Witch, don't do anything reckless!

Chapter 76 You've slept together?

Princess Jing's sudden question left Li Chuqiu completely dumbfounded!

—So direct?

Ever since the night before last, when this Princess Jing had been watching him, and since she had previously allowed Li Chuqiu and Jiang Ning to leave, Li Chuqiu had a premonition that this Princess Jing would come after him sooner or later.

I just didn't expect it to happen so quickly, and I certainly didn't expect the Princess Consort of Jing to say something so surprising, asking Li Chuqiu right off the bat if he was willing to marry Jiang Ning?!

This unconventional approach caught Li Chuqiu completely off guard; without even asking any questions, she went straight to accusing him.

However, Li Chuqiu remained calm, cupping her hands and bowing her head, saying, "Your Highness has probably misunderstood!"

"My relationship with Her Highness the Princess is completely innocent—"

"Oh!"

A soft chuckle drifted from inside the pavilion. Princess Jing, her eyes filled with a meaningful look, asked, "Commander Li, do you think I'm easy to fool?"

"Your subordinate dares not."

"You should know very well how Ning'er treats you, right?"

Princess Jing spoke softly, "Ning'er has never been able to hide her feelings since she was little. This is the first time I've ever seen her so attentive to a man."

'

"Are you still trying to say that you and Ning'er are just innocent friends?"

Li Chuqiu:

He really wanted to say that.

But since Princess Jing had anticipated this, it was really hard to deny it for the time being.

The girl's attitude towards him was so obvious that it was hard not to be suspicious, let alone the Princess Consort of Jing in front of him.

However, Li Chuqiu was naturally not going to be foolish enough to admit it.

"The young princess is beautiful and kind-hearted, and does not look down on my humble origins. I have met the young princess twice before, and I am grateful for her appreciation; she wishes to consider me a friend—"

"Please, Your Highness, investigate this matter thoroughly!"

recognition?

impossible.

Who knows if this Princess Jing is fishing?

If he really admits to having an improper relationship with this young princess, will Princess Jing suddenly turn on him and have dozens of burly men jump out from the side and chop him up?

Of course, we cannot completely deny it.

Therefore, Li Chuqiu avoided the main issue and focused on mentioning that she had only met the young princess twice and that she was appreciated by the young princess, thus distancing herself from any relationship between the two and pushing the problem back onto Jiang Ning—the meaning was clear: it was your daughter who was bothering me, you should ask her.

—I silently apologized to that young princess.

As expected, Li Chuqiu's words made Princess Jing look more suspicious.

She stared at Li Chuqiu outside the pavilion, who looked calm and composed, without the slightest sign of panic, and frowned slightly—could it be that she was overthinking things?

After seeing Li Chuqiu the night before last and noticing her daughter's unusual reaction, Princess Jing sent people to investigate Li Chuqiu's background and details.

That's not hard to find out!

—Li Chuqiu lived in the west of the city. She lost her mother at a young age. A few years later, her alcoholic father also died from alcoholism. After that, she was raised by her neighbor's second uncle's family.

Three years ago, he joined the Tianxuan Division thanks to his impressive martial arts skills, eventually rising to the rank of junior constable. Until two days ago, he was suddenly promoted to the position of Chief Constable of the Tianxuan Division.

This person grew up in Yuhua City and has a clean resume. Besides, his second uncle has a daughter who is said to be his childhood sweetheart and they were even rumored to be engaged? —However, his childhood sweetheart was taken away by Linglong Palace half a year ago —that is not surprising.

Those sects would select suitable disciples within the Great Xuan Dynasty, and once selected, they would be brought back to the sect for training. Once these disciples were taken away, the vast majority of them would never return.

And this so-called engagement would naturally no longer be valid.

Aside from that connection, this man named Li Chuqiu is indeed of impeccable character, handsome, and reasonably capable. More importantly—he is an orphan!

This is something that Princess Jing valued especially!

Just a few days ago, she had mentioned to Ning'er that now that her elder brother had passed away, she was the only heir left in the Jing Prince's mansion. The Princess Consort of Jing couldn't bear to see her daughter suffer, so she suggested that her daughter find a suitable husband, preferably someone who could marry into the family.

What the Prince Jing's Mansion needs now is the continuation of its bloodline.

Therefore, hiring a son-in-law to live with the family is the best option.

—And sure enough, we found it!

With both parents deceased, there's no need to worry about conflicts within the child's family of origin—it's a win-win situation.

This is precisely why Princess Jing had some thoughts about it, and why she didn't stop Ning'er from getting close to this boy today.

She wanted to test him out and observe him closely.

Judging from the looks of it, this boy is handsome and has a refined appearance. If he and Ning'er have a child in the future, then, not to mention anything else, the child will definitely not be ugly.

Princess Jing was quite satisfied with this face.

In addition, Princess Jing observed that the boy remained composed, neither arrogant nor servile. He showed no stage fright or panic in her presence, and spoke frankly. Such composure was truly remarkable.

Aside from his ordinary background, he can be considered an outstanding and talented man, barely worthy of Ning'er.

Thinking this way, Princess Jing found herself pleasing to the eye more and more.

Li Chuqiu felt extremely uncomfortable at this moment. He could clearly feel the Princess Consort of Jing scrutinizing him intently.

It was the look in the eyes of a prey being watched.

Just as Li Chuqiu thought the Princess Consort of Jing was about to turn hostile, she suddenly heard a soft sigh: "Ning'er has been well-behaved and obedient since she was little. Now that she's reached marriageable age, as her mother, I naturally have to carefully select and vet her ideal husband, don't you think?"

Li Chuqiu's eyelids twitched suddenly.

What the hell?

To vet your ideal husband?

—Does she really consider him Jiang Ning's sweetheart?

No, didn't he explain it clearly just now?

"Your Highness, your subordinate—"

Just as Li Chuqiu was about to speak, she heard Princess Jing sigh softly, "But, I only have this one daughter now. For the sake of the continuation of my Jing Prince's Mansion, and for Ning'er's sake, the ideal husband Ning'er has chosen will naturally marry into the Prince's Mansion and bear children for the Prince's Mansion."

Do you understand?

Li Chuqiu: "?"

He felt that the princess was a bit hard of understanding human language!

Marrying into another family?

Li Chuqiu could understand this—after all, the Prince's Mansion only had Jiang Ning as its sole heir. Even if the Princess Jing and the Prince were old and strong enough to have another child, finding a live-in son-in-law was still the safest option at present.

A few nights ago, Li Chuqiu overheard the conversation between the mother and daughter while hiding under Jiang Ning's blanket.

But unexpectedly, this Princess Jing was serious?

Are they really considering making him a live-in son-in-law?

"Your Highness, you've really misunderstood!"

Li Chuqiu felt it necessary to clarify: "Your subordinate and the princess are merely friends; there are no such things as the princess mentioned—"

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"What's the relationship!"

"Furthermore, I lost both my parents at a young age, and now I am the only heir left in the Li family. Before my father died, he repeatedly told me to preserve the Li family bloodline and carry on the lineage. I must never become a live-in son-in-law and cause the Li family line to end."

"Otherwise, he will die with his eyes wide open!"

Li Chuqiu spoke in a heavy tone, forcing a trace of sorrow onto her face.

His old, alcoholic father is nowhere to be found, so he couldn't possibly have said anything like protecting the Li family's bloodline. But that didn't stop Li Chuqiu from using him as a shield.

Princess Jing was clearly taken aback by Li Chuqiu's words and paused for a moment.

"So, you're saying you're unwilling?"

"It is because my father left a will before his death, and I dare not be unfilial, otherwise I would have no face to face my ancestors."

silence.

Princess Jing only thought that this child had no father or mother and was born with the sacred body of a son-in-law, but she did not expect that the child's father would have such a dying wish.

—That makes sense. He is the only bloodline of the Li family. If he marries into the family, his children will naturally only be able to take the surname Jiang.

More importantly————

Princess Jing could not discern his thoughts about Ning'er from the prince's face.

Could it be that Ning'er has a one-sided crush on him?

Princess Jing stared at him: "So many people are eager to marry into my royal family. Now that the opportunity is right in front of you, are you really unwilling?"

'

Li Chuqiu's reply was equally firm: "I am deeply grateful for the Princess's high regard, but I cannot be an unfaithful and unfilial person for the sake of wealth and honor—please forgive me, Princess!"

"snort!"

A cold snort rang out.

Then, Princess Jing's tone turned cold: "The opportunity is right in front of you, but if you're unwilling, then so be it. Do you really think my Ning'er is unwanted?"

"Since you have no feelings for Ning'er, you should at least know to avoid suspicion. Ning'er is kind and naive, and easily deceived by shady people. So I hope you can stay away from Ning'er in the future!"

"Do you understand?"

No, why did you suddenly turn on me?

This turn of events was completely unexpected by Li Chuqiu.

I never expected that Princess Jing would change her expression so suddenly, her tone turning icy cold—no wonder, that little princess's temperament is somewhat inherited from Princess Jing!

Before Li Chuqiu could explain further, Princess Jing waved her hand and said, "Guards, see the guest out!"

Then, without saying a word, they kicked Li Chuqiu out.

After Li Chuqiu was driven out, a little head quietly peeked out from the other side of the courtyard a while later.

It was Jiang Ning.

She furtively observed the courtyard, and when she saw that Li Chuqiu was no longer there, she was startled and quickly walked out.

"Mother?!"

Jiang Ning looked around but couldn't find Li Chuqiu. Seeing her mother still sitting in the pavilion, she quickly went up to her and asked, "Where is he?"

"I'm gone."

"They're gone?!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning's face turned indignant: "Leaving without even saying goodbye? That's outrageous!"

Princess Jing did not speak, but quietly looked at her.

Jiang Ning quickly realized what was happening, and her face flushed. She then cautiously stepped forward and tentatively asked in a soft voice, "Mother, what did you just say to him?"

Princess Jing looked at her with a half-smile: "You want to know?"

"Uh-huh!"

Jiang Ning nodded her little head.

"Then your mother asked you, do you like him?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning's face flushed red instantly, and she waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no, that's not true at all!"

"Really not?"

"No!"

Jiang Ning gritted her teeth, her cheeks flushed, just like she had applied rouge.

"Yeah?"

Princess Jing's voice was gentle: "But he just told Mother that he likes you?"

"He even told my mother he wanted to marry you!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning froze on the spot, her face flushed red with disbelief.

"He really said that?"

Do you like her?

He still wants to marry her?!

The girl's mind went blank. A mix of shame and panic welled up inside her, making her both afraid and, at the same time, a tiny bit—expectant.

But in the next instant, the girl suddenly came to her senses.

wrong!

That guy just said not long ago that the relationship between the two of them shouldn't be exposed in public, how could he suddenly tell his mother that he wanted to marry her?

Jiang Ning looked up and saw her mother looking at her with a half-smile.

"Mother, you...you're playing a trick on me!"

Jiang Ning immediately realized what was going on, blushing shyly, and buried her face in her mother's arms: "You deliberately lied to me, didn't you?!"

"I didn't expect Ning'er to be so smart?"

Princess Jing smiled.

"Oh dear, Mother, you've gone too far!"

Jiang Ning was both ashamed and angry: "Mother, you lied to me again! I'm not going to be friends with you anymore!"

Princess Jing gently rubbed Jiang Ning's head and said with a smile, "It's all because you lied to your mother first, Ning'er."

Where?

"Then your mother asks you, do you truly dislike him?"

These words made Jiang Ning's face turn even redder: "No, I don't like it."

"Not even the slightest bit of liking?"

Jiang Ning buried her head in her mother's chest, her face turning even redder, and she also seemed a little confused.

A little bit?

There should be, right?

After all, she didn't dislike him, and she even felt a little happy every time she saw him.

Yes, only a little bit happy!

"Yes, just a tiny bit—"

The girl's voice was soft and shy.

Upon hearing this, Princess Jing sighed.

Sure enough, it was my daughter who had fallen for him.

But that guy seems to look down on his precious daughter?

"Tell Mother, how did you two meet? And how did you fall in love with him?"

Princess Jing wanted to ask another question.

But the girl's face turned even redder, even hot and shy. She lowered her head and bit her lower lip, as if she couldn't say anything.

This scene made Princess Jing's heart skip a beat: "Ning'er—"

Her voice suddenly turned serious: "You and him, something didn't happen, did it?"

What happened?

What came to Jiang Ning's mind was naturally that night a few days ago, in front of her mother, the two of them were making a fuss under the covers.

But the reaction on her face was noticed by Princess Jing, who seemed to misunderstand it as something else.

"What really happened?!"

Faced with her mother's sudden scrutiny, Jiang Ning waved her hands repeatedly, denying, "No, no—"

"Really, no!"

Really not?

The smile on Princess Jing's face vanished completely.

She had initially thought that Ning'er simply liked that guy. But now, Ning'er's reaction and demeanor seemed to suggest—

Didn't you say you'd only met twice?

Having met twice, how could Ning'er be in such a state?

—That kid, could it be that he's already slept with Ning'er?

Thinking of this, Princess Jing's face turned somewhat ugly: "Ning'er, tell me, did that boy—do something outrageous to you?!"

"Tell your mother the truth!"

At this moment, Jiang Ning felt both ashamed and angry. Just thinking about the "exciting" scene from that night made her feel inexplicably weak all over.

Her mother's sudden questioning only made her feel more ashamed and flustered.

"No, no—really no!"

"Mother, I... I'm leaving now, I can't talk to you anymore—"

Jiang Ning turned around and staggered away in a panic.

When Princess Jing saw this scene, her face turned as dark as charcoal.

"Someone come here!"

Princess Jing gritted her teeth and slammed her hand on the table.

"Bring that kid back to me!"

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