Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince-Chapter 77 - The Prince Has Suffered Heavy Losses

Qi Yu laughed scornfully, “If you truly wanted to please me, how could you not know that I’ve never liked such things as hairpins?”

She paused, then continued, “Any servant in the Prince Residence knows that I only like pastries from the Zuichun Building.”

Cold sweat was already forming on Lingya’s forehead; today was her first direct confrontation with the Princess of Prince Qiu Residence.

She had thought Qi Yu was a defenseless weak woman, not expecting her to be so aggressively confrontational.

Adi couldn’t stand to see the Princess bullied, and immediately rushed forward, her tone filled with sarcasm, “Does our Princess really need to investigate what you like before giving a gift?”

Qi Yu glanced at her with a half-smile, “Of course not, but if Princess Lingya really had the heart to please me, as she says, why didn’t she find out what I truly like in advance?”

“That’s because…” Adi instinctively wanted to contradict her, but her words halted abruptly.

That was a close call—she had nearly revealed the Princess’s intentions outright.

Adi paused, then let out a haughty hum, her tone proud, “That hairpin was personally crafted by our State Preceptor.

Are you saying it’s beneath you, Princess of Prince Qiu Residence?”

Qi Yu’s gaze held a mocking light, “Indeed, it is beneath me.”

“You!” Adi was infuriated by her shameless words.

In Tulan, who would dare to disdain something personally made by the State Preceptor?

Qi Yu couldn’t be bothered to argue with a child; her gaze shifted past the puffed-up angry face to Lingya standing behind, “It’s not only beneath me—but what kind of intricate machination is hidden within this hairpin?

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You, Princess, probably know very well.”

A flash of panic swept through Lingya’s eyes, but she stiffened and replied, “What do you mean by that, Princess?”

Qi Yu didn’t bother to beat around the bush.

If they continued talking, night would fall.

“The Princess repeatedly claims it’s to win my favor, but to send a mere hairpin as a gift—this grand gesture, I truly do not understand.”

Her gaze shifted to Li Tianze standing aside, her tone icy, “Moreover, before even entering the palace, the Princess had the gift sent over to the Prince Residence, appearing affectionate and devoted, making everyone think you’re interested in the Prince.

It makes this Princess feel quite nauseated.”

She laid out her position today—neither Lingya nor anyone else would get their hands on her place.

Not only did her words slap Lingya’s face, they were also a veiled hit at Li Tianze.

Qi Yu was clearly insinuating his lack of discernment and his attempt to let a woman with bad intentions replace her.

Li Tianze’s gaze upon her was deep and solemn, “Is the Princess of Prince Qiu Residence resenting me?”

Qi Yu slightly raised her eyebrows, “The Emperor jests.

Even if I had ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare.”

Li Tianze scoffed.

He saw that she was quite bold.

The issue had pretty much come to a close here.

Even though it was obvious to discerning eyes that there was something wrong with the hairpin, Lingya was sent from Tulan for a marriage alliance; with just a hairpin, they couldn’t do much to her.

And if anything happened to her, Tulan would certainly not let it go.

Qi Yu didn’t expect to be able to do anything to her.

But after this incident, Li Tianze probably had already abandoned the idea of sending anyone to Prince Qiu Residence.

By the time they left the palace, the sky had already darkened.

In the carriage, Qi Yu, holding a brazier, coughed a few times amid the falling snow.

Li Mingjue furrowed his brow and, seeing that she had caught her breath, said, “Stay in the Prince Residence and take good care of yourself these next few days.”

Qi Yu caught the implication in his words and felt somewhat dissatisfied, “I’m a doctor.

Don’t I know my own body?”

She had no desire to drink those bitter herbal medicines anymore.

At worst, she could take a cold medicine tonight, and by tomorrow she would certainly be full of vigor.

Moreover, if not for this Poisonous Insect Poison, she wouldn’t have had to take that Qingfeng Pill at all.

That thing was compounded with over a hundred toxins, inherently very cooling.

Were it not for her strong internal heat combined with the neutralizing effect of the Poisonous Insect Poison, she would probably be suffering an aggravated chill by now.

Seeing her listless expression, Li Mingjue felt distressed as well.

But with the freezing cold weather outside, he really couldn’t let her go out.

The evening meal was taken at the Zuichun Building.

The moment the proprietor saw these two patrons, his legs went weak.

He tremblingly stood aside and, seeing the Princess cough twice, quickly had someone make a bowl of candied pear with ice.

Qi Yu thought that with such keen observation, he could succeed in any business he set his mind to.

Midway through the meal, an unexpected guest burst into the private room.

Shen Xiheng had heard they came out from the palace and dashed over from his residence.

He rushed over on horseback, still breathless when he ascended the stairs.

“Are you all right?” he asked as soon as he took his seat, looking at Qi Yu.

Seeing that her complexion was decent, slightly better than a few days prior, he felt relieved.

He had heard that afternoon that Princess Lingya had been taken to the palace, and immediately sensed that something was amiss.

After inquiring, he found out that both Prince Qiu and his wife were still in the palace.

Qi Yu had an extra set of chopsticks and bowl brought over and waited for him to catch his breath before saying leisurely, “Do I look like I’m in trouble?”

Shen Xiheng first took a sip of wine to warm himself up, and after the spicy sensation in his throat subsided, he shook his head, “No, you don’t.”

“However,” he said, picking up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, not too hastily, “if you’re fine, I’m afraid Princess Lingya is in trouble.”

Qi Yu wiped her mouth and gave him an appreciative look.

She then turned to the person beside her who was busy serving himself, teasingly saying, “I might be fine now, but the Prince has suffered a huge loss.”

Li Mingjue paused in his movements and looked at her, “Why?”

Qi Yu smiled, “I heard Princess Lingya brought dowry gifts including the ownership of thirteen cities and ten thousand taels of gold.

If the Prince were to marry her, wouldn’t all that wealth belong to him?”

Shen Xiheng laughed out loud, the heaviness that had been pressing on his chest all day dissipating like smoke.

He watched the couple’s verbal sparring with great interest, finding it perfect to accompany his wine.

Li Mingjue tapped her forehead with the other end of his chopstick, his tone slightly muffled, “Stop talking nonsense.”

Qi Yu rubbed her forehead where it hurt and glared at him, “A gentleman uses his words, not his hands!”

Li Mingjue amiably agreed, “I have never claimed to be any sort of gentleman.”

Shen Xiheng chimed in, “I can vouch for that!”

The three of them made a raucous meal.

After seeing the Prince Residence’s carriage depart, the proprietor returned to the counter to start going through the account books.

It was nearly the end of the year, and the master would soon audit the accounts.

He scrutinized the ledger attentively, unaware that a shadowy figure had silently infiltrated the Zuichun Building.