Witch, don't do anything reckless!

Chapter 75 Would You Marry Ning'er?

Jiang Ning was eager to drag Li Chuqiu to explore that underground palace, but Li Chuqiu stopped her.

"Not now."

Why?

"Such a big commotion inside the underground palace has already attracted a lot of attention. If we go there now, it will definitely arouse suspicion."

"What are you afraid of?"

Jiang Ning remained completely unfazed: "This is my home, who would dare to doubt it?!"

"You're not afraid, but I am!"

Li Chuqiu pointed to herself and sighed, "Your father's head guard, what's his name again, Chen something?"

"Chen Muye?"

"Yes, it's him. He's got his eye on me. He's been suspecting me of doing something bad in the underground palace. Didn't you see him blocking me the night before last and not letting me leave?" Li Chuqiu didn't forget to put some eye drops on Chen Muye.

As expected, Jiang Ning was immediately displeased upon hearing this.

She had always disliked Chen Muyi, who, relying on her father's trust, didn't respect her, a princess. Now that Chen Muyi dared to block her people, Jiang Ning immediately exclaimed angrily, "That's too much!"

"I'm going to my father and give him a piece of my mind!"

"There's one more thing!"

Li Chuqiu continued, "There is an entrance to the underground palace, right in the room of that Crown Princess—"

"I knew she was up to something!"

Jiang Ning immediately clenched her fist and said excitedly, "Then I'll go tell Father right now!"

Jiang Ningang turned to complain, but Li Chuqiu grabbed her again: "Not yet."

17

Why?

"We don't yet have sufficient evidence to prove that she has a problem."

Li Chuqiu spoke up: "Think about it, right now these are all just our speculations—that there's an entrance to the underground palace in the Crown Princess's room. But have you considered this—she's only been married into the family for a few days? Could that entrance to the underground palace really be her doing?"

Jiang Ning was taken aback, blinked, and it seemed to make some sense.

That vixen has only been married into the family for a few days. Even if she is very capable, she couldn't possibly dig out an entrance to an underground palace, could she?

"You mean—the entrance to this underground palace already existed?"

"That's right."

Li Chuqiu nodded.

He had suspected before that the entrance to the underground palace probably existed before this Crown Princess married into the family.

Is all of this a coincidence, or is there some other secret?

Last time, Li Chuqiu was so focused on escaping that she didn't have time to observe and think things through carefully. Now it seems that there are still many secrets hidden in that underground palace.

To get to the bottom of this, we'll probably have to find a way to go there again.

However, now that the secret of the underground palace has been discovered, the Jingwang Mansion will certainly be on guard. Li Chuqiu just took the treasure from that "Old Man Yun," so she naturally can't go there again for the time being.

"So what should we do now?"

"First, we need to find out one thing: who lived in the courtyard she's living in now before?" Li Chuqiu thought for a moment and then asked.

"In the past?"

Jiang Ning looked blankly at him: "I don't know—"

The place where that vixen now lives is the bridal chamber that the Prince's mansion originally prepared for the newlyweds. Logically, shouldn't no one have lived there before?

"That makes sense then!"

After listening to Jiang Ning's explanation, Li Chuqiu had her answer.

unoccupied?

Or perhaps the entrance to the underground palace was the work of that Prince Jing.

Or is there another force within the Prince's mansion that's there to cover their tracks?

But no matter what, it doesn't seem like a good thing.

What we can confirm right now is the identity of that Crown Princess—there is also a fake Crown Princess. As for how to make the other party expose their true colors, that will require the help of Deputy Commander Liu.

"In conclusion, we are now certain that the Crown Princess is indeed problematic. From now on, we must not alert her."

Li Chuqiu looked at Jiang Ning: "She's dangerous, you can't provoke her anymore!"

Jiang Ning scoffed, "I'm not afraid of her!"

She wasn't afraid of that vixen at all.

"That's not necessarily true. What if she really did kill your brother? If you expose her identity, she might kill you to silence you!"

""

Upon hearing the word "murder to silence," Jiang Ning's eyes widened: "She... she probably wouldn't dare, would she?"

"This is my home!"

Li Chuqiu looked at the young princess with some sympathy. Didn't she know that the family she spoke of had already been infiltrated by external forces and turned into a sieve?

"In short, she's in danger right now!"

Li Chuqiu spoke up: "We've been discovered both times we broke in, so it definitely won't be so easy next time—we need to think this through carefully."

"How should we plan this out? How should we plan this out?"

Jiang Ning's eyes lit up slightly, and she asked excitedly in a low voice.

"I haven't decided yet."

Li Chuqiu shrugged, realizing the strangeness of the Crown Princess, and decided he didn't want to involve this young princess anymore.

—After all, we haven't properly settled the score with that Crown Princess yet.

This young princess is an eyesore and out of place.

"Then, how about—"

Jiang Ning, who was standing quietly to the side, was working her little brain at lightning speed, as if she had thought of something: "Shall we go again?"

"—Should we just infiltrate and kidnap her this time?"

Jiang Ning clenched her fist, her delicate face contorted with a fierce expression: "Let's go all the way, grab her and interrogate her directly—"

"If she doesn't confess, we'll use torture on her!"

"Do you think she's stupid?"

Li Chuqiu glanced at Jiang Ning. He also wanted to arrest that princess consort who dared to pretend to be weak and trick him the day before yesterday, hang her up, strip her naked, and give her a good beating.

But obviously, that's not realistic!

Knowing her identity had been exposed and that Li Chuqiu was still alive, the Crown Princess would definitely be on guard. Infiltrating now would be tantamount to suicide.

"That----"

Jiang Ning persisted: "Since sneaking in doesn't work, let's just go in openly!"

"What kind of upright and aboveboard method is this?"

"Well—"

Jiang Ning blinked; she hadn't really thought it through either: "I'm a princess, I can go in openly and honestly, and she can't stop me anyway."

As for you—

Jiang Ning seemed to have a sudden thought: "Hey, I can ask my mother for help!!"

"Your mother?"

"yes!"

Jiang Ning suddenly said excitedly, "My mother is her mother-in-law. She's hiding inside and won't come out. I can have my mother call her out—then on the road, we'll see what happens and tie her up—what do you say?"

idea!

Kidnapping the Crown Princess within the Jing Prince's residence is too risky and would be a losing proposition!

But Jiang Ning's words provided Li Chuqiu with a new idea.

Yup!

This is a young princess, and she has the Princess Consort of Jing behind her. Given how much the Princess Consort of Jing dotes on her daughter—who knows, it might actually work out?

Li Chuqiu and Jiang Ning exchanged a glance.

"So? Are you in or not?"

"It can be done, but not now; we have to wait a bit longer."

"Huh? Still waiting? I can't wait any longer—"

"We can't do it now—we need to devise a foolproof plan that will allow us to remain undetected while also taking down that Crown Princess—"

"Have you thought of that?"

"No rush, let's wait a bit longer!"

Li Chuqiu had a rough outline of her plan, but she still needed to strategize it carefully. Since she was going to target the Crown Princess, she couldn't just seek revenge.

We must take this opportunity to expose that fake Crown Princess.

"Alright, we've been out for quite a while now, we should head back quickly."

"Huh? Are we going to take it back?"

Jiang Ning was bewildered. She had pulled Li Chuqiu out, but she hadn't intended to go back.

"Of course, what if your mother misunderstands and thinks we've done something bad?"

Jiang Ning blushed, "No way!"

"Who wants to do bad things with you?!"

"—I was just afraid your mother would misunderstand, wasn't I?"

"My mother would never—"

At this point, Jiang Ning seemed to realize something and looked at him suspiciously: "Are you planning to do something bad to me?"

Li Chuqiu: "?"

Am I that kind of person?

"----do not you?"

Jiang Ning opened her eyes wide, her face flushed with shyness and anger: "You touched my leg—uh—"

Before Jiang Ning could finish speaking, Li Chuqiu quickly stepped forward and covered her mouth: "My dear aunt, didn't we agree not to talk about it outside?"

"Mmm--"

Jiang Ning blushed, struggled briefly to break free, and stared at him with a hint of smugness: "Are you scared?"

"How can I not be afraid? What if the people in your household overhear us? You have so many spies in your household."

"Then why did you lay a hand on me?"

"I'm afraid you're talking nonsense."

"Hmph, I'm not talking nonsense!"

Jiang Ning's face flushed red, but she remained defiant. Looking around to make sure no one was nearby, she lowered her voice slightly and gritted her teeth, "You touched me, that's it—you enjoyed it so much that night, and now you don't want to admit it?!"

"It's not actually that great."

"What did you say?!"

Jiang Ning seemed not to have heard him clearly, and stared at him with wide eyes.

Li Chuqiu's gaze fell on the delicate, fair face of the young princess before him. The light followed her pale yellow dress down to her long, straight legs, which were encased in the light yellow hem.

The girl stood quietly before him, only half a head shorter than Li Chuqiu, graceful and elegant. Her bright eyes were fixed on Li Chuqiu, and their gazes met.

Li Chuqiu suddenly laughed: "I've already forgotten what it felt like last time, how about—Your Highness, let me touch you again?"

The girl's smile froze, and then a crimson stain spread rapidly from her delicate neck, rippling across her fair face.

A wave of shame, anger, and panic washed over me instantly.

"You you you————"

Jiang Ning was so frightened and embarrassed by Li Chuqiu's words that she exclaimed, "You're vulgar!"

Seeing Li Chuqiu suddenly reach out a hand, as if to touch her, Jiang Ning was so frightened that she staggered back a step.

She just wanted to scare him on purpose, but she didn't expect him to actually do it?

The girl was shy and immediately became extremely embarrassed.

"Hmph, I'm ignoring you!"

After saying that, Jiang Ning turned around in a panic and fled, seemingly afraid that Li Chuqiu would follow her and touch her leg.

Li Chuqiu clicked his tongue as he watched the girl flee in disarray.

He's both terrible at the game and loves to play!

When the two returned to the courtyard, Jiang Ning had gradually calmed down, but a blush still lingered on her face.

Her bright eyes glared at Li Chuqiu as she turned, gritting her teeth as she warned, "Don't you dare spout nonsense in front of my mother!"

Hey, we didn't know who was talking nonsense just now.

Li Chuqiu naturally did not refute, and followed Jiang Ning back to the courtyard, only to find that the courtyard was quiet and there were no more willow catkins in or around the pavilion.

What about people?

"Mother~"

Jiang Ning lifted her skirt and ran briskly into the pavilion.

Princess Jing remained seated in the pavilion, a doting smile on her face. Jiang Ning stepped forward and nestled into her mother's arms, acting coquettishly.

"You're back?"

"Hmm."

"What did you discuss with this Envoy Li?"

"—It's nothing!"

Jiang Ning buried her head in her mother's arms and rubbed against her, feeling a little shy. Her ears turned red as she thought about what had just happened.

Princess Jing stroked the girl's head, looked up at the pavilion, and her gaze met Li Chuqiu's.

"Your Highness, where has Deputy Commander Liu gone?"

Li Chuqiu didn't see Liu Xu and asked about it.

"She had to go back first," Princess Jing said calmly.

They went back?

Li Chuqiu was taken aback.

Didn't she say she had something to discuss with Prince Jing's residence?

You're back so soon?

However, Li Chuqiu didn't think too much about it.

"In that case, I shall take my leave."

Li Chuqiu cupped her hands in greeting, preparing to leave, but was stopped by Princess Jing.

"etc."

Li Chuqiu paused, "Is there anything else, Your Highness?"

Princess Jing glanced at Jiang Ning, who was snuggling in her arms, and said softly, "Ning'er, you should go back first. Your mother has some things she wants to discuss with this Envoy Li."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning, who was nestled in her mother's arms, was taken aback. She blinked blankly and exchanged a glance with Li Chuqiu outside the pavilion.

Li Chuqiu was clearly surprised, but then realized something—this Princess Jing was probably after him and Jiang Ning.

"Mother, you and him—"

Jiang Ning felt a little worried for some reason: "What do you want to talk about?"

Princess Jing chuckled, "We were just chatting. What, are you worried that your mother might harm him?"

"No, no—"

Jiang Ning blushed, as if her mother had seen through her thoughts, and felt somewhat shy.

"Then, shall I head back now?"

Jiang Ning kept glancing at Li Chuqiu outside the pavilion, her little face showing some worry. She looked back every few steps, reluctantly leaving the courtyard.

"You may all go down now."

"Yes."

At the signal of Princess Jing, the maids inside and outside the pavilion also withdrew.

Soon, only the two of them remained in the courtyard.

This made Li Chuqiu's heart sink; it seemed that this Princess Jing had come with ill intentions.

Why make such a big fuss? Are you trying to intimidate him?

Inside the pavilion, Princess Jing's gaze fell upon Li Chuqiu, sharp as a scrutiny, sweeping down from head to toe. Though seemingly gentle, she exuded an inexplicable sense of urgency.

"Your name is Li Chuqiu, right?"

Until, after a long while, Princess Jing's voice rang out softly.

Li Chuqiu calmly replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

"A nice name, and quite handsome, no wonder he could win Ning'er's heart."

77

Li Chuqiu's eyelids twitched. What did this mean? Was this a direct conclusion about his relationship with Jiang Ning?

Is this a case of assuming he and Jiang Ning are having an affair without even asking?

Just as Li Chuqiu was about to speak in a rebuttal, she heard the Princess Consort of Jing suddenly speak up again.

His voice was neither cold nor indifferent, but very earnest.

"Then, are you willing to marry Ning'er?"

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