Chapter 92 - 93: Pepper Spray

Chapter 92: Chapter 93: Pepper Spray

After shutting Gu Yuanfeng down, Jin Qianqian’s mood brightened considerably. It seemed the saying ’a good verbal jab is good for your health’ was true after all.

Rendered speechless, Gu Yuanfeng’s face flushed crimson with anger. She pointed a finger at Jin Qianqian, unable to utter a single word.

Jin Qianqian flashed a triumphant dimpled smile. ’Gu Yuanfeng’s own life is a complete mess, yet she has the gall to stand here and act like she’s got it all figured out.’

"Sixth Sister, please put your hand down. If you disrespect my wife, you’re disrespecting me. Are you trying to alienate your entire maternal family?"

Hearing the threat in Ancient Wen Heng’s voice, Gu Yuanfeng’s tears began to fall like a broken string of pearls.

"I told you to fetch water. What’s taking so long?" He Tiping said, seemingly oblivious to Ancient Wen Heng and his wife as he reached out to grab Gu Yuanfeng.

"Hurry back. Mother is waiting for water to boil," he urged. Just then, he looked up and saw Gu Yuanfeng wiping away her tears. He froze for a second. "What’s this? I ask you to fetch a little water, and you get all weepy about it?

Every other wife is busy from dawn till dusk, even having to forage for wild vegetables. Look at you! You can’t even handle such a simple task, and you have the nerve to stand here crying.

Are you tattling to your family? If you’re so unhappy in the He Family, then take that good-for-nothing daughter of yours and get the hell out!"

Gritting her teeth, Jin Qianqian kicked him squarely in the calf. He immediately cried out, clutching his leg as he spun around to glare viciously at her.

Ancient Wen Heng immediately shielded Jin Qianqian behind him. "What now? Trying to throw your weight around in front of me?"

Ancient Wen Heng rolled up his sleeves, revealing the solid, muscular arms he had recently regained.

He Tiping tried to pull rank as his brother-in-law. "I’m still your brother-in-law, you know. Didn’t you see your wife just kick me?"

Ancient Wen Heng retorted, "I think my wife did the right thing. When you insult my sixth sister and my niece, anyone from the Gu Family has the right to deal with you.

Don’t forget, my sixth sister has a family to back her up. If you people keep tormenting her, we’ll settle all our scores with you at once, both old and new."

Although he was frustrated by her spinelessness, Ancient Wen Heng hoped his words would have some effect and offer Gu Yuanfeng a little more security.

But some people are just destined to be terrible allies. "Seventh," Gu Yuanfeng interjected, "no matter what, he is your brother-in-law. How can you speak to him that way? Apologize to him this instant! Your wife was in the wrong for hitting him, and you should give her a good talking-to, lest she cause even greater trouble for you one day."

Jin Qianqian was speechless. ’This woman is truly hopeless!’

Ancient Wen Heng was at a loss for words. ’Even with all my self-control, I’m about to snap. I’m seriously reconsidering my rule about not hitting women.’

"Hurry up, before your brother-in-law gets truly angry," Gu Yuanfeng urged. While they were still too stunned to speak, she mistook their silence for intimidation and became even more self-righteous.

Ancient Wen Heng could only think, ’...’ ’I’m a fool if I ever get involved in your business again.’

Jin Qianqian said, "You’re right, I am so sorry. It was my fault this time. I shouldn’t have used my foot to kick you."

Seeing the smug looks appear on both their faces, her tone shifted abruptly. "Next time, I’ll be sure to find a proper tool for the job. No sense in tiring out my own limbs.

And another thing, if I ever find out you’ve laid a hand on a woman or child, trust me, you do not want to find out what the consequences will be."

"You..." He Tiping raised his hand to strike, but before he could bring it down, Ancient Wen Heng, who was shielding her, sent him sprawling to the ground with a kick.

Ancient Wen Heng loomed over him, the Gu Family’s height advantage suddenly starkly apparent. He Tiping was so intimidated he began to shuffle backward. "It looks like my brother-in-law wants to practice his skills with me. I just wonder how many kicks a man of your physique can handle?"

When the other man didn’t make a sound for a long moment, Ancient Wen Heng lost interest. He walked over to where he had set down his water buckets. "Next time we run into someone so clueless, leave it to me. No need to dirty your feet."

Jin Qianqian’s apology was very sincere. "I just couldn’t help myself. If it happens again, I’ll definitely use a brick."

Ancient Wen Heng nearly broke into a smile. He hadn’t forgotten how this little spitfire had once proudly told him she’d collected a huge pile of bricks. ’So this was what she planned to use them for.’

Gu Yuanfeng, left ignored on the sidelines, swallowed nervously. She didn’t dare approach the couple to argue with them again.

Finally, to the sound of He Tiping’s furious bellows, she carried the water in one hand and supported him with the other as the two of them wretchedly departed from the lakeside.

"You silly girl," Ancient Wen Heng said once they were alone, the worry finally showing on his face. "That was too impulsive. If he’d been quicker to react, you could have been seriously hurt."

Jin Qianqian revealed the vial of chili water she had been clutching in her palm. "Look at this. If you hadn’t stopped me, his suffering would have been far worse.

I wasn’t going to pay him any mind, but the things he said were just infuriating. He’s a classic bully at home but a coward everywhere else. It’s truly pathetic."

Ancient Wen Heng was speechless.

The newly appointed comforting envoy, Niu Hai’an, went directly to the Ministry of Revenue with the Holy Decree he had just received and stood before Zhou Shicong.

"Mr. Zhou, we need to go inventory the relief silver now. As soon as the convoy is assembled, we must set off."

Zhou Shicong said, "Of course. The rest of this matter will be a burden for you, Lord Niu. Please do your best to appease the refugees in Shangjing and restore peace to the capital."

With that, he led the man toward the Ministry of Revenue’s vaults, complaining all the way about how much he had been pestered over the past few days.

「In the Southern Study Room」

Hua Shunming sat with a complex expression on his face as he looked at Marquis Wu’an, Bai Yugang.

"Marquis Wu’an, it is said that Bai Jinglie has gone traveling to study, preparing to elevate the Marquis Mansion’s status through the civil examinations. I wonder how he is faring?"

Bai Yugang’s expression turned serious. "Holy Emperor, my son is unruly. That was merely an empty boast he made on a whim. The boy has likely wandered off to who-knows-where. I must confess, he is a constant headache for me."

Hua Shunming said, "Yet, that is not what I have heard. I am told the future Princely Heir is exceptionally brave. Not only did he save refugees besieged by a pack of wolves, but he also charged into their midst and slew the alpha. In my eyes, a tiger father has not sired a dog of a son. Bai Aiqing, you have a worthy successor."

Bai Yugang pleaded, "Holy Emperor, please see the truth. These are all just games that boy plays. He was merely carousing with the young masters of the other families who accompanied him. Most of the work was done by his subordinates. That boy just took the credit."

Bai Yugang was groaning inwardly. ’This eldest son of mine is truly incorrigible.’ But he had no choice but to clean up the mess.

Hua Shunming stared at him, his lips curved in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "In fact, he has indirectly performed a great service this time. If he hadn’t led his men out, who knows how many more commoners would have fallen prey to the wolves. And it is because of his good deed that I have learned some of my people are still living in dire straits.

Marquis Wu’an, Bai Jinglie seems to have come of age. He is more than capable of handling matters on his own now."

Bai Yugang hurriedly prostrated himself on the floor. "Holy Emperor, Bai Jinglie still has many shortcomings. I will continue to urge him to study hard and improve himself."

Hua Shunming set his teacup down with a heavy THUD. "Marquis Wu’an, are you questioning my judgment? Or do you simply have no confidence in your own son?"