Chapter 266: Qiao Ruyan

For an Emperor to be framed and nearly arrested in her own country was so absurd it was laughable.

Xiao Li would never allow such a thing to happen. So, just as the city guards were clamoring their loudest, she calmly gave the command.

"Don’t kill anyone." ’Patience? I don’t have a shred of it left.’

The moment she spoke, Ziyue perked up, grabbed a nearby stool, and charged out.

’How dare they scream at Her Majesty! They’re asking to die!’

Rong Qing and Yang Jun stood flanking Xiao Li, letting the rest of the guards go out to "play."

They were the Empress’s personal guard, meticulously trained and masters of countless martial arts styles. Their opponents were merely local city guards. Even if not completely useless, they weren’t far from it. For Xiao Li’s guards, this was nothing more than a game.

Though the city guards were armed with swords, they were disarmed in the blink of an eye. Xiao Li’s guards didn’t kill them. They simply tossed the weapons aside and proceeded to coolly beat them down with their bare hands.

’Daring to draw their blades on the Empress? Are they tired of living?!’

They knocked one down, tossed him aside, and moved on to the next.

The initial group was thirty strong, and as the fight grew more raucous, other patrolling guards joined in. But without exception, all of them were only there to be beaten. In the end, they were stacked in two heaps like a human pyramid.

Watching the show, Xiao Li finished another half-bowl of rice.

Hong Yue noticed this, and her eyes lit up. ’Keep at it! Draw it out a little longer! It’s whetting Her Majesty’s appetite!’

Hong Yue: The head palace maid, dedicated to keeping Her Majesty well-fed and healthy!

A troop of city guards getting thrashed without being able to land a single blow was a rare spectacle, and it drew a massive crowd. Onlookers packed in, layer after layer, until the area was completely sealed off.

A final wave of guards had to use all their might just to part the crowd. When they finally pushed through, they were stunned by the sight before them.

One hot-tempered guard rolled up his sleeves to jump in, but a woman’s voice cut through the air, shouting, "Stop!"

A slender figure in sky-blue approached with a brisk, purposeful stride.

Ignoring the ongoing brawl, she strode to the teahouse entrance, stopped, and bowed, her voice clear as she announced, "I am Qiao Ruyan, the eldest daughter of the Qiao family. I have come to offer my sincerest apologies."

"My younger sister is headstrong and has wronged her benefactors. I have already questioned the stable master and learned the truth. You are the ones who saved my sister, yet she repaid your kindness with false accusations, goading our father into this terrible mistake. I, Qiao Ruyan, apologize. Please, I beg you to be magnanimous and allow the Qiao family a chance to make amends."

Xiao Li slowly swallowed her food, her gaze drifting toward the entrance.

A pillar blocked half the woman’s figure from view, but Xiao Li could see she was bowing slightly, her posture sincere. ’Her voice is crisp and clear,’ Xiao Li thought. ’She got straight to the point, apologized, and explained the situation. A decisive woman.’

’Her attitude is respectable enough.’

Her first impression was a good one, and Xiao Li’s anger began to fade. "Let her approach."

Hong Yue rose and stepped aside. At the door, Yang Jun allowed the woman to enter.

A young woman approached, her hair styled in the fashion of a married woman. She looked to be in her early twenties, with bright features, a gentle and refined beauty, and a graceful bearing.

With a single glance, she identified the true decision-maker. "I am Qiao Ruyan. Greetings, miss. May I ask for your name?"

Xiao Li replied, "My surname is Xiao."

’Xiao... That is no ordinary surname.’

Qiao Ruyan suppressed her surprise. "Miss Xiao, Qiao Lanzhi is my younger sister. She was unhappy with a marriage our father arranged, so she ran away from home, only to encounter bandits. It is thanks to your timely rescue that she is safe. I am eternally grateful."

"Lanzhi is willful and ungrateful, repaying kindness with malice. I am deeply ashamed and offer my sincerest apologies."

As she spoke, she bowed once more.

Xiao Li studied her for a moment before letting out a sudden laugh.

Qiao Ruyan asked softly, "Have I said something inappropriate?"

Xiao Li shook her head. "No. I was just recalling something I once heard—that no one named Ruyan is ever plain. It seems to be true."

Qiao Ruyan was neither a manipulative schemer nor a sultry seductress, but she was undeniably beautiful—the very picture of a well-bred lady, dignified, graceful, and poised.

Qiao Ruyan breathed an inward sigh of relief. ’If she can make a joke, the situation can’t be too serious.’

"I am fortunate to have earned your praise, Miss. You are the one who is truly peerless, a phoenix among mortals."

’All right, enough with the pleasantries.’

Xiao Li raised a hand. Yang Jun immediately ordered his men to stop, and they let the pitiful city guards go.

Seeing this, Qiao Ruyan immediately said, "Would you honor us with a visit to the Qiao residence? It would allow us to properly play the part of host and give my father and Lanzhi the opportunity to apologize to you in person."

But Xiao Li had not come here to be a guest.

"We need to be on our way, so that won’t be necessary."

Xiao Li studied Qiao Ruyan and asked, "Qiao Lanzhi had a Token from Prince Wei. She claimed the Prince praised her for her ’pure heart and clever mind’ and was going to introduce her to the Empress. Is any of that true?"

This time, Qiao Ruyan was genuinely surprised. "Don’t tell me she was planning to go find Prince Wei?"

Xiao Li nodded. "She claimed to be the future Princess Wei."

Qiao Ruyan’s face flushed with indignation. "That is utterly absurd."

"Prince Wei did visit Luoxia City on an inspection tour and did give us a Token," she explained. "But that was because I was able to assist him with a matter, and in return, the Prince granted me a favor. His words of praise and the offer of an introduction were merely polite pleasantries. As for becoming Princess Wei, that is pure fantasy. I apologize for this embarrassing display."

Xiao Li’s lingering frustration from the previous night finally dissipated. ’I knew it,’ she thought. ’There’s no way Xiao Jingyi could be that blind.’

’If he were to recommend a young woman like Qiao Ruyan, I would certainly appreciate it. But someone like Qiao Lanzhi? Isn’t that just asking for trouble?’

"Very well. Take your people and leave."

Qiao Ruyan could see that Miss Xiao was not going to press the matter further. Though she truly wished to apologize and repay her, she knew she could not delay their journey.

"You are most magnanimous, Miss. I am incredibly grateful. Should you ever visit Luoxia City again, please grant me the opportunity to host you properly."

After Qiao Ruyan left with her men, Hong Yue couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement. "Are those two really sisters? How can they be so different?"

"This Miss Qiao, on the other hand, is truly worthy of Prince Wei’s praise of a ’pure heart and clever mind.’"

Just moments later, the guard who had been sent to gather information returned.

"Reporting, Your Majesty. The governor of Luoxia City, Qiao Youcai, was once the Deputy Governor. The former governor was corrupt, accepting bribes and terrorizing the populace, and was publicly executed by Prince Wei. Afterward, Prince Wei recommended Qiao Youcai for the position of governor."

"Qiao Youcai has two daughters and one son. His eldest daughter, Qiao Ruyan, and his young son, Qiao Tianci, were born to his principal wife. Qiao Lanzhi was born to a serving concubine."

"A year ago, Qiao Ruyan married Han Bin, the Deputy Governor sent by the imperial court. Her mother, Mrs. Yang, was born into a merchant family, and from a young age, Qiao Ruyan learned from her how to manage household and business affairs. She also has a keen understanding of governance. With Prince Wei’s commendation and her husband’s support, she now assists in managing some of the city’s administrative duties. The common people speak of her mostly with praise."

After hearing the report, Xiao Li nodded. ’Now that makes more sense.’

’With me, an Empress, setting an example for the entire world, women should be striving to advance and showcase their talents, not acting like that wretched Qiao Lanzhi.’

’This Qiao Ruyan is quite promising. I’ll write to Song Junzhan later and have him send someone to do a background check. If the Qiao family is clean, I may have just found a new and capable female official for my court.’