518 A Busy Woman (1/2)

To her sheer surprise, it was actually Marquis Qin. He was clothed in dark robes that showed visible signs of wear and tear. His sleeves were wet and his clothes emitted a strong stench of alcohol.

”Marquis Qin, this is highly improper!” Xiao Hua instantly scolded.

Guards rushed in front of the Crown Princess to shield her, protecting her at all costs.

Xiao Hua led the pack with her frigid glares and a displeased scowl. She struck a protective hand out to block anyone from coming near the Crown Princess—especially, a wild and rabid dog like the Marquis.

There was a crazed look in the Marquis's blotched red eyes. His hair was haphazardly combed up and it was a mess. It looked as if he had done it himself. His once jovial, yet cunning features were twisted in sheer desperation.

”Princess, Princess, please grant me an audience!” he cried out, his voice sounded hoarse and harsh on the ears.

Li Xueyue relished in the satisfaction of seeing him in such a pathetic state. Seeing the proud man in her childhood so broken like this, her chest swelled.

She had never seen the composed Marquis appear this disheveled as if he had been chased through the forest by a tiger.

If Li Xueyue recalled from her conversation with Yu Zhen, the Emperor had stopped taking his medicine. Which meant, the Emperor no longer tolerated Marquis Qin. The arrogant merchant had just lost his biggest customer.

”The Crown Princess is a busy woman. She does not have the time to entertain sudden audiences like this, especially that of a lowly merchant,” Xiao Hua snapped.

She pulled her dress back and wrinkled her nose as if disgusted by the sight of him.

Marquis Qin snarled at the disrespect. His head hung low, glowering at the ground. Just weeks ago when he was dressed in wealth and gold, the servants bowed to him, even the ones serving the Crown Princess.

”Why not? She's standing right here! This audience will take no more than a few minutes of her spare time,” Marquis Qin loudly bickered.

His voice raised an octave, oozing with desperation.

Marquis Qin's attention snapped back to the highly guarded Crown Princess. There were soldiers surrounding her on all sides. She was safe, but from what? It was not like he was here to threaten her life!

”Princess, please have compassion upon me. I have worked myself to the bone to fulfill your request. Please grant me this audience with you!” Marquis Qin cried out. He took a step closer, but the soldiers drew their weapons.

Li Xueyue's lips curled in amusement. ”I like the sound of you begging.”

”Beg some more,” she mused.

Marquis Qin wanted to kill her. He wished she had been violated by those invaders. He had hoped she was violated in the worst way possible, and every part of her was defiled.

Marquis Qin had prayed to the high heavens that she was ravaged to the point of no return and that everyone who looked at her would be disgusted.

Alas, all of his hard work was yet again, in vain. Marquis Qin was commissioned to gather a group of men that abhorred the Crown Prince.

It was a difficult task, for the Crown Prince was frightsome who terrorized the hearts of many. Who would be bold enough to admit that they hated the Crown Prince?

Marquis Qin did not know the purpose for these men as he was just told to gather them. But when he learned of what happened, he was initially horrified, until he quickly became entertained.

”It seems the Marquis no longer needs an audience with you, Princess,” Xiao Hua sniped. She jutted her chin in the air and turned her back to him, showing blatant discourtesy.

”It would be best not to soil your eyes so early in the afternoon, Princess. We fear your appetite for afternoon tea will be ruined,” Xiao Hua softly said with a bow of her head.

Marquis Qin's fingers itched. He wanted to yank this wench by her hair and throw her to the ground. It would not be the first time he had hurt a woman. He had done it many times yesterday, and the days before that. Until, all of his wives fled from his house, and no one remained. Those money-grubbing whores!

The second they learned about his misfortune, they all packed up. When the servants and guards disappeared, they ran as fast as they could.