552 The Woman Who Alters Fate

"How can it be? This person was not crippled?"

Ping Yang stared at Fang Zhengzhi with enlarged eyes, looking at his dismissive expression and condescending smile.

Before today, she would definitely have thought that Fang Zhengzhi was arrogant, bold and naïve. To think that he would bargain right in front of her father!

However, Ping Yang felt none of those at that moment.

When a person was not strong enough, an arrogant expression would let others believe that he was overestimating himself. However, what if a person was strong enough?

Would anyone think that he was insane and dismissive?

That was a mistake!

Everything was a mistake!

Not only was she wrong, the entire room of courtiers, her third brother the Crown Prince, her sixth brother King Duan, as well as her almighty father, were all wrong.

"This shameless person has the capacity to be arrogant. He has the capacity to bargain with her father. Third Ranking Official? He was worthy of being the Law Official! If what happened today was really planned by this person, then we have truly conferred upon him a title not befitting of his capabilities!"

Ping Yang then subconsciously moved towards Fang Zhengzhi.

She wanted to see the features of this shameless person clearly. She wanted to determine if he was indeed as strong as she envisioned him to be

Her rosy cheeks were flushed as she continued forward. However, she seemed to not realize that she was moving a bit too close, her face was going to make contact with Fang Zhengzhi's one anytime soon.

This scene…

Was naturally captured in the eyes of the courtiers.

Everyone was shocked by the turn of events. They actually so Princess Ping Yang moving closer and closer towards Fang Zhengzhi.

And even closer…

"What a disgrace!"

If the person who did this was not Ping Yang, but any other woman, they would definitely have shouted that sentence out loud.

However, they didn't dare to!

This was because the person was Ping Yang. She was the most doted daughter of the Majesty and most importantly, the emperor was right in front of them.

"So this is the guy who made the Princess…"

"No wonder he dared to bargain with the emperor and even showed disdain at his official rank. He did not even care about the Crown Prince! To think that he had something to fall back on!"

"It seems like Fang Zhengzhi did not stop plotting while he was in Ping Yang Residence. To think that he did something of this sort to the Princess. This is way too shameless, the princess is not even married yet!"

"I sincerely hope he did not get what he wants? Or else…"

These thoughts immediately flashed through the courtier's mind. The then looked at Fang Zhengzhi again with new impressions in their head.

For example, things like a paedophilic beast! Or a shameless man who cheats on Ping Yang's innocent and pure feelings!

"Fang Zhengzhi, you dared to…" Lin Tianrong wanted to say out those words, but under the judging eyes of the courtiers, he swallowed them back.

A pair of eyes squinted and looked at Ping Yang while clenching her fists.

If…

Fang Zhengzhi and Ping Yang truly had that kind of relationship.

Then even he would not be able to do anything to Fang Zhengzhi. This was because the Majesty would never let Ping Yang come to harm.

As for widowhood?

That would be even more impossible!

The scene was awkwardly quiet.

Lin Mubai also fell speechless. The expression on his face became strange upon seeing this scene as his eyes widened in shock.

As a father!

He had always strived to give Ping Yang the best life and utmost protection.

However, he had never thought that Ping Yang would fall in love with Fang Zhengzhi. More specifically, he did not expect it to happen too fast.

"You beast, my daughter is still young! I still want her by my side for a few more years, how dare you…" Lin Mubai thought of these things in his heart, though he could not say them out.

This was because Ping Yang was the person clearly moving towards Fang Zhengzhi.

In other words…

His treasured daughter was the one who made the initiative. If he forcibly stops them now, it might have the opposite effect.

Marriage amongst the royal family.

This had always been a complicated thing.

Sometimes, it would be used to gain the support from powerful courtiers. On other occasions, it could also be used to achieve peaceful coexistence with the countries on the sidelines.

Of course, Lin Mubai had never thought of using Ping Yang for any political purposes. However, this did not mean that he would be willing to let anyone marry her.

Not to mention for her to make the initiative towards Fang Zhengzhi.

He did not think that Fang Zhengzhi wasn't good enough.

It was just…

Lin Mubai had never thought about this. Everything was too sudden, there just wasn't enough time for him to accept it. Should he really let Fang Zhengzhi become his son-in-law?

At that moment, Lin Mubai was seriously thinking about a problem that he had never once encountered.

Fang Zhengzhi naturally would not be able to guess the courtier's thoughts. However, he could feel a warm gush of air closing in towards him.

The moment he turned his head, his eyes widened.

This was because a pair of clear blue eyes was slowly approaching him, and under the pair of eyes, was a supple, pink lip.

For a moment, Fang Zhengzhi's thought processes became sluggish. He had never once thought that Ping Yang would make such a move.

Until…

He felt a warm soft sensation on his face.

"What is going on!" Fang Zhengzhi woke up from his trance and immediately retreated a few steps. He had always regarded himself as a reseller of his knowledge and not his body. What did the intimacy even mean?

Even if it was just the face!

Most importantly…

There were courtiers, the Crown Prince, King Duan and even Lin Mubai watching them. What did he just experience?

Fang Zhengzhi subconsciously stared at Lin Mubai.

He then saw the livid expression on his face.

Well… that would probably be the expression of any father who saw his precious daughter being taken advantage of. It wasn't an expression of rage, but it definitely wasn't happy.

"Shit, he is not going to suspect me of having an intimate relationship with his daughter, right?" Fang Zhengzhi felt extremely maligned. He needed to explain himself.

However, at that moment, Ping Yang had also recollected herself and took a look at Fang Zhengzhi who had retreated a few steps away. She did not react to what had just happened.

However, it did not take long for her to scream.

"Hm? Ah!"

At the same time, one of her feet went flying towards Fang Zhengzhi.

This was simply an ordinary kick in self-defense.

There were no flashy moves and no glow enveloping her legs. One could imagine that this was a kick out of embarrassment.

"Ouch!" After a cry of pain, a figure flew across the room and landed on his butt. Following which, an enraged voice sounded, "Are you crazy!"

Fang Zhengzhi was furious. After all, he suffered that kick for nothing. He should be awarded 500000 silver for that kick, no at least, 1000000 silver!"

As Fang Zhengzhi was fuming mad, Ping Yang was stunned.

Not only did Ping Yang freeze in her tracks, Wen Dabao was dumbfounded as well. Even Yan Xiu and Nangong Mu were slightly surprised. The four of them stared at Fang Zhengzhi and did not know how to react.

Was he hit?

How is that possible?

If Ping Yang could guess what happened in the study of the Crown Prince, how could Yan Xiu and Nangong Mu not? They had all guessed the mastermind behind this ploy.

However…

If Fang Zhengzhi was not crippled, then how could he be hit by Ping Yang's kick. That kick was completely unplanned and unamazing.

Did he do it on purpose?

They would not think so.

This was because Fang Zhengzhi was never someone who would deliberately make himself suffer. If he could escape the wrath of that kick, he would definitely have done so.

Then, what was happening?

Doubt loomed over the room.

When the rest of them looked at Fang Zhengzhi sitting helplessly on the ground, they also exchanged glances with one another.

Originally...

Although they predicted that the person who came into the Crown Prince Residence would not be Fang Zhengzhi, they still harbored some suspicions.

However, they had no more suspicions now.

This was because Ping Yang merely gave an ordinary kick. If Fang Zhengzhi did not truly become a cripple, he would have instinctively dodged that attack. This was a reflex.

But he didn't!

"This person is a completely cripple!"

A hint of disdain then flashed across the courtier's eyes. From their perspective, Fang Zhengzhi was merely still here due to his relationship with Ping Yang.

As for his strength? A person who could not even dodge Ping Yang's kick definitely could not defeat three Rebirth State individuals.

Lin Mubai also stared quizzically at Fang Zhengzhi, who was now getting up from his fall. From his actions, he seemed extremely clumsy.

It can even be said to be weak.

"Am I too paranoid?" Lin Mubai shook his head and frowned. He then looked at Ping Yang and stared into those clear blue eyes.

A warm fuzzy feeling rose from his heart.

"They look exactly the same. The nose, the lips, especially the eyes. Clean and clear, not tainted by a speck of dust…

Lim Mubai then closed his eyes momentarily.

In his mind, a figure appeared. That magnificent figure was dancing around in his mind, the long sleeves fluttered like a cloud of elegant smoke, swaying his heart

"Our daughter has grown up, do you know? Why have you not visited her after all these years?"

"It has been over ten years. Is there really no hope for us?"

"No, I will not give up!"

"There must be a chance, there must be. I have waited too long for this day…"

"I have actually pleaded with uncle you know? I really did, but he did not agree…"

"Look, our daughter has grown up, she has someone she likes."

"What should I do? I want to keep her by my side forever. But I know that is impossible. She will have to marry someday."

"But…"

"Do you really bear to not show up on your daughter's wedding? Are you truly that heartless?"

"Give me an answer, what should I do?"

"Father, father, are you alright?"

Ping Yang's voice sounded beside Lin Mubai, her arms shaking his one ever so gently. An expression of worry covered her face.

Of course…

An act of disturbing the emperor's thought processes.

Ping Yang was probably the only person in the entire Great Xia Dynasty that dared to and was allowed to do so. If anyone else had done it, they would directly be given the capital punishment.

"Hm?" Lin Mubai recollected himself and cast his gaze onto Ping Yang once again. He then reverted to his gentle expression and said, "Nothing much. Don't worry, Ping Yang, I am merely thinking of something."

"Is father thinking of mother again?" Ping Yang said as she blinked her crystal clear eyes, looking at him expectantly.

The courtiers broke out in cold sweat listening to Ping Yang's question.

As what Ping Yang had said, the Great Xia Dynasty did have Empresses. There were even more than one of them. However, that was already a thing of more than ten years ago.

As for the queen that Ping Yang mentioned, she should be the last queen the Great Xia Dynasty ever had. She was a woman who was directly named queen right after her first appearance.

Before that woman appeared…

The Great Xia Dynasty still had one queen, which was the mother of the Crown Prince.

However, once that woman appeared, the previous queen was immediately robbed of her title, though this incident was not as dramatic as one would have imagined.

Only because the person who suggested this was the previous queen.

More importantly, when the previous queen made this suggestion, not one of the courtiers made any objections.

No one had their suspicions or even doubt about this decision.

The previous queen was willing to let go of her title and allowed the new queen to take over. Everything was done perfectly and efficiently, as though it should have been the case.

It was also a period of prosperity and joy. At that time, the Great Xia Dynasty was not exactly strong in military, but they were feared by all.

In that year, all of the neighboring countries came to pay a visit.

All to see the new queen.

Alas…

The new queen did not stay in the Great Xia Dynasty for long.

Ten years ago, she left the Great Xia Dynasty. She stepped out of the royal palace into the Flame Capital City and then out of it. Until now, she had neither returned, nor even stepped into the territory of the Great Xia Dynasty even once.

After which, the Great Xia Dynasty was surrounded by enemies and ravaged by war.