Troublemaker Prince Chapter 14
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 14
You Yusui had been reborn more than ten times, and his character was no longer as gentle and tolerant as it had been in his first life. He would immediately repay any grudge, never speaking of the saying that "a gentleman's revenge is not too late even after ten years."
Moreover, through more than ten rebirths, You Yusui had come to understand the personalities of those around him very well. His cousin, the daughter of the Eldest Princess, had a spoiled and domineering character—whatever she wanted, she had to obtain.
In You Yusui's memory, in order to get this peacock feather dress, Ji Shuang had personally scratched the face of a noble lady who competed with her for the dress. Now that he had bought this peacock feather dress in front of Ji Shuang ahead of time, it could be considered as sparing that poor noble lady from this undeserved disaster.
"Yesterday the marriage between the Eldest Princess's daughter and the Third Prince fell through. The Eldest Princess is probably still angry about it right now," You Yusui said while changing into his old clothes.
The moon-white deep robe embroidered with flowing cloud patterns made You Yusui appear upright and tall, with a pale blue-green bamboo-patterned wide-sleeved shirt over it, making You Yusui look even more ethereal like an immortal, adding a touch of celestial grace to that face that was beautiful to the point of being sharp.
Huo Xiling, who was helping You Yusui arrange his clothes nearby, couldn't help but nod upon hearing You Yusui's words. Ever since the Eldest Princess married into the General's Mansion, Huo Xiling had interacted with the Eldest Princess for a period of time. That woman with her domineering temperament would indeed be angered by this matter.
The corners of You Yusui's mouth couldn't help but curve up slightly. After Huo Xiling fastened a double fish jade pendant carved from mutton-fat white jade around his waist, he slowly said, "So the Eldest Princess in her fury certainly won't buy that peacock feather dress for Ji Shuang, and Ji Shuang will definitely go to the shop herself to bring that peacock feather dress back to the Princess's mansion."
Huo Xiling was surprised upon hearing this. He didn't know why the Crown Prince was so certain that the Eldest Princess wouldn't buy the peacock feather dress for the Princess, and that the Princess would personally go to the shop to take away the peacock feather dress. Just as he was about to ask, the Crown Prince had already led Huo Xiling out of the room.
"Come, this prince will take you to bully a little girl," You Yusui said, pulling Huo Xiling's hand.
As soon as these words fell, You Yusui led Huo Xiling out of the Eastern Palace.
Meanwhile, Eunuch Fubao, who was busy preparing things for leaving the palace in the inner chamber, had just walked out the door when he saw You Yusui and Huo Xiling's distant figures, and couldn't help but feel despair.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! You didn't bring your money pouch! You didn't bring your veiled hat either!"
"You, and you—you two take these things and catch up with His Highness the Crown Prince. Make sure to protect His Highness well," Eunuch Fubao said, seeing that he couldn't catch up himself, and quickly pointed to two guards from the Imperial Guard, ordering them to pursue the Crown Prince and Huo Xiling.
Finally, through Eunuch Fubao's efforts, the money pouch and veiled hat were delivered to You Yusui with difficulty.
Wearing the veiled hat to conceal his appearance, You Yusui headed straight for Zhijin Workshop, which was the largest fabric shop in all of Chang'an. The peacock feather dress that the Eldest Princess's daughter had been yearning for also came from Zhijin Workshop.
Upon entering, You Yusui immediately saw the peacock feather dress displayed in the center of Zhijin Workshop. The dress's colors were extremely vibrant, with the skirt embroidered to resemble a peacock's tail feathers—magnificently gorgeous. Under the sunlight, it sparkled and shimmered, appearing in different colors when viewed from different angles.
However, in You Yusui's view, the materials of this dress were merely ordinary—not the finest peacock feathers, and no gold thread was mixed into the dress. But it was already enough to drive all the noble ladies of Chang'an mad with desire.
Yet the price of one million coins was not something anyone could easily produce. Even if some noble families could casually come up with such an amount, flaunting wealth under the emperor's nose would surely get you added to the emperor's list. Therefore, this peacock feather dress that glittered brilliantly in the sunlight had been displayed at Zhijin Workshop for half a month without anyone showing interest.
"Xiling, look—this is the new outfit this prince wants to give you," You Yusui said, pointing with his sandalwood folding fan at the peacock feather dress hanging on the clothing rack.
Huo Xiling turned his gaze to the peacock feather dress and fell silent for a moment. Even if he wanted to wear this dress, it would probably be a bit short on him.
The shopkeeper of Zhijin Workshop saw the young man wearing a veiled hat pointing at the peacock feather dress they had displayed in their shop, and after looking at the accessories on the young man, knew in his heart that this was someone who could afford to buy it. He immediately put on a smile and approached them.
"Young master, are you looking to buy this peacock feather dress? May I ask who it's for? If you could let us know, we could select a proper box to package it and deliver it to that young lady's mansion," the shopkeeper of Zhijin Workshop said earnestly.
Upon hearing this, You Yusui suppressed his laughter and pointed with his finger at Huo Xiling beside him, saying, "The one this prince wants to give it to is him."
"Hiss——" The shopkeeper looked up at Huo Xiling beside You Yusui and couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath, wishing he could drain all the surrounding air.
The young man in martial attire before him had delicate and profound features, with rugged facial bones, a high-bridged nose, and eyebrows that revealed a heroic spirit. His body emanated an aura of someone not to be trifled with. Though the shopkeeper was getting old, he looked left, right, up, and down—this young man before him didn't look like a woman disguised as a man at all.
If there really was a young lady who looked like this, that would be truly frightening!
Meanwhile, You Yusui unhesitatingly had the guard behind him pay, then pulled the peacock feather dress off the rack and held it up against Huo Xiling to compare.
The shopkeeper nearby appeared quite dazed upon receiving ten gold pieces that the guard casually produced. This peacock feather dress worth one million coins had just been sold so casually?
Just then, Ji Shuang, the Eldest Princess's daughter, walked in with her servants.
Yesterday her engagement with the Third Prince had fallen through. When she asked her mother for the peacock feather dress, she was scolded instead. Thinking that the peacock feather dress might fall into another noble lady's hands, Ji Shuang had rushed here from the Eldest Princess's mansion with her servants, prepared to force the shop to give her the peacock feather dress.
However, unexpectedly, that peacock feather dress was being held up against that lowly brat from the General's Mansion for comparison.
"Let go of my peacock feather dress!" Ji Shuang shouted loudly, attempting to snatch the peacock feather dress away. Although she hadn't paid for it, she had long considered the peacock feather dress as something already in her possession.
Before Huo Xiling could move to restrain Ji Shuang, the folding fan in You Yusui's hand struck Ji Shuang's outstretched hand. Ji Shuang couldn't help but withdraw her hand in pain.
"Who gave you permission to touch this prince's things?" You Yusui asked in a cold voice.
The voice like a clear spring rang in everyone's ears. Though it should have sounded pleasant, they all felt a chill in their hearts.
"Didn't you say you would keep this dress for me?" Ji Shuang looked angrily at the shopkeeper of Zhijin Workshop.
The shopkeeper was also helpless—when had he ever said such words? He had only said that this dress had been placed here with no one coming to buy it, and if the Princess wanted it, she should act quickly.
"Princess, this dress has already been purchased by this young master," the shopkeeper said helplessly.
"Purchased? I'll pay ten times the price!" Ji Shuang roared.
That peacock feather dress was clearly the one she had set her sights on, planning to wear it to show off at the spring banquet on the Shangsi Festival! How could she not wear the peacock feather dress during the Shangsi Festival?
"Ah, this..." The shopkeeper didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Huo Xiling, you'd better hand over this dress to me," Ji Shuang stared at Huo Xiling and said, "Otherwise I'll go tell mother, and she has plenty of ways to torment you."
Upon hearing this, You Yusui frowned. He looked up at Ji Shuang, who was being arrogant and threatening people, and said, "What kind of thing are you? How dare you try to snatch this prince's belongings?"
As soon as these words fell, You Yusui picked up scissors that were placed nearby and directly cut the peacock feather dress into two sections, then threw the upper half embroidered with various birds onto the ground.
The onlooking crowd couldn't help but gasp—this item worth one million coins was destroyed just like that.
"You! You! You!" Ji Shuang pointed at You Yusui, trembling all over with rage.
The peacock feather dress she had yearned for so long had just been destroyed before her very eyes.
You Yusui said softly, "When you destroy others' beloved possessions, did you know that someone could just as easily destroy your beloved possessions?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Shuang trembled all over. She smashed the decorative items in Zhijin Workshop and said to the servants behind her, "Kill him! Kill him! Kill him for me!"
Seeing Ji Shuang's completely collapsed and out-of-control appearance, Huo Xiling couldn't help but curve his lips slightly. However, it still wasn't enough—what he had lost was his sister's relic, while what Ji Shuang lost was merely a dress she cared about temporarily.
Soon, the commotion here attracted the attention of people outside. A dandy young man walked into Zhijin Workshop.
"Niece Shuang’er, why are you crying like this? Who bullied you? Your cousin-uncle will get justice for you!" This dandy was the son of the Empress Dowager's third brother, named Li Yuan. Relying on being the Empress Dowager's nephew, he ran rampant in Chang'an. Today he had gone out seeking entertainment, and when he happened upon someone causing trouble at Zhijin Workshop, he came to watch the excitement, not expecting it to be the Eldest Princess's daughter who had been wronged.
As Li Yuan, who could only act tyrannically by depending on the Empress Dowager, he naturally had to stand up for the Empress Dowager's most beloved granddaughter, directing his hostility toward both Huo Xiling and You Yusui.
"I was wondering who dared to bully our Princess—so it's you!" Li Yuan naturally recognized Huo Xiling. When Huo Xiling's brother-in-law hadn't remarried, Huo Xiling had also been considered among Chang'an's dandies, and Li Yuan had suffered plenty under Huo Xiling's hands. Later, when the Eldest Princess married into the General's Mansion, he had finally been able to hold his head high.
"To dare tear up the Princess's peacock feather dress—I see you don't want to live anymore."
Upon hearing this, You Yusui raised an eyebrow, then stepped forward and said, "Pardon the interruption, but this peacock feather dress was purchased by this prince with money. If this prince wants to destroy it, this prince will destroy it. What business is it of yours?"
You Yusui's voice rose slightly, making it easy for people to hear the disdain within.
Li Yuan looked at You Yusui's attire and assumed he was a young lady dressed as a man for fun. Seeing his slender waist and exposed hands that were white as jade, evil thoughts suddenly arose in his heart.
"Where did this pretty girl come from? Don't follow Huo Xiling anymore—he's just a fallen aristocrat. Why don't you follow me instead..." As he spoke, Li Yuan reached out to grab You Yusui.
Before Li Yuan's hand could touch You Yusui, and before Huo Xiling could break Li Yuan's hand, You Yusui suddenly erupted, directly giving Li Yuan a kick to the chest that sent him flying. He crashed into a shelf holding fabric, and the sound of his fall made people wince just hearing it.
At this moment, Huo Xiling didn't know what expression would be appropriate—he was completely stunned. His Highness the Crown Prince had kicked someone flying!
"Do you know who you hit? You hit the current Empress Dowager's nephew!" Li Yuan climbed up with the help of his servants and shouted loudly.
Just then, You Yusui suddenly clutched his chest and said, "Huo Xiling, my chest hurts!"
Huo Xiling, who had been standing there in a daze, instantly panicked. He held You Yusui and shouted at the two guards, "Imperial physician! Quickly go get an imperial physician!"
"Call Imperial Physician Cui—he understands my condition best," You Yusui said this sentence and then collapsed weakly into Huo Xiling's arms.
Meanwhile, in the palace, the emperor who had just finished handling government affairs received a piece of news.
"Your Majesty, something has happened to His Highness the Crown Prince," Eunuch Anhai said.
"What happened? Was he beaten by someone?" You Fengyun asked with complete indifference.
"Your Majesty, no—it's that the Crown Prince kicked and broke someone else's ribs."
You Fengyun: ??? Wasn't the Crown Prince so ill that he could barely walk?