Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

Two fierce-looking guards immediately stepped forward to grab Du Hengniang.

"Don't come any closer!"

Du Hengniang suddenly took a step back, grabbed the teacup on the table, and smashed it hard on the ground.

"Splash—"

Fragments flew everywhere.

She picked up the sharpest shard of porcelain and, without hesitation, pressed it against her fair, slender neck. The sharp blade instantly pierced her skin, and bright red blood rolled down, staining her collar.

"If you dare take another step forward, all you'll get is a corpse, and you'll lose all the blueprints and formulas from the salt yard!"

Du Hengniang's eyes were resolute, a ruthless determination to destroy everything in the process.

She's from another world, possessing the soul of a modern person. She can lose her money, she can lose her status, but she absolutely cannot lose her dignity and freedom. If she had to serve such scum like a plaything, she'd rather die!

The scene froze instantly.

Although Prince Shou was lustful, he was also afraid of bad luck. If he really drove someone to their death, it would ruin his reputation, and besides, the secret recipe for the salt well was still in her mind.

"Crazy woman..." Prince Shou cursed, his interest completely gone. "Minister Du, is this the good daughter you raised?"

"Your Highness...this..." Vice Minister Du was so frightened that his face turned pale.

"Get out! All of you, get out of here!" Prince Shou kicked over the table. "Take her back and keep an eye on her. If you don't get the prescription, I'll hold you responsible!"

After a period of chaos, the door next door opened.

Vice Minister Du grabbed Du Hengniang and dragged her out while cursing.

"You unfilial daughter, do you want to kill the whole family? I'll beat you to death when I get home today!"

In the corridor, many diners peeked out to watch the spectacle, pointing and whispering, but no one dared to step forward.

Shen Qiongju stood up, the chair scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.

"Sister-in-law?" Pei Zhihui looked up at her, his eyes questioning.

"As a woman myself," Shen Qiongju took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the private room, "I can't just ignore this."

Pei Zhihui frowned, but did not stop her. He simply got up silently, took the cloak from the side and draped it over her shoulders, then followed her.

Seeing this, Zhao Qiyan closed her fan, a glint of excitement flashing in her eyes: "Hey, something interesting to watch? Count me in!"

In the corridor, Du Hengniang was in a sorry state.

Her hair was disheveled, there was a very obvious handprint on half of her face, and the bloodstains on her neck were shocking.

She was being pulled along by the wrist by Vice Minister Du, staggering forward, but she still gritted her teeth, remained silent, and had a frighteningly stubborn look in her eyes.

"What are you looking at! Haven't you ever seen someone discipline their daughter before?"

Minister Du roared at the pointing and whispering crowd, "Get out of here! You disgraceful thing! I should have drowned you when you were born!"

"A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. You've read a few books, and now you think you're so arrogant? You want to do business and show your face in public? I think you're a shameless scourge. You've disgraced the Du family's reputation!"

Vice Minister Du's words became increasingly offensive, filled with vulgar and offensive language.

Du Hengniang sneered, about to retort, when a clear and powerful voice suddenly interrupted.

"stop."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Shen Qiongju stepped out from the crowd, dressed in an elegant turquoise dress. She stood out from the crowd of people in the restaurant full of fine clothes, yet she was like a crane among chickens.

Vice Minister Du was taken aback for a moment, then looked Shen Qiongju up and down. Seeing that she was a young woman, he immediately dismissed her, saying, "Who do you think you are? Mind your own business!"

Shen Qiongju ignored him and walked straight to Du Hengniang. He took out a clean silk handkerchief from his sleeve and gently pressed it on the wound on her neck.

Du Hengniang shuddered and raised her head.

Eyes facing each other.

In that instant, Du Hengniang saw in those clear eyes a compassion and determination that only her kind could understand.

"Does it hurt?" Shen Qiongju asked softly.

Du Hengniang's nose tingled, but she stubbornly shook her head: "I won't die."

"Who are you? How dare you block my way?" Seeing that he was being ignored, Vice Minister Du was furious and reached out to push Shen Qiongju.

A hand with distinct knuckles reached out and firmly gripped Vice Minister Du's wrist.

Pei Zhihui stood there expressionless, yet his seemingly frail body unleashed astonishing finger strength. Vice Minister Du felt as if his wrist was being clamped by iron pincers.

"Hey, where did you get this brat from? Let go!" Vice Minister Du shook his hand.

"Sir, please calm down." Pei Zhihui coldly shook off his hand, took out a handkerchief from his body and wiped his hands as if he had touched something dirty.

Zhao Qiyan strolled over, fanning herself, and looked at Minister Du with a half-smile: "Boss Du, what a show of power you've got! You act like a dog in front of Prince Shou, but a wolf in front of your own daughter?"

When Vice Minister Du recognized Zhao Qiyan, his legs went weak with fright: "Young...Young Marquis?"

Shen Qiongju turned around to face Minister Du and the crowd of onlookers.

"Minister Du just said that women engaging in business are shameless and a scourge?"

Shen Qiongju's clear voice echoed throughout the second floor.

"This is utterly absurd!"

Pointing to Du Hengniang behind her, she spoke with resounding conviction: "This Miss Du invented a method for extracting brine from deep wells, capable of drawing brine from hundreds of feet underground, turning wasteland into a treasure well! She improved the salt-making technique, producing snowflake salt that is white in color, pure in taste, and free of bitterness or poison!"

A commotion arose in the crowd.

"Snowflake salt? You mean that really high-quality salt that's been on the market lately?"

"I heard that this high-quality salt is only 70% of the price of coarse salt used to be, so ordinary people like us can afford it!"

Shen Qiongju continued, "Because of Miss Du's method, the price of salt in the Great Sheng Dynasty dropped by 30%, and many people no longer had to eat bland food! Moreover, because this snowflake salt is of excellent quality, it is sold far and wide to the Western Regions, bringing back countless warhorses and gold for the national treasury every year."

She took a step forward, her gaze piercing as she stared intently at Minister Du: "This is a great deed that benefits the country and its people! This is wisdom worthy of being recorded in history!"

"But in your eyes, as a father, this has become shamelessness? A scourge?"

Shen Qiongju sneered, her gaze sweeping over every man present.

"I ask you, sir, how many of you men can achieve what Miss Du has? How many of you can single-handedly support hundreds of craftsmen and bring prosperity to the local people?"

"You say women are inferior to men? I think this Miss Du's breadth of mind and spirit surpasses countless men in this world!"

These words were powerful and thought-provoking.

The entire second floor was deathly silent.

Those men who had initially been there to watch the spectacle were now blushing and speechless.

Zhao Qiyan put away her playful smile and looked at Shen Qiongju's back with amazement in her eyes.

He knew this woman was different from other women, but he never expected her to say such shocking yet irrefutable words.

Pei Zhihui looked at her quietly.

Her sister-in-law now stands in the center of the crowd, speaking with conviction, not only defending the woman surnamed Du, but also vindicating herself and all women in this world who refuse to be controlled by fate.

His heart was beating so fast that he was starting to lose control.

Du Hengniang stared blankly at Shen Qiongju.

She was a time traveler, and had been lonely in this era for far too long. She had heard too much abuse and misunderstanding, and had long since become accustomed to wrapping herself in a hard shell.

But today, in this unfamiliar ancient restaurant, there is a native ancient woman who understands her, respects her, and protects her.