After entering the inner palace, Wei Qingge dismounted and headed towards Langyuan.
However, as the two of them walked through the Imperial Garden, they saw a group of people approaching them.
The man at the forefront was wearing a brocade robe; it was the Third Prince, Li Cheng.
"Wei Qingge!"
A teasing voice drifted over.
Wei Qingge cursed inwardly, but outwardly bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Your Highness."
"After a few years, you've grown even more radiant."
Li Cheng said with a smile, his gaze falling unscrupulously upon Wei Qingge, a look of ill intent in his appraisal.
The legitimate granddaughter of Old General Wei, yet engaged to Li Qiongyu.
Li Qiongyu was colluding with the King of Dingbei. Did this mean the Wei family had also hitched themselves to that madman?
He sneered inwardly, "Come closer and take a look."
Wei Qingge felt nauseated, but this was, after all, a prince, and she couldn't afford to lose face in public.
"Your Highness, the Noble Consort is still waiting for Miss Wei."
Li Cheng glanced at Jing Yu, who had spoken, and chuckled, "It seems the Young Marquis is here as well."
The Noble Consort hailed from the Southern Prince's Estate and was Li Qiongyu's maternal aunt.
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Li Cheng said no more and left with his entourage.
But as he walked away, he deliberately came closer, his hand brushing against Wei Qingge's fingers, sending shivers down her spine.
This Li Cheng, known for his lecherous and dissolute nature, was he setting his sights on her?
How absurd.
Disgusted, Wei Qingge hurried to the edge of the pond to wash her hands before rushing towards Langyuan.
Upon arriving at Langyuan, she paid no mind to Jing Yu following behind and ran inside, holding up her skirt.
The entire hall was silent, with no maids or guards in sight.
"Li Qiongyu."
She called out, but still heard no response.
Wei Qingge frowned and walked further back.
Layers of light silk floral curtains hung down, and a misty vapor enshrouded the surroundings.
In the bath, a man was lazily leaning his head back, his hands resting on the edge of the pool, revealing well-defined musculature.
He heard the movement but did not get up, casually picking up a wine cup by the pool and drinking lazily.
"Ah—"
As Wei Qingge walked in, she saw the scene and her face instantly flushed crimson. She turned to leave, but the door was inexplicably locked from the outside, and she couldn't open it no matter how hard she tried.
"Open the door—"
"Open the door!"
Angrily, she kicked the palace door, her foot throbbing from the pain.
"Hiss."
Li Qiongyu heard her kicking the door and turned around.
"Didn't you have something to tell me?"
Wei Qingge retracted her foot in pain, gnashing her teeth in indignation, "Despicable."
Li Qiongyu chuckled, drinking his wine, his throat bobbing. He squinted at her.
Wei Qingge found him more insidious the more she looked at him now.
She cursed under her breath and walked to a spot far from the bath, turning her back to him.
The thought of what he had done to her behind her back made her want to whip him to death.
"I want to break off the engagement. Give me back my betrothal tokens."
Upon hearing this, Li Qiongyu raised an eyebrow slightly and said lazily, "An imperial decree of marriage has already been issued. The Marquis of Xuanping Estate cannot bear the crime of disobeying the imperial edict."
"You!" Wei Qingge turned back in anger. "You did this on purpose."
The hall was dimly lit, with ancient lamps burning all around.
Li Qiongyu reclined by the pool, and seeing her glare at him, a playful smile curved his lips.
The flickering light and shadow sculpted his features, making him look ethereally alluring.
"Qingge, come here."
His eyes were exquisitely handsome.
The layers of light silk were like a veil of mist, hazy and indistinct.
Those peach blossom eyes were tinged with crimson by the steam, as if holding a captivating charm.
Wei Qingge would not be swayed by him, nor would she go over.
All she wanted now was her betrothal tokens, to break off the engagement, and to never see him again.
She had never hated him so much.
He dared to drug her and toy with her behind her back.
What was even more terrifying was that he always appeared nonchalant and bickering with her on the surface, yet capable of such deeds in secret.
The Li Qiongyu she knew was the unrestrained and dissolute youth, not this two-faced man with a deep, scheming heart.
She never wanted to see this scheming dog again.
"Li Qiongyu, don't act like nothing happened. I want to sever ties with you, cut off our connection, and never see you again. Agree to break off the engagement immediately."
Her roaring voice did not elicit the slightest change in Li Qiongyu.
Seeing that she refused to come over, he leaned against the pool and closed his eyes.
Wei Qingge, hearing no response, looked up and saw him lazily leaning by the pool, enjoying himself with his eyes closed.
Her cheeks instantly turned red, and anger churned in her chest, making her lips tremble.
"Li Qiongyu!"
"There's some cold tea you like over there. Drink it to cool your temper. I will give you a satisfactory explanation."
Hearing his indifferent voice, Wei Qingge gritted her teeth in anger. What was this attitude?
"I don't want to believe a single word you say. If you have any guilt, then agree to break off the engagement and exchange our betrothal tokens—"
Before she could finish speaking, he suddenly stood up, his expression turning cold. His handsome and elegant face was devoid of any emotion.
"And then? Watch you marry someone else?"
He casually threw on a red robe, pushed aside the layers of floral silk curtains, and walked towards her.
Wei Qingge was not afraid of him. She glared, "That has nothing to do with you. I don't want to marry you, you scheming dog."
A sneer flashed across Li Qiongyu's eyes. He lightly smoothed his robe.
His steps were slow, very slow, but the aura around him was inexplicably chilling.
Step by step, it was as if he was walking on her heart.
The edge of death.
A wild tremor.
"You—what are you doing?!"
Li Qiongyu approached and reached out as if to embrace her.
Wei Qingge immediately dodged, and with a swish, drew out her whip.
"Don't force me to fight you."
Her eyes showed no concealment of her disgust towards him.
Li Qiongyu raised an eyebrow and withdrew his hand.
"Come and eat something."
He walked to a nearby table, poured her some tea, and took out some pastries.
Wei Qingge had been thinking of going to Lingnan since early in the morning and hadn't even had breakfast. Now, seeing a table full of delicious pastries, she felt even hungrier.
She quietly swallowed, but unwilling to be fooled by him as she had been before, she stood still and directly questioned him.
"Don't try to fool me. Do you agree or not?!"
Li Qiongyu sat lazily on a chair, supporting his head with one hand, and looked at her.
"An imperial marriage, the three intermediaries and six betrothals, the exchange of betrothal tokens, announced to the world. You are already mine."
Seeing that she was about to get angry again, he added, "Even if I agree to break off the engagement, it's not something I can decide alone."
"A marriage alliance between noble families concerns the court and the nation. If we insist on breaking off the engagement, both families will be defying an imperial decree. Your grandfather should have told you the consequences."
He spoke with great conviction, as if their breaking off the engagement would bring about the ruin of both families.
Wei Qingge no longer believed him. She wouldn't be easily fooled like before.
It had originally been an engagement between two families, but it had suddenly become an imperial marriage. It was clearly he who had instigated the prince to issue the decree.
"Li Qiongyu, nothing you say matters. I don't believe you. If you're not willing to go to the Prince to break off the engagement, then just wait for me to have an affair and put a cuckold's hat on you."