The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 240 They did it willingly.
"Let me see." Princess Chang Le was not easily fooled, especially seeing her guilty look, she was even less likely to let it go.

"No!" Xuan Yuanjing hurriedly slung the box over her back. "This is something I found to present to my grandfather, the Emperor. It's just... ordinary calligraphy and paintings."

"You dare present ordinary calligraphy and paintings to your imperial grandfather? Bring them out to me, I want to see what shameful things are on them!" Princess Chang Le rebuked in a deep voice.

“Aunt, you can’t be so domineering,” Xuan Yuanjing said angrily.

"Is this the first day you've met me?" Princess Chang Le raised an eyebrow and glanced at Yuan Bao.

Yuanbao understood, and suddenly went around to the back. Taking advantage of Xuanyuan Jing's inattention, he snatched the box and handed it to Princess Chang Le.

Xuanyuan Jing was shocked and kicked Yuanbao angrily. She was about to pounce on Princess Chang Le to snatch the box back, but Yuanbao stopped her.

"How dare a princess be so presumptuous before a princess?"

"You dog of a servant, I will definitely complain to the Emperor and have you severely punished!" Xuan Yuanjing was furious and threw a punch, trying to knock Yuanbao down.

However, Yuanbao also knew martial arts and easily deflected her attacks.

As the two began to fight, Princess Chang Le opened the box and found that it indeed contained a painting.

She wasn't really interested at first, but seeing how concerned Xuan Yuanjing was about the painting, she concluded that something was amiss and unfolded the painting to examine it.

When she saw the person in the portrait, she paused for a moment and instantly understood Xuan Yuanjing's intention.

She looked sharply at Xuan Yuanjing, "What did I say before? If you cause any more trouble for Zhiwan, I will not let you off! You have repeatedly ignored my words, it seems you don't take me seriously!"

Xuan Yuanjing was furious inside, but she dared not show it on her face. "Auntie, you've misunderstood. I didn't cause any trouble for Zhiwan, really!"

"Then what does this painting mean?" Princess Chang Le unfolded the painting in front of her.

"I...I...This was given to me by someone else. I didn't look at it closely. I just thought it was a rare painting and thought I would give it to my grandfather to make him happy." Xuan Yuanjing's voice grew softer and softer under Princess Chang Le's gaze.

"Didn't you look closely? Do you think I'm a fool?" Princess Chang Le said, and tore up the painting in front of Xuan Yuan Jing.

"My painting..." Xuan Yuanjing roared, broke free from Yuanbao, and pounced over.

Princess Chang Le scattered the torn pieces of the painting on her head and said slowly, "I'll give it back to you. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Xuan Yuanjing grabbed the pieces of paper from her head and burst into tears, "How could you be so mean?"

"No one is as bad as you. I don't need to spell out the despicable things you're plotting, do I?" Princess Chang Le said disdainfully.

"You're the one who's shameless!" Xuan Yuanjing said with a defiant expression. "The whole capital has heard about you forcibly taking a man in the street to be your gigolo. You've really disgraced our royal family!"

"If you're envious, you can try to steal it. But the prerequisite is that you can actually steal it!" Princess Chang Le said with a smirk, completely unconcerned.

"Waaah..." Xuan Yuanjing burst into tears.

Princess Chang Le quickly covered her mouth, afraid of alarming her father, and dragged the person away.

Once they reached a secluded spot, she finally released Xuan Yuanjing.

Seeing the saliva on her fingers, she wiped it onto Xuan Yuanjing's dress with a look of disgust.

"Xuanyuan Ji!" Xuanyuan Jing roared hysterically.

“How dare you, a junior, address me by my name! But considering your mental instability, I will let it go today,” Princess Chang Le said with a magnanimous expression.

Xuan Yuanjing was so angry that she gritted her teeth, but the other party's status was undeniable, and no matter how much she hated or was furious, she couldn't do anything about it.

"I hope this is the first and last time what happened today. Otherwise, I will tell your grandmother that you are interfering in the affairs of the harem and even trying to place people in your grandfather's harem. Do you think your grandmother will think if she finds out? Will she be so angry that she sends you away for a political marriage?" Princess Chang Le's voice was calm and unhurried, but the warning in her words made Xuan Yuan Jing's scalp tingle. She clenched her fists tightly.

But then she remembered something and couldn't help but let go, saying sarcastically, "Why do you always protect Zhiwan? Lu Zhan is about to marry her, do you know that? Are you really willing to just watch him marry Zhiwan?"

"Where did you hear this news from?" Princess Chang Le asked, her eyes showing surprise.

Xuan Yuanjing snorted coldly, "This is no secret. You can find out with a little inquiry. I heard that Madam Lu even asked the embroiderers from the Brocade Pavilion to take measurements for Zhiwan's wedding dress. She's just an orphan, yet she's being treated with such importance. If you ask me, the Lu family really doesn't know what's important!"

Princess Chang Le looked at her thoughtfully, "Lu Zhan is going to marry Zhi Wan, so you are jealous of Zhi Wan and want to ruin her so that Lu Zhan cannot marry her?"

Xuan Yuanjing was furious but didn't answer her. Instead, she said, "Lu Zhan is going to marry someone else. I don't believe you're not heartbroken." After a pause, she suddenly took two steps forward, grabbed Princess Chang Le's sleeve, and pleaded, "Aunt, we're family. Can you help me snatch Lu Zhan away?"

"Why should I help you?" Princess Chang Le slapped her hand away without any politeness. "Didn't you say that I also have my eye on Lu Zhan? I'd rather fight for myself than fight for you!"

Xuanyuan Jing was so angry she felt like vomiting blood, but she still said, "Then go ahead and rob it, just don't let that bitch Zhiwan get it..."

"Hmm?" Princess Chang Le's voice rose at the end, carrying a hint of danger.

Xuanyuan Jing said sullenly, "In short, I would rather my aunt marry Lu Zhan than have Zhiwan get the better deal."

“But Lu Zhan likes Zhi Wan. Haven’t you heard that forced love is never sweet?” Princess Chang Le said calmly.

"Forced love is never sweet? Then why did you forcibly abduct a man in the street?" Xuan Yuanjing couldn't help but mutter.

“When did I forcibly take him? Shen Longjin followed me willingly,” Princess Chang Le corrected, frowning.

Seeing that she couldn't win the argument, Xuan Yuanjing was furious and didn't want to deal with her anymore, so she said, "If Aunt has nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

"No rush," Princess Chang Le called out to her. "Who gave you that painting?"

“I had someone draw it,” Xuan Yuanjing said quickly.

"You just said it was a gift from someone else, but now you're saying you had it painted? Xuanyuan Jing, is any of your words true?" Princess Chang Le narrowed her eyes, displeased.

"I was afraid you would blame me, so I could only say that it was a gift from someone else, but the truth is that I asked an artist to paint it." Xuan Yuanjing tried to remain calm, but he dared not look at Princess Chang Le.

Princess Chang Le glanced at her but didn't pursue the matter. "You may leave."

"Yes." Xuan Yuanjing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left.

As soon as she left, Princess Chang Le turned to Yuan Bao and said, "Send someone to keep an eye on her and see who she's been in contact with lately."

Yuanbao asked in surprise, "Does Your Highness suspect that someone behind the scenes instructed the Princess to present the painting to the Emperor?"

“Xuanyuan Jing doesn’t have that kind of brain; she must have been instigated by someone,” Princess Chang Le said with certainty.

"This servant will give the order immediately." Yuanbao nodded respectfully.

……

Dingguo Gongfu.

Just as Zhiwan and her aunt returned from outside and stepped into the courtyard, a servant came to report, "Miss, Princess Changle has sent someone to invite you."

Princess Chang Le?

Zhiwan was taken aback.

(End of this chapter)