Chu Qianli knew Feng Yexuan was angry.
He didn't like her being too smart; she could feel it.
It was just his male chauvinism at play.
"Does Your Highness wish for me to be like Chu Huaiyu, gentle and weak, always seeking your protection, and constantly scheming to gain Your Highness's favor?"
She didn't smile sarcastically, but there was a hint of helplessness in her tone.
"Has Your Highness ever lacked women like that? But does Your Highness truly like them? If Your Highness liked them, why did you just scold Chu Huaiyu away?"
Feng Yexuan remained silent.
He knew it, this damned woman always had a way to make him angry.
However, did he truly want her to be like other women, bowing and scraping to him, trying to please him?
In fact, Feng Yexuan had never considered this question.
He wanted her to be docile, yet he couldn't help but look at her unyielding spirit more often.
If she became docile, and her arrogance vanished, would she still be herself?
He raised his cup and drank tea, offering no comment on her words.
It was as if he disdained to even consider them.
Chu Qianli gave up on that topic, only saying, "I dare not tell the Emperor directly."
"Oh?" He was more interested in her current statement.
Indeed, this man liked grand matters, not trivial matters of romance.
To understand his heart, she had to take it step by step; it wasn't easy!
"The battle at Phoenix Mountain last time, although Your Highness helped me to keep a low profile, there are no secrets that can be kept forever. The Emperor still found out."
"This time, he wants to use my precognitive abilities."
Feng Yexuan's expression was unreadable, but Chu Qianli could feel that he was no longer agitated and was actually quite willing to listen to her analyze the problem.
Chu Qianli pursed her lips and continued, "The Emperor thinks I am useful, and this is merely the first step of his test."
"If I really bring the news back to him, the Emperor will know that I am not only useful, but very useful, and my days of being exploited are far from over."
"You are afraid of being exploited by the Emperor, but are you not afraid that I might also exploit you?"
If she was truly that capable, then within the royal family, there would be many who wanted to use her and obtain her.
Why couldn't he be one of them?
Chu Qianli looked up, meeting his gaze, seeming hesitant.
After a moment, she said, "Even if I am exploited by Your Highness, at least I can believe that with Your Highness's status as a God of War, you would never be so despicable as to threaten me by harming my grandfather."
Suddenly, her legs buckled, and she knelt directly before him.
"Your Highness, I can be used by you. I only ask that Your Highness protect my grandfather's safety."
"In the future, wherever Your Highness needs me, I will do my best. But I hope Your Highness can first retrieve my grandfather from the Emperor's hands."
Feng Yexuan remained silent, a chilling glint in his eyes.
He should have been happy that she chose to cooperate with him.
But for some reason, he couldn't feel happy.
Why did it have to be through a transaction?
If she had genuinely begged him... he didn't know if he would have agreed, as it would mean completely opposing his father.
But if she had asked him as his woman, at least the atmosphere wouldn't be so stiff.
"Your Highness, please, for the sake of my grandfather's lifelong loyalty to the royal family, let him live out his remaining years in peace in his manor!"
"Even if this Prince does not agree, the Emperor will not truly harm Duke Guo. You need not be so panicked."
The Emperor placed great importance on the image of ruling with benevolence. If Duke Guo were to meet with misfortune in the palace, people might harbor suspicions about him.
How could the Emperor be foolish enough to ruin the good reputation he had built over decades for the sake of a woman?
"I know the Emperor won't let my grandfather die in the palace, but Your Highness may not know what I've experienced in the palace."
Chu Qianli lowered her gaze, clenching her fists tightly to prevent her emotions from fully showing.
Her voice was hoarse as she said, "The Emperor ordered me to reveal how I obtained my precognitive abilities. I refused, so the Emperor made me see my grandfather first."
"Just as I was meeting my grandfather, his head had just been injured, it was only moments before, a fresh wound! His head was bleeding!"
She looked at Feng Yexuan, her eyes and face filled with excitement and sorrow that she could no longer hide.
"He can injure me, I'm not afraid, but he injured my grandfather, and I am afraid!"
"My grandfather is already seventy years old. He truly cannot withstand such torment! Your Highness, please, for the sake of my grandfather's past contributions to the Northern Underworld Kingdom, save him! Please!"
Feng Yexuan looked down at her.
She possessed an unyielding spirit and never bowed to anyone.
If she were not driven to desperation, she would likely not have begged him like this.
He also hadn't expected his father to be so heartless towards Duke Guo just to exploit her.
Regardless, he was an old minister who had been loyal and diligent for many years. He might not have had great merits, but he had certainly toiled hard.
His father had indeed gone too far this time.
He subtly placed the cup in his hand on the coffee table, still looking down at her.
"What exactly is at the bottom of Black Wind Cliff?"
"Does Your Highness agree..."
"Do you think you have the right to negotiate terms with this Prince?"
Did she have any other choice now?
Chu Qianli took a deep breath, her helplessness forcing her to take a gamble: "I can draw everything at the bottom of the cliff for Your Highness to see."
"Anything else?"
"Your Highness?"
"This Prince's command has no shortage of talented individuals. There might be ways to learn about what's at the bottom of Black Wind Cliff; in the past, this Prince simply disdained to do so!"
His duty was to lead troops into battle and protect the country.
The matter of the "medicine people" was handled by a specialized team in the court; it wasn't his responsibility.
If he had to meddle in everything, where would he find the energy and time?
However, now, he had gained some interest in those "medicine people."
"If you don't have a better offer, this Prince may not be willing to get involved."
Chu Qianli's fingers, hidden in her sleeves, slowly tightened.
She bit her thin lips, seemingly deep in thought, but clearly struggling.
Feng Yexuan was losing patience.
"Since you have nothing more to say, then go back. Come find me when you've figured out what to say."
Feng Yexuan suddenly stood up and walked towards the door of the side hall.
"Your Highness..."
"You have no right to waste this Prince's time." He walked past her, showing no hesitation.
Chu Qianli watched his cold, unfeeling back. Just as he was about to exit the side hall, she spoke hoarsely.
"If Your Highness... wants my body, I will be yours."
His footsteps stopped, but he did not turn around.
However, his back became even more unreadable,
even chilling.
Chu Qianli didn't know what he was thinking.
After an unknown period, he suddenly strode back to her side, his large hand gripping her chin tightly:
"For your grandfather, you would even sell your body?"
"If this Prince does not agree, will you go find another man? For example, the Prince of He, whom you were once seen meeting privately?"