Pearl rolled her eyes mockingly.
Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow and looked at Wang Qingyao again.
He knew that the future princess consort of Prince Qi was a distant relative of the Wang family. How did this involve a notorious bandit? What a mess.
"What's going on?" he asked again.
Han Xingchang was stunned. Hadn't he already explained everything?
Pearl, holding her sword, said coldly from the side, "This man spoke disrespectfully to my mistress, so I taught him a few lessons. But he played the victim and reported me to the authorities. This Constable Hu is even more ridiculous. He arrived and didn't ask any questions, only listened to this lecher's one-sided story and wanted to arrest us."
Fang Zheng understood. His cousin's wife had been harassed.
After Pearl finished her tirade, she fell silent and retreated to Wang Qingyao's side.
Constable Hu and Han Xingchang chuckled.
This maid was too naive. Did she think everyone in the world was a righteous official like Bao Zheng, ready to hear her grievances?
Did she not see who they had offended?
Prince Qi's elder brother-in-law!
It was equivalent to offending Prince Qi!
Anyone with a brain knew who to side with!
Before their smiles had fully bloomed, they heard Fang Zheng's stern command, "Guards, arrest this arrogant wretch!"
The Dali Temple guards swarmed forward, firmly pinning Han Xingchang's arms behind his back.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing? You've got the wrong person. It's not me, it's that girl. Hey, how are you doing your job? Lord Fang, Lord Fang..." Han Xingchang, restrained, could only shout at Fang Zheng.
Constable Hu was stunned and cautiously approached Fang Zheng, saying, "Lord Fang, have you made a mistake?"
Fang Zheng glanced at him coldly and pointed at Han Xingchang, saying, "This man dared to offend the Princess Consort of Ding'an. His crime is unforgivable!"
What?! The Princess Consort of Ding'an?!
Not only Constable Hu and Han Xingchang were surprised, but everyone in the flower shop was also astonished. All eyes turned to Wang Qingyao.
If this were a television drama, background music would be playing right now.
Wang Qingyao couldn't help but recall "Kangxi's Private Tours," a show she watched as a child. Every time Kangxi revealed his identity, grand and stirring background music filled the room.
Leaning on Yin Zhu's arm, she elegantly and gracefully stood up, handing the flowers to Shan Hu.
Only then did everyone notice her slightly protruding belly.
Fang Zheng then quickly walked to her side, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "This subordinate greets the Princess Consort of Ding'an. I apologize for startling Your Highness. This subordinate deserves death."
Fang Zheng was also a cunning man. Normally, he wouldn't be so courteous when they met. Although Wang Qingyao was the Princess Consort of Ding'an and he was the heir of Duke Zhongyong, their greetings were usually more casual. They were relatives and knew each other well, so they didn't usually stand on ceremony.
His current display was clearly to support Wang Qingyao.
Wang Qingyao glanced at him, suppressing a smile.
Constable Hu's legs trembled with fear. He fell to his knees with a thud, "Greetings... Greetings, Princess Consort of Ding'an. This subordinate had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."
He then kowtowed several times.
The Han family never expected that the woman Han Xingchang had casually harassed would be the Princess Consort of Ding'an.
They were from Jiangling Commandery. Although they didn't know the exact status of the Prince of Ding'an, they knew he was the wealthiest man in the Great Sheng dynasty, incredibly rich.
Why would the consort of such a wealthy prince be dressed so plainly?
Han Xingchang panicked for a moment, then quickly calmed down. She was just the Princess Consort of Ding'an, not the Prince himself. Even if she were, what of it? He was a prince with a different surname, not comparable to Prince Qi, the emperor's own son.
He was Prince Qi's direct brother-in-law!
Han Xingchang was emboldened.
Constable Hu, however, knew the gravity of the situation. Especially since the Princess Consort of Ding'an was pregnant, she could easily accuse Han Xingchang of harming the Xiao family's heir if she were displeased.
He signaled Han Xingchang with his eyes, urging him to apologize to Wang Qingyao.
But Han Xingchang, accustomed to his domineering ways, was unwilling to back down easily.
Wang Qingyao touched her belly and said coldly, "Lord Fang, this man has a vile character, his words are reckless, and he even attempted to harm the child in my womb. I implore you to investigate him thoroughly."
Han Xingchang snorted coldly, showing no remorse. "I am Prince Qi's brother-in-law. What can you do to me?"
Fang Zheng looked at him with disgust. "Take him away."
Han Xingchang was escorted away, still shouting threats as he left, "Fang, even if you can arrest me and throw me in Dali Temple now, you'll have to let me out obediently later! Do you dare disobey Prince Qi's orders? Once I'm released, I'll make you pay!"
He was also somewhat sensible, not spewing threats at Wang Qingyao.
Indeed, he was a bully who picked on the weak.
Seeing their elder brother being taken away, the rest of the Han family quickly slipped away. The other onlookers also dispersed in a flurry.
Fang Zheng glanced at Constable Hu. "I will report today's events truthfully to your Prefect."
Constable Hu's face was ashen. He couldn't say a word.
Having offended the Prince of Ding'an, his future was ruined.
"This subordinate will send men to escort Your Highness back to the manor." To complete the act, Fang Zheng sent a troop of guards to escort Wang Qingyao back to the Prince of Ding'an's manor.
Han Xingchang was locked in the Dali Temple prison. The Han family immediately rushed home to report to Han Suqin's father and stepmother, Han Lao Si and his wife.
Although the Han family relied on Prince Qi's influence, they had never even met Prince Qi. They could only turn to Han Suqin for help.