FBC – Chapter 275 Scandal

The gatekeeper general’s expression turned cold as he raised his voice: “Is the Princess accusing us Nanjing soldiers of rebellion?”

Jiang Ruoxi was furious.

She had traveled painstakingly for two whole months. Yet now she couldn’t even enter the city after reaching the gate—being blocked here made her want to explode.

And now even a mere gatekeeper general dared to contradict her? She was livid!

“You dare block this princess from entering the city and delay my diplomatic marriage—if this isn’t rebellion, then what is it?”

She lifted her foot and kicked at the head of the deputy commander of the imperial guards who happened to be mounted beside her.

“Are you all useless? Why aren’t you taking down this insolent cur?”

The deputy commander’s hat was kicked flying. His face flushed red with anger as he glared at Jiang Ruoxi.

A man’s helmet was never to be kicked by a woman.

Jiang Ruoxi’s willow brows shot up. “You dare glare at me!?”

His subordinates hurriedly picked up the helmet and offered it to him with both hands.

The deputy commander suppressed his anger, put his hat back on, and said expressionlessly: “Princess, they are military officers of the imperial court. I do not have the authority to arrest them at will.”

“You—!”

Wang Heng immediately interrupted her. “Princess, please stay calm.”

If she caused any more trouble, it would only harm their side.

Originally, he had intended to handle the matter of replacing the prefect discreetly—enter the city, settle Jiang Ruoxi, then take his men to the prefecture office and deal with things behind closed doors.

Outsiders didn’t need to know too much, to avoid causing unrest.

But now everything had turned into chaos.

Jiang Ruoxi was fuming.

She pointed at Wang Heng and screamed, “Wang Heng, you dare defy this princess’s orders!?”

“Oh? And where did such an impressive princess come from?”

A clear, ringing laugh echoed.

The soldiers and commoners of Juzhou recognized the person instantly and parted to make way.

Jiang Ruoxi lifted her chin arrogantly—and then froze when she saw who arrived.

“Zhao Luoxuan?”

Zhao Luoxuan stopped with a bright smile.

Wang Heng and the others quickly stepped forward to greet her: “Your subordinate greets the County Princess.”

Even the imperial guards dismounted to pay respects.

Zhao Luoxuan raised a hand. “Rise.”

Jiang Ruoxi still stood on the carriage, looking down her nose as she sneered: “I wondered who it was. Turns out it’s Zhao Luoxuan, the one who was demoted to a mere county princess.”

The crowd couldn’t hold back anymore.

“The County Princess wasn’t demoted! She voluntarily lowered her status for General Qi!”

“And even as a county princess, she is the trueborn daughter of His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress. Her bloodline is far nobler.”

“Exactly. What’s that fake Jiang ‘princess’ acting so high and mighty for?”

Jiang Ruoxi’s face twisted with rage. “Lord Wang! You let them insult me? To insult me is to insult this entire diplomatic delegation—and the royal family!”

Zhao Luoxuan lifted both hands slightly. Instantly, the surroundings fell silent.

She held her head high. Even in a simple dress, she carried an unmistakably regal aura.

“Jiang Ruoxi, they’re not wrong. I am the trueborn daughter of the Emperor and Empress. Even without a princess title, I still hold the rank of County Princess. And this is my fief.”

“You only have an empty title. You haven’t even completed the marriage alliance yet, and you’re already this arrogant. Whether someone like you going to Dali brings benefit or harm to Great Liang is… questionable.”

Jiang Ruoxi nearly went mad. She pointed at Zhao Luoxuan, shrieking:

“Zhao Luoxuan! You were supposed to be the one marrying! You ran away from your duty, made me suffer in your place—and you dare slander me!?”

Zhao Luoxuan smiled sweetly. “Oh? Isn’t it because your scandal with your biological brother was exposed? You wanted to enter the palace as a consort, but no one would take you. Jiang family didn’t want you either. So they schemed to make you impersonate a princess for the marriage alliance, isn’t that right?”

Gasps erupted.

“Huh? A scandal with her own brother?”

“Even if I haven’t heard it, I don’t want to. That’s disgusting.”

“A woman like that shouldn’t even be alive. She should’ve hung herself with a white silk rope.”

Jiang Ruoxi’s face turned deathly pale. Her vision darkened and she fainted backward.

Her maids screamed, “Imperial Physician! The Princess has fainted!”

The physician hurried over with his medicine chest.

Wang Heng’s face also looked terrible.

If not for the Jiang family, he would never travel with someone as disgraceful as Jiang Ruoxi.

And yet the shameless woman thought Juzhou didn’t know her history and dared behave unscrupulously—provoking everyone. If word reached Prince Duan, the marriage alliance would be ruined.

Wang Heng shot a cold glance at Prefect Wu. “Prefect Wu, lead us into the city first. Your punishment will be discussed later.”

Prefect Wu smiled, removed his official robe, wrapped his hat in it, and tossed the bundle directly into Jiang Ruoxi’s carriage.

“This humble citizen resigns.”

Then he turned and walked away.

The citizens and soldiers quickly made space for him to leave—then just as quickly squeezed back. Prefect Wu soon vanished into the crowd.

The officials who followed him also removed their robes and hats one after another, throwing them into Jiang Ruoxi’s carriage.

“If such a vicious, immoral fake princess is to be married off, that would be Nanjing’s misfortune! I quit!”

“Lord Wang, this humble citizen also resigns!”

“I resign as well!”

Five or six officials left in one sweep.

The gatekeeper general waved his hand: “Withdraw!”

All soldiers who had gathered to welcome the delegation retreated inside the city gates at once.

Wang Heng’s face turned green.

The imperial delegation was stunned.

They… were just abandoned outside the gates?

A minor clerk squeezed his way forward and bowed. “Lord Wang, please follow me to the courier station.”

Wang Heng nearly exploded from rage at having a lowly clerk escort them—but he had no choice.

If they stalled any longer, they would be the ones humiliated.

In the mansion, Gu Hua and the Old Madam were enjoying grapes while Chi Yu reported everything that happened at the gates.

Yuan Jieying clapped happily. “Serves her right! Jiang Ruoxi is always arrogant and never treats me as her sister-in-law.”

Gu Hua chuckled. “She doesn’t want you to become her sister-in-law.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s voice came from the entrance.

Gu Hua immediately instructed someone to bring her a basin of iced grapes. “They just arrived and taste wonderful.”

Zhao Luoxuan greeted the Old Madam. The Old Madam smiled warmly. “Sit, sit. Your face is so red from the heat.”

Zhao Luoxuan sat down with a grin. “I rushed back to tell Sister Hua—Jiang Ruoxi fainted from anger.”

Gu Hua beamed. “Her scandal was exposed publicly. Next, let’s see how Duan Yu reacts.”

Zhao Luoxuan popped a grape into her mouth. “Wang Heng went straight to the yamen. I’m eager to watch the show.”

Gu Hua said: “We’ll be relying on the County Princess for the yamen matters.”

Zhao Luoxuan waved a hand. “Don’t worry. I handled almost all the accounts. They won’t find any loose ends.”

Gu Hua handed her a bowl of chilled locust-flower sweet soup. “Too cold for me to eat. You take it.”

Zhao Luoxuan accepted quickly. “My favorite!”

Gu Hua watched her enjoy it and smiled. “Wang Heng actually thought replacing the prefect would let him choke our Juzhou’s revenue. Truly wishful thinking. He probably never imagined that we haven’t collected taxes from the citizens for over a year.”

Zhao Luoxuan finished the bowl in delight. “They would never imagine that Juzhou’s prosperity today comes from the combined efforts of the two of us and the Pei family.”

Gu Hua smiled faintly. “Let them run around like headless flies today. Tomorrow, we’ll present them with a grand gift using the Huang clan.”

Zhao Luoxuan’s eyes sparkled. “Alright!”

She was practically bouncing with excitement.