Chapter 1: The Dark Prince Consort's Big Morning in the Capital...

On a bright morning in the capital, the bulletin board on Suzaku Street was crowded with people.

"Make way! Make way!"

A handsome young man wearing a hair crown and a blue gown squeezed into the crowd, and the half-broken mandarin duck pendant hanging around his waist jingled with his movements.

She stood on tiptoe, exaggerating her expression and shouting in feigned surprise:

"Oh my god! Is the emperor going to choose a prince consort for the princess again?"

The crowd suddenly exploded.

"Oh, your majesty has invested a lot of money this time!"

Aunt Zhang, the vegetable seller, squeezed to the front and read with squinting eyes:

"...Whoever finds Princess Youning will be granted the title of Imperial Consort and the title of the future Emperor's Husband."

"Eh? What kind of official is this Emperor's Husband?"

"He's the future emperor's husband!" Teahouse owner Zhang slapped his thigh. "He's going to be the future empress's husband!"

"It seems that the princess's succession to the throne is a foregone conclusion..."

Song Youning hid in the crowd, and couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

She deliberately lowered her voice.

"I heard from the servants at Zuixian Pavilion that Princess Youning is riding a horse in the southern suburbs today... She hasn't left yet. If we go to look for her now..."

Before he finished speaking, most of the crowd dispersed and rushed to the southern suburbs, tidying up their appearance as they ran. In a few moments, there was no one in front of the notice board.

"That's it?"

She sneered, raised her hand to remove the imperial edict, and looked at it carefully in the sunlight.

"Father is really generous this time, even willing to give the throne to..."

"After all, the princess is already twenty years old. At this age, children in ordinary families would already be helping out with cooking. It's time to get anxious."

…

A familiar voice came from behind, startling Song Youning so much that his hand trembled, and the imperial edict fluttered and fell to the ground.

She slowly turned around and met a pair of eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling. Her nose was high, her lips were thin, and her hair was as black as lacquer. She looked like a pearl in the bright spring scenery.

Song Youning stared at the handsome face of the visitor in a trance. When he came to his senses, he wanted to slap himself. He could not change his bad habit of being attracted to Li Funing at first sight.

She looked flustered, her eyes wandering as she observed the situation around her, ready to run away: "Master Li...Master Li, don't you have to attend court today?"

Song Youning laughed dryly twice and took a half step back calmly.

"No bathing today."

Li Funing took a step forward and stepped on the hem of her skirt as it was mopping the ground, preventing her from moving.

"Princess, you're spreading rumors in the streets dressed like this, aren't you afraid that the patrolling imperial guards will mistake you for a spy and catch you?"

Song Youning's eyes widened: "What princess? My Lord, you recognized the wrong person, didn't you? I am the storyteller Zhang..."

"Zhang Tiezui was exiled to Lingnan three years ago for fabricating anecdotes about the late emperor. Zhang Youcai is still imprisoned for writing obscene material. Zhang Baiying ran up huge debts from the casino and long ago fled to the neighboring Xiliang Kingdom... Who is the princess now?"

Song Youning hesitated to speak... These people are useless!

Li Funing sighed, bent down to pick up the imperial edict, and shook off the dust on it.

"Princess, could you please stop using these excuses? It really makes me look stupid..."

Song Youning: ...

Just as he was thinking about how to cover up his lie, he heard the sound of orderly footsteps in the distance. A team of imperial guards were patrolling towards this side.

broken!

Seeing that he was about to be exposed, Song Youning's eyes rolled and he suddenly covered his stomach: "Ouch! The pancakes I ate this morning were not clean..."

Before she finished her words, she suddenly slipped out like a loach and ran into the alley next to her, looking around to see if anyone was chasing her.

Li Funing looked helpless. He calmly straightened his sleeves, shook his head, and took out a flare from his sleeves.

With a "boom" the arrow shot through the air and exploded like a firework in the air.

Half an hour later

"Li Funing, you're cheating!"

Song Youning, who had already run to the end of the alley, was so angry that he jumped up and down, "Where did we agree on a one-on-one fight?"

"When did you promise me that?"

Li Funing walked forward slowly, holding Song Youning's hand, and behind them they were surrounded by a group of imperial guards.

"If the princess returns to the palace with me now, I can still turn a blind eye to the fact that she escaped with Prince Xiao on the day of her engagement."

"dream!"

Song Youning turned around and was about to climb over the wall, but suddenly saw a dozen black-clad guards appear on the top of the wall, each holding a fishing net in their hands.

She froze in place, finally realizing she had fallen into a trap that had been set long ago.

When she turned around, Li Funing was already close at hand, his warm breath brushing against her ears:

"At the age of three, the princess grabbed my jade pendant. On her seventh birthday, she pushed me into the water. At the age of twelve, she put chin beans in my tea..."

He gently brushed the grass from her hair.

"Forget about these, but...Princess"

"You have ruined my reputation. You must help me either preserve my reputation or marry me..."

"Since I was twelve, you've been saying I'm yours. Now I'm twenty-four, and the matchmaker runs away when he sees me... Princess, you must take full responsibility for my marriage, right?"

Song Youning's cheeks flushed, and she hesitated, not looking at him: "You, you are talking nonsense. You can't find a wife yourself, what does it have to do with me?"

"Yeah?"

Li Funing narrowed his eyes at her, and smiled: "I came to the palace to accompany you to study, and you took a fancy to my good looks..."

He folded his arms behind his back, pretending to recall the past. "When I was ten, you blocked the Minister of Rites, who was trying to arrange a match for me, outside the palace gates for two hours, just to prevent him from finding a partner for me."

"When I was twelve years old..."

"You threw the sachet that Minister Li gave me, a thousand gold coins, into the pond."

He deliberately lowered his voice and said, "I haven't forgotten, how come the princess has forgotten everything?"

"That's...that's because..." Song Youning's ears turned red and he stammered, unable to speak.

"Forget it. If Your Highness is unwilling to take responsibility..."

Li Funing stood up and made a move to walk back to the palace. "I have no choice but to ask Your Majesty for help... The princess abandoned me after having an affair with me, and she has ruined my life. Now she wants to leave..."

"Li Funing, you are threatening me..."

Song Youning stared at him with wide eyes, and suddenly felt her feet lighten. She didn't know when, but this man actually picked her up!

"Li Funing! What are you doing? Let me down!"

"I will obey the emperor's order and bring the princess back to the palace for her marriage."

"Who wants to fight with you... Hey! Stop carrying me like a sack!"

"Then how does the princess want to be carried?"

“.....”

On Zhuque Street, merchants all looked out.

Lord Li, who was always aloof and reserved, was seen carrying a ferocious storyteller on his shoulders, striding towards the imperial city.

A group of people gathered together and whispered.

"It turns out that Lord Li hasn't married the princess for a long time, and he actually has a homosexual tendency..."

"It's really hard for the princess to be so infatuated with Lord Li..."

Song Youning: ...

On the top floor of Zuixian Tower, the emperor and Prime Minister Li were playing chess.

"My dear, how do you think I made this move?"

Song Luoshu dropped a black piece.

Prime Minister Li Xian looked at the two figures walking away on the street, smiled and shook his head.

"Your Majesty is a master, but... I'm afraid that Ning will hold a grudge against that child again. I don't know how long the quarrel between the two will last..."

"No problem."

The emperor smiled and took a sip of tea. "It's better than her running around with that idiot Xiao Lin... That guy either takes her to brothels or gambling houses. She doesn't look like a lady from a noble family at all. I feel more at ease with her following Funing..."

"Your Majesty, it's getting late!" Eunuch Guo, who was standing aside, signaled.

Song Luoshu looked at the sparsely populated market, then looked at the two people who were gradually disappearing.

He smiled and stood up to stretch his muscles: "Forget it, let's go back to the palace. I'm afraid there will be chaos again when I return to the palace!"

In the palace

"Father, Li Funing, he, he is bullying me again..."

Song Youning was kneeling on his father's lap crying with tears and snot, which made Song Luoshu feel distressed... His dragon robe was made of the special brocade satin from Jiangnan, and it was very expensive!

Song Luoshu still didn't raise his head and continued to pretend to review the memorials: "Oh? How did he bully you?"

"He carried me in the street! He even caught me with a fishing net! He was like catching a mouse."

The emperor finally looked up at Li Funing.

"Fu Ning, remember to be gentle next time! How can you treat a princess like a rat? And in front of so many people?"

"We have to give the princess some face. Next time, find a deserted place to get the trap... I'll have to see the person in person or the body!"

Song Youning: “…”

Li Funing bowed respectfully and said, "I know I was wrong!"

Song Youning: "...Father! Why are you siding with him?"

"If you were even slightly relieved, would I have to send people all over the place looking for you all day long? Do you still have the nerve to say that?"

"But having said that..." Song Luoshu changed the subject and smiled.

"What are you thinking about your marriage? You are already twenty years old. When your father was my age, you would go catching crickets... and you are still alone..." Song Luoshu put down the memorial in his hand and looked at her.

"Son, I am still young and don't want to get married... Why does your Majesty bring up this again?" Song Youning hesitated and avoided looking.

"Nonsense!" Song Luoshu slammed the table and shouted.

"You've been wandering around these years, with no news at all. You seem to be so carefree, but Funing is already 24... Not only are you single, but you're also wasting her time..."

"Those of his age already have two or three children, and you claim he's yours, yet you've delayed him for so many years... Minister Li's memorials are filling up my Yangxin Palace. If he brings up this matter again... I won't even have the face to attend court..."

"You just say you don't want to get married? You wish!" Song Luoshu pointed at Song Youning and scolded him.

Song Youning looked at his father's furious expression and dared not say a word.

"Your Majesty, I'm fine. I just got laughed at a little. It's nothing serious... I know I'm not as humorous as Prince Xiao, but I don't want to spoil the princess's mood and make her annoyed..." Li Funing held his hands and bowed, tears on his face, looking aggrieved.

Song Youning rolled his eyes at him: ...You're quite good at fanning the flames.

When Song Luoshu saw how "sensible" his son-in-law was, he became even more convinced that his daughter was blind.

Song Luoshu pointed at the tip of Song Youning's nose and said angrily, "Look, look..."

He would never let go of such a good son-in-law. His daughter already has a bad reputation. If he is accused of "abandoning her after having an affair"... where would he put his face?

"No! We in the Song family are definitely not the kind of irresponsible people." Song Luoshu swung his sleeves.

"Well, now that you're back, I'll announce a date for our wedding."

He thought for a while and shook his head, "No, get married today..."

After saying that, Song Luoshu stood up and walked out with his hands behind his back, not giving her a chance to refuse. Song Youning's angry voice came from behind him.

"Song Luoshu! You threaten me!"

Song Luoshu paused, turned around and said, "I'm doing this for your own good."

"For my own good?"

Song Youning's eyes widened, her slender fingers clenched her sleeves, and she shouted angrily:

"You clearly took advantage of my youth and innocence, when I was still young and didn't even understand the word love, to already decide on Li Funing's position as the Emperor's Husband..."

"Knowing that my daughter is young and lusty, I asked him to seduce me with his looks..."

"You're being so cautious, isn't it just a trap to lure me into marrying him?" She spoke with great anger in her voice.

After saying that, he did not forget to glance at Li Funing who was standing next to him. He still had a calm and composed look, which made her very angry.

Song Luoshu stroked his beard and pretended to be deep:

"Nonsense! I'm old, and I'll hand over this kingdom to you sooner or later, but you're out all day, hanging out with that scoundrel Xiao Lin, either in brothels or gambling dens. How can I feel at ease with you?"

"Li Funing comes from a long-standing family. He has been nurtured in poetry and etiquette since childhood. He is upright and prudent, and has a good reputation."

"Since childhood, I and Li Xiang have been training him as your future imperial husband. How can I be considered unworthy of you?"

"I am not..." Song Youning argued with a frown.

Before she could finish her words, he interrupted her: "I am very satisfied with that child Funing!"

He interrupted her, his face serious: "Your marriage is settled... If you don't agree, I will punish you according to my family rules..."

Song Youning: "Your son..."

She took a deep breath and watched as her own father sided with outsiders and refused to listen.

His eyes rolled up, and he tried to be soft when the hard way didn't work. His eyes reddened, and his voice softened: "Father... Your son can't bear to leave you, and wants to stay with you for a few more years..."

Song Luoshu looked at his daughter who still refused to give up and patted her shoulder: "I am very pleased that you are filial."

Song Youning's eyes lit up, and she felt there was a chance: "Then the marriage..."

"so……"

Song Luoshu smiled kindly, "Let him live in the palace first, and you two can spend more time together..."

Song Youning: “…”

In the imperial garden in late spring, new leaves float by the lotus pond, willows sway in the wind, and the water and trees are clear and bright.

Song Youning, who was frustrated by his own father, squatted beside the lotus pond in the imperial garden and felt a lot of emotion.

She had only been back for less than a day and she felt like the days were passing by in a long time. She really couldn't understand why those people were trying so hard to get into the palace, while she couldn't leave even if she wanted to.

Song Youning squatted by the pond, grabbed a handful of fish food, and threw it into the water viciously...

She kept muttering, "Li Funing, you bastard... don't let me catch you..."

The koi in the pond were frightened and ran around.

She couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she tried. How could this be blamed on her...

Didn’t it just that she kissed him in front of everyone when she was drunk as a child...how did Li Funing become hers?

She's still responsible? What a joke!

Do you believe the drunken words of this young boy?

When I was a child, I was indeed moved by that appearance, but I was still young at that time!

Who knew he was so boring? She didn't mean to abandon him, so isn't that inappropriate?

When she took him to a gambling house when he was a child, he said it was disgraceful. Not only did he talk about her all day long, he also reported her to her father... saying that she was not doing her job properly.

I had spent so much effort to steal the fine wine from my father, the emperor, from the Western Regions. I had hoped to spend some quality time with him under the moonlight, but he ended up passing out after just one glass...

I thought about finding some other common hobbies and took him to play with her "Flying Tiger General" (crickets), but he said she was not doing her job... and just threw her away!

On weekdays, she was either forced to study and write, or forced to learn palace rules, and was not allowed to go to gambling houses or drinking houses...

She did like his face before, and she tolerated it, but now, although she still likes that face... she can't tolerate it anymore! She rises up!

He was so engrossed in his cursing that he didn't notice someone coming behind him.

"Princess, if you keep feeding them, these fish will get too fat to swim."

A voice sounded from behind, frightening her so much that her fingertips trembled, and another handful of fish food fell into the water.

She didn't need to look back to know who it was...

The only one in the palace who would talk to her with such a cold joke that was not funny at all was Li Funing.

"Master Li is free today."

She deliberately didn't turn around, and pried the water with her fingertips, "Have you approved all the documents?"

The corner of a moon-white robe came into view, and the man squatted down beside her.

The sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the locust tree, casting tiny spots of light between his brows, making his phoenix eyes appear even clearer like jade.

Song Youning looked at Zhang Jun's face and swallowed her saliva. Li Funing's face still made her heart beat faster, but it was a pity that he was just an uncivilized blockhead.

"Um!"

He took out an oil-paper bag from his sleeve and said, "I know that the princess dislikes me, so I am asking for trouble..."

"Tsk!" Song Youning rolled her eyes. What had he been doing earlier? It was too late to please her now, wasn't it?

Song Youning teased while fiddling with the water, "Are you afraid that I'll run away? Did the emperor send you to monitor me?"

She glanced over and saw that he was holding her favorite salt-pickled plums.

"Plums from Uncle Li's house in the east city?"

Her eyes lit up.

Li Funing slowly lifted the oil paper, and a sweet and sour aroma hit him in the face.

It was her favorite snack in her childhood. When she was young, she stayed in the palace and could not leave the palace often, and the Li Mansion was outside the palace, so she would ask him to bring it to her.

Plus, I was obsessed with his face at that time, so I used this excuse to bother him every day.

At that time, Li Funing always threatened her with homework, saying that if she didn't do her homework well, he would never pay attention to her again. Although he was four years older than her, he acted like a little adult.

Recalling the past, Song Youning unconsciously smiled.

Li Funing handed the paper bag to her: "Princess, do you want it?"

Song Youning looked at her favorite snack and felt a slight stir in her heart, but she had to pout:

"Master Li is still the same as before, only knowing how to use food to appease people... Can you be a little more creative?"

"This princess has long stopped buying into Lord Li's tricks."

Having said that, he honestly picked up one and put it in his mouth.

"Oh? What does the princess like now? I'll try to figure it out." Li Funing narrowed his eyes and smiled lightly, the dimples on the corners of his mouth seemed to be filled with honey.

As soon as Song Youning put the plum in his mouth, he almost choked to death when he heard these words.

Before I could react, I felt a tightness on my wrist.

Li Funing held her wrist and examined it, his fingertips rubbing over the fine marks on her hand: "Was it scratched while climbing over the wall?"

"I don't want you to care!"

She wanted to pull her hand away, but he took out ointment from his sleeve like magic and gently applied it to the wound.

“…”

The cool paste mixed with the warmth of his fingertips made her ears burn.

"As the princess's future husband, if I don't take care of her, who will take care of her? Prince Xiao?" Li Funing frowned slightly, and his hands moved more gently.

"Our marriage hasn't even started yet!" Song Youning curled her lips.

"Then Princess, can you fill in that stroke for me..."

Song Youning looked up and met Li Funing's eyes. She quickly shifted her gaze to look at the koi carp splashing in the water.

The blush on the tips of her ears spread all the way down to her neck.

This Lord Li, who had always been aloof, reserved, and prim, and proper, and who she had deliberately flirted with before, and who only knew the intricacies of the subject, was now... asking her for status???

Her breathing was slightly stagnant as she recalled her impression of Li Funing.

At that time, when his father sent him to "discipline" her, he would only stand at the steps in a distant manner, occasionally looking up.

At that time, she was most interested in him. A shallow and restrained smile was enough to make her heart beat disorderly and toss and turn in bed.

But now...

Her body was stiff, her fists clenched, not even daring to breathe. She felt her face getting hot, and she quickly pulled her hand back, hesitating:

"Master Li, what's wrong with you? It's just that my father is messing around with the couple! I don't want you to get involved. Go wherever you want..."

She finally managed to utter a word, but her voice was softer than usual and lacked any intimidation.

Li Funing chuckled silently, gently took back her hand, and his fingertips continued to gently stroke her wound. The coolness of the ointment was gradually covered by his body temperature.

"Yeah?"

He looked up at her, a hint of suspicion in his eyes, "Don't worry about it... Who was it when they were picking plums as kids, fell down from a tree, twisted their ankle, and had to be carried back by me?"

“…”

"And who sneaked off to play on the frozen lake, only to have the ice crack and nearly fall in? They cried and begged me not to tell Your Majesty..."

“…”

"Who was it that disrespected me in public, promising me to wait for the princess when she grew up? Now that the princess has grown up, she's going back on her word?"

"Li Funing!"

She pulled her hand back again in embarrassment and anger, "Why are you remembering these trivial things?"

He let go of her, but still leaned forward slightly, looking her in the eye, and spoke in a low voice:

"I don't think it's a trivial matter."

Song Youning's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Those eyes that were usually cold and indifferent were so gentle at this moment that she dared not look directly at them.

She turned her face away, her cheeks burning, and muttered softly: "...Who asked you to remember this."

Li Funing chuckled, and suddenly reached out, gently brushing her hair with his fingertips, wanting to pick up a locust flower that had fallen at some point.

She dodged subconsciously.

Li Funing was stunned for a moment, then recovered his composure: "Of course I must remember..."

He looked up, smiling harmlessly, but his tone was full of grievance:

"When I was young, the princess favored me at a spring banquet. We kissed each other and everyone knew it. I belong to Her Highness, and now I am twenty-four, and I am still wasting my time..."

"If the princess truly refuses to take responsibility... I will have no choice but to become a monk and end my remaining life."

Song Youning's ears suddenly felt burning, and his voice became increasingly quiet: "How can it be as exaggerated as you say..."

The Lord Li in front of him, who was usually dignified and self-possessed, now had his eyelashes drooped and was speaking the most aggrieved words in the coldest voice.

She couldn't help but think of the spring banquet that year when she took advantage of the alcohol to steal a kiss on his cheek in front of everyone.

At that time, his ears were red, but he forced himself to remain calm, and in his daze, he spoke nonsense with a big tongue: "When this princess comes of age, I will definitely take you as my husband. This princess is not an irresponsible person... Don't worry..."

"rest assured……"

Song Youning's face suddenly turned red... Thinking of the stupid things he had done in the past, it was so embarrassing.

"The princess' words are as good as gold."

He looked up at her, his eyes filled with spring water: "I guess... my innocence... and my marriage... must be granted by the princess!"

Song Youning was startled and suddenly looked up at him.

Is this something Li Funing could say?

Is this the serious Li Funing in her memory?

The gentleman who used to keep a distance of three feet from her even when talking to her, now... (shocked and hesitant)

But he had already stood up, and with a normal expression, he gathered his sleeves, as if the words just now were just her illusion, and reached out his hand to hold her hand and walk together.

Song Youning stared at his hand in a daze for two seconds, then looked up at his handsome face, feeling extremely ashamed. In the end, he pushed it away: "Who, who wants you to hold my hand!"

After saying that, she lifted up the hem of her skirt and strode outside. Her back looked menacing, but her ears were completely red, as if she was running away.

Being drunk can lead to mistakes! Being drunk can lead to mistakes!

Li Funing stood there, looking at her back, with a slight smile on his lips.

He followed her slowly, looking determined to win.

He was too embarrassed to do that when he was young, but he won't do that this time.

The author has something to say:

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