Witch, don't do anything reckless!

Chapter 74 The Distracted Willow Catkins

Small courtyard.

Several maids waited respectfully outside the pavilion, while inside sat a graceful and elegant noblewoman.

Liu Xu stepped closer and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

When Princess Jing saw Liu Xu in the pavilion, a smile appeared on her face: "Miss Liu, you've arrived!"

Clearly, she recognized the willow catkins.

Just as Princess Jing was about to continue speaking, her gaze suddenly shifted from Liu Xu to the figure following behind her.

Just then, Li Chuqiu, who had just looked up, met the gaze of Princess Jing in the pavilion.

Princess Jing immediately recognized him: "Oh, it's you?"

Princess Jing?

Li Chuqiu was also somewhat taken aback; Liu Xu had actually brought him to see the Princess Consort of Jing.

After a moment of surprise, Li Chuqiu quickly recovered and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Liu Xu was taken aback when she heard what Princess Jing had just said: "Your Highness, you know him?"

"I met him at the mansion the night before last."

Princess Jing seemed to realize something and glanced at Liu Xu: "Miss Liu, is he your subordinate?"

The night before last?

That's just—

Liu Xu glanced back at Li Chuqiu and nodded, "That's right, he is the new commander of the Tianxuan Division."

"I see." Princess Jing said with sudden realization, her sharp eyes fixed on Li Chuqiu, and said meaningfully, "No wonder she's so outstanding, to be chosen by Miss Liu!"

The princess's words, though seemingly casual, hinted at a deeper meaning in Li Chuqiu's mind.

The little princess's attitude towards him the night before last was probably seen by this princess consort. I wonder what this princess consort asked Jiang Ning after he left, and whether the girl revealed anything.

—If I say something I shouldn't have, then things will be in big trouble!

Fortunately, the Princess Consort of Jing only stared at Li Chuqiu with a slightly meaningful look for a while, but did not say anything more.

However, Liu Xu, who was standing nearby, keenly noticed this gaze.

She glanced at Li Chuqiu behind her, a hint of doubt in her eyes—did something else happen the night before last?

Why would Princess Jing pay so much attention to him?

Just as the atmosphere in the courtyard paused for a moment, a clear and melodious voice suddenly rang out.

"Mother~"

Her voice was like that of a nightingale, with a touch of playfulness and excitement.

Through the side door on the other side, a beautiful young woman dressed in a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) excitedly ran in, lifting the hem of her skirt.

I had only taken a couple of short jogs when I sensed that there seemed to be other people in the yard.

He paused, his gaze first falling on the willow catkins beside the pavilion, and then quickly shifting to Li Chuqiu, who was standing obediently under the pavilion.

The girl's bright eyes suddenly lit up, then she seemed to remember something, her smile disappeared, and in its place was a puffed-up face.

"What are you doing here?!"

Jiang Ning dashed forward, disregarding her girlish image, and stormed up to Li Chuqiu, glaring at him and demanding, "Where the hell were you yesterday? Didn't we agree that you were supposed to come find me?!"

"Tell me honestly, what were you doing?!"

"Tell me quickly!"

59

A moment of silence fell over the surroundings.

Upon discovering Jiang Ning's presence, Li Chuqiu realized that something was terribly wrong.

Sure enough, the moment the young princess saw Li Chuqiu, her temper flared up!

He had promised to come see her yesterday, and she even sent away the maids in the courtyard and left the window open for him—she waited for him at home all day with great joy and anticipation.

He waited from morning till night, but he never came!

Right now, I see Li Chuqiu standing here unharmed.

The young princess was furious!

He immediately ran up and questioned them aggressively!

Her sudden questioning was heard by Princess Jing and Liu Xu, who were watching nearby.

Their expressions changed instantly, and their gazes fixed on Li Chuqiu.

Princess Jing was well-prepared; the night before last, she noticed that her daughter's feelings for this woman named Li Chuqiu were quite unusual.

Therefore, seeing this scene didn't elicit a strong reaction. It was just a realization—your precious daughter had arranged to meet the two of them yesterday.

So this guy stood up his own precious daughter?

What exactly is the relationship between the two?

But Liu Xu's expression was not so good.

Her icy gaze fell upon the two's ambiguous posture, especially the way Princess Jiang flirted and questioned her lover like a couple, which shocked her even more.

When did he become so familiar with Princess Chaoyang?

When did the two meet?

What happened yesterday? — What is the relationship between these two?!

Liu Xu's eyes grew increasingly cold as she stared intently at the two of them.

Noticing two burning gazes fixed on her, Li Chuqiu's heart skipped a beat.

To be finished!

This young princess has absolutely no sense of propriety.

Her mother and Deputy Commander Liu were still there. She suddenly ran up, acting aggressively and questioning her lover's unfaithfulness. Wasn't she afraid of being misunderstood?

As the young princess of the Prince Jing's mansion, doesn't she care about her reputation?

She doesn't want it, but Li Chuqiu does!

Especially since Princess Jing and Deputy Commander Liu were both present, and their gazes were currently fixed on him with considerable hostility.

Li Chuqiu didn't look up, knowing without a doubt that if she did, she would be met with two menacing, questioning eyes.

He glanced at the girl beside him, who was standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at him with puffed-up cheeks, and coughed lightly: "There's a reason for this. Something came up yesterday, and I didn't have time to inform Your Highness—please forgive me, Your Highness!"

"Hmph, you made me wait a whole day, I'm not going to forgive you!"

Jiang Ning is angry.

She had waited for this heartless man all day, and even wondered if he wanted to abandon her.

—He has cleared his name; is he trying to run away and deny everything?

Yesterday, Jiang Ning felt increasingly wronged. Now that she saw Li Chuqiu, how could she forgive him so easily?

Li Chuqiu: "————"

He had tried very hard to cover it up, but even the actress playing Jiang Xiaojun wasn't acting. To anyone else, her tone sounded like she was being stubborn and sulking with her sweetheart.

Sure enough, he noticed that the two "fiery" gazes had become sharp, especially the cold one, which kept scanning him back and forth.

Li Chuqiu had no choice but to speak up and remind her, "Your Highness, there was indeed a reason for this—the Princess Consort and Deputy Commander Liu are still here; it was really not intentional to stand you up—"

As she spoke, Li Chuqiu subtly nudged her, giving her a meaningful look.

"You poke me—"

Seeing Li Chuqiu's gaze, Jiang Ning, whose mind had been blank for a moment, finally came to her senses.

Oh right, Mother is still alive!

She was so focused on Li Chuqiu that she forgot her mother and other people were there.

And the little secret between her and Li Chuqiu could not be known to her mother or outsiders.

Thinking back to what he had just said, it seemed that his mother had heard everything.

A blush immediately rose to the girl's face: "Mother? You're here too?"

Princess Jing:

Seeing her daughter feigning ignorance, Princess Jing smiled enigmatically and asked, "Should I not be here?"

"No, no!"

Jiang Ning's face turned even redder. She shook her head and playfully stuck out her little tongue: "Oh, right, Mother, I have something to attend to. I'll come find you later!"

As she spoke, Jiang Ning grabbed Li Chuqiu's sleeve: "Come on, follow me!"

Li Chuqiu: "————"

Li Chuqiu didn't move.

This young princess may be lawless, but he cannot.

Looking up at the pavilion, she met the meaningful gaze of Princess Jing, who stood there. Princess Jing said calmly, "Since Ning'er has something to discuss with you, you may go with her."

"?"

"Yes."

Although she didn't know what Princess Jing's purpose was, Li Chuqiu nodded cautiously and glanced to the side.

He didn't realize it until he glanced at her; he saw Liu Xu emanating a chill and staring at him expressionlessly.

She looked no different from before, but her cold eyes held a chilling glint that was hard to decipher, fixed on the two of them—or more precisely, on Jiang Ning tugging at Li Chuqiu's clothes.

"Vice Commander Liu, I'll take my leave now."

Li Chuqiu felt uncomfortable under her gaze and spoke, but received no reply. Jiang Ning, who was standing nearby, was already impatient and grabbed Li Chuqiu, pulling her out of the courtyard without saying a word.

"Quick, quick, come with me!"

The courtyard was silent.

Standing under the pavilion, Liu Xu's gaze remained fixed on the direction where the two had disappeared, her face as cold as frost, lost in thought.

Then a voice came from the side: "Miss Liu?"

Liu Xu then came to her senses: "Your Highness."

"Come here and sit with me," Princess Jing said softly.

"it is good."

Liu Xu walked into the pavilion and sat down.

"Miss Liu, how are your parents in the capital?"

"Everything is fine."

"I used to know your mother, but it's been many years since I last saw her."

Princess Jing sighed softly, "I never expected you to come to Yuhua City. Oh, by the way—"

Princess Jing was about to say something when she noticed that Liu Xu seemed a little lost and unsettled.

Moreover, his gaze kept drifting towards the direction where Li Chuqiu and Jiang Ning had just left.

Ok?

Princess Jing was taken aback, and her eyes narrowed.

the other side.

Jiang Ning angrily dragged Li Chuqiu out of the courtyard and headed towards her own small courtyard.

Li Chuqiu quickly called out to her, "Princess, wait a moment!"

"what?!"

Where are we going?

-

"go back!"

Jiang Ning was clearly still angry, and said huffing, "Wait a minute, you'd better tell me everything!"

"Your Highness, please spare me!"

Li Chuqiu said, "If you drag me back to your place in public, wouldn't your mother tear me apart?"

Hearing this, Jiang Ning glanced at him and scoffed, "Are you scared?"

"How could I not be afraid?"

Li Chuqiu sighed, "Didn't you see the look your mother was giving me? She practically wanted to eat me alive!"

"Nonsense, my mother is not that fierce."

"My precious daughter is running off with another man, look how fierce she is!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning's face immediately turned red. "Pah! Who wants to run away with you?"

"shameless!"

Li Chuqiu sighed, "Still saying you didn't? You were so obvious just now!"

Jiang Ning was clearly unaware: "Really?"

"have!"

Li Chuqiu nodded and looked at her seriously: "Didn't we agree before that we wouldn't reveal our relationship to outsiders?"

""

Jiang Ning blinked blankly: "I didn't reveal anything?"

Meeting Li Chuqiu's gaze, the girl blinked again, gradually becoming a little guilty: "Was my behavior really that obvious just now?"

What do you think?

Li Chuqiu, expressionless, threatened, "You've gotten me into big trouble!"

"Then, what should we do?"

Jiang Ning was startled and clearly didn't realize the seriousness of the matter: "Then, shall I go and explain to my mother later?"

'

"Can your mother be trusted?"

"I should not believe it."

Jiang Ning's face immediately fell: "Oh no, what do we do?"

Seeing that she was frightened, Li Chuqiu had achieved her goal.

"I'll let it go this time, but you must be more careful in the future."

Li Chuqiu felt it necessary to give this young princess a heads-up beforehand. Otherwise, with her pulling this stunt every time, no one could withstand it.

He didn't want to end up like someone who seduced a princess.

"We can't reveal our relationship yet, so even in public, we need to keep our distance—"

As Li Chuqiu began to speak, she suddenly felt that these words were strangely familiar.

Upon further reflection, wasn't that the same thing that Deputy Commander Liu said on the street earlier?

Hey, it's his turn to use it so soon?!

Jiang Ning looked bewildered: "How do we keep our distance?"

"You can't just pull me around like that. You're a princess, and you're not even married yet. Getting too close to other men will damage your reputation if word gets out."

"Once your father and mother misunderstand, they might come after me to settle accounts—"

After Li Chuqiu launched into a lecture, Jiang Ning suddenly pouted and said, "Are you trying to distance yourself from me?"

Their eyes met a pair of deep, dark eyes.

Seeing that the girl seemed both suspicious and aggrieved.

"How could that be?"

Li Chuqiu naturally denied it.

"Really?" Jiang Ning stared at him.

"certainly!"

"So, you'll definitely take responsibility for me, right?"

Jiang Ning's face flushed slightly.

"----certainly!"

"Hmph, that's more like it!"

Jiang Ning was relieved and gave a soft hum.

"Alright, I'll be more careful in the future and make sure my father and mother don't find out."

As if remembering something, Jiang Ning blushed slightly and lowered her head shyly, saying, "Then let's wait until no one's around—"

She had just gotten to this point when she suddenly stopped talking—wait, what was she saying?

What do you mean by "doing it when no one is around"?

Is it going to be like that night again—

This is just too shameless!

The girl blushed and immediately lowered her head, trying to bury her face in her chest—unfortunately, her chest wasn't large.

Li Chuqiu pretended not to hear and changed the subject: "By the way, I haven't told you about what happened the day before yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning immediately became interested and, forgetting her shyness, asked, "Right, right, you haven't told me yet—what exactly happened the day before yesterday?"

"Weren't you captured by that vixen?"

So Li Chuqiu recounted the events of the day before yesterday, omitting the beginning and end.

It only says that he broke into the Crown Princess's boudoir, was discovered by her, and then, by a twist of fate, discovered the underground palace beneath the palace, as well as the deleted version of what happened inside.

After hearing this, Jiang Ning's eyes widened in surprise: "There's an underground palace beneath my house?"

"How come I didn't know?!"

"Why did you keep something this interesting from me?!"

Jiang Ning became more and more excited and interested as she listened, her eyes burning with desire: "That underground palace, where's the entrance?!"

"What do you want to do?!"

"Let's go check out the underground palace!"

Jiang Ning excitedly tugged at Li Chuqiu's sleeve again: "Quick, take me with you to see!"

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