Chu Qianli remained seated at Feng Yexuan's feet, her expression unreadable.
She appeared docile, but only Feng Yexuan and she knew that her current posture was entirely forced.
Any attempt she made to struggle to her feet would be met by the man in the main seat, who would press her back down.
With her acupoints sealed and her internal energy completely suppressed, she could not resist. Thus, she decided to go with the flow.
However, she hadn't expected to see the National Preceptor today.
She hadn't had a chance to meet him since he had knocked her out and sent her to the Jing Prince's manor last time.
She still had many questions and wanted to know where her father was.
The National Preceptor had also mentioned wanting to see her world. Chu Qianli still hadn't fully grasped the true meaning of that statement.
Would the National Preceptor truly appear?
Feng Yexuan, through the curtain, looked at Prince Yu, who was in a wheelchair, with a detached expression. "She will be my consort. What is wrong with taking her along?"
"Your Majesty, you may not know, but this Miss Li was once..."
Prince Yu seemed hesitant, and after a moment's pause, he said, "She was once the consort of Prince Xuan of the Northern Nether Kingdom, meaning... she is not a pure person..."
Chu Qianli almost laughed.
What did "not a pure person" mean? It would be more straightforward to say she was an impure person, wouldn't it?
Indeed, in the presence of the National Preceptor, how could there be an impure person?
If the National Preceptor was performing a ritual, and she, an impure person, were to appear, wouldn't that defile the National Preceptor's sanctity?
She wondered if Feng Yexuan could still insist on his way.
Feng Yexuan lowered his gaze and glanced at her.
This woman was clearly waiting to watch a good show.
But was his good show something she could so easily witness?
"Then, does Prince Yu also know that she was once the Empress of the Dragon Soaring Kingdom, and is now also His Highness Prince Li of the Dragon Soaring Kingdom?"
"This..." Prince Yu certainly knew. Chu Qianli's identity had long been investigated.
He bowed his head respectfully and said, "I have heard that the mother of the current Empress of the Dragon Soaring Kingdom was persecuted by Long Xiyue and her mother, which caused her to lose her throne."
"Therefore, this Miss Li is also currently a sinner of the Dragon Soaring Kingdom."
"Is that so?" Feng Yexuan's hand rested on Chu Qianli's head, gently stroking it.
This gesture conveyed an unspeakable amount of favor and doting.
"However, I have heard that it was Li'er who protected the country and rendered great service by eliminating the great menace Long Tianliu for the Dragon Soaring Kingdom. Her merits and demerits offset each other, and the Empress, grateful to her, bestowed upon her the noble title of Prince Li."
"Does Prince Yu not consider it an honor for His Highness Prince Li of the Dragon Soaring Kingdom to become a consort in my Southern Nether imperial harem?"
Prince Yu frowned and hesitated for a long time before saying, "Although it is an honor, the National Preceptor's ritual requires absolute sanctity. I still believe that Your Majesty should not bring... Miss Li along."
"Whether it is appropriate or not, perhaps the National Preceptor himself should decide."
Feng Yexuan waved his hand, and the entourage immediately set off.
Prince Yu stood at the rear of the procession, watching them leave.
He truly couldn't discern any flaws in this emperor; he was clearly Chu Jiangnan.
And his affection for Chu Qianli didn't seem fake either. Just now, he had even pulled Chu Qianli's small body onto his lap.
Such actions and expressions were not something that could be performed by anyone other than extremely intimate lovers.
Prince Yu observed meticulously; falsehoods could not escape his notice.
Could it be that the Emperor had truly chosen a beauty this time?
If Chu Qianli were to conceive an imperial heir, then Chu Jiangnan's throne would have a successor.
How could he allow such a thing to happen?