Chapter 13 013 Time Waits for No More Troubleshooting

Outside the door, Shen Yongning froze, wondering why she had involved him. Just as he was about to leave, someone stepped forward to announce, "Your Highness, Lord Shen requests an audience."

Shen Yongning, who had already taken a step back, had no choice but to stop. Under the gloomy gaze, he bent down and stepped into the house, kneeling down. In front of him was a slender beauty, trembling miserably. Her wrists, hanging by her sides, revealed a mark due to the bending of her sleeves. His eyes darkened, and he couldn't help but wonder when her frail body had become so strong.

"Your Highness." Shen Yongning knelt down respectfully, his head touching the ground. His mind was racing. He had spent two days searching the entire mansion with all his might, but there was no trace of her. The only thing that puzzled him was the strong smell of medicine in her room. But the smell of medicinal oil was undeniable, given the previous incident on her ankle and the wrist she was now looking at.

Hearing heavy breathing above her, Shen Yongning knew that the Prince of Dingxi was suspicious and ruthless. Rather than reporting his unfounded suspicions about her, it was more important to extricate herself from this matter.

The Prince of Dingxi had already decided to kill him. If he hadn't still had a shred of reason left, Shen Yongning's head would have rolled to his feet by now. He was indeed still up to his old tricks, and his words were laced with blatant disgust: "What brings you to request an audience at this hour?"

The implication was obvious, but Shen Yongning ignored it. His thin face showed no extra emotion as he reported in a formal manner, "Your Highness, I came here to report on the whereabouts of the thieves. I have disturbed you while you were dealing with your family matters."

Shen Yongning tried to clear his name, but someone objected. Madam Ling pointed at Qingli, eager to solidify her guilt, "Lord Shen must be worried about Madam Ru, his concern is truly genuine."

Shen Yongning coldly raised his eyelids, revealing a large expanse of white in his eyes. Madam Ling immediately felt as if she had been bitten by a snake; her fingers trembled twice, and she fell silent, daring not to say another word.

Everyone's gaze turned to Qingli again. She seemed to have just recovered from the panic, her face ashen with disappointment, and her tone low. "Lord Shen, along with Steward Rongde and the guards, captured the thief. My personal handkerchief was lost in the courtyard. It was slippery from the rain and slippery under the eaves. It was Lord Shen who grabbed me, so that I wouldn't lose face in front of everyone."

Rongde did know that during the search that day, she and Shen Yongning were talking outside, and she whispered this matter to the Prince of Dingxi.

Despite some minor differences, this is already the best explanation, and Shen Yongning agreed with this.

The situation immediately reversed, and Madam Ling couldn't sit still. "My maidservant even saw a man's figure in your room."

Qingli stared intently, her clear, spring-like eyes now hardened with ice, sharp and unyielding. "Sister Ling, you've framed me time and time again, are you treating this as a child's game?!"

"You did such a despicable thing, and you won't even let others talk about it." Madam Ling thought of the princess's instructions and could only grit her teeth and bear it. "I saw everything clearly from right behind you, even though there was something strange in your room."

"So, every time the Prince comes to my room, you pretend to have a headache, fever, or heartache to lure him away, and sometimes even reappear halfway. That's why it always works. Sister Ling, you really have a good method." Qingli looked at Madam Ling's face and said in one breath, "Is she trying to find another way to get rid of me once and for all because she sees that I've lost favor?"

Suddenly, she covered her face with her handkerchief and began to sob, "Sister, I have treated you well."

After a series of singing, recitations, acting, threats, and weeping, Lady Ling was left speechless. She stood there with her mouth agape for a long time, and seeing the Prince of Dingxi staring at her with displeasure, she became even more flustered and began to ramble on, "You really have a sharp tongue. I saw it clearly with my own eyes. You were eating, drinking, and washing in your room with a lot of noise..." Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, "I also found men's clothes that were burned in your room."

The situation suddenly changed. Lady Ling seemed to have the victory in her grasp. She handed a corner of the brocade robe in her arms to Prince Dingxi. Although her face was dark, the indigo-blue silk was the kind of fabric that men usually wore. Qingli's fingers twitched, her breath caught in her throat, and she stared at Prince Dingxi as he raised the cloth above his head, rubbing it between his two fingers until his fingertips were stained with black ash. His face also turned gloomy.

Qingli knew that Jiang Yue hadn't cleaned up Meng Qingshan's injured clothes properly, giving her a clue. She suppressed her pounding heart and her thoughts raced. Although there was evidence in front of her, there was still a chance to calm down if she didn't catch Jiang Yue on the spot. However, she was still flustered and trembling. Her lips had lost their color, and she couldn't speak. This scene looked like she was guilty to everyone.

Her face was already swollen, red and purple, her clothes were wrinkled, and she was kneeling on the ground. This appearance did not soften the heart of the Prince of Dingxi at all. On the contrary, he was irritable and disgusted. This was the Prince of Dingxi who claimed to love her. He would discard her like a worn-out shoe if he was slightly displeased. He had no sincerity at all. Yet, he made people give him their true feelings.

That's absolutely disgusting!

Lady Ling felt a chill in her heart as she watched from behind. For some reason, she looked at Qing Li. Someone as beautiful and intelligent as her, someone who was good in every way, wouldn't be treated differently by the Prince of Dingxi after something happened. It was too heartless and ungrateful.

The Prince of Dingxi casually took the damp cloth from Rongde's hand, wiped the black ash off his fingers, and looked into the distance. A group of people entered the courtyard gate, carrying a tray. They placed it in the room. The tray was a mess and still smelled faintly of fish. Everyone's face stiffened, and they all turned their heads away, unwilling to look at such filth.

The Prince of Dingxi snorted twice and swept the tray away. The prince, who held the power of life and death in his hands, was enraged. All the servants in the courtyard knelt down and begged for forgiveness. The courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. His eyes were bloodshot. He reached out and pulled the person on the ground in front of him. She had a delicate porcelain face and a graceful figure. He was indeed pleased with her. He rubbed her skin with regret, feeling the slight tremor under his fingers.

Qingli's knees were already stiff and aching as if pricked by needles. She couldn't believe that there could be such filth in her room, and that the only person who could control the guards like that was the one from Biluoyuan. Her row of fine, dark eyelashes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, finally emerging to reveal their clear and moist base color.

Her eyes held a complex mix of emotions, some sorrowful, some struggling, yet her vitality remained strong, and she looked back defiantly. For a moment, the Prince of Dingxi hesitated; he rarely faced such a rebuttal and felt so vulnerable. Her lips parted and closed again, and the room fell silent.

Lady Ling sat in the outer room, watching Jiang Yue and Jiang Zhao go in and out carrying things. She was still pale and had not recovered from the shock. How could she be so bold as to entangle herself with the Princess? It seemed that even the Prince of Dingxi was hesitant. Everything was in a daze. Lady Ling felt like she had been in a dream. She only knew that the Prince of Dingxi had ordered Qing Li to eat and live with her in the Sparrow Spirit Courtyard.

Qingli lay on the chaise longue, letting Jiang Zhao apply the medicated oil. The oil was quite effective and could quickly remove the marks, but some marks couldn't be removed so quickly. There were other ways to deal with them. She watched Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yue sobbing, but it was inconvenient for her to say anything to comfort them.

The day has finally come, and at this moment, we have completely severed ties with everyone.

This blocked Shen Yongning's path of overthinking and suspicion, shattered Jiang's expectations, forced her to her last resort, and thoroughly annoyed the Prince of Dingxi.

Opportunity and danger were intertwined and torn apart, and time was of the essence for her to act. This was the best opportunity.

There was no turning back. Her breath was short from the courage and elation she felt. She ordered, "Let's open the window to let some fresh air in."

Jiang Yue curtsied in agreement, quickly walked to the window, and as soon as she opened it, the guard suddenly drew his sword, sparks flying. He coldly watched Jiang Yue without making any further moves, and then abruptly sheathed his sword.

Qingli shook her head indifferently. This was because the Prince of Dingxi suspected her and was trying to catch her red-handed. The moonlight was bright, and from a distance, the intertwined and vigorous peach branches were lush and green in the darkness, with occasional small buds swelling up to absorb the rain and dew.

March will come soon, the day when birds fly and flowers bloom, the day she can roam freely.

Across the peach grove, Taoyuan Pavilion, with its green tiles and red eaves, carved beams and embroidered doors, is surrounded by the spirit of spring. The second floor is bright and airy, casting graceful shadows on the windows, and the wind rustles the branches, causing the shadows to sway gently.

She hoped that Meng Qingshan would not fall into this trap, and even more so that Meng Qingshan could thwart the Prince of Dingxi from the outside, diverting the Prince of Dingxi's attention to the outside world, leaving time and opportunities for Jiang Shi to carry out her actions.

In the quiet of the night, Madam Ling tossed and turned in bed, her mind in turmoil, unable to fall asleep. Looking at Qing Li, who was sleeping peacefully on the chaise lounge, she felt a tightness in her chest and muttered, "What a carefree person."

Yet, unwilling to give up, she called out softly, "Qingli? Qingli..."

The melodious calls tickled Qingli's ears, and finally, she couldn't bear it any longer. "What is it?"

Madam Ling, however, was at a loss for words. After hesitating for a long time, she watched as the woman fell soundly asleep again, then threw off the quilt and went off in a huff.

The next day at dawn, under a sky filled with dark clouds, guards in silver and black armor stood facing each other in the Qinghui Garden in the front courtyard, swords drawn and ready to strike at any moment. Inside the house, the Prince of Dingxi bowed deeply and smiled at the three people at the head of the table, saying, "Your Highness, Second Prince, and Fourth Prince are inspecting the border on behalf of the Emperor. This is a blessing for the people of the border. This time, we will surely intimidate the foreign tribes and restore ten years of peace to the border."

The eldest prince, Ling Zixu, stood tall and straight with a square face. Born into the Empress's family, he was the head of the household. "I apologize for troubling you, Uncle."

"Not at all." The Prince of Dingxi assisted the current emperor in ascending the throne, so it was only natural for the princes to address him as "Uncle." Looking at the Second Prince Ling Zizhou behind him, he was gentle and handsome, while the Fourth Prince Ling Zizhan, who was hidden at the back, was cold and aloof. He was said to be taciturn and difficult to get along with.

Upon meeting, they naturally struck up a conversation, chatting about everything under the sun. No one mentioned the matter of sending troops. At this crucial moment, the Prince of Dingxi was willing to swallow his pride and say, "My princes, this place is plagued by sandstorms, the environment is harsh, the land is vast but the population is sparse, and survival is extremely difficult."

“We really can’t hand over 30,000 troops. However, fighting against the foreign tribes is for the country and the people. I contacted other old brothers, and as soon as they heard that His Majesty had sent the princes to come in person, they all gathered their men to come and pay their respects.”

After the words were spoken, there was a moment of silence. The blatant evasion mixed with a threat immediately darkened the First Prince's face. The Second Prince remained gentle, while the Fourth Prince remained indifferent.

The Prince of Dingxi gasped; the old emperor's son had indeed grown up.

They're not made of paper; they're not going to abandon their support once they've crossed the river.

"Then it is set for three days from now, at the military training ground to muster the troops." The eldest prince made the final decision, showing no regard for the dignity of the Prince of Dingxi. He turned and left the Prince of Dingxi's residence with his brothers, returning to the temporary camp of the Longxiang Army stationed five miles outside Yanmen City.

In March, the area outside Yanmen City was still filled with sandstorms. The sky was azure with low-hanging white clouds, and the landscape was a desolate wasteland. Meng Qingshan sat on a hillside, his eyes deep as he looked at Yanmen City. Hearing heavy footsteps behind him, the Fourth Prince Ling Zizhan sat down. The western sunset shone on his face, blurring his indifference.

"Fourth Prince, may you be well."

In the distance, a tan warhorse lowered its head and nibbled happily at the newly sprouted green shoots. Ling Zizhan said in a low voice, "Beigu, the Da Di are frequently invading. There is something amiss. We must be careful."

"Release the tiger back to the mountain and observe the tiger fight."

The two shared the same idea. Ling Zizhan achieved his goal and turned back to his tent. Meng Qingshan lowered his eyes and snorted coldly. What did the country and the country have to do with him? When the sky darkened, he and his horse ran out of the camp and disappeared into the darkness in a moment.