Chapter Eight: An Unusual Relationship
Inside the study of the Li family mansion.
The candlelight flickered violently in the bronze lamp, casting intermittent light on and off Li Xiangyuan's refined face.
Li Xiangyuan stared at the secret letter in his hand, his knuckles tightening inch by inch, before finally crumpling it into a ball.
"You rebellious daughter! How could I have raised such a reckless brat!"
Li Xiangyuan slammed his fist down, and the teacups on the sandalwood table clattered loudly.
His cold gaze fell unflinchingly upon the woman standing dumbfounded to the side.
Although the years have etched a few fine lines around her eyes, they have only added to her timeless and elegant charm.
This person is Li Bao'er's biological mother, the eldest daughter of the Qingyue Wang family, and once a famous noblewoman in the capital, Wang Qingzhi.
But now, her status in the Prime Minister's mansion is not even as good as that of a favored concubine.
Upon seeing this, Wang Qingzhi immediately stepped forward anxiously and asked, "Where is Bao'er now?"
Is she alright?
Twenty years ago, the Li family was just a declining clan, and it was only by climbing up to the Qingyue Wang clan that they were able to gain a foothold in the court.
When Wang Qingzhi married, her magnificent bridal procession, stretching for miles, astonished the capital, and even the late emperor bestowed congratulatory gifts upon her.
However, in just ten years, the Wang family declined due to their involvement in the military pay scandal, while Li Xiangyuan, relying on his Yue family's old connections and with ruthless methods, climbed step by step to the position of prime minister.
It is common knowledge that in the Prime Minister's mansion, the favored concubines over the wife, and the principal wife, Wang Qingzhi, is aloof and does not compete or fight. She has the title of mistress but no real power.
Li Bao'er was rebellious from a young age and always opposed her father, making their relationship extremely hostile.
A few days ago, Li Bao'er ran excitedly to Wang Qingzhi's courtyard, her eyes sparkling with joy: "Mother, I want to go out tomorrow."
Wang Qingzhi always granted her daughter's requests, so she nodded in agreement.
But to everyone's surprise, he didn't return for three days.
Wang Qingzhi was uneasy, fearing that her daughter might get hurt outside. Seeing that she could no longer hide it, she hurriedly went to find Li Xiangyuan.
However, Li Xiangyuan only sneered, his eyes full of disgust: "It would be best if she died outside, so as not to implicate the whole family!"
He disliked Wang Qingzhi to begin with, and hated this daughter who had been against him since childhood.
He was always busy with official duties, so how could he have ever really cared about Li Bao'er's life or death?
Moreover, Li Bao'er only knows how to follow the Third Prince around all day, and is no match for the refined lady Li Yurou, the Second Prince.
Until the Third Prince sent a secret letter.
The few words in the letter enraged him.
The letter read:
Your daughter trespassed into the Iron Eagle Guard camp and stole military secrets, which is already a capital offense.
However, considering her young age and ignorance, and the fact that she is the daughter of the Prime Minister, I, the Prince, plead with Prince Jing to spare her life for the time being.
The best course of action now is for the Prime Minister's residence to quickly send trusted confidants to bring back the child to be disciplined, so as to prevent the situation from escalating and jeopardizing the reputation of the entire Li family.
Li Xiangyuan recalled the character "Yuan" at the end of the signature.
The Third Prince's letter was filled with compassion in every word, yet threatening in every sentence!
Although Prince Jing is not favored, he is no ordinary person. If Li Bao'er really angers Prince Jing, the entire Li family will probably be buried with her!
Li Xiangyuan saw it clearly: Mu Cenlin was an ambitious alpha wolf.
The flickering candlelight illuminated Li Xiangyuan's ever-changing face.
He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, calculating in his mind that Li Bao'er had committed a capital crime, and if Prince Jing really wanted to pursue the matter, the entire Li family would suffer as a result.
Rather than waiting to be killed, it is better to take the initiative.
A glint flashed in Li Xiangyuan's eyes, and he suddenly had an idea: to marry Li Bao'er to Prince Jing!
Once the marriage is finalized, the charge of stealing the tiger tally can be easily downplayed as "marital intimacy," and no matter how dissatisfied the officials in the court are, they will not dare to speak ill of the prince's family affairs.
As for whether Li Bao'er lived or died after marrying him... that was none of his business.
Thinking of this, Li Xiangyuan glanced coldly at Wang Qingzhi, who was on the verge of tears, and said in an icy tone, "Now that she is in the hands of Prince Jing, her life or death is uncertain. As her mother, how have you disciplined her?"
"Smack!"
The teacup slammed down at Wang Qingzhi's feet, shattering into pieces.
"All you do is indulge her nonsense all day long! She has no manners whatsoever as a mistress of the house!" Li Xiangyuan rebuked sternly.
"If you still can't discipline the child, then send Yu'er to Yingying's room to be raised!"
Wang Qingzhi suddenly looked up, and the tears in her eyes instantly froze into ice.
Zhang Yingying, that concubine who climbed up the social ladder through seductive tricks, does she even deserve to raise her child?!
Wang Qingzhi enunciated each word of "Li Xiangyuan" with a chillingly cold tone.
"If you dare lay a finger on Yu'er or Bao'er, I guarantee the entire Li family will suffer."
Wang Qingzhi suddenly chuckled softly.
"None of you will have an easy time."
Over the years, she has been too lazy to compete with Zhang Yingying for favor, simply because she disdains it.
The eldest daughter of the Qingyue Wang family, she learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting from a young age, but what she was even more proficient in was political intrigue and checks and balances.
Although the Wang family is weak, her elder brother, Wang Lin, is still the powerful General Zhenbei who commands respect on the border!
"Since you refuse to pick up Bao'er, then I'll go find her uncle." Wang Qingzhi turned around with a flick of her sleeve, her skirt sweeping across the broken porcelain on the ground.
"Wang Lin and Prince Jing fought side by side on the border, so they must have some connection."
Li Xiangyuan's expression changed drastically.
If Wang Linruo gets involved in this matter, his plans will likely fall through!
Seeing Wang Qingzhi's cold and stern expression, Li Xiangyuan knew she was truly angry, so he immediately suppressed his anger and put on a worried look.
"Qingzhi, don't get angry." He sighed, his tone softening.
"I was just too worried about Bao'er's safety, which is why I spoke without thinking."
Li Xiangyuan stepped forward, grasped Wang Qingzhi's hand, and said gently, "Don't worry, I'll send someone to the Iron Eagle Guard camp to bring Bao'er back right away."
Wang Qingzhi coldly withdrew her hand, her gaze sharp: "Really?"
"Of course it is true." Li Xiangyuan said sincerely.
"She is still my daughter. How can I really abandon her to live or die?"
However, before bringing him back, he had to do one thing first.
Tomorrow morning, he will go to the palace to meet the emperor and ask for an imperial decree to grant him marriage!
If we can just get Li Bao'er into the Prince Jing's residence, this matter can be turned into a minor one, and a minor one can be resolved.
As for Wang Qingzhi's anger? Ha, once the imperial decree is issued, no matter how unwilling she is, she can only accept her fate!
On the other side, when Li Bao'er opened her eyes, what came into view was not the rough felt roof of the military tent, but a brocade tent embroidered with gold and clouds.
"Miss is awake? Are you still feeling unwell?"
A sweet, clear voice rang out.
Li Bao'er turned her head and saw two beautiful young maids standing by the bed. One was wearing a green silk skirt and the other was wearing a scarlet short jacket. Both of them had delicate and pretty features.
"Where is this?" she asked in a hoarse voice, her body tensing instinctively.
Perhaps sensing her wariness, the maid in green curtsied and said, "This servant is Miao Qing, this is the Prince Jing's residence."
"Don't worry, Miss, this place is very safe." Miao Yi, a maid in scarlet clothes, brought over warm water.
"His Highness specifically instructed that no one should disturb your recovery."
The Prince Jing's Mansion?!
Li Bao'er suddenly gripped the brocade quilt tightly with her fingertips.
That legendary forbidden area in the capital, where "the living enter and the dead leave"? Mu Cenlin actually brought her back to his lair?
[Ding! Host is awake~] 001 suddenly came back to life.
[I have great news for you! Mu Cenlin's corruption level has dropped to 98%!]
Li Bao'er: "..."
"What good news is a 1% drop?" she roared in her mind.
Where were you when Xiao Yizhi almost stabbed me through?!
In her mind, Li Bao'er grabbed 001 by the neck and shook him violently.
001 weakly spat out a small ghost. [It's not that I don't want to, it's that I lack the ability.]
[Passing Minasey!]
Li Bao'er stared in shock at 001, who was kneeling down to apologize like a Japanese man.
He swallowed hard. "I'll watch less of those weird Japanese dramas in the future."
Miao Qing and Miao Yi looked at each other, wondering why the young lady the prince brought back seemed a bit strange.
After waking up from his serious injuries, he stared blankly at the ceiling with a blank expression.
Following her gaze, people saw that there wasn't even a spider on the carved wooden beam.
Miao Qing hesitated before speaking, "Miss, the Prince said you may return to the manor on your own after you wake up."
Miao Yi then added, "But you must come to the Prince's residence in seven days."
As maids who cleaned and swept the outer courtyard, they had never seen the prince bring a woman back to the mansion.
not to mention……
Miao Qing stole a glance at the bruises on Li Bao'er's snow-white neck; those were clearly the finger marks left by the prince himself! Yet, he had them treated with the best wound medicine.
Such a contradiction must be no ordinary relationship!
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