Chapter 1 The Strategist

Prince Ning's Mansion

In the study........

Prince Ning stared at the two men standing in front of him with a gloomy expression, his tone full of coldness, "Song Yu, who gave you permission to touch Chang Le?"

Fortunately, he arrived in time; otherwise, Chang Le would have been injured.

General Song didn't understand why the prince was so angry. "Your Highness, when Princess Chang Le rode by on horseback, I had her captured, intending to use her to lure the crown prince over."

Unexpectedly, instead of the Crown Prince, Prince Ning arrived first.

Prince Ning's gaze was piercing. "You dare to act on your own without my order. Go and receive 30 lashes."

Below, Luo Xi, wearing a mask, frowned as if she were thinking of something.

So it turns out Prince Ning likes Princess Chang Le. He really kept it a secret.

If it weren't for this incident where General Song almost injured Princess Chang Le, Prince Ning would probably have continued to pretend.

Luo Xi reminded him, "Your Highness, Princess Chang Le is on the Crown Prince's side and is siding with him."

Does he have a death wish that he'd fall for someone from the Crown Prince's side? Isn't he afraid of being used by them?

Prince Ning's face darkened. "I know."

He knew it, but he just couldn't bear to hurt her, nor could he bear to let anyone else hurt her.

Luo Xi: "........."

He knows? Then why is he still so protective of Princess Chang Le?

Judging from the looks of it, the chances of Prince Ning ascending the throne are extremely slim.

After all, his affection for Princess Chang Le was, in her eyes, fatal...

It seems she has to run away.

Prince Ning looked at General Song and warned, "Next time, if you touch her again, don't blame me for showing no mercy..."

Luo Xi, General Song, replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

A moment later,

Luo Xi and General Song walked out of the study one after the other. They exchanged a glance, and then one of them turned left and went back to the guest room.

One of them went to the right to receive his punishment...

The Crown Prince's Residence

The Crown Prince frowned. "You mean, Prince Ning saved you?"

Princess Chang Le: "Yes, Prince Ning happened to be passing by and saved me."

She was confused. "Why would Prince Ning save me? He doesn't seem like the type to meddle in other people's business."

"Besides, my dad and the others all support you."

The Crown Prince knew why, but he didn't tell Princess Chang Le...

night,

Imperial Preceptor's Residence

Bai Yan had just returned to the manor when he encountered Luo Xi, who was carrying a small package. He said with a half-smile, "Oh dear, didn't someone say that they had important matters to attend to recently and were too busy to come back?"

"Why are you back?"

Luo Xi: "........."

She handed the small package to a maid, then walked to the table, sat down, propped her chin on her hand, and said dejectedly, "Of course it's because there's nothing important to do."

Because she realized that the chances of Prince Ning becoming emperor were very slim, she decided not to bother with anything.

She picked up a piece of almond cake from the table and ate it. "Senior brother, have you eaten yet?"

"No."

"I'm hungry, please have someone bring me food quickly."

"good."

Three days later

Prince Ning encountered several troubles, and it was then that he realized he was missing someone by his side: his strategist, Mo Ran.

"Where's Mo Ran? Where has she been lately?"

Ling Quan: "Your Highness, this servant does not know where Military Advisor Mo has been lately. She has not been in the manor for the past few days."

Prince Ning: "........."

General Song happened to be looking for Prince Ning when he overheard the conversation, and his eyes flickered.

He thought that Strategist Mo had abandoned Prince Ning because he felt Prince Ning lacked potential...