Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 100 A Battle Between Men

When Xiao Hengzhi arrived, the lion had already disappeared.

The streets gradually returned to their usual bustle. Vendors who had been so frightened that they had closed their doors earlier reopened, and the overturned stalls were being cleaned up one after another. The mess of fruits and vegetables on the ground was being cleaned up.

Jiang Mian was still sitting in the restaurant, looking out the window, and the streets had regained some of their previous liveliness.

She tried to stand up, but the sharp pain in her back made her lose her balance. She grabbed the edge of the table and her face turned pale.

Ning Zhi stepped forward, his expression worried: "Miss Jiang, things have calmed down outside. Why don't I take you into the palace so that the imperial physician can examine you and put your mind at ease?"

Jiang Mian remained silent, wondering what would happen to Xiao Hengzhi if she entered the palace with Ning Zhi.

He wondered if he had recovered from his illness, and if he saw that she was not at home, he wondered what he would do.

Moreover, his father was still in the Prince's mansion.

If she leaves, Xiao Hengzhi will definitely use her father as a hostage to threaten her.

No matter how I look at it, this is not a good time to enter the palace.

Seeing her hesitation, Ning Zhi softened his tone: "If you don't want to enter the palace, I'll take you to the clinic."

Before the words were finished, the door was kicked open with a bang, followed by a deep, angry voice—

"Who gave you permission to take her away?"

Jiang Mian suddenly came to her senses and looked up. She saw a tall figure standing at the door, his face full of coldness, his chest heaving violently. She couldn't tell if he was panting from running or angry.

"Your Highness... what brings you here?"

Xiao Hengzhi did not answer, his gaze sharp as a knife. He walked past her, took two big strides to Ning Zhi, and threw a punch without saying a word.

The dignified crown prince was knocked back by this punch, and before he could regain his footing, a second punch landed squarely on his heels.

"Ning Zhi, you're worse than an animal!" Xiao Hengzhi gritted his teeth, his anger barely contained. "Weren't you coming for me? Weren't you trying to investigate me? Now that I'm here, why aren't you saying a word? Where did you learn such despicable methods?"

Ning Zhi sneered, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said coldly, "When it comes to underhanded methods, Your Highness is not necessarily clever."

"If you want to compete with me in being despicable, you've really chosen the wrong person."

Xiao Hengzhi's cold mockery was a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. He attacked without mercy, each punch carrying a gust of wind.

In fact, he was literate and knew proper etiquette. Madam Jiang sent him to school to learn to read and write. Jiang Mian also taught him how to walk, sit, and lie properly.

His few remaining traces of gentleness were not feigned.

But at this moment, he couldn't suppress the anger in his chest. He was like a person on fire, venting his uncontrollable rage.

Ning Zhi was also angered by the blow and retaliated with a punch.

The two instantly grappled, their punches landing with a resounding force, the air filled with the force of their blows and suppressed roars.

The guards standing to the side were silenced by Ning Zhi's gesture, clearly announcing that this was not a duel between the Crown Prince and the Prince, but a battle between men, without any external force or weapons, just a bare-handed contest.

The tables, chairs, and porcelain in the room were smashed all over the floor. Jiang Wan was in a panic and shouted, "Xiao Hengzhi, stop!"

The more she shouted, the more Xiao Hengzhi's anger burned.

Why should he be the only one to stop?!

He only punched Ning Zhi twice, and she's already feeling sorry for him?!

That guy deserves to be beaten!

As if in a fit of pique, Xiao Hengzhi deliberately faced Ning Zhi's fist head-on, taking a solid punch with his eyes full of stubbornness and resentment.

"Stop hitting him! Xiao Hengzhi, stop right now!"

But Jiang Mian still only told him to stop.

He was the one who got hit, yet he was told to stop!

The more urgently she shouted, the more heartbroken Xiao Hengzhi felt. His eyes were bloodshot, and a dagger had appeared in his hand without him even realizing it; his gaze was as cold as frost.

He knew that Ning Zhi had bodyguards by his side, and that if he drew his knife, those bodyguards would all rush forward.

But he didn't care. All he wanted at that moment was to make Ning Zhi bleed, to kill him, to chop him into mincemeat or feed him to the dogs...

But he didn't expect that Jiang Mian would be the one to stand in front of Ning Zhi even faster than the secret guards.

She spread her arms to shield Ning Zhi, her voice resolute: "Xiao Hengzhi, that's enough!"

"If you want to hurt him, kill me first." Her voice was icy cold, and her eyes showed no sign of backing down.

Seeing her stubborn expression, Xiao Hengzhi gritted his teeth. He growled, "Jiang Wan, do you really think I wouldn't dare to touch you?"

After saying that, he actually raised the dagger to her neck.

Ning Zhi tried to step forward, but Ning Zhi moved the dagger even closer.

Jiang Mian clenched her fists so tightly that her fingertips ached.

She didn't know where she got the courage to confront Xiao Hengzhi.

But if she didn't stop him, she knew that this person could be deadly when he went crazy.

The current political situation is not the same mess she made when she was in power. If the Crown Prince were to lose his life in her hands, neither the Emperor nor Duan Zhi'an would let him off the hook.

Even the Empress Dowager might not be able to protect him.

"Get out of the way..." Xiao Hengzhi pointed his knife at her.

The sharp blade at her neck carried a chilling aura; her back stiffened and ached, and the pain in her shoulders was even more pronounced.

Seeing the anger in his eyes, Ning Zhi dared not act rashly and said, "Your Highness..."

"Shut up." Xiao Hengzhi interrupted him in a muffled voice, then looked at Jiang Wan, "Are you really going to take a knife for him?"

"Doesn't Your Highness already know what I will choose?"

Xiao Hengzhi's chest heaved violently, and he felt as if a stone was stuck in his throat.

He knew perfectly well what Jiang Wan's choice was; just like in her previous life, after Ning Zhi's death, she was determined to die. If it weren't for Yu'er, she probably would have already committed suicide by banging her head against a wall.

Jiang Mian was barely able to hold on, and her body tilted slightly. The blade grazed her skin, leaving a thin bloodstain.

Xiao Hengzhi was stunned when he saw the blood droplets rolling down. He quickly withdrew his dagger and took a step back.

"Jiang Mian..."

He was breathing heavily with his eyes closed, and his hand holding the dagger was trembling slightly.

When he looked up again, the murderous intent in his eyes had lessened somewhat, but his eyes were still churning with indescribable emotions.

It was anger, regret, and jealousy.

In both her past and present lives, Jiang Mian would never choose him.

She never gave him her love.

Just then, someone whispered at the door: "Your Highness, the Grand Tutor has returned and requests your narration."

Ning Zhi grinned, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and straightened his wrinkled outer robe.

"I will go shortly."

Jiang Wan said in a low voice, "Your Highness, please go first. I'm sure the Prince and I still have some things to discuss."

Ning Zhi nodded, and as he walked past Xiao Heng, he said in a low voice, "I will remember this debt."