Cheng Hao pretended to pin the Prince of Xiliang down firmly. It wasn't until Wei Dongling, who had retreated to a distance, shouted at him impatiently, "Let's go. Don't stoop to his level like a dog!"
Only then did Cheng Hao respond and quickly scramble off Li Mingyang. He rushed after Wei Dongling in a hurry.
Li Mingyang, who was lying on the ground, was helped up by the attendants who came after hearing the commotion. They quickly tidied his clothes for him. Looking at Wei Dongling's retreating back, Li Mingyang slightly curled his lips, a thoughtful smile floating on his face.
Could this crafty Fifth Princess of the Celestial Dynasty really escape from his grasp?
Wei Dongling only felt a sharp pain in the wrist that Li Mingyang had grabbed just now. When she rolled up her sleeve, she saw that it was red and swollen. It hurt even at the slightest touch.
Cheng Hao glanced at her wrist and said speechlessly, "I'll go get some medicine for you!" With that, he turned to leave.
Wei Dongling quickly called him back and said unhappily, "He's really going too far! I'm going to see Father and complain about him!"
Saying that, she led Cheng Hao and two palace maids to the Taiji Hall to see the emperor in a hurry.
The guards at the door stopped Wei Dongling, saying that the emperor was in a meeting and asked the princess to come back later.
Wei Dongling was full of pent - up anger with no outlet. She stubbornly paced back and forth in the courtyard, making people dizzy.
When Father Cao came out to ask someone to refill the tea, he saw Wei Dongling looking hesitant. He nodded slightly and then turned back inside.
Not long after, the emperor sent someone to summon her in.
As soon as she stepped into the study, Wei Dongling saw that the Prince of Rui and Lord Yu were also there. It seemed that they were really in a meeting. She quickly stepped forward to pay her respects.
The emperor looked at Wei Dongling rather puzzled and asked, "Weren't you showing the Prince of Xiliang around the imperial garden? Why did you finish so soon?"
Under the equally confused gazes of the Prince of Rui and Lord Yu, Wei Dongling hesitated a bit. Complaining in front of them seemed inappropriate, but she really couldn't care less. Wei Dongling gritted her teeth, rolled up her sleeve to show the emperor her severely swollen wrist, and sobbed aggrievedly, "Father! The Prince of Xiliang never intended to respect me. Not only was his language vulgar, but he also tried to take liberties with me. If my personal guard hadn't stopped him in time, I might have been bullied by him... Father! You must avenge me! I don't want to marry that lecher!"
The emperor frowned and looked at Wei Dongling's wrist, then waved his hand to ask someone to summon the imperial physician.
The Prince of Rui and Lord Yu also looked at each other in surprise, hardly believing their ears. After all, that Prince of Xiliang had shown great affection for the Fifth Princess in front of everyone, as if he was willing to do anything to prove his love. How could he do such a thing?
However, the Fifth Princess's wrist was really red and swollen like this. Could it really be that the Prince of Xiliang had tried to molest her?
The emperor glanced at Wei Dongling, then turned to look at the Prince of Rui and Lord Yu, and said seriously, "Everyone knows that the Prince of Xiliang is sincerely in love with you. He has already drawn up the list of betrothal gifts for your wedding and presented it today. I, your uncle, and Lord Yu have all gone through it one by one. Xiliang is really quite sincere."
Wei Dongling asked in surprise, "Father! Just because he seems sincere, you don't care about his character? What if he's a heinous person? Aren't you just pushing me into the fire pit?"
The emperor was choked by Wei Dongling's sharp words and his face darkened. He frowned and said unhappily, "As a princess of a country, how can you gossip behind others' backs like this? Prince Mingyang of Xiliang is elegant, easy - going, and full of benevolence. He has always been deeply loved by his people and is also the pre - determined heir to the throne of Xiliang. I saw that you were cold - shouldering him just now, but he was magnanimous and didn't argue with you! How could he do anything to hurt you?"
Wei Dongling stared at him in disbelief, taking a sharp breath. She never thought that after her father had seen the injury on her wrist with his own eyes, he could still say such things to her!
It seemed that her father didn't believe a single word she said as his daughter?
Wei Dongling's face turned pale, and she shouted anxiously, "Father, I'm not lying! It was really him who grabbed me and said some extremely impolite things. He also tried to do improper things to me! That's why I'm telling the truth! Father, do you think I would lie to you?"
The emperor fell into silence.
The Prince of Rui coughed lightly to smooth things over and said, "Wanlin, Prince Mingyang has loved you for a long time. Maybe he saw that you were indifferent to him today, so he acted a bit excessively. In fact, he just wanted to get your attention. They're all young and hot - blooded. Even if he went a bit too far, you don't have to mind too much. You have a bit of a wild personality. After you get married, you must always remember that he's your husband! You must abide by the female virtues and be a good wife and mother to assist him!"
The Prince of Rui's words made the emperor and Lord Yu nod frequently.
Hearing this, Wei Dongling was so angry that her face turned deathly pale. She felt as if her blood was about to freeze. Not only did these people not believe her, but they also started to lecture her?
Seeing her with a gloomy face, the emperor kindly reminded her, "Wanlin! Your uncle is right. We're teaching you how to conduct yourself. It's for your own good. I've thought it over carefully today. Although I'm really reluctant to part with you, it's really a good thing for you to marry into Xiliang. When faced with two favorable options, we should choose the more beneficial one. Xiliang values you so much. I'm very pleased!"
Wei Dongling was so angry that she felt dizzy. A sudden feeling of palpitations came over her. She felt short of breath and could hardly breathe. She had to grit her teeth and endure the anger. Seeing the Prince of Rui nodding and about to say something else, Wei Dongling was finally completely enraged. She said seriously, "I'm afraid I can't comply! I already have someone I like! I've made up my mind to marry no one but him!"
The three of them looked at each other in surprise. The emperor asked in shock, "Who do you love? Why have I never heard you mention it to me?"
Wei Dongling gasped and shouted, "The person I've always loved is Yu Zixi! I've already had a physical relationship with him!" She didn't care about anything anymore. If she had to marry into Xiliang, she might as well just turn against them. Even if it meant going all out, she would secretly run away with Yu Zixi!
She didn't want to endure this kind of humiliation for a single moment longer.
Hearing this, the emperor was so angry that his face turned ashen. He looked at Lord Yu beside him.
At this moment, Lord Yu was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped. He quickly shouted, "Your Majesty! I knew nothing about this! I'll go back and beat that brat to death!"
Wei Dongling covered her aching chest and said angrily, "If we talk about it, it was you, Lord Yu, who personally promised in General Qi's mansion that Yu Zixi would be responsible for me! How come it's different now? I'll marry no one but him!"
Hearing this, the emperor's veins on his forehead bulged. How could a princess be so shameless and unreserved as to say such shocking things in front of everyone? Where would the royal family's face be?
Just as he was about to scold Wei Dongling, he saw her tilt her head and slowly fall to the ground.