Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince-Chapter 64 - The Princess Won’t Let Me Die

Li Ming’an, not wanting him to spoil things, quickly spoke up, “Father Emperor, only by doing so can we clear my seventh brother’s name!”

Li Tianze paid no attention to their words and looked expressionlessly at Li Mingjue, “What does Royal Son think should be done in this matter?”

Li Mingjue had anticipated such a situation, and replied calmly, “Son believes that Elder Brother is correct.

Since everyone presumes I had prior knowledge and failed to report it, the only way now is to search the Prince Residence to prove my innocence.”

Hearing his words, Li Tianze already believed him to some extent.

He turned to Gu Qing and said, “In that case, let Counselor Gu lead people to search the Prince Qiu Residence.”

Gu Qing’s face lit up with joy, and he immediately responded, “This servant obeys the command!”

However, before he could rejoice, Li Mingjue continued, “If Song Ling is found in the Prince Qiu Residence, this son is willing to be punished.

If he is not found…”

His gaze shifted to Gu Qing, looking at him with indifferent eyes, “Would Counselor Gu be willing to give this prince justice?”

Feeling his stare, Gu Qing almost broke out in cold sweat.

He took a few steps back, bowed with folded hands, and said, “Your Highness, please do not put this official in a difficult position.”

This time, he could only admit defeat.

If the person was found, it would be fine, but if not, he would be finished.

Li Tianze spoke up just in time, presiding over justice, “Royal Son, do not be angry.

I will make a ruling in your favor.”

With that, he waved his hand to dismiss Gu Qing.

Gu Qing quickly exited the Golden Throne Hall, leading several dozen imperial guards towards the Prince Qiu Residence.

When they arrived, Qi Yu was having tea with Song Ling.

Upon hearing the hasty report from Li Bo, she set down her tea cup and said languidly, “I understand, the Princess will go and entertain Counselor Gu appropriately.”

Li Bo glanced at Song Ling and felt a hint of anxiety.

What a mess!

Yet Qi Yu was not the least bit flustered.

She instructed Li Bo to welcome the guests first, and that she would follow shortly.

As soon as he left, she arched her brows slightly toward Song Ling, “Are you afraid?”

Song Ling took a light sip of the hot tea, responding calmly, “If neither the Prince nor the Princess is afraid, what should a convicted official like me fear?”

In just a few days, he had been transformed, almost becoming a different person.

No longer the cautious man from Heifeng Village, Song Ling had regained his former self.

Qi Yu nodded in satisfaction, glanced around, and feigning concern, said, “There’s nowhere in the Prince Qiu Residence to hide you, what to do, Master Song?”

Song Ling smiled faintly, looking at her composedly, “If that’s the case, I might as well go out and enter the palace with Counselor Gu to report back.”

“Aren’t you afraid the Emperor will have you killed?” Qi Yu asked, curious at his sudden bravado.

Song Ling just smiled without a word, finished his tea in one gulp, and said with conviction, “The Princess won’t let me die.”

Qi Yu laughed and nodded, her eyes taking on a mischievous glint, “The Princess has always been kindhearted.”

“Where is the Princess?” Gu Qing, having drunk half a cup of tea in the front hall, still saw no sign of Qi Yu.

Although he had come on orders to conduct a search, he couldn’t just barge in without informing the Princess.

If this got back to the Emperor, he would be the one to suffer.

Li Bo didn’t have much regard for the greedily life-fearing Counselor Gu, and said indifferently, “The Princess will come shortly.”

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Before he had finished speaking, Qi Yu arrived, accompanied by her maids, walking gracefully toward them.

Upon seeing Gu Qing, she pretended to know nothing and asked, “Isn’t this Lord Gu?

Why aren’t you crying today?”

Looking at her innocent and carefree appearance, the corners of Gu Qing’s mouth twitched, and he rose to offer a salute, “Princess.”

There was a hint of a smile in Qi Yu’s eyes, but it inexplicably made onlookers feel a chill.

Gu Qing struggled to lift his gaze, feeling more nervous than when he had stabbed Prince Qiu in the back at the Golden Throne Hall.

Yet the person standing before him was nothing more than a fool.

With this thought, he felt somewhat more confident, raising his head to look directly at Qi Yu, “May I know how my daughter has offended the Princess of Qiu?”

At his accusatory tone, Qi Yu’s eyes raised slightly.

It seemed that today, Gu Qing was bent on settling personal scores.

However, she had nothing to feel guilty about.

The corners of her mouth curved into an arc, as she feigned ignorance, “What is Lord Gu talking about?

This Princess has no idea.”

Suppressing his anger, Gu Qing laid out the grievances Gu Xi had wept about upon returning home, petty trifles one after another.

Such as how she had not shown Gu Xi a good face, how she had deliberately made things difficult for Gu Xi.

Qi Yu almost couldn’t resist rolling her eyes.

Gu Xi’s ability to twist truth and falsehood must have been learned from Qi Anran.

She listened without patience and then said coldly, “Miss Gu’s skill at inverting black and white is truly admirable, Princess.”

As Gu Qing became more hurried and agitated, he was intimidated by her composure and suddenly forgot to retort.

Qi Yu couldn’t be bothered to talk with such people; saying another word was a waste of her breath.

She sat down leisurely, propping her head up, “Wasn’t Lord Gu here to search the Prince Qiu Residence?

Please proceed.”

Gu Qing, his anger interrupted but his purpose needing fulfillment, tried to suppress the rage in his heart and ordered the imperial guards behind him, “Search everything, leave no stone unturned!”

Qi Yu sat there calmly, watching this bunch rush around in disarray.

Search away, she was curious to see what they could possible find.

Unable to help himself, Li Bo asked in a hushed tone, “Princess, are you truly alright?”

If they were to find something, wouldn’t the Prince become a real criminal?

Qi Yu waved her hand dismissively, “No matter, they won’t find anything.”

Her words reached the ears of Gu Qing, toiling away in sweat, and he felt uneasy.

The tip about Song Ling hiding in the Prince Qiu Residence was relayed to him by Gu Xi.

Moreover, during the morning court, Prince An had clearly thought the same.

That’s why he had bravely suggested this course of action.

If he couldn’t bring the person before the court, wouldn’t he have offended Prince Qiu and faced His Majesty’s wrath?

Considering this consequence, Gu Qing bit his teeth and shouted hoarsely at the guards, “Do not overlook any corner!”

Qi Yu watched him, dragging his aging body through the vast Prince Qiu Residence, and couldn’t resist clicking her tongue.

An hour later, Gu Qing had nearly scoured every corner of the Prince Qiu Residence, but hadn’t seen so much as a shadow of a person.

He leaned against the wall, looking defeated, “It seems I have lost.”

While taking his men away, Qi Yu couldn’t help but ask with schadenfreude, “Did Lord Gu find anything?”

Gu Qing glared back at her, his mustache quivering with anger.

Qi Yu cheerfully saw off the guests.

After the group left, she looked at the Prince Qiu Residence, now in disarray, and her mood suddenly soured.

Li Bo took people to tidy up while she sat in the main hall, sipping tea.

After some time, she figured it wouldn’t hurt to let Song Ling stay hidden a bit longer.

Who knew if those madmen would abruptly return?

As she thought about releasing Song Ling after finishing her tea, a white figure suddenly leaped down from the eaves, startling her enough to spill the tea in her hand.