The Little Princess's Secret Guard - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Fall

Lin Xiao immediately launched himself forward with a leap, kicking the person out of the way. The individual was sent flying and crashed heavily onto the ground.

Shen Panyan and Muying sat inside the carriage, shaken.

“Cough, cough…”

The person who was kicked rolled several times on the ground, coughed up a thread of bl00d, tilted their head, and completely fainted.

To be walking along and nearly struck by a falling person was highly unpleasant, and Lin Xiao’s expression was grim.

He was about to request the Princess’s permission to enter the teahouse to see who was responsible, when a vibrant, flamboyant figure in red soared down from the second floor, landing steadily in front of the carriage.

He knelt on one knee, bowing with a crisp line drawn by his belt. “This subordinate, Zhao Yun, greets Princess Mingyue.”

“This subordinate was reckless and just now disturbed Your Highness’s carriage. My crime is inexcusable, and I request a severe punishment from Your Highness.” Though he said this, his voice was neither humble nor arrogant, making it difficult to discern any real remorse.

Shen Panyan stared, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

Zhao Yun?!

Her gaze fell on him, carrying a slight scrutiny. This was the rumored, famous Little War God General?

She hadn’t expected to meet him right after entering the capital.

Shen Panyan never liked to make things difficult for others. “I am unharmed. You may rise.”

“Thank you, Princess Mingyue.”

Zhao Yun stood up from the ground, his face clear and bright, his manner valiant and spirited. Dressed in a fiery red, like maple leaves, he was neat and clean, without any unnecessary adornment.

Shen Panyan looked at him with a hint of curiosity.

It must be difficult for someone like him to willingly accept the Emperor’s marriage decree.

A thought flashed through her mind, but Shen Panyan asked about something else. “Did that person offend you just now? Why did he fall from the teahouse?”

Speaking of the man, Zhao Yun clenched his fist, gritting his teeth in anger. “That scoundrel just now spoke rudely to my elder sister. I acted out of momentary fury, but I didn’t expect to almost strike Your Highness’s carriage. It is my fault…”

“It’s nothing.” Shen Panyan shook her head. Since she decided not to pursue the matter, she truly wouldn’t.

“How… how did you recognize me?”

Shen Panyan hadn’t deliberately concealed her identity, but the carriage she was riding in wasn’t the Princess’s imperial carriage; it was just a very ordinary one. She had never met him. How did he recognize her?

“It wasn’t this subordinate who recognized you; it was my elder sister.”

“Your elder sister?” Shen Panyan was puzzled.

He has an older sister?

Shen Panyan’s intelligence was limited to common knowledge in the capital, so she truly didn’t know how many people lived in the Grand General’s Mansion.

“Reporting to Your Highness, my elder sister is…” Just as Zhao Yun was about to answer, a maid hurried toward them.

“This servant, Danzhu, greets Princess Mingyue.” Danzhu curtsied. “My mistress is the older sister of Young Master Yun. She wishes to invite Your Highness up to the teahouse for a chat. Is Your Highness willing?”

Invite her up to the teahouse?

Shen Panyan’s brow furrowed slightly. Her hands unknowingly twisted her handkerchief. She was always shy, and when there were many people, she didn’t know how to speak. She really didn’t want to go to the crowded teahouse.

Forget it, next time… Just as she was about to refuse, Lin Xiao’s voice suddenly reached her ear.

“Your Highness, you may accept.”

Shen Panyan paused and looked up at Lin Xiao.

“You came to the capital to handle a matter. Since someone has invited you, you might as well go and see.”

Seeing him give her a slight nod, Shen Panyan took a deep breath, feeling a slight surge of courage, and nodded. “Alright.”

Supported by Muying, Shen Panyan descended from the carriage. Lin Xiao followed behind her.

Danzhu walked ahead, leading the way. Zhao Yun walked at the back, his gaze fixed on Lin Xiao, subtly scrutinizing him.

Just now, he clearly sensed Princess Mingyue’s hesitation and her intent to refuse his sister’s invitation. Yet, as soon as this guard spoke, Princess Mingyue changed her mind and agreed.

Princess Mingyue seems to trust this guard implicitly?

This person might have an ordinary appearance, and his footsteps were silent between his movements, appearing to have no presence. However, Zhao Yun had always fought on the battlefield and could immediately perceive the bloodlust and heavy sense of oppression beneath his calm exterior.

This was a martial artist, and not just any martial artist, but one with formidable skill.

He hadn’t heard of Princess Mingyue having such a guard by her side…

Suddenly, Zhao Yun sped up. As he passed Lin Xiao, he pretended not to notice him. Just as his shoulder was about to collide with Lin Xiao, Lin Xiao’s expression remained unchanged. He merely shifted his body slightly, avoiding Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun’s heart was slightly alarmed.

Does this person have eyes in the back of his head?

He considered his own martial ability to be excellent, and he had concealed his internal energy just now. Lin Xiao shouldn’t have noticed him.

Could this person’s martial arts be superior to his own?

Zhao Yun tried to probe again. This time, Lin Xiao not only dodged but also pulled Shen Panyan slightly to the side with him.

Shen Panyan looked at him, confused.

In the very next moment, a loud “thump” sounded. Shen Panyan turned her head and saw Zhao Yun falling toward the wooden staircase. Just as he was about to land bruised and battered, he executed a somersault and stabilized his body. However, perhaps he was too flustered. After stabilizing for only a moment, he crashed solidly onto the floor.

What a loud sound!

Shen Panyan: …

Danzhu: …

Everyone in the teahouse: …

Zhao Wenyao, who was rushing over: …

She couldn’t help but cover her face.

What was this foolish younger brother doing?

A proper General, and he falls on flat ground?

If word got out, people would laugh their heads off!

“Zhao San!” She suppressed her anger. “What are you doing?”

Zhao Yun was also stunned. He hadn’t expected to fall to the ground. He quickly scrambled up. “Sister! Sister! Don’t be angry! Listen to my explanation! It’s not like that…”

He explained frantically. Zhao Wenyao quickly walked over, grabbed his ear, gritted her teeth, and lowered her voice. “What do you mean, ‘it’s not like that?’ I saw everything clearly just now! Your usual recklessness is one thing, but now you almost fell onto the Princess! If the Princess hadn’t dodged in time, everyone would have seen you pinning the Princess underneath you. With all these eyes watching, how would you explain yourself?”

“At that point, even if you don’t want to marry her, you’d have to! Do you really want to marry the Princess?”

Zhao Yun immediately felt wronged. “I didn’t! I was just…”

“Stop with the ‘didn’t, didn’t’! Get over there and reflect properly!” Zhao Wenyao sternly warned him, then quickly walked forward and curtsied to Shen Panyan. “This humble subject, Zhao Wenyao, greets Your Highness.”

“My younger brother is mischievous and nearly offended Your Highness. It is my fault as his elder sister for not disciplining him properly. I apologize to Your Highness on his behalf.”

Shen Panyan finally composed herself, gently raising her hand. “I am unharmed. You may rise.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The group then continued upstairs. The people in the teahouse immediately started buzzing with discussion.

However, no one had seen Shen Panyan before, and Zhao Wenyao spoke softly. Even if they were curious, they couldn’t confirm her identity, only that she was some noble lady.

This was merely a small interlude in their conversation. What everyone talked about the most was Zhao Yun’s spectacular fall.

A young general, a military genius of the age, tripping and falling—it was the kind of embarrassing story that could make people laugh for three days and nights.

All the way up, there were only suppressed snickers. Zhao Yun was already annoyed by the marriage decree, and now, being secretly mocked by everyone, he grew even angrier.

He felt something was wrong. He was perfectly fine. Even if he hadn’t noticed the steps below his feet, he had immediately reacted afterward. There was no way he should have crashed to the ground again. What exactly happened?

Did someone covertly sabotage him?

Suddenly, he remembered that his wrist had seemed to sting just now. The sudden blockage of his qi prevented him from stabilizing his body, causing him to crash heavily onto the ground and lose face so spectacularly!

Excluding himself, the only person present who possessed the skill he couldn’t gauge was the guard beside Princess Mingyue.

Someone who could strike secretly and possessed such strength… it must have been him.

Thinking this, Zhao Yun couldn’t help but grit his teeth in silent fury.

He knew, without a doubt, that the story of his public fall would spread throughout the entire capital tomorrow. Everyone would laugh at him.

He had always been proud and couldn’t bear this insult. As soon as he entered the private room, he rushed forward and grabbed Lin Xiao’s clothes. “Was that fall just now your doing!!”

Shen Panyan’s brow furrowed. “Young Master Zhao, what are you doing?”

“Let go of Lin Xiao immediately!”

Lin Xiao looked calm. “What are you talking about? I don’t know.”

Zhao Wenyao’s forehead twitched. “Zhao San!! What are you doing now? Quickly let go of the Princess’s guard!”

Scolded sternly, Zhao Yun lowered his hand, feeling wronged. “Sister, why are you scolding me? I didn’t use much force on him.”

Lin Xiao nodded. He lowered his gaze. “Your Highness, I am fine. Please don’t be angry.”

The more he spoke like this, the more Shen Panyan felt he was being wronged. She quickly stepped forward and stood in front of him.

Her voice was soft, but her attitude was firm. “Young Master Zhao, you must give me an explanation.”

“Downstairs just now, you nearly had someone hit my carriage. I didn’t hold it against you. Now, you are baselessly slandering my guard. What exactly is your intention?”

Because she had not trusted Lin Xiao before, he was injured along with her and took a month to recover.

Now, barely back in the capital, he was being unjustly slandered.

Shen Panyan might be soft-natured, but she always protected those who were good to her.

“I…” Zhao Yun was completely taken aback. “I just suspected, Your Highness. Please calm your anger…”

“Just suspicion, and you manhandle him? If it weren’t suspicion, would you take his life?” Shen Panyan was truly bad at arguing. Although she was scolding someone else, her eyes started to well up first.

Now, Zhao Yun was completely stumped and could only look pleadingly at Zhao Wenyao. “Sister…”

Zhao Wenyao looked exasperated. “Stop with the ‘Sister, Sister’! Quickly apologize to him, then leave! Stop being a nuisance here.”

“Oh…” Zhao Yun turned back and looked at Lin Xiao. “I’m sorry. I was wrong just now.”

With that, he bowed to Shen Panyan, his voice muffled. “This subordinate takes his leave.” He retreated from the private room.

Seeing him leave, Shen Panyan’s red eyes slowly returned to normal. Zhao Wenyao quickly stepped forward to apologize for him.

“My younger brother was unruly and offended Your Highness. It is entirely my fault for not watching him properly. When I return, I will definitely report this to my parents and ask them to punish him severely.”

“I heard Your Highness enjoys making incense. I have a piece of premium agarwood. When I return to the manor, I will have someone send it to the Imperial Retreat…”

Shen Panyan’s expression gradually improved.

She hadn’t wanted to come in the first place. If not for Lin Xiao, she wouldn’t have stepped foot in the teahouse.

People outside called Zhao Yun the Little General, a military prodigy with unmatched skills. Yet, judging by what she had seen on the way, how did any of this resemble a ‘General’?

Arrogant, rude, and self-important… How did such a person earn those titles?