Chapter 26.2

Unexpectedly, before Tao Ti could even take a step, Zhou Muyan suddenly struck out——

This time, it wasn’t to hit Tao Ti. Instead, she was reaching for the veiled hat on Tao Ti’s head.

“You bitch, to still be hiding behind a veiled hat in the shop, you must be so ugly that you’re too ashamed to even let others see you, right? I’m going to tear your face off!”

She grabbed the white gauze hanging down from the brim of the hat and pulled it fiercely.

Tao Ti was stunned by the unexpected action, and in the next moment, the veiled hat on her head was tugged off, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face.

For a while, the shop was silent.

When everyone came back to their senses, they all let out exclamations of amazement.

“What a picture of beauty! Those red lips, exquisite pearly white teeth—she’s just like a lotus rising out of clear water, natural and without embellishment!”

“Yeah, I wonder whose wife she is. Being so exceedingly beautiful, it’s no wonder she was wearing that veiled hat. If I were a man and married such a beautiful wife, I would definitely not be willing for her to be seen by others.”

“Haha, the young lady from the Grand Councillor’s residence still said she must be ugly and too ashamed to be seen. Now that she’s seen her true face, she’s totally speechless…”

Zhou Muyan was indeed speechless at the moment.

Starting at Tao Ti, her face went from red to white, as if she had seen a ghost.

H-how can she be so beautiful?

Also, why does this woman look so familiar? Where have I seen her before? She looks about the same age as me, but her hair is in a married woman’s hairdo. Ah, who are the noble ladies in the capital who have gotten married in recent years…?

While she was trying hard to remember, Tao Ti had already put on her veil hat again.

Tao Ti raised her hand to lift a corner of the veil, looked at Zhou Muyan coldly, and said bluntly, “Are you crazy?”

“You—!!!” Zhou Muyan was just about to retort when she suddenly heard a low cry of surprise from the people in the shop.

Tao Ti looked up. Frowning, Zhou Muyan also turned her head reflexively to take a look.

They saw a tall and slender figure in silver-grey striding in. Following his appearance, the entire shop seemed to brighten up.

Tao Ti was a little surprised at the sight of Pei Yan. Her bright eyes blinked lightly, “Your H… You’re done with your business?”

Pei Yan stopped in front of her, lowered his eyes and gazed deeply at her. In a tone full of gentleness he asked, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Tao Ti shook her head lightly, wondering why he would always just happen to appear when she was in a catfight!

Ahhhhh, can I still uphold that gentle and obedient persona?!

Pei Yan looked her up and down. After confirming that she was fine, he turned his gaze to Fu Xirui, and his tone clearly grew colder by several degrees, “What’s going on?”

Fu Xirui hurriedly lowered his head and briefly described the ins and outs of the matter.

After listening to everything, Pei Yan glanced at Tao Ti’s arm without a flicker of expression, then slowly turned around.

The gentleness on his face instantly vanished when he was looking at the others. His dark eyes stared straight at Zhou Muyan, “Was it you who bullied my wife?”

“I-I… No…”

Zhou Muyan’s knees went weak. If not for Cuixi’s timely support, she might have fallen to the ground.

Wh-what is the C-crown Prince doing here…?

Suddenly, a realization flashed through her mind, and her pupils suddenly widened. Upon looking at Tao Te again, everything became clear.

That’s right, no wonder she thought this woman was familiar! Wasn’t this Marquis Yong Wei’s legitimate daughter, now Crown Princess Tao Ti?

But why was she somewhat different from before? The Tao Tie she had seen at the banquets in the past was a silent, withdrawn, submissive wimp who only had looks but no mind of her own, an unpresentable good-for-nothing…

But now was not the time to dwell on this. The problem now was that she had provoked the Crown Princess and was caught red-handed by the Crown Prince!

Zhou Muyan squeezed out a smile that was even uglier than a crying face and said meekly, “E-elder cousin, I didn’t mean to…”

Pei Yan’s thin lips curved into a mocking arc and snorted, “Who’s your elder cousin?”

Zhou Muyan choked on her words.

Pei Yan’s dark pupils flashed with a cold light. The smile on the corners of his lips grew deeper, and he said slowly, “When I meet the Left Grand Councillor at morning assembly tomorrow, I will definitely ask him for advice on how to run a family.”

Zhou Muyan felt that his appearance was really scary. He clearly had a smile on his face, but the gaze he was giving her was like a ruthless cold knife pressed against her scalp, sending inexplicable chills down her back.

She did not dare to look directly at Pei Yan, and stumbled to explain, “Y-Your H…”

Not waiting for her to say a word, Pei Yan turned around, took Tao Ti’s hand, and said, “Let’s go.”

His tone was so gentle that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out, completely different from the cold and hostile manner just moments ago.

Tao Te was a little startled and seemed to still be somewhat dazed, “Ah, alright.”

Pei Yan smiled gently at her; his cold palm wrapped tightly around her soft little hand.

Tao Te suddenly thought of something else. Before she could make a sound, as if he could read minds, Pei Yan cast a glance at Fu Xirui.

Fu Xirui said immediately, “Don’t worry, Madam. This old servant will take the brocade along.”

“Mhm.” Tao Ti smiled, then secretly raised her eyes to look at Pei Yan. He was really amazing—she hadn’t even said anything, but he already understood.

Holding her hand, Pei Yan led her out of the shop. The onlookers in the shop involuntarily scattered to the sides, automatically making a path for them.

After they were out, the crowd couldn’t help but look outside.

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