Chapter 3: If We're Going to Fight, Then Let's Fight

"You brat! Are you blind?! If you've injured Third Young Master Xie, can you even afford to compensate him?!" A dandy shouted, pointing at a young girl who had also been knocked to the ground by the collision.

The girl had a round face and almond-shaped eyes, wearing a pale yellow garment. Her hair was styled in twin buns tied with emerald green ribbons, giving her a sweet and lovely appearance.

Two strings of candied haws lay on the ground beside her, clearly knocked down during the collision.

"It... it was you who bumped into me," the girl argued, unable to help herself.

Hearing this, Second Young Master Hong chuckled. Seeing how charming and lovely the girl was, he grinned and said, "We bumped into you? Who saw that? Listen, brat, get up obediently and apologize to our Third Young Master Xie, then offer him a toast, and we'll let this go. Otherwise..."

"What... what do you want to do?" The girl looked at them warily.

The group of dandies exchanged glances, each wearing a malicious smile.

Xie Yi, who had finally caught his breath, stood up and glanced at the girl on the ground. He let out a cold snort and said, "Enough. This girl is clearly an outsider. Why bother arguing with a bumpkin? Tell her to get lost!"

Second Young Master Hong laughed. "I forgot that Third Young Master Xie can't stand outsiders these past two days. Consider yourself lucky. Just get lost already."

The girl on the ground stood up, and hearing this, she was instantly enraged. "So what if I'm from out of town? Did I eat your rice?"

"Eh? This girl..."

Xie Yi's temper was never particularly good to begin with, and he had been full of irritation for the past two days. With his waist still aching faintly, his temper finally exploded.

Looking at the candied haws the girl had picked up from the ground and was holding carefully, he sneered, "A bumpkin should stay quietly in the countryside. Coming to the capital is nothing but an embarrassment!"

The girl was not afraid of him. She widened her eyes and said, "That's still better than a dandy like you who only knows how to rely on his family's prestige!"

These words struck a nerve. A flash of rage crossed Xie Yi's eyes. He took a step forward and reached out to push the girl. "Get lost!"

Before his hand could touch her clothes, it was caught.

Xie Yi looked down at the hand gripping his wrist in confusion.

The hand was slender and delicate, fair as jade—clearly a woman's hand.

Following the pale blue sleeve upward, he saw a beautiful and elegant face, her features carrying a faint, cool detachment. A small cinnabar mark beneath her left eye was like a red plum in the snow, further enhancing her noble and frost-like temperament.

Seeing this face, he felt an inexplicable sense of guilt for some reason, and for a moment, he even forgot to speak.

"Miss!" the girl called out happily, quickly running to stand behind Xie Wu alongside Qiu Ming.

The sound startled Xie Yi back to reality. He glared at Xie Wu and shouted, "Let go of me this instant! Is this girl one of yours?"

Xie Wu casually pushed Xie Yi away and said indifferently, "The third son of the Duke of Ying's estate. Such fine upbringing."

"What do you mean by that?" Xie Yi roared.

Xie Wu sneered, "You cause a scene, bump into someone, and then try to bully a young girl? In broad daylight, you speak such vile words and slander an elder sister you haven't even met. Was this taught to you by the Old Lady of the Duke of Ying's estate, or by the Mistress of the house?"

"You!" Knowing he was in the wrong, Xie Yi could not tolerate a stranger lecturing him like this. He gritted his teeth and said, "It's none of your business what I say! Besides, I'm not wrong!"

Xie Wu raised an eyebrow and smiled. "So, are you saying the rumored Miss Xie is not truly the daughter of the Duke of Ying? Or are you saying that even if she is, if Third Young Master Xie doesn't like her, the Duke of Ying's estate intends to disown her?"

"I only have one elder sister, the Princess Consort of Xin!" Xie Yi lifted his chin defiantly. "That woman has been clinging to His Highness the Prince of Xin all along. She clearly has ulterior motives, wanting to impersonate the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Ying's estate to scheme for the position of Princess Consort!"

*Oh?* The guests in the hall all pricked up their ears to listen.

"You..." The girl in yellow tried to say something, but Xie Wu silenced her with a single look.

Having found his rhythm, Xie Yi became even more relentless.

For the past two days, his second sister and mother had cried until their eyes were swollen, and his grandmother had been sighing in distress to the point of falling ill. If his second sister hadn't forbidden it, he would have rushed out of the city long ago to teach that impostor a lesson.

"Just a woman greedy for wealth and devoid of shame..."

*Slap!* A fast and precise slap landed on Xie Yi's face.

Xie Yi froze instantly, and everyone in the hall was stunned.

Someone actually dared to slap the third son of the Duke of Ying in public?! This man was the notorious "Little Tyrant" of the capital.

"You... you dare hit me!"

Xie Wu lowered her eyes to look at her own fingers and said calmly, "I hit you. What are you going to do about it?"

"I'll kill you!" Xie Yi roared and lunged at Xie Wu.

*Thud!* Before he could even touch her, the youth was kicked away, stumbling several steps back and crashing into a chair.

"You... you... you..."

Xie Wu gave him a cold look, and the group of dandies instantly shut their mouths in submission.

This wasn't a beautiful fairy; this was a female Rakshasa who could kick someone flying with a single strike!

And then there was the man in black standing behind her, clutching a sword—he clearly wasn't someone to be trifled with.

*Well, it wasn't me who got kicked.*

Xie Wu strolled forward, passing Xie Yi to head downstairs.

Xie Yi remained on the ground, teeth clenched in fury, but he didn't dare get up again. He could only resort to empty threats: "I won't let you off!"

Xie Wu gave a light laugh. "I'll be waiting."

The girl in yellow walked last, making a face at Xie Yi.

"Blehh..."

"You!"

"Liu Yue, let's go." A cool female voice drifted from the staircase.

The girl immediately turned and ran forward with small steps. "Coming, Miss!"

Silence fell over the upper floor. It took a while before the dandies rushed over to check on Xie Yi.

Furious that they had merely stood by and watched the spectacle, Xie Yi pushed them aside and stomped downstairs.

When the three of them left the teahouse, someone was already waiting at the entrance.

A well-dressed middle-aged man was waiting with a group of attendants. Seeing Xie Wu emerge, he immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"I am Yang Cai, the steward of the Prince of Shu's estate. Upon hearing that Miss Xie had arrived in the capital, the Consort of the Heir specifically commanded me to escort you to the estate for a visit," the middle-aged man said respectfully.

Xie Wu smiled faintly. "So it is Steward Yang. Thank you for your trouble. Your Consort is quite well-informed. How has she been lately?"

Steward Yang smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Miss; everything is well. The Consort received the news yesterday and was happy all evening. I have prepared a sedan chair. Please, Miss."

"Thank you." Xie Wu nodded in thanks and boarded the sedan chair parked by the street.

When Xie Yi came out, he saw Xie Wu leaving in the sedan and couldn't help but mutter, "Whose family is that?"

The lazy voice of Second Young Master Hong came from behind him. "Can't you tell? That's a sedan from the Prince of Shu's estate. It seems this girl has quite a background. Third Xie, it looks like you took that beating for nothing."

Xie Yi gritted his teeth in resentment: He wouldn't let this go!