Chapter 145

Prince Yun felt annoyed: "Shut up, all of you, for this Prince!"

Li Qingzhu shuddered, leaning against Prince Yun.

"Your Highness, you see…… Everything Zhu'er once worried about has indeed come true."

"Fortunately, Zhu'er has earned Your Highness's pity; in this world, Zhu'er is not alone."

Li Qingzhu shed tears as big as pearls, continuing to rely on Prince Yun.

Prince Yun affectionately rubbed her head.

"Zhu'er, this Prince has it figured out. Rest assured, this Prince will never abandon you!"

Having said that, Prince Yun's gaze turned fierce as he looked at the people before him.

"This Prince and Zhu'er have indeed developed feelings; this should be an honor for your whole household, General Li, yet you seethe with resentment—what is this? Could it be that you still look down on this Prince?"

Li Chao Jing gave a bitter, miserable smile.

Things have come to this; he cannot accept it, yet he can only accept the present fact.

"Your subject dare not! But I wonder, Your Highness, do you intend to have my manor's eldest daughter become your concubine?"

"But as your subject knows, Your Highness already has a principal consort and two secondary consorts. Could it be that you only allow my manor's eldest daughter to be a mere servant-concubine?"

Li Qingzhu, what a fool.

Li Qingluo, behind them, couldn't help shaking her head.

Having come to this point, although it resulted from her own step-by-step scheming and pressure, even so she still chose this most foolish path!

Prince Yun is really not a good match.

Yet she seems not to care at all about merely being a prince's manor concubine, sacrificing everything like a moth flying into the flame.

She abandons the position of the loyal and brave marquis's third son's principal wife!

To lower herself, to act basely and shamefully as a concubine!

What on earth is she thinking?

Li Qingluo does not understand Li Qingzhu's choice, but if it weren't for her such obstinacy, she herself would not have easily exposed her true nature today.

Prince Yun: "How so? She is merely a girl your manor mistakenly took in, yet you truly treat her as your eldest daughter?"

"Even if you call her status noble, what does it matter?"

"Does becoming this Prince's concubine disgrace her?"

Prince Yun is extremely arrogant and conceited, simply because he is the emperor and empress's second legitimate son.

And his full-blooded elder legitimate brother, the former crown prince, is now confined in the Southern Mountain Villa; since the court has yet to appoint a new crown prince, he is the most influential prince and the emperor's most beloved son.

Who would dare truly offend him?

Although Li Qingzhu's face turned pale and green upon hearing Prince Yun's words, she nevertheless bit her lip tightly, not daring to make a sound.

Prince Yun greatly liked Li Qingluo's sensibility.

Just his teasing gaze swept over Zhuang Sanlang, giving Zhuang Sanlang great humiliation, after which Prince Yun's gaze fell upon Li Kechuan.

He really is like a dog.

Prince Yun couldn't help curling his lips: "Li Kechuan, Li Kechuan. This Prince can't help feeling a bit of pity for you."

"Since you all already know the facts, this Prince might as well tell you. In fact, when you broke your leg last time, Zhu'er was in the courtyard, still in this Prince's arms."

"However, you are too arrogant and too self-assured. Is this Prince's residence something you can barge into whenever you please?"

"This Prince is noble imperial blood—how dare you provoke him?"

"You, a mere junior general, think your obsession and sacrifice are everything worthwhile, but what's the result? Now Zhu'er also utterly hates you. You broke your leg for her, yet you ruined her voice."

"You siblings, in this Prince's view, are now even."

Even?

How could this be something that can be settled?!

Li Kechuan's fists clenched, making a cracking sound, full of anger and resentment, utterly undisguised.

But Prince Yun didn't put him in his eyes at all.

"This Prince originally indulged Zhu'er in these deeds merely to give your manor some dignity and fulfillment. Since matters have now become so unsightly, this Prince need not extend you any courtesy!"

"In a month, if you come to your senses, you may send Zhu'er into this Prince's mansion's inner quarters; if not, losing your household's reputation will be your own affair!"

As he spoke, Prince Yun's gaze suddenly fell upon Li Qingluo at the rear of the crowd.

She actually came too?

Now Li Qingzhu means nothing to Prince Yun anymore.

On the contrary, Li Qingluo has aroused a bit of interest in him.

Just as he was staring, Li Chao Jing sensed something wrong and suddenly began to struggle.

"Prince Yun, you toy with this subject's entire household; if His Majesty knew the truth, he would certainly not spare you lightly!"

"This matter concerns Your Highness's virtue; even if the whole court knew, they would necessarily condemn you in speech and writing!"

Prince Yun shouted: "Strike his mouth! When has this Prince's virtue ever been for you to judge?!"

The guards raised their hands and slapped Li Chao Jing several times.

They struck until his mouth bled, then stopped.

Qu Shi stood aside, trembling all over, desperately covering her mouth, not even daring to breathe.

Prince Yun sneered: "Your manor has repeatedly caused trouble, harming this Prince's offspring, trespassed into this Prince's residence, and still wishes to go before my father to lodge a complaint against this Prince?"

"You truly have a thick face!"

"Li Chao Jing, do you say the father king trusts me, or trusts you?"

"This Prince says it was your manor's eldest daughter who seduced this Prince; it was also your eldest daughter herself who staged the self-immolation act, which this Prince indeed rescued, but this Prince did not know her identity, so Li Kechuan's broken leg earlier was indeed not this Prince's fault."

"Li Chao Jing, Li Chao Jing, you are truly foolish. The one who cut Li Kechuan's leg was none other than the imperial guard of the father king; whom do you intend to blame?"

Moreover, today's performance—could it not be a trap set by your Li family for me?

I, the Prince, am still willing to take your Li family's daughter—just be secretly pleased!

Having said that, Prince Yun was extremely annoyed, lifted his leg and strode away.

When he reached the door, Prince Yun threw down a line: 'In a month, if you still want to send her to my residence, I do not wish to see even the slightest harm come to my beloved concubine.'

Moreover, I, the Prince, am only giving a one‑month deadline. If it expires, I, the Prince, will not recognize it!

Having said that, Prince Yun personally opened the door before him.

But unexpectedly, at some point a dark crowd had gathered outside the door.

Prince Yun's face instantly darkened!

Because the visitor was no one else—it was his most hated younger brother in this world, the Fifth Prince, Duan Rongshi.

Upon seeing Prince Yun, Duan Rongshi curled his lips into a smile: 'Fourth Brother, you truly have elegance. You were carrying on an affair in the Bright Tower and were caught red‑handed by the young lady's family.'

While speaking, Duan Rongshi also glanced toward the interior.

His final gaze swept over Li Qingluo's body.

This young lady truly does not shy away from trouble; if Fourth Prince discovers that this matter is related to her, how could she possibly escape easily?

Moreover, he stood outside for a while, yet she never uttered a word, but she caused these people to turn on each other, exposing the whole affair.

She, on the other hand, remained perfectly hidden, as if she were a spectator inside the situation watching the drama.

What a splendid ability!

However, her abilities are truly growing greater and greater!

Even the Bright Tower can be silently manipulated by her.

It seems that the influence of Old Lady Pei is truly not to be underestimated.

Seeing him actually here, Prince Yun gritted his teeth in anger: 'What nonsense are you spouting?! Little Five, you usually create heavy karmic sins; you must be seeing things!'