Wait, damn it.
I still need to cultivate. I don’t have time to listen to you rambling. Get lost.
Zhou Li cursed inwardly, completely ignoring Nangong Yan’er as he continued walking forward.
Seeing how resolute he was, Nangong Yan’er felt a sudden pang in her heart.
That back of his…
It felt as though once he walked away, he would never return.
She quickly ran in front of him and blocked his path.
“What are you doing?” Zhou Li frowned, his tone full of impatience.
Hearing that tone, Nangong Yan’er felt a wave of grievance.
He had never spoken to her like this before.
Though aggrieved, she still forced herself to speak calmly. “Shouldn’t you be taking me into the palace today to greet the Empress and Consort Luo?”
“Heh, greet them…” Zhou Li let out a cold laugh.
“There are people in the palace who specifically check for the bridal blood. If they find out we did not consummate the marriage, how will you explain that?”
The surrounding maids widened their eyes in shock.
So that was why His Highness came out of that room last night. He and the Princess Consort had not consummated the marriage at all.
Sigh. His Highness is truly pitiful. On his wedding night, he was driven out of the bridal chamber. No wonder he harbors such resentment today.
Nangong Yan’er immediately understood.
I see. He is acting like this because I refused to consummate the marriage last night.
She coughed lightly. “That isn’t important. What’s important is—”
“Why isn’t it important?” Zhou Li interrupted.
“If consummating the marriage on the wedding night is not important to you, then what is?”
“Or perhaps you are not worried about being examined for bridal blood because you never had any to begin with?”
Upon hearing this, Nangong Yan’er’s face flushed with fury. “Zhou Li! How dare you insult my chastity like this? You must apologize to me!”
Zhou Li naturally knew she was still a virgin. According to the original novel’s plotline, Nangong Yan’er had not yet lost her virginity at this stage.
He said it purely to provoke her.
Seeing the redness in her eyes and the tears glistening at the corners, Zhou Li almost wanted to laugh.
Of course, he restrained himself. That would not be very polite.
“Alright, stop crying.” Zhou Li took out a handkerchief from his storage pouch and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“I’ll take you into the palace in a moment. Don’t worry about the bridal blood. I’ll handle it.”
He had just thought of a perfect plan to retaliate against this woman.
After all, no matter what happened in the future, Nangong Yan’er was still the wife he had formally married in a grand ceremony. If he showed too much disgust toward her, gossip might spread, and it would make divorcing her from the Duke of the Southern State later more troublesome.
Since this woman would eventually end up with Chu Yun anyway, he might as well play along for now. He was bored, after all.
If he distanced himself too openly, it would only make her look like the victim.
Hearing him say this, Nangong Yan’er felt somewhat reassured.
She sniffed lightly, took the handkerchief, and said softly, “Then I will trouble Your Highness.”
Zhou Li nodded. “Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep the Empress and the Noble Consort waiting.”
“Steward, prepare the carriage!”
The two boarded a carriage and headed toward the palace.
Along the way, Nangong Yan’er secretly studied Zhou Li, her heart filled with confusion.
Why has this man suddenly changed his attitude?
She had no idea about the calculations in Zhou Li’s mind. She only felt that he had become difficult to read.
“When we get there, if you don’t want others to discover that we didn’t consummate the marriage, do as I say,” Zhou Li reminded her.
Nangong Yan’er nodded firmly.
According to protocol, Zhou Li had to take Nangong Yan’er to greet the Empress first, and only afterward could they visit Consort Luo.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the Empress’s palace.
Zhou Li stepped down first, then extended his hand to help Nangong Yan’er descend.
The two walked in hand in hand and bowed to greet the Empress.
The Empress looked at the newlyweds with a satisfied smile. “You two seem quite affectionate for newlyweds.”
Zhou Li answered respectfully, “Thank you for the compliment, Mother Empress.”
As he spoke, he gently squeezed Nangong Yan’er’s hand.
Nangong Yan’er was startled but had no choice but to cooperate.
“Youth is truly wonderful. Li’er, Yan’er is one of the Four Great Beauties of the Imperial Capital. You must treat her well,” the Empress teased.
Among all the princes, she had always favored Zhou Li the most. The reason was simple—he was the least interested in the throne.
He posed no threat to the Crown Prince’s position.
So as long as he did not harbor ambitions like the other princes, she treated him as if he were her own son.
“Mother Empress jests. I will certainly treat Yan’er well. Otherwise, why would I have asked Father Emperor to grant this marriage?”
“Mm. It’s getting late. There isn’t much hospitality here, so as usual, I’ll reward you with 200 high-grade spirit stones.”
As she spoke, she signaled a maid to fetch them.
“There’s no need, Mother Empress. I already have plenty of spirit stones at home,” Zhou Li waved his hand.
“Oh? If you don’t want them, then I’ll give them to Yan’er.” The Empress smiled and waved her hand, sending the storage pouch in the maid’s hand directly into Nangong Yan’er’s hands.
“Your… Your Majesty…” Nangong Yan’er was overwhelmed. 200 high-grade spirit stones.
The Duke of the Southern State’s Mansion earned only 300 high-grade spirit stones, 5,000 mid-grade spirit stones, and 70,000 low-grade spirit stones in a year.
Yet the Empress casually gifted 200 high-grade spirit stones.
“Your Majesty, this is too much. Yan’er cannot accept…”
Zhou Li found her act somewhat hypocritical. “Since Mother Empress is giving it to you, accept it.”
“Haha, Li’er is right. Your wedding gift from Mother Empress has been given.” The Empress smiled gently. “You still need to greet Sister Consort Luo, so I won’t keep you any longer.”
“Xiao Huan, escort the Prince of Han and the Princess Consort out.”
After thanking the Empress, Zhou Li and Nangong Yan’er followed Xiao Huan out of the palace.
The moment they stepped outside, Nangong Yan’er stared at the storage pouch containing the spirit stones and smiled foolishly.
Zhou Li shook his head.
Sigh. I gave her so many precious treasures and she felt nothing. Yet for a few hundred high-grade spirit stones, she’s smiling like this.
Anyone with common sense could guess that our great male protagonist is lacking cultivation resources again.
And Zhou Li’s guess was correct. Nangong Yan’er indeed intended to give those 200 high-grade spirit stones to Chu Yun.
With these spirit stones, Brother Yun will definitely be able to break through to the 5th stage Condensed Star Realm.
“Alright, stop grinning foolishly. Next we’re going to greet Mother Consort. She’s not as easy to fool as the Empress,” Zhou Li said.
After all, that was his biological mother. She would naturally pay closer attention to him.
“Hmph!” Nangong Yan’er turned her head away angrily.
Soon, the carriage arrived in front of Consort Luo’s palace…