Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1617: Chapter 1617: The Good Doesn’t Work, The Bad Does

Tang Feng is skilled in Martial Arts and is not the frail scholar he appears to be; otherwise, if the horse carriage overturned, he would have been severely injured.

Although he has a mild temper, even a clay figurine has a temper as well. He crawled out from the overturned horse carriage and flicked his sleeve, immediately noticing his coachman lying by the roadside.

He quickly walked over to help the coachman up, asking in a low voice, ”Are you hurt?”

”Master, I’m fine, just be careful,” the coachman said worriedly. ”Should I report this to the officer?”

Tang Feng rubbed his temple, ”No need for now, just hide yourself properly.”

If the officer goes ahead, it will cause even more chaos, and the matter regarding Princess Diao Yao will be spread all over.

”Tang Feng, stop pretending! This princess is talking to you!” Princess Yingtong had long lost her patience and shouted at Tang Feng.

Diao Bin tugged at her sleeve from behind and whispered, ”Try to talk nicely first, don’t really turn hostile.”

Yingtong frowned displeasedly, ”How can I talk nicely? He embarrassed Xiaoyao and deserves a lesson!”

Diao Yao wasn’t a shy young girl; she was born in the River Jiang and wasn’t as bashful as typical girls in the boudoir. Moreover, she wasn’t fond of Tang Feng, but just couldn’t swallow her pride.

”Tang Feng, since you didn’t want to accept the marriage bestowed by the Emperor, why didn’t you speak to him earlier? Did you have to publicly reject it to humiliate me?” Diao Yao asked loudly. ”Even if you had given a convincing reason, it’d be fine. But claiming you aren’t worthy of me; isn’t that just a jab implying I’m not worthy of you?”

Tang Feng’s mouth twitched. Usually, such girls would cry in their room from anger and wouldn’t dare to confront him publicly. Yet Diao Yao’s temperament wasn’t irritable, just straightforward due to her River Jiang upbringing.

He didn’t actually dislike this sister, but how could he marry his own sister?

”The Princess has misunderstood. Tang Feng genuinely has his own difficulties, and it is not dissatisfaction with the Princess. I will find an opportunity to explain to everyone that it’s not the Princess’s fault, but rather me, Tang Feng...” Tang Feng paused. He felt continually claiming he wasn’t worthy might seem like an excuse to everyone. It’s better to find a ’heartfelt’ person.

This ’heartfelt’ person cannot be mentioned carelessly; otherwise, if the Emperor truly arranges the marriage, it would be disastrous.

He pondered carefully, it could only be one of his subordinates. If necessary, a sham marriage could be planned, but it’s unfortunate for that pawn.

”What is it?” Yingtong glared at him and pressed with questions, ”Stop finding excuses, speak freely if there’s inconvenience. It’s your evasive behavior that led to gossip about Diao Yao. Do you think she wants to marry you? Isn’t it just to avoid that Turkic Prince’s entanglement? Or perhaps, as the rumors say, you are afraid of the Turkic Prince’s revenge?”

Diao Yao stood with her hands on her hips, not looking aggressive, but rather sweetly adorable.

”Indeed, I didn’t want to marry you either. As long as I don’t have to marry Saihan, it would be fine. But your actions are indeed disgraceful, causing me so much trouble.” She stomped her foot while speaking, like a child yet to grow up.

Tang Feng felt like laughing seeing her; originally, Diao Yao should not have married so early. Waiting a couple of years would be more appropriate, but she was fixated by someone as peculiar as Saihan.

Princess Diao Bin also showed up, saying, ”Tang Feng, just speak frankly. If you indeed find it difficult, we won’t force you and instead help to speak with Brother Emperor. Haven’t you already got a sweetheart?”

At this point, Tang Feng had no choice but to bow to the three princesses and say, ”Honestly, I’m already betrothed to Miss Qinxian of Xianle Residence. Although she is a courtesan, her status is rather unique, so I refrain from mentioning this in the Main Hall. On one hand, I fear bringing trouble to her, and on the other, I indeed don’t want to give those with ulterior motives a chance to insult Princess Diao Yao.”

”What does this have to do with insulting Diao Yao?” Yingtong asked incredulously.

Diao Bin hurriedly pulled Yingtong’s sleeve and whispered, ”I’ll explain it to you later.”

Yingtong perhaps being a princess, thought less about these things.

At this moment, Diao Yao’s face had lost its previous hostility, ”You’re really sincerely fond of that lady, regardless of her status, so you rejected the Emperor’s betrothal?”

Tang Feng nodded reluctantly, ”Yes.”

”Alright then, you do seem like a lover; I won’t hold this against you. Sister Yingtong, Sister Diao Bin, let’s go.” Diao Yao said and pulled the two to leave. Tang Feng watched and secretly shook his head, thinking this little girl is too gullible. She’d be taken advantage of not only in the Palace but even in River Jiang.

”That’s it? Diao Yao, how can you be so easy to talk to!” Princess Yingtong complained.

At this moment, the sound of hooves came from afar, and they saw Bai Ruozhu riding a fast horse galloping towards them.

Previously, Bai Ruozhu was busy at the Female Physicians Institution when Hao Mu came to inform him that the three princesses had sneaked out of the Palace to confront Tang Feng. She feared Empress Dowager would get anxious, so she sought Bai Ruozhu’s help.

Bai Ruozhu immediately left the Palace upon hearing, chasing along Tang Feng’s path home on horseback, and came upon the overturned horse carriage and the three princesses seeking trouble.

Diao Bin hurriedly went to meet her, asking worriedly, ”Ruozhu, did Mother send you?”

”No, the Empress Dowager hasn’t heard yet; you all are too reckless. Aren’t you afraid of encountering Saihan people upon leaving the Palace?” Bai Ruozhu frowned, her tone slightly stern, showing a sister-in-law’s stance.

Diao Yao hurriedly went forward to hold Bai Ruozhu’s hand, ”Sister Ruozhu, Tang Feng already explained to us that he has a sweetheart, Miss Qinxian of Xianle Residence. It seems we misunderstood him. I’ll inform the Emperor that I don’t want to marry Tang Feng.”

Bai Ruozhu glanced at Tang Feng, thinking he must have concocted this story reluctantly.

”Since the misunderstanding is cleared up, I’ll escort you all back to the Palace,” Bai Ruozhu said.

Tang Feng said upon hearing, ”My horse carriage is also broken; I’ll ride with you back as this matter stems from me after all.”

Yingtong glared at him, ”You should have clarified earlier. Just because your sweetheart needs protection, doesn’t mean others should endure public gossip!”

”Indeed, Princess Yingtong’s lesson is noted,” Tang Feng replied with a gentle smile, nodding; he always appeared as a gentle and refined scholar.

He instructed the coachman to find someone to fix the horse carriage and mounted a horse to accompany Bai Ruozhu in escorting the three princesses back to the Palace.

Originally, they were not far from the Imperial Palace, and just as they approached the Palace Gate, from the other road, several horse riders unexpectedly joined them, led by none other than the person they least wished to encounter, Saihan.

Bai Ruozhu nearly slapped her mouth, truly, bad luck comes true; she merely mentioned him, and here Saihan appeared.

Saihan’s eyes gleamed upon seeing them. He rode ahead and said, ”Are all of you out for some fun? How come you’re with Tang Feng?”