The main hall was quiet, with the Grand Princess seated at the head.
Su Xiaoqi sat on a round-backed chair beside her.
She held a teacup in her hand, idly playing with the lid.
At Liu Junsheng's call, they both glanced at him simultaneously.
The Grand Princess's elegant brows immediately knitted together.
For some reason, she had previously had no resistance to Liu Junsheng's tenderness.
But now, hearing him call her that way, she felt extremely disgusted. She waved her hand, signaling him to stop where he was and not come any closer.
Granny Xu immediately blocked Liu Junsheng's path and said coldly, "Please speak from here, Lord Liu."
Liu Junsheng looked at the Grand Princess, who was ten paces away. Apart from the initial glance she'd given him,
she had frowned the entire time, not even sparing him another look.
A chill ran down his spine, and he thought that things seemed different.
But then he remembered the simple life he had led after being kicked out of the Grand Princess's residence,
as well as the demands of his elder brother, Liu Song Sheng, and the order from the Crown Prince.
He hardened his resolve and stepped forward, intending to soften her stance.
But before he could speak, he heard the Grand Princess sharply command, "Stop."
Liu Junsheng had never seen the Grand Princess act so fiercely, and he was startled.
He froze in place, staring blankly at the Grand Princess, not understanding what was wrong with her.
His imposing demeanor instantly deflated, and his body involuntarily hunched. He spoke hesitantly,
"Man'er..."
The Grand Princess reprimanded coldly, "Silence!"
She turned to Granny Xu and said,
"Someone drag this presumptuous wretch away and slap his face. Who is allowed to utter my given name?"
Granny Xu was delighted, thinking that her mistress had finally become assertive.
She was a precious and noble Grand Princess, born of royal blood, so why should she lower her status for a mere Liu Junsheng?
Granny Xu, in her joy, gave Liu Junsheng no time to react. She beckoned with her hands,
and immediately two burly women stepped forward, pushed Liu Junsheng to the ground, and began slapping his face repeatedly.
Liu Junsheng was stunned. It took him a moment for the pain to bring him back to his senses.
He cried out in agony, realizing that the Grand Princess was no longer the Grand Princess she once was. He quickly begged for mercy,
"Ah... Man... Your Highness the Grand Princess, Your Highness, I won't dare again, I won't dare again."
The Grand Princess looked at Liu Junsheng with contempt.
This was such an utterly worthless man.
She had mistaken a fish eye for a pearl, cherishing him for nearly twenty years.
She truly wondered if her eyes had been open but her heart blind before.
Now, her eyes were finally bright, recognizing this base fellow.
"Do you know how to address me now?"
Liu Junsheng nodded quickly, saying he knew, he knew.
The Grand Princess looked at his demeanor and coldly added, "You may now state the purpose of your visit."
Liu Junsheng had endured several slaps, and Granny Xu herself had administered the punishment, seemingly harboring extreme animosity towards him. She had hit him with all her might, leaving his cheeks throbbing with pain.
He didn't need to look to know they must have swelled up like buns.
He glared hatefully at Granny Xu.
He thought that once he appeased the Grand Princess, this wretched old woman would be the first he dealt with.
He looked up, piteously recounting his grievances to the Grand Princess.
Of course, he wouldn't mention how miserable his current life was,
but rather express his longing for the Grand Princess.
"Longing? You probably can't afford the new styles from Ningshang Workshop.
Or the hair ornaments and jewelry from Ruyi Workshop, can you?"
The Grand Princess was very familiar with Liu Junsheng's situation.
Hearing his words, she let out a cold laugh.
"Your Highness, I speak from the heart. If you act this way, we adults might move on, but have you thought about Hui'an and Bao Ge'er?
They need a mother, and they need a father."
Liu Junsheng realized he could no longer sway the Grand Princess emotionally,
so he shifted his approach to their two most important children.
The Grand Princess indeed hesitated for a moment, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Seeing this, Liu Junsheng was delighted, knowing that the appeal to their children was effective.
He continued to speak about Bao Ge'er and Hui'an.
He said a great deal about their children.
The Grand Princess listened quietly.
When she didn't interrupt him, Liu Junsheng was overjoyed, feeling a surge of hope.
He continued to speak incessantly, hoping to persuade the Grand Princess.
However, by the time his mouth was dry from speaking, the Grand Princess had still not given him a clear answer.
Su Xiaoqi, who had been watching from the side, had been worried earlier,
fearing that this absolute scumbag might sway her again.
But as she listened, she began to understand.
This time, the Grand Princess had made up her mind to sever ties with Liu Junsheng.
Liu Junsheng, however, did not understand and continued to speak.
During his speech, the Grand Princess even had someone bring him a cup of tea.
This gave Liu Junsheng, who had considered giving up, a sense of encouragement, and he spoke with increasing vigor.
He spoke with great animation, spittle flying.
When the Grand Princess finally grew impatient and interrupted him, she said,
"Well, Liu Junsheng, that amusing story you just told about Bao Ge'er's childhood, I'm afraid you've misremembered.
The one who fell while chasing after candy was not my Bao Ge'er, but your concubine Yan's son, Qi Ge'er.
And the 'bo lang gu' drum you bought, Bao Ge'er played with it for only a day before your Ming Ge'er snatched it away.
And that hairpin you supposedly bought for Hui'an, hmph, it was one of your concubine Yan's leftovers.
When you gave it to Hui'an, I had it broken and thrown away.
I disdained to argue with your concubines and their lowly children, yet you treat me like mud, to be molded as you please."
Liu Junsheng panicked upon hearing this and quickly denied, "No, that's not right, it's really not right, Man... Your Highness, it's not like that."
He was about to lose his temper.
He had spoken at length and thought he had convinced the Grand Princess, only to realize it was his own wishful thinking.
The Grand Princess hadn't taken a single word to heart.
Instead, she used his words as a weapon against him.
He could no longer tolerate it and said with a frown,
"Your Highness, regardless, those things are in the past. You love your two children so dearly, do you truly want them to be without a father?
Even with your noble status, wouldn't this invite ridicule in the capital?"
The Grand Princess let out a cold snort, "They would only invite ridicule if they had a father like you."
Liu Junsheng was stunned. The Grand Princess gave him no time to react and immediately dismissed him, saying, "Enough, your words are finished, and I have heard them. You may leave."
Liu Junsheng was in a panic and quickly said, "Your Highness, wait, I have something to say."
The Grand Princess's expression was icy, "You'd better say it clearly. I'm not sure if I have any patience left for you."
Liu Junsheng hesitated for a moment, then said in a rush,
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince has ulterior motives. He has already invited the Western Frontier Army into the capital.
There may be some unrest in the capital soon, so please, Your Highness the Grand Princess, do not go out casually."
The Grand Princess's phoenix eyes narrowed, sensing something was amiss. As she was about to question further,
she saw Su Xiaoqi signal her. She swallowed her words and abruptly waved Liu Junsheng away.
Once he was gone, the Grand Princess asked, "Xiaoqi, what was that Liu Junsheng just said about?"
Su Xiaoqi replied, "The Crown Prince has summoned the Western Frontier Army to the capital, purportedly to quell the unrest in the capital."
Having experienced court intrigues for many years, the Grand Princess understood the implications. She slammed her hand on the table and said sternly,
"I don't think he's coming to quell unrest, but to rebel!"