The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Serving

Xia Wenjin widened his eyes, looking bewildered, and said, ”Serve? Isn’t your miss already served by you? Is it because your miss lacks servants that you called us here to be servants?”

Qiao Xi sneered, casting a glance at Xia Wenjin as if he were an idiot, her eyes filled with a mix of jealousy and disdain.

A man, looking so handsome.

But what’s the use of being handsome? Isn’t he just a plaything for the miss?

She curled her lips impatiently and said, ”Why are you asking so many questions? Serving the miss is a blessing for you. If it weren’t for your decent looks, our miss wouldn’t have given you a second glance!”

Xia Wenjin widened his eyes: ”Wasn’t it said that we were invited as guests, to have a meal?”

Qiao Xi burst into laughter, disdainfully saying, ”You? Worthy?”

”Since it’s not as guests, then we’ll be leaving!” Huangfu Jingchen snorted. He was a proud person, and despite his usual affable demeanor, there was no reason to stay and be humiliated by Qiao Xi’s harsh words.

”Stop right there!” Qiao Xi sneered, ”Do you think this is a place where you can come and go as you please?”

”If we want to leave, who can stop us?” Huangfu Jingchen’s eyes glinted coldly as he turned and headed out.

Qiao Xi remained motionless, just sneering coldly.

At the gate of the courtyard, the servants who were standing in two rows quickly moved to block the exit. Not far away, three robust men strode over with solid steps and agile movements, clearly trained fighters.

The one in the middle laughed arrogantly, ”Little brats, do you think you have any face here? Wanting to run off after getting here, are we brothers some kind of joke?”

They stood at the gate, with menacing expressions, each resting a hand on the knives at their waists, making their threatening intentions very clear.

Not to mention that the gate was already closed; even if it were open, with such a group blocking the way, without some real skills, they would indeed be trapped, and the only one to suffer would be oneself.

Qiao Xi watched, standing to the side with a coldly smiling face, looking on with disdain. At that moment, she was like a high-and-mighty steward, with an air of pleasure in seeing others suffer. She bore the typical appearance of a petty person who had gained a little power—indifferent and cruel.

Huangfu Jingchen could leave, but he was merely testing the waters. But this test showed even more clearly Wang Wan’er’s arrogance.

Forcibly detaining people, acting lawlessly—where did she get her confidence from?

Of course, from her Prefectural Governor father.

Mere Prefectural Governor, it seems he really does run things single-handedly here.

Wang Wan’er’s blatant disregard, combined with the arrogance of these people, suggests that such incidents have happened many times before. He and Xia Wenjin were definitely not the first.

Were those previous people scared by these menacing individuals and thus lost their freedom here?

Huangfu Jingchen felt he couldn’t just leave like that; he was determined to investigate it thoroughly.

Even though his father had warned him to act cautiously outside to avoid being exploited by those with malicious intentions. After all, as the heir of Prince Cheng, involving himself too much in matters outside his domain would make him a target of apprehension and hostility from his Imperial Uncles.

But Huangfu Jingchen thought, if he could remain indifferent after witnessing such matters, could he still call himself human?

From Wang Wan’er’s audacious recruitment of handsome young men in the streets, he could see that her father, the Lord Governor, was not only involved in these trifling matters.

As a son of Nanxia, he should stand up against injustice, and moreover, he bore the surname Huangfu.

However, he wasn’t a rash person who charged forward blindly with just a sense of righteousness.

Xia Wenjin, perceiving the situation, immediately smiled and said, ”Brother, since we’re here, we should settle in. What’s the rush?”

She stepped forward, grabbing Huangfu Jingchen’s arm, and teasingly whispered, ”What, don’t you want my silver back?”

Huangfu Jingchen glanced at her, noticing a hint of slyness in her eyes. Thinking about her previous actions, such as exhausting all means to settle life for Jing Xian’s mother and daughter, and solving troubles for Widow Liu’s family...

Faced with a person like Wang Wan’er, whose backing was a Prefectural Governor—already a significant official to ordinary citizens—he wanted to see if Xia Wenjin would dare act as bravely as before!

He also wanted to see to what extent Xia Wenjin’s intelligence and ability could reach.

He decided not to act rashly; if Xia Wenjin was unable to handle it, then he’d step in to clean up the aftermath.

Xia Wenjin seemed oblivious to Qiao Xi’s demeanor and cheerfully said, ”We’re not leaving, but you have to tell us what we’re supposed to do here, don’t we need some mental preparation?”

Qiao Xi snorted, boldly eyeing Xia Wenjin, pausing on her face for a while. Really handsome, these two were much handsomer than those before, but she was merely a maid, only able to look.

Hmm, perhaps she’d get a chance after the miss tires of them.

She cast a glance at Xia Wenjin and snorted, ”Didn’t I tell you? Properly serve the miss! Otherwise, why call you here?”

Xia Wenjin unashamedly inquired, ”And what exactly does ’serve’ entail? Can you clarify?”

Qiao Xi covered her mouth and giggled, her body trembling with laughter. She didn’t think it was excessive at all, replying in a sweetly coy voice, ”What aspect? Naturally using your... strengths. Do you think serving in dressing and eating requires people like you?”

She said this while throwing a flirtatious glance at Xia Wenjin and Huangfu Jingchen.

Such coquettish words, along with the implication in her speech, made Huangfu Jingchen’s brows furrow slightly. Xia Wenjin pretended not to hear, looking around the courtyard while saying, ”It’s really beautiful here. Miss Wang’s residence is truly magnificent, even the Princess’s residence may not be better!”

Qiao Xi curled her lips and said, ”In our Yuqing County, my miss is the princess!”

Huangfu Jingchen felt furious inside but didn’t want to ruin Xia Wenjin’s plan, so he pretended not to hear.

However, Xia Wenjin exclaimed in admiration, ”That’s truly remarkable! To serve beside a princess is indeed our good fortune!”

Qiao Xi looked back with a disdainful glance, yet her tone softened, ”Consider yourself smart. Intelligent people not only live well but live long!”

Qiao Xi led the way, seeing Huangfu Jingchen and Xia Wenjin following her, which puffed her back up with pride.

Though merely a maid, she was the favored maid beside the Prefectural Governor’s eldest daughter. Even if she bumped into county officials, wouldn’t they greet her with a smile?

She brought the two to a secluded courtyard and arrogantly said, ”You settle down here first and wait for the miss to summon you.”

Summon? Was that word to be used so loosely?

Xia Wenjin followed up with a question, ”What if the miss doesn’t summon us?”

Qiao Xi turned her head, reaching out as if to lift her chin.

Xia Wenjin sidestepped to avoid it.

Qiao Xi felt scornful inside, ’disdaining respect when given.’

However, thinking this was someone the miss took a fancy to, and if the miss knew about her little actions, she’d be in trouble, she snorted and said, ”Then it’s just your unlucky fate!”