Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 217: Then Never Let Him Recover

Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Then Never Let Him Recover

Each syllable of those few words hammered onto his bones.

Li Mingjue’s pupils shrank violently as he pulled the gleefully laughing person into his embrace, gripping her chin with one hand, forcing her to look up, and asked with a deep gaze, "Hmm? The Prince isn’t virile?"

Qi Yu immediately stopped laughing, pursed her lips, and then revealed a dazzling smile, skillfully coaxing, "I was just joking, Prince, don’t be angry."

As it concerned his dignity, not being angry was impossible, and this time Li Mingjue was not planning to let off this person who dared say any damned thing so easily.

He flipped Qi Yu onto his lap, striking a particular shameful spot firmly twice, producing a crisp sound.

Qi Yu bit her lip fiercely, refusing to let out even the slightest sound of shame.

At the same time, she cursed inwardly, What a bastard, he’s actually abusing her again!

Was it just a joke?

He really has no sense of humor!

Yet when she spoke, her tone was as soft as it could be, pleading, "Prince, I know I was wrong, I won’t say it again, please spare me!"

Li Mingjue gritted his teeth, asking word by word, "Is the Prince capable or not?"

Qi Yu almost couldn’t hold back her laughter, and with great effort to suppress it, she replied in a very compliant manner, "The Prince is the most capable!"

Li Mingjue finally deigned to let her off, but decided he would not speak to this person with no filter for the rest of the day.

Qi Yu watched his angry departure, laid on the table laughing out loud, dispelling the gloom of the past two days along with it.

After finishing her laughter, she chased after him, intending to properly appease this stubborn man who was helpless against her.

"Prince, are you still angry?" Li Mingjue was pulling out his sword, preparing to practice a few moves.

Qi Yu approached him with a bashful face, dutifully massaging his shoulders.

But she misjudged the hardness of the muscles on Li Mingjue’s shoulders; despite her best efforts, she wasn’t able to produce any effect and could only withdraw her hands reluctantly.

Li Mingjue lowered his gaze, seriously wiping the blade of the sword with a white cloth, neither hurriedly nor slowly.

He wouldn’t admit that he was inwardly pleased, maintaining an indifferent facade, though his ears had already turned thoroughly red, making him look rather unconvincing.

Qi Yu could easily see what he was thinking, deliberately rubbing her hand over his red-hot earlobe and cruelly leaning in close, hissing warmly, "Prince, I know I was wrong."

Li Mingjue, infuriated with embarrassment, dodged to the side, rising to his feet and brandishing the now gleaming sword.

He vented his frustration by cutting off a well-grown willow branch with the sharp blade, yet he could not smooth over the irritation in his heart.

After a while, when he finally stopped, Qi Yu was already propping her head with one hand, dozing off at the nearby stone table.

Li Mingjue fell silent for a moment, sheathed the sword, handed it casually to Shiqi, and picked up the person whose head was about to hit the stone table.

Watching Qi Yu’s peaceful sleeping face, he felt a soft warmth in his heart, sighing helplessly, he really did owe her from a previous life.

Three days later, in the capital city, Imperial Study Room.

Li Tianze listened to the news from the Hidden Guard, his stern brows furrowed deeply, "Why would my son fall ill all of a sudden?"

The Hidden Guard knelt on the ground, lowered his head, and answered solemnly, "Your Majesty, ever since Prince Qiu was wounded by an assassin’s poison arrow last time, his health has not fully recovered. These past few days, he caught a cold, which aggravated the poison in his body, and he collapsed because he couldn’t bear it."

Li Tianze had no doubts about this explanation.

He paced restlessly within the Imperial Study Room and waved at the Hidden Guard, "You may leave."

"Yes." The Hidden Guard dared not linger and, with a swift reply, promptly vanished from the Imperial Study Room.

Li Tianze turned to Zhou Fu, who had been silently standing aside, and asked, "Tell me, do you think the Prince’s illness is incurable?"

How could Zhou Fu dare to answer? He knelt down and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, what are you saying? Prince Qiu is blessed and with the Princess by his side, he will surely be safe and sound."

Li Tianze’s mind eased slightly upon hearing his words.

However, he furrowed his brows again, for if the Prince’s health continued to ail, the selection of a concubine would have to be postponed.

After all, though he disdained Qi Yu, he was aware of her importance to Li Mingjue.

With her presence, Li Mingjue was akin to having an amulet of protection.

Li Tianze had originally intended to quietly settle the matter of selecting a concubine while the two were not in the capital city.

By the time, even if the Prince were to be upset, the imperial decree would already be issued, and he would surely say nothing.

As for the Princess, he didn’t take her into consideration at all.

If the Prince agreed, what could she possibly do to stop it?

This was a plan Li Tianze had strategized with a few senior officials. General Zhenyuan, who had been fighting battles afar, was about to return to court, which was a significant event.

On one hand, he needed the Great General to guard the borders, but on the other, he was wary of the military power the General held.

Although the Song Family had been loyal for three generations and would surely not rebel, sixty thousand troops were enough to flatten the entire capital city, and he had to be cautious.

Not long ago, he had promoted the Virtuous Consort to Noble Consort and sought to gather all the daughters of good families with decent appearance and talents to the Capital under the pretext of selecting consorts, so as to add a few people to the Prince Qiu Residence and General Residence.

It served the dual purposes of showcasing imperial grace and planting a few trustworthy informants in the Prince and General Residences.

He just did not expect that before his plan could take effect, such a wrench was thrown into the works.

If the news of Prince Qiu’s critical illness reached the Capital, and he continued with the grand consort selection, wouldn’t he appear utterly insensitive?

Li Tianze pressed his temple irritably; he had calculated every possibility but had not foreseen such potency from the poison arrow.

He summoned the Hidden Guard again, ordering them to keep a close watch on the Empress’s every move and to report back immediately if anything transpired.

Zhou Fu kneeled the entire time, head bowed, as if he heard nothing and made not a sound.

Seeing him kneel for so long, Li Tianze impatiently told him to rise, "You are not young anymore, what are you kneeling all day for?"

Zhou Fu meekly expressed his gratitude and continued to stand silently to one side.

When it was nearing lunch, Zhou Fu reminded, "Your Majesty, it’s time for your meal. Will you be going to Xuanruo Pavilion today?"

These days, Li Tianze had always been staying in Xuanruo Pavilion, and everyone in the harem knew that the exquisitely beautiful Noble Consort Wan was highly favored, not much less than the once supreme Anran.

But today, he waved his hand and spoke indifferently, "Go to the Noble Consort’s place."

In a few days, the old General would return to the Capital, and at this critical juncture, he had to show a little more courtesy to the Song Family.

Zhou Fu acknowledged and sent someone to convey the message to the Noble Consort’s palace.

Meanwhile, in Jingyang Palace, the Empress was supporting her slightly swollen belly and looking down at the person kneeling on the ground, she said coldly, "Ill? Then let him never recover!"