Wei Dongling's palm was bleeding profusely. She stared coldly at Yu Zixi and sneered softly, "The man in my heart is spoiled by me! Unless I give my consent, no one is allowed to hurt him!"
Your man?
Yu Zixi was furious, heartbroken, and trembling all over. He could hardly believe his ears.
He had been so careful to ensure Wei Dongling wouldn't get hurt in the slightest. But for the sake of protecting another man, she had completely ignored his dagger that could cut through iron! She had hurt her own palm like this! Seeing the blood gushing from her hand, his heart ached as if it were bleeding. He regretted it so much that he felt sick to his stomach. Yet she kept calling that man her husband and claiming that the Xiliang bandit was the man in her heart.
What about him then? Did all the vows and promises they had made before no longer count?
Was it all fake when she had traveled thousands of miles to Hanzhong City desperately looking for him?
Was it all a lie when she had drunkenly hugged him in the palace, tried to undress him, and said she wanted to marry him? It had only been a few days! Had she already given up on him?
Yu Zixi trembled uncontrollably and was almost in tears. He shook his head vigorously and said hoarsely, "Do you know what nonsense you're talking about?"
Seeing that Yu Zixi still refused to leave, Wei Dongling grew anxious. She was afraid that Yu Zixi would really kill Li Mingyang and also worried that Li Mingyang's guards would come to surround and attack Yu Zixi, leaving him no way to escape unscathed. Seeing him standing there stupidly, waiting for her to show her attitude, Wei Dongling gritted her teeth and said loudly with a laugh, "What? Do you think I'm joking with you? To be honest, from the first time I saw Young Master Mingyang, I was smitten! I've been longing to see him again! When I learned that he was the one for the marriage alliance, although I pretended to be reserved in front of everyone, in fact, I couldn't wait!"
Hearing this, Yu Zixi felt as if his heart was being squeezed so tightly that he could hardly breathe. His voice suddenly sounded several years older as he murmured, "Smitten... longing... couldn't wait? Ha... very well, you're really something! It's only been a few days..." Your heart has changed so much.
Li Mingyang was even more shocked, his eyes wide open. He didn't like the Fifth Princess pestering the Tenth Prince and had once belittled her with frivolous words in the imperial garden. At that time, he had just wanted to give her a warning. Seeing her glaring at him, he had only found it funny. But now, hearing her say such words that were hard to tell whether they were true or false, he actually felt a vague discomfort in his heart! Especially when he saw that the Fifth Princess's hand was still bleeding, Li Mingyang felt inexplicably restless.
Could it be that when they had passed by each other in the inn on their first meeting, that woman's overture to him hadn't been a joke?
Seeing Yu Zixi still in a daze and refusing to leave, Wei Dongling gritted her teeth and roared, "Since you know my feelings, what are you still standing there for?" Both my husband and I have been injured by you. You've been standing here for so long. Are you waiting to stay for a feast?
Hearing that she was driving him away, Yu Zixi was heartbroken. He had been so worried about her safety. When he had seen Li Mingyang leading her into the grove from afar, he had rushed over desperately, wanting to protect her and save her. But in return, he had received such contempt and mockery from her.
Yu Zixi's heart ached faintly. He glanced at Ruan Niang and Cui Huan who were running over and knew that she was safe. So he didn't say anything more and turned away.
Li Mingyang watched as General Fei left like this and felt a bit unwilling. But what could he do? He couldn't beat him. Even if his few trusted guards attacked together, they might barely be a match for him, but they would probably pay a heavy price.
Wei Dongling glanced at Yu Zixi's departing back, then turned and threw herself beside Li Mingyang. She stretched out her bloody hand and gently stroked his face, calling out anxiously, "Husband, are you okay?"
How could he be okay with a bruised face? Li Mingyang sighed and grabbed Wei Dongling's wrist to check her injury. He sighed softly, "I'm fine. It's just a pity for your beautiful hand, hurt like this."
Wei Dongling endured the discomfort in her heart and said coquettishly in a soft voice, "Compared with my husband's life, what does a hand matter? I just didn't expect it to hurt so much."
Ruan Niang and Cui Huan, who had rushed over, glanced at each other and were stunned. What was going on?
Seeing Wei Dongling with tears in her eyes and looking so pitiful, her small face as red as a palm from the cold, Li Mingyang quickly picked up the fox fur cloak on the ground, shook it, and carefully put it on Wei Dongling. Then he turned to his trusted guards and shouted, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and treat the princess's wound and stop the bleeding!"
"Yes!" Although the guards were extremely puzzled, they didn't dare to go against the orders of Prince Mingyang and quickly stepped forward to give Wei Dongling first aid.
Seeing these big, rough men grabbing Wei Dongling and trying to stop the bleeding in a hurry, Li Mingyang frowned unhappily and said, "You guys are so clumsy. It's annoying just to look at you. Get out of here!" His princess's hand was not something other men could touch.
Ruan Niang quickly stepped forward, bowed, and said softly, "Let me do it!"
Li Mingyang nodded slightly in agreement.
Wei Dongling was carried back by Cui Huan in a daze. Ruan Niang carefully bandaged her wound.
Wei Dongling's head was in a daze. How was he? Had he gone far? Hearing her say such heartless words today, he must be extremely sad.
How could she bear to see him sad? But what could she do?
You've already had a change of heart. Why pretend to be affectionate in front of me? Let's let go of each other!
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the carriage. It was the voice of Uncle Li and Luo Xunlong.
Wei Dongling quickly lifted the curtain and rushed out. She saw Uncle Li grabbing Li Mingyang's lapel and roaring, "Did you do this on purpose today?"
Li Mingyang's face was bruised and purple. Being grabbed by his lapel like this, he looked rather embarrassed. His trusted guards wanted to step forward to protect him, but they were all stopped by Luo Xunlong and the others one by one.
Although Li Mingyang was extremely embarrassed at this moment, he just lowered his head and didn't answer. He was unhappy in his heart, couldn't admit it, and disdained to lie.
Seeing his reaction, Uncle Li was extremely angry. He gritted his teeth and roared, "If you confess honestly, I'll still respect you as a man!" With that, he was about to punch Li Mingyang in the face.
Wei Dongling quickly shouted, "Uncle Li, wait!"
Everyone looked over in unison.
Wei Dongling was in such a hurry that she didn't even have time to put on her shoes properly. She just ran over to Li Mingyang in her socks. Out of breath, she grabbed Uncle Li's hand and said with a soft laugh, "Uncle Li, this was not done by my husband! Don't make things difficult for him!"
Everyone was stunned. The matter was strange, and the truth was obvious. But the Fifth Princess was protecting the Xiliang prince without saying a word! Everyone felt that the Fifth Princess was either blind or had a fever that had addled her brain.
Ignoring everyone's shocked looks, Wei Dongling raised her head and said with a smile, "Uncle Li, it's normal for bandits to be rampant as the New Year approaches. My husband would never do such a thing! I believe in him! Calm down and let him go!"