Chapter 22: Is the Virtuous Prince Really That Stupid?

His eyes widened, staring at Li Qingning in pure disbelief.

*Holy crap!*

*Is she serious?*

*I just blurted that out back then to get rid of that she-devil, Li Rushi!*

*Big sister, you are the Grand Princess, the woman who wields power over the entire court, the iron-fisted "Sick Empress"! How could you take such a joke seriously?*

He looked into Li Qingning’s eyes—eyes that could not have been more earnest—and his brain simply stalled.

Should he accept, or should he decline?

If he accepted, he would become the Prince Consort, rising to the top in a single bound. From then on, he would have the most powerful backer in the Great Qi, free to do as he pleased. But it also meant being tied to Li Qingning’s ship, dragged into the unfathomable depths of court intrigue.

Decline?

Are you kidding me? He had just pulled her back from the gates of hell; she was at her most vulnerable and affectionate. To refuse now would be pure idiocy. Besides, the consequences of rejecting a Grand Princess’s profession of love... Xie Ning dared not even imagine.

Just as he was caught in this internal tug-of-war, hesitating and indecisive, Li Qingning dropped another bombshell.

"If you accept, I shall enter the palace shortly to inform the Empress Dowager and my younger brother the Emperor. I will request that they grant us a marriage decree."

The moment those words were spoken, the last shred of hesitation in Xie Ning’s heart vanished into thin air.

A marriage decree!

This was a royal decree—the Emperor’s own word, an unchangeable, set-in-stone reality!

Not taking advantage of this golden opportunity would be a crime!

*Fortune favors the bold! Let’s do it!*

Having come to this conclusion, Xie Ning immediately put on a look of deep, soulful affection. He set down his soup bowl and struggled to sit up to pay his respects.

"Your Highness, are you truly in earnest?"

"A royal word is never spoken in jest," Li Qingning replied calmly, looking at him.

"Good!"

Xie Ning slapped his thigh, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. He didn't bother leaving the bed, opting instead to offer a formal salute to Li Qingning right where he sat.

"Since Your Highness has said so, then Xie Ning shall naturally obey with pleasure! If the Princess says it holds, then it holds! From this day forward, I, Xie Ning, am your man!"

Having said this, he didn't even wait for her reply; he picked up the second bowl of soup and began to gulp it down, displaying a rugged, heroic appetite. It was as if the indecisive man from moments ago had never existed.

Seeing him acting like someone who had just snatched a bargain and was now gloating, the corners of Li Qingning’s mouth finally couldn't help but curve into a beautiful smile.

*This rascal.*

*He is actually... a little cute.*

She watched Xie Ning wolf down the soup, her cold, phoenix-like eyes filled with warmth.

"Drink slowly, no one is going to snatch it from you."

Her voice was soft, so gentle it could almost melt, sending shivers down the spines of Peach Blossom and Nanny Rong nearby. They could hardly believe this was the same decisive, stern Grand Princess they had always known. This was clearly nothing more than a young girl in the throes of first love.

After finishing two bowls of soup, Xie Ning finally felt a bit of strength return. He wiped his mouth and let out a satisfied burp.

"Your Highness, about that..." He looked at Li Qingning, feeling a bit sheepish. "Although I broke the 'Four-Yin Destitute Household' formation, the malevolent energy has lingered in this room for far too long, and there are still some remnants. Although your health has improved significantly, living here will ultimately still have an impact. I suggest you move to a different place."

Li Qingning nodded upon hearing this. "Your reasoning is sound."

She turned to Nanny Rong and instructed, "Nanny, have the best courtyard in this villa prepared."

"As you command, Your Highness." Nanny Rong departed immediately.

"Moving isn't enough on its own," Xie Ning added. "To completely clear the influence, the place needs to be rearranged. Tell you what, I’ll write a list, and you can have someone purchase the items on it. I will personally arrange the layout for you, and I guarantee I’ll turn it into a place of perfect Feng Shui that will gather positive energy and be nothing but beneficial to your health."

He spoke with total confidence. Since he had decided to hitch his wagon to her, he naturally had to demonstrate his value. A Prince Consort who understood Feng Shui and could alter one's fortune was far more significant than a useless one who only knew how to live off his wife.

"Very well," Li Qingning agreed without a second thought. "Whatever you say, I will do."

She trusted Xie Ning one hundred percent now. Let alone buying a few items, if Xie Ning asked her to tear down the entire villa right now, she probably wouldn't even blink.

"Peach Blossom, fetch the brush and ink," she commanded.

Soon, the scholar’s four treasures were laid out on the small table by the bedside. Xie Ning struggled to sit straight, picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, and began to write vigorously.

He listed items that appeared ordinary but, when combined, would serve to gather yang energy and soothe the spirit. For instance, peach wood carvings of a specific age, jade ornaments of a particular material, and medicinal herbs and spices that required specialized processing.

After finishing, he handed the list to Li Qingning. "Just these. Have someone take care of it."

Li Qingning took the list, examined it carefully, and then handed it to Peach Blossom with great importance. "Do as Xie Ning says. Not one item missing, not one mistake."

"Yes, Your Highness." Peach Blossom took the list respectfully and withdrew.

With the serious business concluded, the atmosphere in the room turned somewhat subtle again. Li Qingning looked at Xie Ning, as if she had more to say but hesitated.

Xie Ning felt uneasy under her gaze and rubbed his nose. "Your Highness, is there something else?"

Li Qingning remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "That palace maid, Xiao Lian, has confessed."

*Oh?* Xie Ning raised an eyebrow, not at all surprised. "Who is behind her?"

At the mention of this, Li Qingning’s eyes instantly turned cold and piercing.

"It is the Virtuous Prince," she said, enunciating each word clearly. "That good imperial uncle of mine, who always pretends to be uninterested in worldly affairs, living a life of vegetarianism and Buddhist prayer."

*The Virtuous Prince?* Xie Ning searched his memory and quickly retrieved information about the name. The Virtuous Prince was the younger brother of the late Emperor and the biological uncle of the current one. He had always been renowned for his virtue, never participating in factional struggles, and was deeply beloved by both the court officials and the common people.

Who would have thought that such a harmless-looking prince would use such vicious, underhanded means to harm his own niece?

"Why would he do this?" Xie Ning was puzzled. Li Qingning and the Emperor shared the same mother and had an excellent relationship. She was the Emperor’s most trusted right-hand, his most vital support. To move against her was equivalent to declaring war on the Emperor. Did the Virtuous Prince actually have the guts?

"Why?" Li Qingning sneered, her expression filled with endless mockery and murderous intent. "Because I am blocking his path. My 'good' uncle is not as detached from the world as he appears. He has been coveting that throne for a long time."

"It is a pity that before my father passed away, he saw through his ambition and passed the throne to my younger brother. He has been enduring and plotting all these years. He thought that if I died, my brother would lose an arm, and he could take advantage of the chaos to seize power."

"It is only a pity that he calculated everything, except for your appearance."

Li Qingning looked at Xie Ning, her eyes complex. His appearance hadn't just saved her life; it had completely disrupted the plans the Virtuous Prince had spent years crafting.

"Then... what do you intend to do?" Xie Ning asked. Since they were now on the same ship, he naturally had to care about the shifting political landscape.

"What do I intend to do?" A cruel curve appeared on Li Qingning's lips. "He wants me dead? Then I shall see to it that he and his entire family meet their end. No one who dares to touch the people of Li Qingning ever has a good outcome."

She stood up slowly, walked to the window, and gazed out at the sky.

Xie Ning watched her with some surprise. He was just curious—was the Virtuous Prince really this stupid? Using a pawn like Xiao Lian to act as a spy? Even the movies wouldn't dare write a plot that ridiculous.