Section 18

Outside the Princess Royal's Mansion.

"Eunuch Cao, please stay your step."

Yan Xiaoyi blocked Cao Zhengchun's path, his gaze as sharp as a falcon's.

His body was tensed, as if facing a formidable enemy.

The aura emanating from Cao Zhengchun caused his heart to palpitate.

A Ninth-Rank Expert!

Yan Xiaoyi was secretly alarmed.

He hadn't expected that such an expert would be by the Fourth Prince's side.

"Her Highness the Princess Royal only permits the Fourth Prince to enter alone."

Yan Xiaoyi spoke in a deep voice, his tone carrying a hint of finality.

"This old servant is His Highness's personal attendant; how can I let His Highness go in alone?"

Cao Zhengchun looked at Yan Xiaoyi coldly, a flash of disdain in his eyes.

"The Eunuch must be joking. This is the Princess Royal's private chambers; how could we possibly mistreat His Highness the Fourth Prince?"

Yan Xiaoyi did not yield an inch, and the atmosphere between the two instantly became tense and hostile.

"It is no matter."

Just then, a voice rang out.

"You all step back. It is fine for this Prince to enter alone."

Li Chengping walked over slowly, his expression indifferent.

"Your Highness..."

Cao Zhengchun wanted to say more, but Li Chengping interrupted him.

"What, will you not even listen to this Prince's words?"

Li Chengping's tone was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

"This servant would not dare."

Cao Zhengchun quickly lowered his head.

Yan Xiaoyi gave a cold snort, turned around, and led the way.

"My Lord, if anything happens, you may call out loudly."

At that moment, the white-robed Ximen Chuixue suddenly stepped forward and spoke softly beside Li Chengping.

"This subject will surely protect my Lord."

"It is fine, you stay outside."

"I want to see exactly what tricks this Princess Royal wants to play."

A hint of amusement flashed in Li Chengping's eyes.

He followed behind Yan Xiaoyi and walked into the Princess Royal's Mansion.

Hearing Ximen Chuixue's words, Yan Xiaoyi's face remained impassive, but a drop of cold sweat slowly trickled down his forehead.

Before Ximen Chuixue had spoken, he hadn't even noticed the man's presence!

Is this... above the Ninth-Rank? A Grandmaster? A Great Grandmaster!?

Inside the Princess Royal's Mansion, in a quiet courtyard.

The Princess Royal, Li Yunrui, was sitting by a stone table, drinking tea alone.

Seeing Li Chengping enter, the sorrow on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a warm smile, as if she wasn't the one who had threatened him earlier.

"Ping'er is here, come and sit."

Li Yunrui pointed to the stone stool opposite her, her tone gentle.

"Aunt, you invited me so late at night; I wonder what important matter you have?"

Li Chengping sat down and asked directly.

"Ping'er, it's rare for us to have time; why don't we have a game of Go?"

Li Yunrui smiled and led Li Chengping to the game table.

On the table, the game was already set.

Li Chengping's gaze swept over it.

The black and white pieces had been entangled for a long time.

He was playing white, but the situation was already at a disadvantage.

Li Chengping took his seat opposite Li Yunrui and picked up a white stone.

*Clack.*

The stone fell, and the originally deadlocked game was suddenly revitalized in one corner.

"Aunt, you didn't summon me here late at night just to play Go, did you?"

Li Chengping raised his eyes to look at Li Yunrui.

Li Yunrui smiled slightly but did not answer immediately.

She picked up her teacup and took a small sip.

"Ping'er, do you know how much trouble you've brought upon yourself by accepting the mission to Northern Qi?"

Setting down the teacup, Li Yunrui's tone became serious.

Li Chengping's expression remained unchanged.

"Relieving Father's worries is my duty as a prince."

He said indifferently.

Li Yunrui shook her head.

Chapter 17: Striking the Mountain to Scare the Tiger! I Want It All!

"Do you know how many people in the court are watching you?"

"This move of yours was too reckless; it's easy to become a target for all."

There was a trace of worry in Li Yunrui's eyes.

"Ping'er, you need someone to back you up."

She looked at Li Chengping, her tone carrying a hint of suggestion.

Hearing this, a playful smile curled at the corner of Li Chengping's mouth.

"Then in Aunt's opinion, who would be suitable?"

He asked back, testing Li Yunrui's attitude.

Li Yunrui looked at Li Chengping, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

She knew that this nephew of hers was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

"Me."

Li Yunrui spoke.

"I can help you."

Li Yunrui looked at Li Chengping, her tone certain.

Li Chengping was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

He looked at Li Yunrui, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

He hadn't expected Li Yunrui to be so direct.

"I appreciate Aunt's kind intentions."

Li Chengping spoke.

"However..."

His tone shifted, becoming firm.

"The path Ping'er intends to walk, Aunt, I'm afraid you cannot protect me on it."

Li Chengping's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable dominance.

"Emperor Qing?"

Li Yunrui's pupils shrank suddenly, and a storm of shock rose in her heart.

She stared fixedly at Li Chengping, as if trying to see right through him.

"You... you actually dare to have such thoughts?"

Li Yunrui's voice held a hint of unbelievable shock, and an imperceptible trace of vigilance.

She never imagined that this nephew, whom she had always regarded as a waste, would still be thinking about that position.

"Ping'er, do you know how dangerous the path of succession is?"

Li Yunrui took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She looked at Li Chengping, her tone carrying a hint of admonishment and worry.

"The Crown Prince, the Second Prince—which one of them isn't a dragon or phoenix among men?"

"What do you have to compete with them?"

Li Yunrui tried to make Li Chengping see reality.

"Furthermore, your Father is in his prime; how could he easily yield the throne?"

"Doing this will only lead to your own destruction."

Li Yunrui advised him earnestly.