Princess?
Beside Pingting was Xiao Jiu, and if not this person, then there was only one marriage alliance princess left.
She didn't have a deep impression of this princess because Zonghan hadn't arranged a wedding in the capital for Princess Rong and Wuyi. Instead, she was betrothed to Wuyi in a red wedding dress.
As for whether it was proper or not, no one paid attention, after all, at that time, the Emperor's favorite was Pingting, and Pingting was about to get married!
Zhao Jiaqi helped up the maid on the ground and asked gently, "Get up and tell me properly, what happened to your princess?"
The maid sobbed and recounted intermittently, "Your Highness, that Wuyi is simply not human. Even when the princess had her period, he didn't let her go. He tormented her every day and even beat her severely. If this continues, the princess might perish before reaching Zongsheng Kingdom!"
After hearing her words, she recalled what her husband had said to her.
A princess married off to a distant land was already bitter enough. If her husband wasn't sincere, how could she live on!
"Lead the way!"
The maid quickly wiped the tears from her face and hurried towards her mistress's room. Before she even arrived, she heard shouting.
Although she couldn't understand the Zongsheng language, she didn't need to. She knew it was scolding.
Without waiting for the maid to knock, she kicked open the cabin door. Seeing the scene inside, the veins on Zhao Jiaqi's forehead bulged.
The delicate woman was half-lying on the bed, her waterfall-like hair being brutally gripped by Wuyi. With his other hand, he was choking her neck. The princess didn't resist, and her face was already bruised and swollen.
"You scoundrel, do you think our Yun Kingdom is easy to bully!" As Zhao Jiaqi spoke, she slapped Wuyi hard across the face.
Not only Wuyi was stunned, but even the maid serving the princess was startled.
He came to his senses, let go of the person in his hand, and rushed towards Zhao Jiaqi.
His eyes were bloodshot, and he pointed at her viciously, "You dare to hit me!"
"Hitting you is too light; I wish I could kill you right now!" Zhao Jiaqi was not afraid.
Being a woman herself, she understood the sorrow of being married off to a distant land.
If one married the right person, the bitterness could be soothed. If one married the wrong person, it was a lifelong tragedy.
Especially for a princess married for political alliance, unable to return home, and bearing the mission of peace between two nations, she was already so pathetic. Yet, these chauvinistic men failed to see it.
They dared to bully someone so openly under their noses, and they hadn't even reached Zongsheng Kingdom yet.
She felt pity, but she wasn't a saint.
Wuyi's hatred for Fan Zehao was directly transferred to her. Losing his reason in anger, he grabbed her neck, intending to send her to Buddha to meditate. But a hand from behind reached out and pushed him back.
With a blank expression, he said coldly, "If you want to die, go ahead and try."
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the person beside her. Seeing that it was him, she said no more and went around Wuyi to check on the princess.
Before long, the sounds of a fight erupted from behind, attracting the attention of others on the ship.
Zhao Jiaqi laid the princess down and called to the maid who had stopped her, "Go find Pingting and ask her to bring some people to help move the princess to another room!"
"Yes, I'll go right away!"
She went and returned quickly. Pingting, bewildered, led the people by her side behind the maid to Princess Rong's residence. Listening to Zhao Jiaqi's instructions, she quickly had people tidy up a room.
Looking at her sister who had fallen to such a state, Pingting was terrified and furious. "This Wuyi is simply a scoundrel, to do such a thing! Sister-in-law, you must not forgive him easily."
It was fortunate that her elder brother had proposed early, and fortunate that she had given Xu Dong a jade pendant as thanks for saving her life. Otherwise, the one lying here would be her.
Just thinking about it sent shivers down her spine!
Zhao Jiaqi patted her hand, "Arrange for someone to take good care of her and call a doctor to examine her. I'll go find Zonghan!"
On the deck, Fan Zehao and Zonghan were both present.
Wuyi and Gao Wenbin stood behind their respective masters, but Wuyi's face was bruised and swollen.
When Zhao Jiaqi arrived, she went directly to Zonghan, "Lord Zong, although Zong Huofeng was married to Hu Yurong, who has no substantial power, she is still from a prominent family, living a comfortable life without worries. And the Marquis of Ningyuan has never mistreated her. We have acted with the most sincere intentions. What about you?"
Zhao Jiaqi glanced at the arrogant and rude Wuyi and said coldly, "If Lord Zong cannot give a satisfactory answer today, our Yun Kingdom will tear up the agreement. We will absolutely not allow you to bully us like this."
This was the first time Zonghan had seen Zhao Jiaqi lose her temper, and her attitude was extremely resolute. He could even see a hint of ruthlessness in her determination.
If he couldn't give her a satisfactory answer, there might be bloodshed again in the future. She herself did not want war, but her actions today clearly showed that she was truly angry.
"Lord Zong, it seems that General Wuyi has an issue with me. Not only did he injure the princess, but he also tried to take my consort's life. I am very angry about this matter. Lord Zong, handle it as you see fit. We still have a few days before we disembark!"
Fan Zehao put his arm around Zhao Jiaqi's waist and walked into the cabin. He carefully asked Zhao Jiaqi if she was injured. After she shook her head, Fan Zehao was relieved.
Looking at Gao Wenbin, Fan Zehao immediately thought of the best place for him. "From now on, you will be a personal guard by the consort's side. No one is allowed to harm the consort in the slightest. No matter who it is, if they dare to lay a hand on the consort, you will handle it. If anything goes wrong, I will take responsibility. I have only one goal: she lives, you live!"
Gao Wenbin nodded. His master was now Zhao Jiaqi.
In the evening, Princess Rong woke up. Pingting looked at her dazed eyes and went forward to comfort her, "I am Pingting. Don't be afraid, you are safe here."
Huangfu Wanrong looked at Pingting, tears streaming down her face. She hugged Pingting and cried, "Sister, I'm scared!"
Pingting embraced her, patting her back, and spoke softly, fearing that a louder sound would frighten her further, "It's alright now. The consort rescued you and has also spoken to Lord Zong. You won't be bullied by that scoundrel Wuyi anymore."
Huangfu Wanrong cried for a long time until her strength was gone, and she finally relaxed.
Consort?
"The consort saved me? Can you beg the consort not to let me marry into Zongsheng Kingdom? That Wuyi is simply a devil. He almost choked me to death. Sister, for the sake of our sisterhood, help me beg the consort!"
Wanrong grabbed her sleeve as if she had found a lifeline, pleading desperately.
Pingting averted her head with difficulty. She couldn't help with this matter.
Wanrong was originally a princess married for political alliance. Even if she was unwilling, she couldn't change that reality.
If she were to beg her sister-in-law, and her sister-in-law's soft heart led her to keep the princess, wouldn't that disrupt the purpose of the marriage alliance? She would be pushing her sister-in-law into a fiery pit. She couldn't do that.
"Wanrong, if you stay, have you considered the situation of your mother in the palace? Even if you stay, do you think your father will spare you if you return to the palace?"
Her body was no longer pure, she had defied the imperial decree, and had insulted the dignity of the royal family. Any one of these would be a death sentence.