Xue Zi Ning felt a sense of helplessness, leaving just those five words? But why did he tell her to be careful of Lin Qian Qian? Although Lin Qian Qian was the former Zhao Qian Qian, she was no longer the same person from the Sun family. She was Ning An now, and Lin Qian Qian shouldn't be able to recognize her.
"Do you feel like there's a chilling wind?" one of the guards at the gate said to another.
"You must be hallucinating. Where would there be a chilling wind in this heat?"
A carriage stopped at the entrance of Prince Jing's mansion. A figure alighted from it, clad in a black cloak, with an imposing posture. Despite the sweltering summer, one could feel the cold emanating from him.
"See, wasn't I right?" the guard whispered.
"Mr. Li, His Highness requests your presence." A guard emerged from within as Mr. Li entered the mansion.
Mr. Li nodded slightly. "Coincidentally, I also wished to see His Highness."
In the study
Prince Jing glanced at Mr. Li. After scrutinizing him for a long time, he suddenly asked, "Mr. Li, how old are you?"
Upon hearing this, Mr. Li bowed and replied, "I am twenty-two years old."
Prince Jing nodded. "Have you not taken a wife all these years?"
Mr. Li shook his head. "No, I have not."
"Why have you not married?" Prince Jing inquired.
"With Huang Ze Wei's ambition unfulfilled, I cannot marry," Mr. Li stated.
"Mr. Li, marriage will not interfere with my grand undertaking," Prince Jing said.
"Your Highness, that is where you are mistaken. If I were to marry, and be constantly managed by my wife, it might affect my service to Prince Wei."
"Mr. Li, I can find you an obedient woman to be your wife."
"Your Highness, I do not wish to marry."
Prince Jing's gaze turned cold. "Mr. Li, are you disobeying my command?"
Mr. Li looked up at Prince Jing. "Your Highness, when you invited me to be your retainer, you did not stipulate that you would control my personal affairs."
"And what if I wish to control them now?"
Prince Jing's expression changed drastically, and he looked at Mr. Li coldly.
"I implore Your Highness to retract your command. I have fulfilled my promise to Your Highness, and I ask that Your Highness not forget yours," Mr. Li said slowly, his expression unchanging despite Prince Jing's threat.
A tense silence ensued. After a long while, Prince Jing let out a few hearty laughs. "Mr. Li, you are indeed stubborn. However, I did make that promise, and I shall not go back on my word."
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Your Highness," Mr. Li said, bowing.
"You may leave!" Prince Jing suddenly waved his hand, signaling him to depart.
"Yes, I take my leave!" Mr. Li withdrew.
Prince Jing watched the retreating figure. For some reason, as Mr. Li stood his ground against him, he was reminded of that person.
That person who had vanished without a trace, yet at that moment, it felt as if they had reappeared.
That shadow followed him incessantly, making him feel suffocated.
"Ah!" He flung everything on the desk to the ground, his mind filled with that person's image.
He was high above, ruling the world, looking down on him as an ant.
"Guards... bring the person in..."
The guards outside quickly brought the person in. Witnessing Prince Jing drag the individual onto the bed, the guards, unable to bear watching further, quickly retreated.
The next day
Xue Zi Ning saw two guards carrying a frame covered with a straw mat out of the study.
She quietly followed them. The two guards dumped the person on a mountain not far from Prince Li's mansion.
After they left, she stepped forward and lifted the cover. Beneath it was a half-naked man, his neck a bloody mess. As she reached out to examine a wound on his nose, a pair of hands suddenly covered her eyes, his icy fingertips brushing against her eyelashes, tickling her.
She did not flinch, knowing it was Mr. Li.
"Why are you not guarded?"
"Mr. Li, I know it is you."
His fingers released, and she lowered her head to see the corpse, now covered by the curtain.
She reached out to lift it, but a hand stopped her. "What is there to see in a man's corpse?"
"There is indeed nothing to see, but I want to know if his wounds were from being bitten."
"Yes, Prince Jing bit him."
Xue Zi Ning was startled. She turned to look at him. His black cloak still obscured much of his face, but this time, she was so close that she saw his lips, the only part exposed.
They had a beautiful curve and a perfect shape, and inexplicably, she felt a flutter of panic.
She shoved Mr. Li away and said coldly, "Do not look at what is improper. Does Mr. Li not understand even this basic courtesy?"
Mr. Li was slightly taken aback. She had shown no defensiveness just moments ago, but now she seemed exceptionally wary.
This side of her was incomprehensible to him.
Xue Zi Ning left the place and returned to her room. She knew that if this continued, Prince Jing would likely ruin the morale of Huang Ze.
She had to find her Imperial Father and cure him.
However, with her current status, she could not enter the palace.
"Ning An, you're back? How is that person?"
Hearing the question, Xue Zi Ning looked up to see Jiang Bei and said slowly, "The same as before."
Jiang Bei's expression was one of shock, and his gaze darted away. "How can that be?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at Jiang Bei, who became uncomfortable under her scrutiny. "Ning An, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," Xue Zi Ning replied, withdrawing her gaze.
Where Xue Zi Ning could not see, Jiang Bei let out a sigh of relief.
"Jiang Bei, I'm tired and want to rest. If there are any guard duties, please cover for me," Xue Zi Ning said.
Jiang Bei nodded. "Alright."
Xue Zi Ning lay down on the bed, pulled up the covers, and fell asleep.
After Jiang Bei closed the door and left, Xue Zi Ning opened her eyes, got out of bed, and jumped out of the window.
Prince Jing's mansion was very close to the Imperial Palace, and the place she stayed was the closest to the palace. This was why she had requested this room initially.
Avoiding the mansion's guards, she leaped onto the wall and headed towards the Imperial Palace.
Yi Palace
Consort Yi dismissed everyone and went into the inner chamber. On the bed lay a man dressed in imperial yellow inner garments.
His complexion was somewhat pale. He turned his head to look at Consort Yi and said, "I do not wish to see you."
Consort Yi let out a low chuckle. "Whether His Majesty wishes to see me or not, you must."
"You..."
"Your Majesty, why are you being so stubborn? Chang Jing is also your son. In terms of intelligence and talent, how is he inferior to Xue Chang Jun? He is also of the right age. Why can't you consider giving him the throne?"
"Pre... presumptuous..."
"You are living a life worse than death here, and those outside are unaware. Is it worth it?"