Chapter 23: This Prince is Not Quite Right

It is no wonder Xie Ning was skeptical.

Given Little Lian’s mental fortitude, never mind acting as a mole for the Grand Princess; she would likely be swindled by a street vendor at the local vegetable market.

"Your Highness, don't you find this matter suspicious?"

After a moment of reflection, Xie Ning decided to voice his doubts. After all, they were now in the same boat, and if it capsized, no one would escape.

"How so?"

Li Qingning withdrew her gaze from the window and turned to look at him, her beautiful eyes filled with inquiry.

"Setting aside everything else, is Prince Xian truly so foolish?" Xie Ning spoke in a low voice, pointing directly at the Prince. "He sent a girl like Little Lian—who is completely inexperienced and has the weakest psychological threshold imaginable—to make a move against you. While the method was vicious, the trail left behind was far too obvious. It feels as if he wanted you to know."

Li Qingning fell silent after hearing Xie Ning’s words.

Indeed. Given her uncle’s consistent style—composed, forbearing, and meticulous—how could he commit such a low-level error? Was there some deeper conspiracy at play? Thoughts flashed rapidly through her mind. The more she pondered, the more wrong it felt.

"Perhaps you are right," she said slowly after a long time, her voice heavy with gravity. "This matter is indeed suspicious." She looked at Xie Ning, her gaze filled with a newfound sense of approval and trust. This man was not only capable of saving her life but possessed a mind far sharper than most. "In your opinion, what should we do now?"

She asked for his advice quite naturally, curious to hear what unexpected answer he might provide.

"What should we do?" Xie Ning chuckled. "We do nothing."

"Huh?" Li Qingning blinked, clearly not understanding his meaning.

Xie Ning smiled. "We act as if we know nothing. We eat well, we drink well, and we carry on as usual. No, wait." He paused, suddenly sitting up.

"Since Little Lian confessed that Prince Xian was behind this, we don’t need to do much, but we can certainly give him a scare."

"A scare?" Li Qingning was surprised; she hadn’t expected him to say that.

"Exactly. Have someone spread word that Prince Xian is suspected of plotting to harm the Grand Princess, and that she narrowly escaped an attempt on her life. Once the rumors are running wild, send a few people to loiter around the Prince Xian estate. If he is the true mastermind, he will undoubtedly lose his composure and reveal more flaws. If he is merely a front, then the 'big fish' behind him will surely begin to panic. Sooner or later, whether they are human or demon, they will expose themselves."

As Li Qingning listened to his analysis, the approval in her eyes grew even more intense. Rather than taking the initiative to strike, it was better to wait and observe the changes.

"What exactly is going on inside that head of yours?" she couldn't help but look at him, her eyes filled with admiration and a hint of amusement.

"You flatter me, Your Highness," Xie Ning bowed shamelessly. "I’m only doing this for our future happiness. After all, my body is technically under your protection now."

"You..." Li Qingning’s face flushed red. She had just been about to praise him, yet he had already become flippant again. "Smooth-talking scoundrel," she scolded, standing up. "Fine, we shall do as you say. Rest well here and don't concern yourself with anything. Your only task is to recover."

With that, she turned and left in a flurry of activity. Her swift and resolute demeanor had returned, embodying the true spirit of the Grand Princess. Yet, no one noticed the faint, tender smile that tugged at the corner of her lips as she turned—a smile she herself was not even aware of.

Watching her departure, the smile on Xie Ning’s face slowly faded. Lying on the soft bed, feeling the lingering waves of weakness in his body, his gaze became profound. Prince Xian. Imperial power struggles. The water here was deeper than he had imagined. But that was what made it interesting. Since he had already decided to cling to Li Qingning’s influence, he had no reason to fear trouble. On the contrary, he felt a spark of excitement.

In his previous life, he was merely an ordinary medical student living a routine, mundane existence. Now, he had the chance to participate in the majestic flow of history and cross swords with the figures standing at the pinnacle of power. The mere thought of it was thrilling.

"The Princess Consort's husband..." he muttered to himself, his lips curving upward once more. "I am destined for that title."

In the following days, Xie Ning lived quite comfortably in Li Qingning’s villa. His life was blissful: he woke up to nourishing soups and medicinal meals, and spent his leisure time sunbathing in the courtyard. Such treatment was little different from that of an emperor. Under the meticulous care he received, his health recovered rapidly.

Meanwhile, the outside world was rife with undercurrents. Someone had let slip that the current Prince Xian was suspected of plotting against the Grand Princess Li Qingning upon her return to the capital. Once the news broke, the city of Jian’an was shaken. Who could have imagined that the Prince, always known for his virtue and detachment from worldliness, would commit such an act of treason?

Most importantly, after the news emerged, the Grand Princess’s camp made no major moves. Only the observant noticed that, at some point, unfamiliar shadow guards had appeared around Prince Xian’s estate. In the imperial court, officials led by the Grand Princess began frequently challenging the factions loyal to Prince Xian. A breathtaking political storm seemed imminent.

However, just as everyone expected this to be the fuse that would ignite the court, an unexpected event occurred. The Empress Dowager emerged from the palace where she had spent years in quiet Buddhist devotion.

...

That day, Xie Ning was dozing on a lounge chair in the courtyard, sunbathing. Qingfeng was standing guard nearby, warily scanning the surroundings. Ever since he returned from the Grand Princess’s villa, Jia Yibo had not come to bother him, which Xie Ning found strangely unsettling.

Just as he was drifting off, Mingyue hurried in from outside.

"Young Master, Nanny Rong is here."

Before the words had even left his mouth, Nanny Rong followed him into the courtyard. Her expression looked grim.

"Young Master," she said, bowing before him. "Something has happened."

Xie Ning didn't even open his eyes, asking lazily, "What is it? Did Prince Xian panic, or has the person behind him lost their composure?" Although he had been staying at the Dingyuan Marquis estate, Mingyue reported the news to him daily; he was well-versed in the development of the situation.

"Neither," Nanny Rong’s expression grew even heavier. "It is the Empress Dowager. She has emerged from the Fu'an Palace."