The Proud Daughter of Heaven 001: Return to Beijing

  In the second month of spring, warmth has not yet spread far and wide. The heart-grass has already burst forth from the soil still thinly covered with snow, sending out new shoots. The damp mountain path is filled with the fresh fragrance unique to this season, which expands into poetry amidst the sound of horse hooves.

  If someone were walking in the mountains at this time, they could see three horses of different colors galloping rapidly on the spacious road. On the back of the white horse in front, a slender red figure was like a blazing flame, bringing a fierce and overbearing momentum, drying up the moisture under its hooves, and emptying all the surroundings.

  On the back of a sorrel and black horse behind "driving", two equally delicate and weak pink figures were chasing after the white horse in front, occasionally making crisp and cheerful laughter, freshening up the hazy spring colors.

  As the horses went away, the rolling dust slowly dissipated, and the mountains returned to their former tranquility.

  Swallows fly around the painting gallery, and with a flick of their wings, they create a new chapter.

  The sound of galloping hooves cannot drown out the revelry of Kyoto. On the southern lake shore of Kyoto, amidst the wind and green curtains, talented men and beautiful women stroll hand in hand. As boats lightly paddle, the rippling spring water reflects the city's eastern market, lined with pearls and jewels, outlining a prosperous and flourishing world where customs are open-minded.

  The willow smoke and painted bridge should be a harmonious scene of domestic bliss, but it is disrupted by the sound of mournful crying.

  The street vendors' quarrel paused, and they opened their eyes wide, staring at the few people in the middle of the road.

  "Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" More than a dozen men dressed as home guards menacingly pushed passersby to one side and formed a cordon on the road, allowing the men inside to act with impunity.

  His long-term indulgence in beauty has made his face somewhat sallow, and with a light and floating movement, the evil nature of the silk son is fully revealed. "Wow, which family's little girl, born so handsome? What a pity this dress, tsk-tsk—"

  "Master Zhu, please spare the young woman..." The young woman, whose hair was being styled in a bun by an older woman, cried with tears streaming down her face as she dodged the man's approaching palm while pulling tightly at her coarse hemp clothing.

  The lewd smile seemed particularly excited, "Follow this young master, and you'll be guaranteed to wear out all the fine silks and satins."

  Disregarding the woman's retreat, a slightly rough large palm lingered on her tender cheek, stroking it repeatedly. This skin texture, this tactile sensation... really makes one want to take care of things right there! "Lai Fu, why haven't you invited the young lady back to our manor yet?"

  The house guard who received the order immediately stepped forward and said with a smile: "Little girl, please."

  Lai Fu's mouse-like eyes sized up the young woman who had caught the eye of their own young master, secretly admiring her. The young king of Yue Wang Fu was indeed right, this commoner's beautiful daughter had a unique charm that was different from the noble misses.

  "No, don't!" The woman frantically waved her arms as people approached.

  Resistance is futile, and even rudeness seems pale and powerless. So many pairs of eyes are watching, yet everyone is silent, which explains the arrogant identity of this person.

  The young master of the Jingzhao government, who dares to go and look for death?

  Everyone in the capital knows that Zhu Youjun, the second son of the Beijing governor, used to gamble and fool around with a group of thugs, roaming the streets of Kyoto. Recently, he has been frequently bringing his family guards to the streets of Beijing, teasing ordinary women, and forcibly taking any woman who caught his eye into his mansion, regardless of whether they were married or not.

  In the past, there were many people who angrily stopped them, but under the protection of the Jingzhao Yin, those who dared to speak out ended up in a miserable situation, with countless people being beaten to death by Zhu Bian on the spot.

  In the face of this tyrant's behavior, everyone dares to be angry but not dare to speak out, for now they can only sympathize with the delicate and beautiful young woman in their hearts.

  The tolerant civilians made Zhu Meng even more unscrupulous, looking at the struggling woman and the silent crowd, a different desire suddenly surged in his heart, he turned his head to face the family guard with a sly smile: "You, turn around and surround me well."

  The guards did not understand his intention and simply followed orders to turn around. Lai Fu also quickly retreated, along with the others, leaving their backs to Zhu Man.

  The people around looked at each other in dismay, only to hear a "ting" sound, accompanied by the woman's terrified scream, "Ah! What are you going to do?"

  The people around were all shocked and stunned. Not to mention the daylight robbery of civilians, but also doing such a beastly thing in public! It's simply intolerable!

  Right opposite the street inn, behind a half-open delicate wooden window, someone was watching with interest everything that happened downstairs. A delicate jade folding fan covered her face, leaving only a pair of narrow and long phoenix eyes, as if drunk or not, shining brightly.

  A low, jade-like male voice emerged from the fan, "Ah, it's been a long time since I've gone out. The customs of this country have become so open and unrestrained!" This young master of the Jingzhao Governor's residence is quite bold! Quite uninhibited!

  Listening to the sound of the window next door, the upturned phoenix eyes became even more enchanting and alluring.

  The attendants behind him lowered their heads unnaturally, and from their angle, they could see the scene below clearly. The man's vigorous tearing of the woman's clothes was all in their line of sight.

  "Master, young master, should we also..." The attendant swallowed his saliva and made a gesture of closing the window.

  Who would have thought that the jade folding fan covering her face shook, and the previously half-closed window suddenly opened wide. The person spoke in a tone as if he was going to choke someone to death: "This way you can see more clearly."

  The common people are no longer calm, the furious gaze that makes even the ruthless and cruel Zhu Fu's house guards feel a chill. Listening to the muffled sobs and tearing sounds of the young woman, they don't need to guess what happened next, this is also the first time they see the young master on this street...

  But thinking of the support of Zhu Fu and Yue Wang Fu, they immediately held up the sticks in their hands and glared at the crowd, "What are you looking at? Can't you see that our young master is handling 'official business'? Those who know what's good for them should get out of here!"

  "You beasts! You will be punished by heaven!" someone cursed.

  "How dare you be so reckless and lawless under the emperor's feet! Let's go together! Kill these beasts!" someone angrily shouted.

  Seeing the common people rushing towards them with their belongings, the guards were all panicked. But constrained by the need to cover up the scene inside for their master, they could only shout in a flustered manner, "What are you talking about! Who dares!"

  Inside, Zhu Man naturally heard these people's words, and with a throw, he opened the woman who had been pulled for half a day and only pulled off her outer cloak. He scolded and stood up, saying: "You all have eaten the heart of a leopard! Dare to interfere with my business! All of you come at me! Kill them!"

  More than ten people immediately regained their arrogant momentum.

  "Make way!" A melee was about to ensue when it was interrupted by the sudden sound of horseshoes.

  A horse galloped swiftly towards them, the crowd hastily retreated, and the Zhu family's guards also pushed Zhumian back. In the blink of an eye, only a small woman was left in the middle of the road.

  "Whoa——" Just as the horse's hooves were about to trample the person, the red-clothed girl on the white horse desperately pulled back on the reins. The white horse whinnied and raised its front hooves high in the air, and the girl clamped her legs tightly around the horse's body to prevent herself from being thrown off by the tremendous force.

  The two horses behind also stopped in fright.

  On the brown horseback, a delicate oriole's voice burst out with an unutterable mighty anger, "Who is so bold, dare to startle——"

  "What's going on?" Before she could finish, the red-clothed girl frowned and looked at the woman sitting in the middle of the road. Her clear voice was tinged with a calmness that didn't match her age. Seeing the woman's dull and lifeless gaze, and her outer robe torn to shreds as if someone had ripped it apart, she glanced around.

  Jiawei hid aside, Zhu Man stared blankly at the red-clothed girl who suddenly appeared, his three souls had already gone to seven spirits.

  Only the girl's left hand held the reins, her right hand grasping a silver whip. A fiery red cloak wrapped around her slender and delicate body, purple-black short boots hung down, ink-colored long hair stood high, a few strands of loose hair fluttered in the wind, brushing against her pale face, skin as white as jade, eyes like shining lacquer. The sunlight poured down from above, casting a dazzling golden glow over her entire body. The fiery red and golden light intersected, vibrant and passionate, dazzling to the eye.

  The common people stared intently at the noble and elegant red-clothed girl in front of them, their expressions dazed. Such delicate eyebrows and eyes seemed to have been seen somewhere before.

  The windows of the inn across the street, which had been closed, were opened again. Someone stood by the window, with eyes as clear and bright as snow.

  "Miss, Miss, I am Zhu Youjun, please..." Zhu Man's eyes shone brightly as he hastily put on a gentlemanly demeanor and rushed to the front of the horse, bowing to the young lady.

  The girl in red didn't go see him, instead she spoke softly to the woman still sitting in the middle of the road: "Don't you get up yet?"

  Zhu Man saw that people were ignoring him, his face suddenly darkened. Lai Fu understood his thoughts and gave a signal to the guards, and in an instant, the three horses were surrounded by them.

  Zhu Man grasped the reins, gone was his earlier pretence. He gazed at the red-clad maiden with a sly smile and called out: "Little beauty."

  It's been ages since I've seen such a beautiful person, it makes my little heart go "thump" nonstop. In my impression, the young ladies from official families in the capital don't know how to ride horses, she must be an unmarried daughter of some merchant family... If I were to bring her back home...

  He glanced at the two pink-clad girls riding horses behind her, although they were dressed as maids, their lively appearance was even more beautiful than his own concubines. Today is indeed a great auspicious day, Zhu Youjun's good fortune has arrived!

  "How dare you! Do you know who is in front of you?!" The pink-clad maid on the black horse rebuked tenderly.

  Zhu Man burst out laughing and said, "Then you should know who this young master is?"

  "Let me tell you the truth, my father is Zhu Gong, the governor of the capital!" He said, his body leaning in close, sniffing around the red-clothed girl's red cloak repeatedly, and smiling slyly: "If you follow this young master home, wealth and glory are not even worth mentioning, I will definitely teach you what it means to be enchanted and infatuated!"

  The maid behind was greatly frightened, and the sword on her back came out of its scabbard instantly.

  The girl in red raised her hand to stop their movements, her face cold. Her dark eyes were shrouded in a gloomy haze, like a turbulent wave, and suddenly asked, "Is that the son of the Prefect of Beijing?"

  Zhu Man did not see the icy chill in her eyes, but thought that she had moved her heart towards her own identity, and a lewd heart surged up, "Exactly."

  The woman on the ground cried out in alarm: "Miss, hurry up and leave! Don't..."

  Zhu Man kicked her away with one foot. What's the difference between a bright moon and dust? How could he be blind enough to fall for this coarse woman!

  After kicking the woman unconscious, Zhu Man's eyes narrowed into a line with an evil glint, "Little beauty, let's hurry up and go!"

  The temperature in the eyes of the red-clothed girl dropped to freezing point instantly, and the silver whip in her hand was raised, blocking Zhu Man in front of the horse. He was swiftly flung away, and his body heavily crashed onto a vendor's stall by the roadside.

  "Master!" Lai Fu and others rushed towards Zhu Man, "Master, are you alright?"

  The girl in red blinked her ink-jade eyes, and her words were laced with deadly disdain. "I didn't expect that after leaving the capital for only two years, a mere son of the Prefect of Beijing would dare to stir up trouble in the capital!"