Leng Ning stood to the side, instantly stunned.
Zhou Li looked at Xuan Wu’s expression and felt his cheeks grow warm. He cleared his throat and said, “Ahem, don’t joke around.”
“Hahaha, Prince of Han is truly adorable,” Xuan Wu said with a soft laugh.
“That’s enough, Wu’er. Tomorrow, go to Falling Blossom Pavilion and find Miss Xiangxiang. I have something to give her.”
Xuan Wu frowned in confusion. “Prince of Han, why are you going to Falling Blossom Pavilion to look for a courtesan?”
Zhou Li chuckled. “You two are members of the Hidden Dragon Guards, yet you don’t know that everyone in Falling Blossom Pavilion, from the madam down to the maids, belongs to the Joyous Harmony Demonic Sect?”
What?!
The moment those words fell, both Xuan Wu and Leng Ning froze.
They truly had no idea. It was a humiliation.
To think that people of the demonic path had managed to establish a business right under the Emperor’s nose.
However, Zhou Li seemed to see through their thoughts and immediately explained, “Don’t worry. Falling Blossom Pavilion and I are allies.”
“Prince of Han, you are cooperating with people of the demonic path?” Leng Ning tightened her grip on the longsword in her hand, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at him.
“For me, whether it is the demonic path or the righteous path makes no difference. As long as they do not harm the people of our Sacred Martial Immortal Empire, what does it matter which path they belong to?” Zhou Li said calmly.
Leng Ning and Xuan Wu lowered their eyes in thought.
“Besides, as long as I am here, they will not dare to do anything reckless. I can swear this to the Heavenly Dao.”
Hearing this, Leng Ning and Xuan Wu looked at Zhou Li in shock.
He was actually willing to swear to the Heavenly Dao for those demon women!
Seeing this, the two of them could no longer say anything more.
After confirming that they had relaxed, Zhou Li continued, “As for you, Ning’er, I also have an important mission for you.”
“What mission? Please instruct me, Prince of Han.”
“Just now, I mentioned that Chu Yun is not only the lover of the Princess Consort of Zhao, but also the little lover of my Princess Consort of Han.”
Leng Ning and Xuan Wu widened their eyes in shock.
“Since I intend to deal with Chu Yun, I must naturally make a clean break with Nangong Yan’er.” This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
Zhou Li’s expression turned serious. “You will secretly observe the Princess Consort of Han. If she meets Chu Yun in private, inform me at once.”
Leng Ning nodded slightly. “Prince of Han, rest assured. Ning’er will not fail this mission.”
“This matter is of great importance. The two of you must not reveal even a single word of it,” Zhou Li warned.
“Yes, Prince of Han!” Xuan Wu and Leng Ning responded in unison.
“That’s enough. Go and make preparations. Remember, be careful in everything.”
“As for your rooms, there are two side chambers in this courtyard. I grant them to the two of you for residence.”
Zhou Li waved his hand. Leng Ning and Xuan Wu bowed and withdrew.
However, the moment they opened the door, they were startled to see Nangong Yan’er standing directly outside.
Both of their expressions changed at once, and they instinctively looked toward Zhou Li.
Zhou Li transmitted his voice to them, “Do not worry. I already set up a soundproof formation in this room. She cannot hear our conversation.”
Only then did the two women feel relieved. They greeted her respectfully. “We greet the Princess Consort.”
Nangong Yan’er stared straight at Zhou Li and asked, “What were you doing inside just now? And who set up that formation?”
Zhou Li did not answer her questions. Instead, he pointed toward the two side chambers on the left and right within the small courtyard and said, “Ning’er, Wu’er, your rooms are over there. Go tidy them up. If you need anything, tell me.”
“Yes, Prince of Han!” The two hurriedly withdrew.
When Nangong Yan’er saw that they were to live so close to Zhou Li, in the same courtyard, she was immediately displeased.
“You actually intend to have two maids live in the same courtyard as you?”
“So what?” Zhou Li said matter-of-factly. “They were bestowed upon me by Father Emperor as my personal maids. Naturally, I should treat them well.”
The Prince of Han’s residence contained five courtyards in total. The central large courtyard had only one grand room, covering about 4,666 square meters. It was Zhou Li and Nangong Yan’er’s wedding chamber, though now it was occupied solely by Nangong Yan’er.
There were also two medium-sized courtyards, each with three medium rooms and an area of roughly 3,333 square meters. These were for guests and the steward.
At present, Zhou Li was living in one of the medium rooms within one of those courtyards, and the other two rooms in that same courtyard had been assigned to Leng Ning and Xuan Wu.
In addition, there were two smaller courtyards. One housed the male servants, and the other the female servants. Each of those contained seven small rooms, each about 2,000 square meters. This chapter is updated first at novelping dot com.
Thus, Leng Ning and Xuan Wu’s living conditions were identical to those of Zhou Li and the steward.
However, what Nangong Yan’er cared about was not the treatment itself, but that Zhou Li was allowing two maids to live in the same courtyard as him, seeing him every day.
Zhou Li looked at her coldly. “What? Do you have objections?”
Under his gaze, Nangong Yan’er felt a tremor in her heart, yet she forced herself to speak. “Of course I do. How can maids live in the same courtyard as Your Highness?”
Zhou Li let out a cold laugh. “My affairs are not for you to interfere in. Ning’er and Wu’er are people I value. Living here makes it convenient for me to summon them at any time.”
Nangong Yan’er’s face flushed red with anger. “Prince of Han, this does not follow the rules!”
“In this Prince of Han’s residence, I am the rule. And if we are to speak of rules, consummating the marriage on the wedding night is also a rule. Why did you not follow it?” Zhou Li retorted.
Nangong Yan’er was left speechless, her face alternating between pale and flushed.
She bit her lip, a trace of resentment flashing in her eyes. “Prince of Han, please do not use this matter to humiliate me.”
Zhou Li crossed his arms and said coldly, “I am merely speaking of facts. If you care so much about Ning’er and Wu’er living in the same courtyard as me, then provide a reason that can persuade me.”
For a moment, Nangong Yan’er had no answer. She was both furious and anxious. Suddenly, her eyes shifted slightly. “Prince of Han, there are many servants in this residence. If word spreads, there will inevitably be gossip. It will damage your reputation.”
Zhou Li sneered. “My conduct is upright and open. Why should I fear idle gossip? It is you who should stop making unreasonable trouble.”
With that, Zhou Li no longer looked at her and walked straight back into his room.
Nangong Yan’er stood there, trembling with anger, yet powerless.
She stamped her foot and said, “Prince of Han, I will not object to them living here anymore. But tomorrow, do not forget to accompany me back to the Duke of the Southern State’s Mansion to visit my family.”
Zhou Li turned around and let out a light laugh. “Very well. If there is nothing else, you may return.”
After speaking, Zhou Li directly closed the door.
Staring at the tightly shut door, Nangong Yan’er muttered unhappily, “Do you truly not wish to see me that much?”
Tomorrow, she would definitely ask her mother how to win back a man’s heart.
Inside the room, however, Zhou Li revealed a cunning smile.
Nangong Yan’er, tomorrow I will make everyone in your Duke of the Southern State’s Mansion stand on my side.