The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits-Chapter 107: Love Tied with an Embroidered Ball (17)

Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Love Tied with an Embroidered Ball (17)

Xuanyuan Jian felt his dignity as a Prince was being challenged and trampled upon. Previously, for the sake of the grand plan, he had made some concessions by forcing himself, but now he could not tolerate it anymore.

His venomous facial expression, like that of a poisonous scorpion, was exposed to Su Li in an instance when he lifted his veil.

Xuanyuan Jian’s hoarse voice was cold as ice, "You really have some nerve to anger me; do you truly think my elder brother can keep you safe?"

Su Li was not frightened at all; in fact, she even laughed out loud, "The words of a father are not to be defied by his son..."

"Unfortunately for you, the Emperor has taken a liking to me, and will soon summon me to the palace... Even if the Second Prince has other plans, you’ll have to endure."

Su Li provoked him to the fullest, and seeing Xuanyuan Jian about to erupt in anger, he suppressed it deeply the next second.

Xuanyuan Jian took a deep breath, then suddenly smiled, eerily beautiful, "You think you can disturb my thoughts? You’re still lacking in skill."

After saying that, Xuanyuan Jian left, stifling his anger.

What else could he do if he didn’t leave? Wait until he couldn’t restrain himself and did something drastic?

Currently, Su Li had a reputation under both the Crown Prince and Emperor Zhao. Although he told Su Li that the Crown Prince couldn’t keep her safe, it was a frightening thing to say; if the Crown Prince sincerely took it up, he could indeed keep her safe.

Although Emperor Zhao was very fond of himself, he respected the Crown Prince greatly, showing a world of difference between their treatment.

Witnessing Xuanyuan Jian speeding away like the wind, Su Li sincerely said, "Who is trying to disturb your thoughts? You’re overthinking."

"I just genuinely wanted to make you angry."

Not long after Xuanyuan Jian left, Xuanyuan Baiqi appeared in front of Su Li with quick steps.

He seemed to have just returned from the palace, not even having had the time to change out of his court attire.

"Are you alright? Xuanyuan Jian didn’t make things difficult for you, did he?"

Xuanyuan Baiqi earnestly looked Su Li up and down, finally relaxing when he confirmed she was unharmed.

Su Li suddenly realized, could it be that the Crown Prince harbored such feelings for her?

Once aware of the slightest clue, Su Li quickly noticed signs from his previous behavior.

Though very subtle, Xuanyuan Baiqi had also been very restrained, but traces were still evident.

Involuntarily, Su Li reflected on her behavior for a while, seeing that nothing seemed inappropriate in her words or actions.

After thinking for a while and not figuring anything out, Su Li just let it go.

From the way Su Li was observing him earlier, Xuanyuan Baiqi realized that the affection he had been trying so hard to conceal had been discovered by her.

Perhaps he was hoping that she would notice, so that he might lay out his feelings openly under the sun.

But Su Li was too indifferent and too rational.

Even if she noticed, she just became more cautious about maintaining a distance between them; when they spoke, aside from official matters, they rarely discussed anything else.

"I’ll ask the Emperor to issue an edict to dissolve your marriage," Xuanyuan Baiqi said, his tone imbued with subtle jealousy when he mentioned the word "husband."

Keeping her composure, Su Li glanced at the Crown Prince and responded with a light laugh, "Thank you for your kind offer, but I feel maintaining the status quo is quite good."

Su Li’s words held a double meaning; she truly felt that having a marital status spared her many troubles, and was also maintaining that their current relationship status was good.

Regardless of what the Crown Prince thought, she did not want to unnecessarily add many troubles beyond her plans.

Xuanyuan Baiqi, knowing the real situation of Su Li’s marriage, impulsively asked, "You haven’t gone through the ceremonial rites or consummated the marriage, how can you be considered husband and wife?"

The Crown Prince’s words indeed bordered on overreach.

Miss Su’s smile faded somewhat, "Thank you, Crown Prince, for taking such concern for your subordinate."

Miss Su had clearly expressed her determination to remain merely as his strategist.

Xuanyuan Baiqi silently watched Miss Su for a good while, and she did not avoid his gaze, merely smiling faintly, composed and unhurried.

"Ah..." In the end, all his thoughts transformed into a reluctant sigh before awkwardly changing the subject.

He still highly valued Miss Su’s talent and scheming, which were not inferior to any man’s, and did not wish to pressure her too much, lest he pushed her to the opposing side.

His younger brother certainly wasn’t a cautionary tale for nothing.

Xuanyuan Baiqi asked, "Miss Su, do you think my brother might be driven to desperate actions?"

"Perhaps... the Crown Prince could have someone keep an eye on him."

Miss Su knew that in her past life, Xuanyuan Jian had emerged as the ultimate victor, overcoming hurdles posed by a healthy Emperor Zhao and Crown Prince, and rising to the pinnacle through various means, which spoke volumes.

"Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, my brother is going to suffer from headaches again for a while."

Xuanyuan Baiqi transferred his previous disappointment to Xuanyuan Jian, unable to suppress his schadenfreude when speaking of this.

Miss Su asked, "Is it about Wen Rou?"

Achieving through Wen Rou, failing because of Wen Rou.

In her past life, Wen Rou, with her unique thinking, knowledge, and golden ideas, had greatly assisted Xuanyuan Jian, subsequently trampling the then Crown Prince, other princes, and even the cunning Emperor Zhao underfoot.

Yet now, merely placed in a different situation, Wen Rou had become a drag on Xuanyuan Jian.

"Yes, who’d have thought a man of such cold disposition would truly love a woman."

Xuanyuan Baiqi was deeply moved; born to an Imperial Family, their sincerity was precious and not easily entrusted to others.

Perhaps Xuanyuan Jian’s feelings for Wen Rou weren’t purely genuine, but even so, it was already quite remarkable.

Even he himself couldn’t claim to have as much genuine feeling for Miss Su.

She was such a beauty, with formidable talent; he didn’t know how to effectively restrain her, using only a facade of shallow emotion.

Miss Su suggested, "Perhaps it’s true love for them."

Xuanyuan Baiqi responded, "If my brother knows the whole story and still feels the same... I will admit they are in true love and will send a generous gift to express my blessing."

Now it was Miss Su’s turn to be surprised; that the Crown Prince had shown such an expression was interesting...

"Quite..." Remembering Wen Rou’s fearlessness, she organized her thoughts, then curiously asked, "Quite scandalous, or rather causing quite a stir..."

"In the recent times, I probably put too much pressure on him, he became negligent and let a nobody take advantage of the situation to sleep with his woman. He must have received the news by now, and probably doesn’t have any idea how to react yet; maybe I should send him some fire-extinguishing foods soon."

A hint of disdain flashed in Xuanyuan Baiqi’s eyes.

Miss Su asked pensively, "..."

Sir, are you sure sending fire-extinguishing foods isn’t just adding fuel to the fire, secretly hoping your brother will be even more infuriated?

She finally understood that none in the Imperial Family were easy to deal with, each one petty in their own way. Even the Crown Prince, who seemed magnanimous and respectful of talents, was no exception.

Miss Su recalled how she had tactfully refused him earlier and felt somewhat awkward. She resolved to be more cautious and careful in the future.

Unknown to Xuanyuan Baiqi, the slight display of his true disposition just now had frightened Miss Su even more, distancing her further. If he knew this, it would probably frustrate him enough to make him spit blood.