserable time!]*

*[Having offended that princess, and with the princess having such an impossible mother, their days ahead will be far from easy.]*

*[I remember the plot; the little princess fights to the death with Yun Shengsheng later on, but unfortunately, she can’t overcome the protagonist’s halo.]*

*[Hard to say—the second female lead Zhao Can and the third female lead Jia’an are both more capable than Yun Shengsheng, and yet they end up with such tragic endings. Does this damned world only care about looks?!]*

Sheng Mingyue steadied her mind, carefully observing Jia’an.

Fighting to the death with Yun Shengsheng...

An enemy of an enemy is a friend, is it not?

Rong Zhao was reclusive and preferred quiet; he did not wish for his peaceful life to be disturbed. However, facing his elder sister, he could not refuse and had no choice but to agree. "Yunlai, have someone clean up the Yuhuai Courtyard so that my sister may stay there comfortably."

The Yuhuai Courtyard was the furthest residence from the Juxin Garden; this way, his benefactor could remain relatively undisturbed.

"Yes, Your Highness." Yunlai nodded, then turned to Rong Min and said in a low voice, "Grand Princess, Young Princess, please follow me."

Rong Min nodded, cast a nonchalant glance at Sheng Mingyue, and walked away.

Jia’an’s face was flushed with anger. She rolled her eyes at Sheng Mingyue and hurried after her mother, afraid that her little Imperial Uncle might find fault with her again.

Seeing that she remained so impolite, Rong Zhao’s brows furrowed. Just as he was about to speak, Sheng Mingyue stopped him.

"Your Highness..." Fearing she might further enrage the nobility, Sheng Mingyue quickly put on a smile and feigned nonchalance. "Princess Jia’an is willful because she grew up in the Northern Desert, accustomed to being unrestrained. Any further instruction must be done gradually, otherwise, it will be counterproductive."

"Although the Princess has a fiery temper and is a bit mischievous, I believe her nature is not bad. There is still room for improvement; I hope Your Highness will not be angry with her."

To survive, Sheng Mingyue had to bite her tongue and speak the opposite of her true thoughts.

Yet, she never expected that the slap of reality would come so quickly...