Chapter 137 -
The atmosphere inside the teahouse dropped below freezing. Every customer and server froze in terror, completely suffocated by the heavy, lethal aura pouring off General Wenzhe.
Wenzhe didn’t say a word. He took long, slow strides across the wooden floorboards, his heavy boots echoing like drums of war. His dark, sharp eyes remained fixed on the handsome stranger sitting across from his wife.
When Wenzhe finally reached the table, his eyes narrowed into lethal slits. The icy rage in his expression flickered for a fraction of a second, replaced by a sudden, intense shock.
He recognized that sly smirk. He recognized those bright amber eyes.
"Third Prince..." Wenzhe said, his deep voice carrying a dark, dangerous rumble.
Yueqing’s jaw dropped so hard her sweet tea almost spilled right out of her mouth.
[WAIT A MINUTE!] her inner mind screeched in absolute, chaotic horror, her internal persona slapping both hands onto its cheeks. [THE THIRD PRINCE?! SYSTEM NINE, WHY IS THE THIRD PRINCE PLAYING A STREET COMEDIAN IN A SNOWY VILLAGE?!]
[System 009: Alert: Canonical plot divergence detected! The Third Prince was supposed to appear during the Imperial Banquet next month. His early arrival is due to Host’s chaotic choices altering the storyline’s timeline.]
[YOU COULD HAVE WARNED ME!] Yueqing wailed internally, her hands trembling as she looked back and forth between the two giant mountain peaks of pure tension standing before her.
The Third Prince didn’t flinch under Wenzhe’s terrifying glare. Instead, he chuckled softly, setting his teacup down on the table with an elegant, effortless clink.
"It has been three long years, Wenzhe," the Prince said smoothly, leaning back in his chair with a lazy, charming smile. "You haven’t changed at all. Still bursting into peaceful rooms looking like you want to decapitate everyone in sight."
"What are you doing here?" Wenzhe demanded, stepping closer. His tall, imposing frame completely shadowed the table, his hand resting tightly on the hilt of his sword. "The Imperial Capital is three hundred miles south. Why are you lurking around my border territory in disguise?"
"Lurking?" The Prince raised a dark, perfectly shaped eyebrow, his amber eyes glittering with mischievous amusement. "I came to inspect the northern army’s winter supplies on behalf of His Majesty. But while passing through, I happened to put on a small street performance... and met an extraordinarily generous, beautiful lady."
He turned his gaze toward Yueqing, his smile growing softer and full of deliberate charm. "She even gave me a full gold tael just to see my face."
Wenzhe’s head snapped toward Yueqing so fast she heard a sharp crack.
The dark, burning heat in Wenzhe’s eyes was so intense it almost scorched her skin. The raw, violent jealousy radiating off him was so powerful that even the air around them felt heavy.
"You gave him a gold tael?" Wenzhe growled softly, his voice dropping into a low, terrifying whisper that made her spine shiver.
Yueqing swallowed hard, clutching her stick of candied hawthorns like a protective shield.
"I... I just thought his comedy show was funny!" Yueqing stammered out, trying her best to look unbothered, though her face was burning bright red. "He was making fun of a stubborn, wooden General! It was very accurate!"
The Third Prince burst into a bright, melodious laugh, fanning himself lazily. "See? Your own wife agrees with me, General."
Wenzhe’s jaw locked so tight his teeth gritted together. The old bitterness between him and the Prince, years of rivalry, broken trust, and unspoken history stoked by the sight of him leaning so close to Yueqing, brought his self-control to an absolute breaking point.
Without a word, Wenzhe reached out, grabbed Yueqing’s wrist with a firm, unyielding grip, and pulled her straight up out of her chair and directly behind his broad back.
"She is my wife," Wenzhe warned, his voice low, flat, and filled with a lethal threat. "Stay away from her."
The Prince slowly stood up, his playful smile fading just a fraction to reveal the sharp, dangerous intellect of a royal. He looked directly into Wenzhe’s dark eyes, completely unfazed.
"She may be your wife, Wenzhe," the Prince murmured, his amber eyes flashing with a quiet challenge. "But from what I hear in the village... you and your wife aren’t really a lovey dovey couple after all this is an arranged marriage. If you don’t know how to treasure a precious gem, don’t be surprised when someone else picks it up."
Yueqing’s breath caught in her throat.
[Oh my god...] her mind whimpered, her inner persona ducking under a shield as invisible sparks flew between the two men. [They are going to tear this teahouse down!]
"Let go of me!" Yueqing snapped, jerking her wrist back with all her strength until his grip broke.
She took a sharp step away from Wenzhe, her eyes flashing with pure defiance as she rubbed her reddened wrist. The quiet heartbreak she had felt earlier in the day vanished, instantly replaced by a wave of furious anger.
"I came out here to have fun and eat snacks!" Yueqing shouted, pointing her half-eaten stick of candied hawthorns right at his chest. "You have no right to barge in here and command me around like one of your soldiers!"
[Who does he think he is?!] her inner voice screeched, her internal persona rolling up its sleeves in absolute fury. [He spends all morning holding his precious Li Mei in his arms, screaming for doctors, and ignoring me completely, and now he wants to pull the ’overbearing husband’ act?! NOT TODAY, YOU STUBBORN BLOCK OF WOOD!]
[System 009: Alert: Target Wenzhe’s anger level has officially crossed maximum threshold. Strategic retreat is highly recommended—]
[I’M NOT RETREATING!] Yueqing fumed internally.
The Third Prince’s amber eyes flickered with amused satisfaction at her outburst. He folded his arms, leaning back with a smooth smirk. "You heard the lady, General. She isn’t your prisoner."
Wenzhe’s self-control completely shattered.
His face turned deathly dark. Ignoring the Third Prince entirely, Wenzhe took a massive step forward, his tall, imposing figure completely overwhelming Yueqing.
"You are coming back to camp. Now," Wenzhe growled, his deep voice vibrating with absolute, terrifying authority.
Before Yueqing could even open her mouth to yell back, Wenzhe’s broad hand shot out, clamping securely around her waist. With effortless, terrifying strength, he hoisted her right off her feet and tucked her firmly against his side like a sack of grain.
"Hey! Put me down! Let me go!" Yueqing shrieked, kicking her legs helplessly in the air as her snacks nearly flew out of her hands. "Wenzhe! You arrogant, overbearing block of wood! Put me down right now!"
"Wenzhe," the Third Prince said, his smile dropping instantly as his hand dropped to his side, his posture going tense. "That is no way to treat a lady—"
"Stay out of this, Your Highness," Wenzhe barked over his shoulder, his dark eyes throwing a warning so lethal it stopped the Prince in his tracks. "This is between me and my wife."
Without another word, Wenzhe turned on his heel and strode out of the teahouse, carrying a squirming, screaming Yueqing straight out into the freezing snow, leaving behind a dead-silent room and a very intrigued Third Prince.