Chapter 162: Chapter 89: Return, Prince Qing and the Consort

As the voice fell, a maid timidly walked in from outside the door, took a glance at the tall and sunny "Great Demon," and respectfully responded, "Yes."

Shi He was Zhao Qingxue’s personal maid.

However, with Li Xuan in the courtyard, she dared not come in and just lingered quietly outside the door.

And Zhao Qingxue, as a princess who never touches spring water with her fingers, always has someone attending to her grooming and dressing.

Shi He was just one among many; besides Shi He, there were actually many experts around her, including eunuchs.

Almost everyone in Prince Qing’s Mansion could be said to be hers.

However, what of it?

Everyone feared this Prince Qing.

Needless to say, when Prince Qing stood there, people instinctively felt a fear as rabbits do when seeing a tiger.

...

After a while, the Little Princess finished grooming, wore the type of bun hairstyle only married women had, and walked out of the inner chamber, glancing at Prince Qing still practicing martial arts in the courtyard. She dared not ask, "Why are you not going to the secret room today?" but instead quietly took a curved path via the scenic corridor, and only when she was about to leave did she say, "Prince Qing, I’m heading out."

Li Xuan turned his head, smiled kindly at her, and said, "Go ahead."

Zhao Qingxue hurried away, had her breakfast, and took a carriage out of the mansion.

Today, she didn’t visit her friends’ homes; she was going to the royal palace to report to the Sovereign brother about "Prince Qing’s decision to return to his home county," hoping... her brother might successfully persuade him to stay.

After seeing the Princess Consort off, Li Xuan picked up his swords again.

With enhanced physique, a series of issues followed.

Previously, time was tight, and various matters came one after another, leaving him no time to delve into them.

Now that things had slowed down, he was thinking of solving them.

Currently, if he can’t remain relaxed, and if he can’t exert minimal force, issues of transformation of flesh to scales, armor, and fiery toxicity easily arise.

At physique level 68, his flesh transformed to scales.

At level 128, his flesh transformed to armor.

At level 169, fiery toxicity emerged, even allowing him...to breathe fire.

Of course, he could use the "Illusion Skill" of the "deformed monster monkey" to conceal his changes, but that wasn’t a long-term solution.

Therefore, he intended to feel his internal force through swordplay and enhance his control over his flesh.

...

Prince Qing’s Mansion carriage entered the royal palace.

The path was unobstructed.

No one dared to stop this princess who was thriving like the midday sun.

Brother is the Sovereign, husband is Prince Qing, father-in-law is the Chancellor, grandfather is the Grand General.

Who dares to stop?

Soon, Zhao Qingxue arrived at a secluded palace.

The Sovereign had only retired from court not long ago and was discussing something with several high officials. On the table before him, apart from exquisite fragrant incense burning, there was also a pile of memorials.

Zhao Qingxue walked around outside, and approximately after two incense sticks’ time, an eunuch came with a humble smile, saying, "Princess Consort, His Majesty invites you."

Zhao Qingxue happily went over, entered the hall, swiftly greeted him, saying, "Greetings, brother."

The Sovereign pointed to the seat beside him while smiling, "What brings you here today?"

Zhao Qingxue plopped down, pouting, and said aggrievedly, "Prince Qing said he plans to return to Xiongshan County in early winter, no matter how I persuaded him, he wouldn’t change his mind."

The Sovereign paused, his smile slowly fading, eyes showing deep contemplation, then asked, "Why?"

Zhao Qingxue replied, "Prince Qing said he misses home. Really now, a grown man still misses home. Brother Sovereign, please persuade him too, I do not want to leave the capital."

The Sovereign said, "Sister Xue, rest assured, I will make my decision."

He then added, "I haven’t asked yet, how does Prince Qing treat you?"

Zhao Qingxue bit her lip and said, "He... he’s scary."

Seeing the Sovereign’s gradually colder demeanor, Zhao Qingxue quickly added, "However, he hasn’t bullied me. He... his aura is terrifying. Even when he smiles, it’s like..."

Zhao Qingxue thought for a moment and said, "Like a fierce beast looking at prey, drooling with that kind of smile."

The Sovereign sighed, "Sister Xue, you’ve been wronged.

If peace reigns in Great Yin, your contributions will be immense."

Zhao Qingxue muttered, "It’s good to know, before you and mother used to say I was naive. Now look, see who’s maintaining the balance."

Her eyes sparkled with the expression of "This princess is truly worried."

The Sovereign laughed, "Do go visit mother in the inner palace."

Zhao Qingxue eagerly agreed and then bid farewell, leaving.

Inside the palace, the Sovereign’s eyes were deep, frowning and murmuring, "Wants to leave?"

Again silent for a moment, he curled his lips into a smile, saying, "If you wish to leave yourself, it might not be impossible..."

After thinking, he called out, "Xiaodezi."

As the words fell, a shadow emerged from the darkness.

The shadow had elegant features, pale skin and no facial hair, clearly an eunuch.

The Sovereign asked, "Xiaodezi, what do you think?"

The eunuch respectfully replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the servant thinks this is a good thing."

The Sovereign smiled, saying, "Summon the Grand General to the palace."

The eunuch known as Xiaodezi respectfully responded, "Yes."

...

...

The Little Princess spent the day in the royal palace, but thinking she had to return to Prince Qing’s Mansion made her somewhat distressed.

And laying on the bed, she tensed her delicate body once more.

But considering her need to maintain a good relationship with Prince Qing, no matter her reluctance, she still poised herself, proactively moving into the enemy’s attack range.

Li Xuan thought about having heirs, so he held nothing back.

Afterward, the Little Princess wide-eyed, soft and languid.

Li Xuan briefly tidied her, combing her hair, and asked, "What did the Sovereign say?"

The Little Princess was momentarily surprised.