Chapter 43: Even if you shout till your throat breaks, no one will come to save you

Chen Yan poked his ears: "What are you shouting about? It's just a line of poetry."

"Why make a big fuss?"

Frankly, if Princess Gao Yang didn't bring it up, he'd almost have forgotten.

Before, he thought he'd done something else to make her go mad; he never expected the cause to be a single line of poetry.

"You say it so lightly!" Princess Gao Yang snapped: "That's a beauty poem, a beauty poem!"

"We're already engaged; I'm marrying you next month. How can you write a beauty poem for Changle?"

"What does this do to me?"

She felt both angry and wronged.

At first she indeed looked down on Chen Yan, thinking he was a playboy who only knew how to haunt pleasure quarters, which is why she resisted the marriage so much.

But later, upon learning that Chen Yan was not only highly skilled in medicine but also remarkably talented in literature, she had already accepted this marriage in her heart.

Subconsciously, she had already regarded Chen Yan as her husband.

How could a woman accept her husband writing beauty poems for other women?

Moreover, this woman is a princess.

Princess Gao Yang snapped angrily: "Say something!"

Chen Yan furrowed his brows, realizing his approach was indeed a bit improper.

He had already engaged to Princess Gao Yang, and everyone knew it.

Li Lizhi is Princess Gao Yang's sister; the poem he recited that day, if heard by someone indifferent, probably wouldn't be a big deal.

For example, Li Chengqian and the crown princess didn't think much of it.

But if it got out, outsiders might think otherwise.

However, although he realized he was at fault, facing Princess Gao Yang he couldn't soften, retorting: "Didn't I just compose that line on the spot?"

"You came running to my house, kicking doors everywhere, and putting me in this situation?"

Hearing this, Princess Gao Yang paused slightly, then recalled that as a princess she had stormed the Bo Mansion, kicking doors everywhere, which would indeed damage Chen Yan's reputation if it got out.

But she was also angry, snapping: "Isn't that because you were wrong first?"

"If you hadn't written that poem for Changle, would I be doing this?"

"Heh, who knows!" Chen Yan sneered: "Don't you remember how you kicked my front gate not long ago?"

"Then what do you want?"

"I don't want anything; you should be asking the princess what she wants! You suddenly came running over and kicked my door—if you don't give me an explanation, this isn't over today!"

Princess Gao Yang widened her eyes in disbelief: "You… you want me to give you an explanation?"

She came today precisely to demand an explanation.

Now she didn't get the explanation she wanted, yet she has to give Chen Yan one?

Is there any justice, any law left?

"Otherwise? Do you think my door is so easy to kick?"

Chen Yan picked up Xiao Sizi from the rocking chair and handed her to Qing'er beside him.

Qing'er silently thought, "Oh no," didn't take Xiao Sizi, and instead advised: "Young master, you mustn't do something foolish."

Seeing Chen Yan rise, Xiang Lan likewise sensed something was off, quickly grabbed Princess Gao Yang's hand and pleaded: "Your Highness, let's go, shall we head back first?"

She truly feared Princess Gao Yang and Chen Yan would start fighting again.

If that happened, it might end up like last time, when the maid named Qing'er came up and scratched her.

"Go back where?" Princess Gao Yang shook off Xiang Lan's hand, glaring at Chen Yan: "Let him come; I'm standing here today—if he doesn't give me an explanation, I'll fight him to the end!"

Chen Yan said coldly: "Don't say I'm not giving you a chance—we're all at fault here; if you leave now, I'll treat it as if you never came."

"If you don't know what's good for you, I still have a death‑exemption gold medal!"

Upon hearing the four words "death‑exemption gold medal," Princess Gao Yang's head shrank back a bit.

Then she immediately lifted it again.

She had never thought of backing down, let alone leaving.

After hearing about the death‑exemption gold medal, for some reason a strange feeling rose in her heart, making her even less willing to go.

"Come, see if I'm afraid!"

Chen Yan burst out laughing in anger: "Fine, fine, fine—this is what you asked for yourself!"

He had clearly stated his point and admitted his fault, yet he hadn't expected Princess Gao Yang to keep holding on.

So don't blame him for being impolite!

Chen Yan was about to rush over to give Princess Gao Yang a lesson, when he didn't expect his leg to be suddenly grabbed.

He looked down and saw Xiao Sizi clinging to his leg, blinking her big dark eyes at him: "Ah‑brother, isn't seven okay?"

"Ah‑sister didn't mean it on purpose, don't blame her, okay~"

The little one couldn't understand much, just seeing Chen Yan so angry and thinking he was going to beat Princess Gao Yang.

So she quickly stepped forward to plead for Princess Gao Yang.

Chen Yan's heart softened in an instant, he was about to agree, when he heard Princess Gao Yang shout: "Xiao Sizi, step back a bit—this is between me and him, you stay out of it."

Chen Yan grew even angrier: "This woman really doesn't know what's good for her."

He struggled to suppress his inner anger, trying to keep his voice gentle: "Xiao Sizi, your older sister kicked my brother's door—do you think she did the right thing?"

Sizi tilted her head, thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"Then look—since your older sister made a mistake, shouldn't she be punished?"

Xiao Sizi nodded solemnly: "Yes!"

Empress Changsun often taught Xiao Sizi that princes who commit crimes are guilty just like commoners.

Since you made a mistake, punishment is deserved.

When she made mistakes before, Empress Changsun would also spank her butt.

"Let Xiao Sizi release my brother, alright? My brother will go teach my sister a lesson, telling her she can't do such things again!"

Okay~

Xiao Sizi wore a serious little expression, released his leg, then ran to stand obediently beside Qing'er.

Xiang Lan and Qing'er wore faces of utter hopelessness.

They knew that today's affair would only end after the two masters fought it out.

As expected.

After pacifying Xiao Sizi, Chen Yan turned his gaze over and immediately locked eyes with Princess Gao Yang.

Damn Chen Yan, take a kick from me!

Princess Gao Yang lifted her skirt, deciding to strike first.

She immediately gritted her teeth and sprinted wildly toward Chen Yan.

When she got close, she kicked out.

Chen Yan showed a hint of disdain; amidst everyone's astonished gazes, he did not dodge, spread his arms, and directly grabbed Princess Gao Yang's leg.

All right, I got it!

Princess Gao Yang:???

Qing'er:???

Xiang Lan:...... (dazed)

Chen Yan!!

Princess Gao Yang's face instantly flushed red, her voice suddenly rose, shaking everyone's eardrums painfully.

Calling your great-uncle? Today I'll let you know why flowers are so red!

Chen Yan lunged forward and grabbed Princess Gao Yang's waist.

With all his strength, he in an instant hoisted Princess Gao Yang onto his shoulder and then ran straight to his quarters.

"Ah!" Princess Gao Yang felt herself spinning, and by the time she reacted, she was already on Chen Yan's back.

Put me down!

She was both ashamed and angry, her pink fists raining down on Chen Yan's back, "You rascal!"

I will definitely tell Father Emperor, you dare to bully me like this!

Chen Yan said gloomily: "Shout all you want, even if you shout your throat raw, no one will come to save you!"

Having said that, he had already carried Princess Gao Yang away from the rear courtyard, leaving only Xiang Lan and Qing'er staring dumbfounded, and......

The bewildered Sizi.