Chapter 817 A Sharp and Useful Knife

Xiao Qingxuan waited for a while but didn't hear Feng Shuo's reply, so he asked with a smile, "Why aren't you saying anything? Are you shy?"

Feng Shuo looked up: "I didn't like it."

"What? You don't even like her? Pei Yingzhu is the daughter of the Prince of Heng'an. I've heard she's proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Moreover, from my interactions with her just now, I found her to be gentle, kind-hearted, tolerant, and extremely generous. She's the perfect candidate to be your future wife!"

"Since she is so wonderful, why doesn't Your Highness marry her and make her your Crown Princess?"

Xiao Qingxuan's expression froze: "You—"

“Oh, I forgot, His Highness is going to marry Miss Gu as the Crown Princess. Pei Yingzhu arrived a little late. But it doesn’t matter. If His Highness really likes her, he can make her his concubine. As the stepdaughter of the Prince of Heng’an, it is already quite an honor for her to be His Highness’s concubine. Even the Prince of Heng’an won’t say anything.”

Feng Shuo remained expressionless and spoke in a very serious manner.

So much so that Xiao Qingxuan couldn't tell for a moment whether Feng Shuo was being sarcastic or seriously offering advice.

Feng Shuo himself didn't like the woman, yet he made her marry him as the Crown Prince's concubine. Wasn't that a slap in his face?

But that's just how Feng Shuo is. He's clueless about social niceties and always speaks bluntly. He's offended countless officials and concubines, and there are hardly any people in the entire palace who like him.

Having been the Crown Prince for so long, Xiao Qingxuan's patience had become extraordinary.

So his stiffness vanished in an instant, and his face immediately regained its gentle expression: "It is absolutely impossible for me to take a concubine. Didn't you see that I only spoke a few words with Pei Yingzhu today, and A Ning was already unhappy? If I were to really take a concubine, wouldn't she want to kill me?"

Feng Shuo nodded: "Your Highness is right."

Gu Qianning really intended to kill the Crown Prince. Although he didn't know the reason, he was sure it wasn't because of Pei Yingzhu.

"If that's the case, then you should really consider Miss Pei. Although she's a few years older than you, but—"

"Your Highness, I am not considering marriage right now. I only want to be the Emperor's bodyguard, protect his safety, and be the sharpest blade in his hand!"

After Feng Shuo finished speaking, he left without waiting for Xiao Qingxuan's reaction, gripping his sword.

Then, he stood outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, guarding the emperor inside like a door god.

Xiao Qingxuan was so breathless that he almost coughed up blood!

The idea of ​​having Feng Shuo marry Pei Yingzhu was, of course, not his, but the emperor's!

But the emperor refused to speak directly to Feng Shuo, so he sent him to test Feng Shuo's intentions. He didn't expect Feng Shuo to be so disrespectful to him.

Now he understood why the emperor hadn't asked Feng Shuo himself: he probably knew Feng Shuo's straightforward temper too well, and being rejected so bluntly would have made him lose face.

Feng Shuo is indeed a sharp and useful knife, but to make this knife marry is no different from making a stone bloom.

——

The Duke's Mansion.

Qionghua Courtyard.

As soon as Gu Qianning returned, she ran to Shen Wantang to confide in her.

"Xiao Qingxuan is protected by too many people, and his palace is like an iron barrel. It looks ordinary, but it is actually heavily guarded. If I wanted to kill him, it would be as difficult as climbing to heaven!"

Shen Wantang sighed softly: "A Ning, I understand your desire to take revenge yourself, but the risk is too great. Why don't you hand it over to your second brother? He has manpower and spies. He can storm the palace and wipe them out in one fell swoop. Isn't that better than you going to fight the Crown Prince alone?"

Gu Qianning looked miserable: "But I want to do something for my second brother. If my second brother is going to kill the dog emperor, then I should be the one to kill Xiao Qingxuan. I will take revenge for myself. Only by killing him with my own hands can I be free."

Shen Wantang knew that she had a strong obsession, so she patted her hand and said, "Since you want to kill him with your own hands, we need to plan this carefully. Even if the Eastern Palace is heavily guarded, there will be loopholes. You can go there a few more times and look for weaknesses. We haven't fallen out yet, so it should be safe for you to enter the palace. Oh, right, remember to bring some self-defense items."

Speaking of this, Gu Qianning was a little annoyed: "I brought a sharp knife for self-defense, but that guy surnamed Feng took it away. He even warned me not to bring any weapons when I enter the palace in the future."

"Feng Shuo?"

"Yes, it was him. My second brother said he's on our side now and that he'll look after me in the palace! My second brother is so unreliable. That guy surnamed Feng hasn't looked after me at all; he's just threatening me!"

Shen Wantang was not evaded by her few words, but instead keenly grasped the key to the problem: "You brought a weapon for self-defense, how did Feng Shuo know? Did he search you?"

Gu Qianning choked: "This... no, it was my own lack of composure. When I was alone with Xiao Qingxuan in the back garden, I secretly took out the sharp blade. But I hid it in my palm, very discreetly, and Xiao Qingxuan didn't even see it. Who knew that the guy surnamed Feng would see it? I don't know how he has such good eyesight."

Shen Wantang breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that she was still fortunate to have Feng Shuo, otherwise Gu Qianning might have done something impulsive.

She shook her head helplessly: "I think the person your second brother found for you this time is quite reliable, and he is indeed looking after you in the palace. You, don't be so impulsive next time, otherwise you might really hurt the Crown Prince, and there won't be any way to clean up the mess."

"Well... that's not necessarily true. Since I dared to hurt Xiao Qingxuan, I naturally already had an excuse ready. I'll just say that I hated him because of love, and Xiao Qingxuan will definitely believe me. After all, I used to like him so much."

Shen Wantang looked at her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation: "Even if the Crown Prince believes it, what about the Emperor? Do you think he will let you off easily after you hurt the Crown Prince? And those ministers in the court, they won't let you off either."

Gu Qianning lowered her eyelashes: "Okay, I understand. I was just thinking about it. I don't really intend to do anything to Xiao Qingxuan at this time. I know what's important."

Shen Wantang got up, took a box, and handed it to Gu Qianning.

"What's this?"

"These are medicines that can be used for self-defense; there are three kinds in total."

Gu Qianning's eyes lit up, and she opened the box: "Which three?"

"The red porcelain bottle contains the Dream Powder. Smelling it will cause hallucinations, and if you don't take the antidote, you'll have nightmares for several days in a row."

"The stuff in the black porcelain bottle is called Bone-Melting Pill. Taking it will make you weak all over. If the dosage is high enough, all the bones in your body will soften and you will never be able to stand up again."

"The white porcelain bottle contains a mind-awakening pill, which can cure all poisons. Even if you encounter a poison that cannot be cured, it can keep you temporarily conscious, giving you enough time to seek help."