Chapter 272: Chapter 273: What an Insidious Woman

PFFT!

Li Ji burst out laughing without holding back.

Princess Longzhu’s face instantly flushed crimson.

Humiliated and furious, she demanded, "Princess Consort Zhao, are you actually calling me a dog?!"

Hua Manman blinked, looking utterly innocent.

"Did I?"

She turned to the man beside her and asked with faux sincerity,

"Your Highness, did you hear me curse at anyone?"

Li Ji immediately understood her hidden meaning. He smiled and said, "Of course you didn’t curse at anyone."

Princess Longzhu didn’t get it at first.

A moment later, it dawned on her. Prince Zhao was implying that whatever Princess Consort Zhao had insulted wasn’t human!

’This husband and wife pair are going out of their way to humiliate me!’

Princess Longzhu was fuming, but she couldn’t find the words to argue back.

Never in her life had she been so thoroughly humiliated.

’How could I possibly swallow this insult?!’

Hua Manman asked with concern,

"Why does Your Highness look so unwell? Are you perhaps having trouble acclimating to the new environment?"

Seeing that Princess Consort Zhao showed some concern, Princess Longzhu’s anger subsided slightly. ’It seems she has some sense after all,’ she thought. ’She knows I’m a Commandery Princess of Xiliang, a person of noble status who a sheltered wife like her cannot afford to offend.’

But then she heard Princess Consort Zhao offer a sincere suggestion.

"If you’re having trouble acclimating, a good beating should help you get acclimated."

Princess Longzhu: ’???’

’Is that something a human being would say?!’

Hua Manman covered her lips with her hand and chuckled. "Your Highness, don’t take it seriously. I was only joking."

Princess Longzhu asked, suppressing her impatience,

"Do you find that joke funny?"

Hua Manman advised, "Your Highness, don’t be so serious. A girl should smile more. I’ve heard that girls who love to laugh have better luck."

Princess Longzhu let out a cold laugh. "Heh."

Then she heard Princess Consort Zhao add softly,

"But if you laugh too much, your face will get bigger."

Princess Longzhu: "..."

The cold smile froze on her face.

’I swear, this woman in front of me is absolutely doing this on purpose!’

’Princess Consort Zhao is absolutely trying to make my life miserable!’

’What a malicious woman!’

Princess Longzhu didn’t want to get tangled up with Princess Consort Zhao any longer. She looked directly at Prince Zhao.

"I truly have something very important to discuss with you alone. Could we have a word in private?"

Li Ji, still looking as languid as ever, replied casually,

"This prince has nothing to discuss with you."

Princess Longzhu knew she had to show some of her cards today to get Prince Zhao’s attention.

She took a step forward and said in a low voice,

"Your Highness, don’t you want to know why you were ambushed?"

Li Ji’s movement of sipping his tea paused slightly, but he didn’t respond.

Hua Manman turned to look at him, her eyes questioning. ’What ambush?’

Before Li Ji could explain, Princess Longzhu continued.

"Back when Your Highness led your troops against us from Xiliang, you had clearly arranged everything perfectly. Your plan was flawless."

"But in the end, you were ambushed while luring the enemy in deep."

"It resulted in Your Highness’s legs being crippled, and you were even struck by an arrow."

"Has Your Highness never once suspected the truth behind your attack?"

Princess Longzhu’s words were full of insinuation.

She knew Prince Zhao was a very intelligent man. He must have long suspected something was amiss with the attack, but he lacked the evidence to uncover the truth.

Now, she could tell him the truth.

’As long as he agrees to marry me.’

Li Ji heard her inner thoughts.

He sneered, "Your Highness seems to know quite a lot."

Princess Longzhu smiled, confident of her victory.

"I know more than you can imagine. As long as you marry me, I can tell you everything I know."

"I can even help you get revenge and make those who plotted against you pay the price."

These were, it had to be said, very tempting terms.

Hua Manman understood. ’No wonder Princess Longzhu dared to come here so openly to negotiate with Prince Zhao. She really does have the capital for it.’

’I just wonder what choice Prince Zhao will make?’

Li Ji didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stared fixedly at Princess Longzhu.

His gaze was extremely piercing.

It was as if it could see through her skin and perceive all the thoughts within her heart.

Princess Longzhu felt very uncomfortable under his stare.

She glanced at the silent Princess Consort Zhao beside him, and her confidence grew again.

’Compared to the useless Princess Consort Zhao, I can be of much greater help to Prince Zhao,’ Princess Longzhu thought.

Princess Longzhu continued to up the ante.

"As long as Your Highness marries me, our union will be a powerful alliance."

"In the future, even if you can no longer stay in Great Zhou, you can return with me to Xiliang."

"My uncle has long heard of your talents and holds you in high admiration and esteem."

"If you are willing, he will surely offer you the seat of the Western Liang General with open arms."

Princess Longzhu had specifically sent people to inquire and learned that Prince Zhao’s current situation in Great Zhou was not very good.

His prestige in the army was too high, arousing the vigilance of the Emperor of Great Zhou, to the point that he could now only be an idle prince.

No matter how sharp a treasured sword is, if it’s left unused, it will eventually rust.

’Since that’s the case, it would be better to find a new, more enlightened lord.’

Li Ji smiled lightly, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

"Is Your Highness trying to get this prince to defect?"

Princess Longzhu: "No, I am merely offering Your Highness a suggestion. Don’t you people of Great Zhou have a saying, ’A wise bird chooses the right tree to nest in’? Choosing the path most beneficial to oneself is only right and proper."

After speaking, she stared intently at Prince Zhao, awaiting his reply.

Li Ji raised his right hand and asked a completely unrelated question.

"Do you know how many West Liang people this hand of mine has killed?"

Princess Longzhu’s expression stiffened.

Li Ji looked down at his right hand, his fingers uncurling and then clenching into a fist. His tone remained unhurried.

"Too many West Liang people have died by this prince’s hand. I can’t even remember the exact number."

"In my eyes, killing West Liang people is no different from killing chickens."

"You want this prince to go seek refuge with a flock of chickens. Don’t you find that absurd and laughable?"

As he finished, he lifted his eyelids slightly, his gaze filled with mockery.

Princess Longzhu’s face turned pale at his words.

Her body trembled with anger, and she raised her voice to retort.

"Don’t be so conceited, Your Highness! No matter how many West Liang people you’ve killed, in the end, didn’t you fall into our Xiliang ambush and nearly lose your own life?"

Li Ji chuckled. "That’s right. You West Liang people nearly killed me. You are my enemies. Unless my brain has been addled, I’m not about to seek refuge with my own enemies."

Princess Longzhu was speechless.

Li Ji’s smile vanished. He said coldly,

"Wang Bei, show her out."

Chen Wangbei walked in and made a "this way, please" gesture to Princess Longzhu.

Princess Longzhu was utterly unwilling to give up. "Even if we were once enemies, as long as we have common interests, enemies can become allies!"

Li Ji simply repeated himself.

"Show her out."

Chen Wangbei dropped all pretense of courtesy. He forcibly grabbed Princess Longzhu’s arm and began dragging her out with a strength she could not resist.