NABC Chapter 377 Prince Dun is defeated
Chapter 377 Prince Dun is defeated
"You," Prince Dun never expected that this humble postmaster would not only not be intimidated by his threats, but instead cleverly and quietly counterattacked him with his own words. After all, the idea of the third princess as a marriage alliance was a unilateral plan of the Yu State, and the Jin State was completely unaware of it. Their original plan was for the Jin Emperor to summon her, and for the princess to perform and captivate him. Then, she could be admitted to the palace as a concubine.
But if Doctor Qian is not allowed to treat the patient, the postmaster means that he cannot invite an imperial physician. Then, when the time comes, the Third Princess will drag her sick body to meet the Emperor of Jin. How can she charm him with her beauty and talent?
Prince Dun, who had been feigning anger, now felt as if his own high and mighty authority had been harshly trampled upon, and a surge of genuine anger surged within him. Although his face was half-hidden by his beard, the exposed features were clearly flushed.
Veins bulged on his forehead as he pointed at the postmaster. "Fine, fine, fine! You, a mere postmaster, dare to disrespect this prince. When I meet your emperor, I'll definitely ask him about this. This is the way you treat guests in Jin." He gritted his teeth, speaking each word with a firm, commanding presence. He exuded the powerful aura of a superior, attempting to subdue this insignificant postmaster.
"Prince Dun, please calm down!" The postmaster felt the overwhelming pressure, his heart lurching and his breathing quickening. But he suppressed his fear, biting the tip of his tongue quietly, using the sting to calm himself. Summoning the courage to speak, he cried out, "I indeed went to see Doctor Qian out of ignorance. Prince Dun, you truly misunderstood me!" He tried to keep his voice steady and his demeanor respectful.
Just as the tension reached its apex, an old maid slowly emerged from the Third Princess's room. With steady steps and a calm expression, she approached without haste and bowed respectfully to Prince Dun.
Then, she bowed slightly and said in a gentle tone: "Your Highness, please calm down. The princess is so touched when she knows that Your Highness cares so much about her. But the princess said that it is freezing cold outside and we are new here and unfamiliar with the place, so it is better not to mobilize a large number of people. Since this gentleman has taken the trouble to invite a doctor, let the doctor examine the princess first." These words were spoken neither humbly nor arrogantly, which not only gave Prince Dun a way out, but also cleverly resolved the current deadlock.
Prince Dun had been cornered by the postmaster, and was just looking for a way out. The old nanny's timely appearance was like a timely rain. He withdrew the pressure from his surroundings, snorted heavily, and said pretentiously, "Hmph, our princess is kind-hearted. Since she has said so, then you should take this doctor in to treat her. If she can't be cured, you will all be in trouble!"
With that, he flicked his sleeves and strode towards the Third Princess's room. He held his head high, chest puffed out, and walked briskly, appearing menacing, yet in reality, his heart was filled with panic and turmoil. His blazing rage was but a thin veneer, masking the fear and distress deep within.
In the brief moment of confrontation with the postmaster, Prince Dun keenly noticed that this seemingly insignificant little man had such a firm and neither humble nor arrogant attitude.
This made him wonder, if a small postmaster could be so tough, what attitude would the ministers in the court have towards the Yu State envoys? If so, this important peace negotiation would be fraught with difficulties and would not be achieved easily.
But for now, he could only bury his worries deep in his heart, maintain a dignified appearance, and step into the third princess's room. He would wait for a while until these people left, then organize his thoughts and plan the next response strategy with everyone.
The postmaster looked at Prince Dun who had left first and breathed a sigh of relief. The old nanny beside him bowed to the postmaster and said, "Sir, please come in!"
The postmaster nodded and turned to Doctor Qian and said, "Doctor Qian, I'm sorry to trouble you. Please follow me." After that, he led Doctor Qian and followed the old nanny to the room of the third princess of Yu State.
There was no sign of the snow stopping. Goose-feather-like snowflakes were flying wildly in the strong wind, like a group of wild horses running wild, sweeping across the entire capital city.
The streets and alleys were all covered in white. The glazed tiles were covered with thick snow, and icicles hung from the eaves, shining coldly under the dim sky.
Most of the shops that are usually bustling with activity are now closed. A faint candlelight occasionally shines through the gaps between the doors, as if they are shivering in the cold wind.
The streets were no longer bustling with activity. Once, the sounds of hawkers, laughter, and the rumble of wheels blended into the bustling atmosphere of the market. Now, only the whistling wind and the gentle rustle of falling snowflakes remained. Occasionally, one or two pedestrians hurried by, each wrapped tightly in a cotton coat, their necks hunched, their steps hurried, their bodies enveloped in the cold, never pausing for a moment, as if even a second in this world of ice and snow would be torture.
The market, once bustling with people, is now mostly covered in snow, with only a few isolated corners peeking out. The dazzling array of goods of the past is gone, leaving only cold stone slabs and drifting snow.
The old locust tree in the center of the market had heavy snow hanging on its thick branches, and the branches were weighed down, making a "crunching" sound in the strong wind.