The next day.
“Why did you bring her along?”
On the way back to the Duke of the Southern State’s Mansion, Nangong Yan’er looked displeased as she glanced at Leng Ning inside the carriage.
“Ning’er is my personal maid. Naturally, she must follow me to ensure my safety,” Zhou Li said calmly.
“Even so, she shouldn’t be sitting in the same carriage as us. Lianxiang is outside!”
“What does it have to do with me whether she’s outside or not? I wouldn’t bear to let my Ning’er sit outside under the sun!” As he spoke, Zhou Li casually took hold of Leng Ning’s delicate hand.
Leng Ning froze for a moment, then said coldly, “Prince of Han, please conduct yourself properly.”
“Hmph! I think she’s not a maid bestowed by the Emperor, but a concubine instead!” Nangong Yan’er turned her head away in annoyance, yet her eyes remained fixed on their clasped hands.
Zhou Li merely sneered inwardly.
Once I divorce you, I’ll find a whole group of wives. You can stay locked together with your Brother Yun forever.
“Oh right, where is that red-haired one?” Nangong Yan’er asked in confusion.
From earlier, she had only seen Leng Ning, but not Xuan Wu.
“Replying to the Princess Consort, Wu’er has important matters to attend to, so she cannot accompany Prince of Han today,” Leng Ning answered respectfully.
“It’s good that she’s not here. I think you should have important matters too. You shouldn’t come either!”
Leng Ning felt puzzled.
Ever since yesterday, this Princess Consort of Han had been giving both her and Xuan Wu unpleasant looks. Could it be that she had been exposed?
That shouldn’t be possible. She had only arrived yesterday.
At that moment, the carriage suddenly came to a stop.
They had arrived at the Duke of the Southern State’s Mansion.
Zhou Li lifted the curtain and saw more than a dozen people gathered at the entrance. At the front stood three middle-aged men dressed in luxurious robes, and beside them were three elegantly dressed noblewomen.
The three men were Minister of Personnel Nangong De, Minister of Revenue Nangong Hong, and Vice Minister of Rites Nangong Chun.
Among them, Nangong Hong was Nangong Yan’er’s father.
The noblewoman beside him was Nangong Yan’er’s mother, Madam Ru Yan.
Zhou Li glanced at them briefly. All of them held high positions in the court.
It seemed that after divorcing Nangong Yan’er, he would need to propose to Father Emperor that these three be dismissed from their posts.
He stepped down from the carriage, carefully lifted the curtain, and extended his hand toward Nangong Yan’er.
Outside, appearances still had to be maintained.
Nangong Yan’er was briefly stunned by his action, then smugly placed her hand in his.
Seeing the two of them acting so intimately, the people of the Duke’s Mansion nodded in satisfaction.
“Daughter greets Father, Mother, and my two uncles,” Nangong Yan’er said as she bowed to the elders.
Zhou Li did not need to greet them, as he was a prince.
The people of the Duke’s Mansion stepped forward and greeted respectfully, “We greet the Prince of Han.”
“No need for formalities,” Zhou Li said with a smile.
“Today, I accompanied Yan’er back to visit her family. Time was tight, and I did not prepare any gifts. Please forgive me.”
Although Zhou Li did not need to bow, constantly referring to himself as “this prince” in front of his father-in-law and mother-in-law felt somewhat awkward.
“Oh, Your Highness, what are you saying? Our Duke of the Southern State’s Mansion has prospered greatly thanks to the support of Prince of Han!” Nangong De said.
So you know that?
Though Zhou Li mocked inwardly, he maintained a gentle smile. “I have not done much. The Duke’s Mansion has rendered great service. Father Emperor’s support is well deserved.”
“However, may I ask why the old Duke himself has not come out to receive us?”
Hearing this, Nangong De’s expression changed slightly. “Your Highness may laugh at me, but I have an unfilial daughter who often angers my father.”
“At this moment, my father is reprimanding that disobedient girl.”
That disobedient girl…
Nangong Xi’er?!
Zhou Li was momentarily stunned, unsure whether what he felt was surprise or excitement.
How could I have forgotten this character?
Nangong Xi’er, Nangong Yan’er’s cousin. In both figure and appearance, she was no inferior to Nangong Yan’er.
At the same time, she was a villainess in the early stages of the novel who caused Chu Yun considerable trouble.
However, the reason for her descent into darkness was jealousy.
That’s right, she also liked Chu Yun. But Chu Yun wanted to take both her and Nangong Yan’er.
As for Nangong Xi’er… she was a yandere.
Possessive to an extreme degree. Driven by jealousy, she repeatedly tried to kill her cousin.
But each time, she was stopped by Chu Yun. Over time, love turned into hatred, and she stood in opposition to Chu Yun.
In short, it was a rather bizarre setting that Zhou Li could not fully understand.
However, one thing was certain. Nangong Xi’er likely held no hostility toward him, because in the original novel, they had no interaction at all.
All he needed to do now was fan the flames and help Nangong Xi’er fall into darkness earlier. That would become a powerful asset for him.
But something felt strange. In the original novel, wasn’t Nangong Xi’er supposed to be secretly meeting Chu Yun? Why was she now being punished at the Duke’s Mansion?
This was bad. It seemed he had no choice but to take a closer look.
“Could it be that Cousin has caused trouble again?” Nangong Yan’er asked with concern.
Zhou Li suppressed the excitement in his heart and said calmly, “Then let’s go inside first.”
“Please, Your Highness!”
…
At the same time, on the third floor of Falling Blossom Pavilion.
A faint fragrance lingered in the air, and layers of violet gauze hung around, creating a scene like the depths of the sea.
Xuan Wu, using a Concealment Talisman, slowly walked inside.
Looking at the surroundings, and with the room filled with a mysterious fragrance capable of inducing hallucinations, she let out a quiet breath.
Fortunately, Prince of Han had given her an antidote in advance.
“Since you have come to this young lady’s chamber, why not show yourself and speak?” A clear and ethereal voice drifted from behind the violet veil.
Though Xuan Wu could not clearly see the woman’s face, through the gauze, she could vaguely make out an incredibly alluring figure.
Even better than her own. Fuller chest, slimmer waist, and legs that were fairer and more slender.
Just that silhouette alone could make one’s blood surge.
Seeing this, Xuan Wu stopped hiding and revealed herself.
“Oh? A woman?” Hai Wenxiang’s voice carried a hint of surprise from behind the veil.
Even through the gauze, it was clear that the person before her was a true beauty. However… her figure likely wasn’t as good as her own.
“I was sent here on the orders of Prince of Han,” Xuan Wu said.
“Hehe… in that case, you’re one of us,” Hai Wenxiang said as she lightly waved her hand, and the violet veil before her disappeared.
Xuan Wu finally saw clearly the appearance of this Saintess of the Joyous Harmony Demonic Sect.
Even as a beauty herself, she was stunned the moment she saw Hai Wenxiang.
So beautiful…
Among all the people Xuan Wu had seen, only Nangong Yan’er and Consort Luo in the harem could compare to her.
But in terms of temperament, Nangong Yan’er could not compare to this Saintess at all. That was why Xuan Wu had not been amazed by Nangong Yan’er’s beauty before.
“Speak. Why did Prince of Han send you here?” Hai Wenxiang asked lazily. As she spoke, her ample curves subtly swayed.
Hearing this, Xuan Wu immediately took out two cultivation manuals from her storage pouch.
The moment they appeared, Hai Wenxiang’s previously lazy expression instantly turned into one of shock.
In an instant, she appeared before Xuan Wu, staring intently at the two manuals in her hands.
“These two are… Heaven-grade cultivation techniques?!”