Hua Manman quickly wiped her lips.

The red lipstick on her lips was all wiped off, but her lips were still bright red.

’That’s from being kissed by that damn man.’

Li Ji circled her, his eyes roaming over her body, his tone flirtatious.

"You look so alluring in your wedding dress, Princess Consort."

Every time Hua Manman heard him call her "Princess Consort," her ears burned.

She couldn’t help but say, "Please don’t call me ’Princess Consort.’"

Li Ji: "Why? You’re my Princess Consort now. If I don’t call you Princess Consort, what should I call you? Should I use your given name?"

After speaking, he deliberately called out her name in a tender, ambiguous tone.

"Manman~"

Hua Manman: "..."

’Fuck, who could possibly resist that?!’

Mortified, she said, "You should just call me Princess Consort."

Li Ji chuckled, his long, narrow eyes crinkling slightly.

He reached out, hooked a strand of her hair, and reminded her in a low voice, "Princess Consort, tonight is our wedding night."

Hua Manman pretended not to hear and forcefully changed the subject.

"You still haven’t told me why you faked your death."

Li Ji saw her eyes darting all over the place, looking left and right—anywhere but at him.

His smile grew even more mischievous.

"If you want to know, give me a kiss."

Hua Manman: "..."

’We just kissed for so long, and my lips are still red from it. He’s still not had enough?’

’Is he some kind of kissing fiend?!’

Li Ji leaned down on his own accord, bringing his lips close to hers.

"Hurry up and kiss me."

Hua Manman tried to retreat.

But just then, Li Ji suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her forcefully into his embrace.

Hua Manman stumbled right into his lips.

The two of them were kissing.

Hua Manman’s eyes flew open as she glared at the damn man in front of her.

Not only did Li Ji show no remorse, his eyes curved into a smile, like a fox that had succeeded in its mischief.

In the silent mourning hall, the faint sound of their lips and tongues tangling could be heard clearly.

Hua Manman was mortified.

When the kiss ended, her face was so red it looked like it could bleed.

Li Ji’s hands were still on her waist, not letting her leave his embrace.

He lowered his head and whispered in her ear.

"The reason I faked my death was to use this opportunity to make the Saint approve our marriage."

The Emperor felt that Hua Manman was not worthy of the position of main wife and wanted to choose another main wife for Li Ji.

Li Ji knew that words alone couldn’t change the Emperor’s mind, so he could only pretend to have a poison relapse, forcing the Emperor to compromise.

And indeed, it went just as he had expected.

Seeing that he was on the verge of death, the Emperor was frantic and would naturally agree to anything he said.

Hua Manman: "But how will you explain coming back from the dead later?"

Given the Emperor’s temper, if he found out he was tricked, he would surely fly into a rage.

Prince Zhao would definitely be in for a world of trouble then.

Li Ji smiled lightly and said calmly.

"Since I dared to do it, I naturally have a way to resolve it."

Hua Manman was dying to know what his solution was.

But she knew that this damn man loved to be mysterious and would surely just brush her off with a "You’ll find out when the time comes."

So she decided not to ask, saving herself from having her curiosity piqued again.

Li Ji heard her thoughts and said with a smile.

"As long as you’re willing to consummate our marriage, I’ll tell you everything."

Hua Manman said quickly, "No need. I don’t want to know anything."

Li Ji’s smile grew even more delighted.

"My Princess Consort is so cute."

Hua Manman put on a business-like fake smile. "Heh heh."

’Cute, my ass!’

Li Ji wanted to spend a little more time dallying with his new Princess Consort, but time was limited, and he had other things to do. He could only let go of the woman in his arms for now.

He said to Hua Manman.

"I have to go out and take care of something. Wait for me here."

Hua Manman was very curious. "What are you going to do in the middle of the night?"

Li Ji gave a mysterious smile. "I’m going to go scare someone."

Everyone in the Imperial Palace now knew that Prince Zhao was dead.

’If he were to run out now, anyone who saw him would be scared to death.’

Hua Manman’s eyes lit up, and she asked excitedly, "Who are you going to scare?"

’Playing ghost sounds so exciting!’

Li Ji heard her thoughts and reached out to pinch her cheek.

"I’m going to scare someone with a guilty conscience. Want to come along and have some fun?"

Hua Manman nodded without hesitation. "Okay!"

The bright red wedding dress she was wearing was too conspicuous.

Li Ji told her to take off her outer robe, then he took off his own black outer shirt and draped it over her.

Hua Manman also took off the cumbersome pearl hairpins and jewelry and tossed them into the coffin.

Li Ji closed the coffin again.

Outside the mourning hall, patrolling guards passed by from time to time.

After a group of patrolling guards passed by the mourning hall, Li Ji pushed open a window and climbed out with Hua Manman.

He wrapped his arm around Hua Manman’s waist, gathered strength in his toes, and used Qinggong to fly up to the roof.

It was Hua Manman’s first time experiencing flight, and she felt both nervous and fascinated.

The night wind blew against them, making her long hair and skirt flutter.

Her heart soared along with them.

Li Ji asked in a low voice near her ear.

"Is it fun?"

Hua Manman nodded vigorously. "It’s fun!"

Li Ji laughed. "There’s more fun to come."

With that, he carried Hua Manman forward at high speed.

Their sleeves fluttered in the wind, like a pair of swallows flying forward under the cover of night.

When they reached the edge of the eaves, Li Ji held her and took flight again.

The two of them first landed in a nearby tree, then flew to the roof of a nearby palace.

The series of movements was as smooth as flowing water, completely silent.

The moment they took flight, Hua Manman thought they were going to fall and hugged Prince Zhao tightly in terror.

Her heart only settled once they landed on a roof again.

Next, they sometimes flew up and sometimes landed, constantly moving between the various palaces.

Despite their large movements, they made no sound at all, and their speed was astonishing.

At one point, they flew swiftly over the heads of the patrolling guards, yet not a single one of them noticed the pair.

Hua Manman was so scared she held her breath, her heart nearly stopping.

Only after the two of them were out of the guards’ line of sight did she dare to make a sound.

"That was so close. We were almost discovered."

Li Ji asked with a smile, "Exciting?"

Hua Manman stammered, "T-Too exciting."

Her legs were still a little weak. She couldn’t even stand steadily and could only lean against Prince Zhao.

Li Ji thoroughly enjoyed her reliance on him.

He carried her and flew a bit further.

Finally, they stopped on the roof of Fengyi Palace.

Hua Manman had been to Fengyi Palace before and knew it was the Empress’s residence.

She asked why they had come here.

To avoid being discovered, she deliberately moved closer to Prince Zhao when she spoke, her lips almost touching his ear.

Li Ji likewise pressed close to her ear and answered in a low voice.

"Because the person I want to scare lives here."

Hua Manman was very surprised. "You’re going to scare the Empress?"

Li Ji smiled meaningfully.

"If you’ve never done anything to trouble your conscience, you won’t be afraid of a ghost knocking at midnight."

"I’m very curious... is the Empress afraid of a ghost knocking at her door?"