Chapter Forty-Eight: A man from the inner circle came to announce the wedding date.

Li Xiangyuan felt dizzy and lightheaded. All the people in the manor were a handful!

At that moment, another voice rang out, "When did my queen need to explain anything to others?"

Everyone turned around in shock, only to see Mu Cenlin had returned at some point, standing with his hands behind his back in the shadow of the corridor pillar, coldly looking at Li Xiangyuan.

Li Xiangyuan's vision went black, and a metallic taste suddenly welled up in his throat, almost causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood!

How come this person is still in the manor?! Didn't he clearly leave?! What are the guards of the Prime Minister's residence doing?! How could they let someone enter and leave so easily, without a sound?! The steward just confidently reported that Prince Jing's carriage had already gone far away!

Could this person teleport?! Li Xiangyuan roared inwardly, but dared not show it on his face. He felt as if his old face was being slapped repeatedly.

Mu Cenlin stepped out of the shadows, his steps steady, each one feeling as if he were stepping on Li Xiangyuan's heart.

Looking at her usually dignified father, whose expression now looked like he had seen a ghost, feeling frustrated and speechless, Li Bao'er couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The same plot played out twice, but it was never boring. Li Yu was the clever one. Seeing Li Xiangyuan return to the mansion in anger, he quickly flew out and called out to Mu Cenlin who was not far away.

She was finally able to relax and have someone to help her fight off the bad guys; nothing could be better.

"Prime Minister Li," Mu Cenlin's voice was devoid of emotion, yet it was more chilling than any angry rebuke, "Disciplining children is a family matter, but if this family matter involves my future queen, does Prime Minister Li think that my existence is a joke?"

"I've noticed that everyone in your Li household seems to hold me in contempt, and even the Princess Consort is being mistreated. Why don't you tell me, did you instigate all of this?"

Li Xiangyuan's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat. His anger and suspicion were replaced by immense fear. He quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, please calm down! I had no such intention! It was my fault for not managing my household properly."

Did I forget to check the almanac before going out today? Not only did my second daughter cause a major incident, but even Prince Jing, whom I usually can't even exchange a word with, has come in person.

Even though Li Xiangyuan disliked this unfavored prince, he wouldn't dare offend the powerful forces behind him, even if he had nine heads.

Mu Cenlin ignored Li Xiangyuan and pulled Li Bao'er straight towards the front courtyard.

The moment he stepped into the main hall, Mu Cenlin went straight to the head seat. Li Bao'er struggled to pull her hand away, but was warned by a look from the man.

Just as Li Xiangyuan was about to sit down next to him, he saw Mu Cenlin tighten his grip on his hand.

"ah!"

Li Bao'er was caught off guard and fell onto his lap, her skirt spreading out like flower petals over the man. She instinctively grabbed Mu Cenlin's shirt.

"Your Highness!" Li Xiangyuan was so startled that he took two steps back, his lower back slamming heavily against the rosewood table behind him, making the teacups clatter. His eyes widened as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight. "This, this is outrageous!"

"What's the panic, Prime Minister?" Mu Cenlin steadily wrapped one arm around the slender waist of the person in his arms, and with the other hand slowly pried open her slender fingers that were clenched due to nervousness, intertwined their fingers, and placed them on his knee.

Mu Cenlin's tone was calm, even tinged with a hint of languor, "My love for my future princess is deep and has always been so. What? Does Prime Minister Li think that my relationship with my future princess is too good for you?"

Li Xiangyuan's face instantly became a fascinating mix of pale and green, as if someone had forced a bowl of spoiled rice down his throat, and he was unable to swallow it but dared not spit it out, causing the veins on his forehead to throb.

Li Bao'er was initially taken aback, but then she felt the firm strength from the arm around her waist and saw the amusing expression on Li Xiangyuan's face. Instead of being ashamed or angry, she became even more playful.

She deliberately leaned closer to Mu Cenlin, even raising her other free hand to straighten his already neat clothes, her voice soft and sweet: "Your Highness~ Look at Father, he seems to disapprove of our affection."

Looking at Old Man Li's ashen and distorted face, she felt increasingly pleased.

The more unhappy Li Xiangyuan was, the more she wanted to show him how affectionate she was with Mu Cenlin!

"Your Highness...this is against etiquette..." Li Xiangyuan's Adam's apple bobbed violently as he squeezed out these words with great difficulty, his voice extremely dry.

He valued his reputation and propriety above all else, and had never witnessed such a dissolute and unrestrained scene that disregarded etiquette! What's more, the main characters were his own daughter and future son-in-law!

A hint of mockery flashed in Mu Cenlin's eyes.

He had long since investigated what kind of person Li Xiangyuan was. He had only gained a foothold in the court by relying on the power of his first wife's family, the Wang family. He had forgotten his roots and not only allowed his concubines to bully his wife, but also brazenly brought his mistress back to the mansion and made her a concubine.

If it weren't for the fact that the Wang family, though showing signs of decline, still possessed resources and connections, Wang Qingzhi and her brother Li Bao'er would likely have been devoured by this mother and son long ago, leaving nothing but bones.

He used to ignore Li Bao'er's messy family affairs, but now that their relationship was officially established and unbreakable, she was his. And no one, not even her own father, could ever mistreat her again!

Mu Cenlin glanced at him dismissively, "Lord Li, I didn't come here today to listen to your lectures. If you find sitting uncomfortable, then kneel down to listen."

Li Xiangyuan remained silent for a while, then walked over and sat down to the side. Only he knew that the veins on his hands under his sleeves were already bulging.

Mu Cenlin suddenly tapped the table with his finger, and Yuan Ting immediately stepped forward with a scroll of almanac: "His Highness has ordered the Imperial Observatory to calculate overnight; it will be the day of Yi Hai in seven days."

"When the Heavenly Virtue and the Lunar Virtue are in harmony, it is auspicious for marriage and will benefit offspring."

Wang Qingzhi paused, remembering clearly that this auspicious day was also the most suitable day for marriage that she had asked someone to calculate recently.

"Isn't this a bit too hasty?" Li Xiangyuan forced a smile. "The dowry and banquet need time to prepare."

Yuan Ting put the scroll away. "My lord, there's no need to worry. His Highness has already arranged everything."

Mu Cenlin lightly tapped the table with his fingertips.

"The wedding is in seven days." His tone left no room for argument, but his gaze remained fixed on Li Bao'er's face. "Do you have any objections?"

Li Bao'er blinked, then suddenly reached out and poked his tense jaw: "I can't wait to get married tomorrow."

Mu Cenlin's eyes darkened, and the hand gripping her waist tightened suddenly.

Although it's a bit of an exaggeration, it's the truth. 001 said that Mu Cenlin's "darkening value" has been gradually decreasing these past few days.

"It hurts!" Li Bao'er cried out softly, but smiled mischievously. "Alright, seven days it is. It's just that Uncle is far away in Jiangnan, I'm afraid he won't make it in time."

Mu Cenlin, however, appeared confident, saying, "General Wang set off to return to the capital three days ago."

Wang Qingzhi paused in her teacup; he had already arranged everything in advance.

Now, Wang Qingzhi's uneasy heart finally calmed down. Having witnessed Mu Cenlin's attitude towards Bao'er, she could tell that their relationship was mostly just for show, but Prince Jing's intentions were somewhat genuine.

As long as he's not as heartless as the rumors say...