“For him, the second prince of the dignified Fengming Kingdom, to be reduced to a mere male consort in your Princess's Mansion, do you think this is appropriate? And you're keeping him? Can you support him for a lifetime, giving him everything he desires? Such as power, such as status?” Yin Lihua’s tone was unpleasant, laced with an overbearing interrogation.
“If he is willing, what’s wrong with me supporting him for a lifetime? As for power and status, if he desires it, I shall grant it to him.” Qiao Ci’s pronouncements became more audacious with each statement, making the veins on Yin Lihua’s forehead throb.
Intending to berate her for her presumptuousness, Yin Lihua remembered that this was Tenglong Kingdom, not her Fengming Kingdom, and her son was currently in the other woman’s hands. She managed to suppress her anger.
“For a man, the most important things are power and status. I don't know how you plan to provide him with these, but can the status and power you bestow truly exceed that of a monarch?
Moreover, what is given is never as satisfying as what is earned. As a prince, he is the most qualified to inherit the throne. I hope you will consider his interests and not let him miss out on what rightfully belongs to him.”
“It’s not impossible.” Qiao Ci had no intention of restraining Li Su, nor did she want him to have any regrets. “I can persuade him to return, but I must go with him as his wife.”
“You are willing to leave your homeland and go to another country?” Yin Lihua saw no need for further persuasion. The woman herself wanted to go. Her slight apprehension towards her vanished instantly. Such a brainless woman would be easy to control.
However, as his wife…
Thus, she feigned difficulty, “You were married before…”
“So what if I was married before?” Qiao Ci retorted.
Seeing that Qiao Ci feigned ignorance, Yin Lihua dropped all pretense. “The royal bloodline of our Fengming Kingdom must not be mixed. In consideration of your meritorious service in sheltering my son, you can first enter my son’s residence. Once he takes a principal wife, he can elevate you to a co-wife. How about that?”
Qiao Ci didn’t even lift her eyelids. “You are currently in Tenglong Kingdom, and you dare to say such a thing to the Grand Princess of Tenglong Kingdom. I truly admire your audacity. I, the Grand Princess, would go thousands of miles to become a concubine to my former male consort? Is it you who has a problem, or am I the one with the problem?”
“It’s a co-wife! Not a concubine! If you truly cared for Li Su, you would think of his interests in everything. He is returning now with no foundation; an alliance through marriage is crucial!” Everyone was defying her. Yin Lihua trembled with anger.
“Perhaps calling you here this time was my mistake, leading you to harbor such a misconception. To expect a kingdom’s princess to become a co-wife to your son – you truly have a wild imagination.
What’s more, you think a co-wife is a favor to me? Heh, did you have a couple of drinks before coming?
I shall not see you out! As for Li Su, if he is unwilling to return with you, then let him stay here. I can enjoy him all to myself.” Qiao Ci refused to be belittled and spoke her mind.
“You!” Yin Lihua finally regained some composure and softened her tone, “You aren’t willing to make even this small sacrifice, though you claimed you were willing to leave your homeland for my son?”
“I am willing to follow him as his wife, but I’m not brainless!” Qiao Ci was too lazy to converse with her. Their mindsets were incompatible, making communication difficult.
“Would you like me to call Li Su over to bid you farewell? After all, you might never see him again.” Qiao Ci disliked Yin Lihua immensely. Did an empress not use her brain when she went out?
“No need. I agree to be his principal wife.” Yin Lihua did not want to escalate the situation further. She would agree for now.
“No need. It would be better for him to be my驸马.” Qiao Ci finished speaking and pushed the door open to leave.
Yin Lihua stood frozen. Ever since she became Empress, it had been a long time since she had been so infuriated.
Li Su had been paying attention to the room. Seeing that Qiao Ci’s expression hadn’t changed much upon exiting, he finally relaxed.
He was truly afraid that woman would trouble her.
However, he still walked up to her and asked, “Princess, did she say anything to you?”
Qiao Ci did not hide anything from him. “She asked me to be your concubine, and only after you took a principal wife could I be elevated to a co-wife.”
Li Su looked at Qiao Ci, his eyes filled with apology. “I’m sorry. I made you go through hardship to help me find my origins, only for you to be insulted.”
“Insulted? She was quite angered by me as well. By the way, she’ll likely be leaving soon. Would you like to go…”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay by your side.” Li Su quickly declared his stance.
“Good boy.” Qiao Ci contentedly reached out and patted non-existent dust off his clothes.
Yin Lihua, who had just emerged, happened to see this and her eyes immediately blazed as if on fire.
However, this was someone else’s territory, and she did not want to make a scene that would detract from her dignity as an Empress. She smiled at Li Su and said, “You may bid farewell to your friends here. I will arrange everything and come to pick you up later.”
“If you still wish to be my mother, I hope you will consider me before acting. Farewell.” The expectation in Li Su’s eyes had vanished, replaced by a look of unfamiliarity and disappointment.
“Rest assured, Mother Empress will help you achieve your desires.” Yin Lihua said, then turned to Qiao Ci beside him with a benevolent smile. “Thank you for your hospitality, Grand Princess.”
She then put on her bamboo hat, shrouded herself completely, and left with her attendants.
At the courier station,
Li Churuan, who had just arrived in Tenglong Kingdom, immediately summoned Zhao Shimei.
After a few days of staying in Fengming Kingdom, she found the male consorts she kept privately in her residence increasingly dull. She found men like Zhao Shimei, who were graceful and unconcerned with their status, much more interesting.
As the two were enjoying wine and becoming intimate, the door was pushed open. “Ran’er, your younger brother…”
“You two?”
“Mother Empress!”
Li Churuan instinctively kicked Zhao Shimei away, grabbed the quilt to cover herself completely, and exclaimed in disbelief, “Mother Empress, why are you here?”
Zhao Shimei had already been dragged away by Yin Lihua’s guards. Yin Lihua stood in the room, showing no intention of leaving, and looked at her with disapproval. “Why are you like your second imperial brother, always causing trouble!”
Li Churuan quickly dressed and then got out of bed. “Why have you come to Tenglong Kingdom? Did you see my second imperial brother?”
“I received a secret letter from Qiao Ci. If you sincerely wish to bring Li Su back, you must come yourself. Your father and I pleaded with you to agree to my visit.
No wonder your brother was unwilling to return with you. It’s not because Qiao Ci made things difficult, but rather because you were too preoccupied with playing with men, weren’t you?” Yin Lihua vented the frustration she’d experienced at the Princess’s Mansion onto Li Churuan.
“Mother Empress! How can you say that about your child!” Li Churuan, realizing her Mother Empress was in a bad mood, changed the subject. “Mother Empress, have you brought my second imperial brother back?”
“Heh, just as you said, that Qiao Ci is a troublesome one. Your second imperial brother is so infatuated with her that he refuses to return and be a prince, preferring to be her male consort in the Princess’s Mansion.” Yin Lihua’s expression was not good.
“Are you sure that’s my second brother?”
“Yes, I am sure.”