The Princess Consort of Jing's Awareness

Chapter 64 The Princess Consort of Jing's Awareness

"Go check it out!"

As soon as the old man in black robes left, Chen Muye spoke in a deep voice, and several guards quickly followed to check the situation.

Chen Muyi didn't move, still standing in place with his sword, vigilantly scrutinizing Li Chuqiu.

"Can I leave now?"

When Li Chuqiu spoke, there was not a trace of guilt or unease on her face.

"cannot."

Chen Muye said expressionlessly, "Appearing at the Prince's residence in the middle of the night, with such strange behavior, I have reason to suspect you have ulterior motives—as for your claim of catching a demon, that needs further investigation!"

Clearly, he didn't quite believe Li Chuqiu's explanation.

"Are you implying you intend to detain me?"

Chen Muye said coldly, "You have to stay here until the matter is investigated thoroughly."

"Oh!"

Li Chuqiu sneered, "I am the Chief Envoy of the Heavenly Profound Division, receiving the Emperor's favor and obeying his imperial orders to slay demons and monsters. If you doubt me, are you doubting the current Emperor?!"

"You have quite the nerve!"

His words were firm and resounding, and he spoke with conviction.

Chen Muyi was clearly stunned, not expecting Li Chuqiu to bring up the emperor and accuse him of such a serious crime.

Subconsciously, I felt there was some truth to it?

But then Chen Muyi suddenly realized what he meant and said in a deep voice, "You're just a mere envoy, how dare you use the Emperor's name? You're not worthy!"

Didn't intimidate him?

However, Li Chuqiu remained calm: "As the Imperial Envoy appointed by the Emperor to the Tianxuan Division, I am paid by the court. It is my duty to slay demons and maintain peace in this region. How can you claim to be using the Emperor's name?"

"Furthermore—the Jingwang Mansion is such a heavily guarded place, yet today demons are rampant. Clearly, someone is colluding with the demons. As the head guard, what crime should you be punished for such dereliction of duty?"

"Or is it that the one who colludes with demons is you, the head guard?!"

Chen Muye's face was terribly gloomy.

He hadn't expected this sharp-tongued young man to turn the tables on him!

A cold gaze fell upon Li Chuqiu, and his tone was icy: "How dare you! I am the head guard of the Prince Jing's mansion, how dare you slander me?!"

"Then how about you slandering me, the Chief of the Heavenly Mystery Division?!"

Li Chuqiu spoke calmly, seemingly unconcerned.

The name of Tianxuan Si is so useful!

If he were still the same constable, he would never dare to act so recklessly in Prince Jing's mansion.

But things are different now. Li Chuqiu is the Chief Envoy of the Tianxuan Division, and behind him stands Deputy Commander Liu. Even more so—his visit to Prince Jing's residence today to investigate the Crown Princess was also at the behest of Deputy Commander Liu.

In this way, even if the sky falls, Li Chuqiu only needs to cling to Vice Commander Liu's coattails!

"You're asking for it!"

Chen Muyi was clearly enraged, glaring fiercely at Li Chuqiu. Just as the tension was about to escalate, a familiar voice rang out.

"What happened?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Muyi, who had been so aggressive, immediately changed his expression and turned to look at the path beside him.

Several figures appeared on a side path, and led by several maids, a noblewoman with an elegant and graceful demeanor appeared.

"Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Chen Muyi immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute and spoke respectfully.

"Why is it so noisy? What happened?"

Princess Jing frowned and spoke.

"Your Highness, I have spotted someone acting suspiciously and am questioning them!"

Chen Muye lowered his head and quickly reported what had happened to the princess.

After hearing this, Princess Jing's gaze fell on Li Chuqiu. She saw that he was a handsome man with delicate features, but he was soaking wet and looked very disheveled, which was indeed suspicious.

At this moment, Li Chuqiu looked at the elegant noblewoman before him, and no wonder the voice sounded so familiar. Wasn't this the same voice he had heard last night in that young princess's bed?

Princess Jing — Jiang Ning's biological mother!

Li Chuqiu suddenly recalled the thrilling and exciting scene in bed with that young princess last night. Seeing this Princess Jing now, she felt a bit like she was committing a crime against her mother.

Just then, a small head suddenly peeked out from behind Princess Jing, curiously looking this way. When her gaze fell on Li Chuqiu, she was clearly taken aback, then her face lit up with surprise.

"Hey! What are you doing here?!"

This girl is none other than Jiang Ning!

Jiang Ning was both surprised and delighted. She ran to Li Chuqiu like a gust of wind, looked him up and down, and exclaimed with delight, "What are you doing here? Aren't you—"

Jiang Ning almost blurted out—"Weren't you discovered and caught by that vixen?"

Fortunately, she realized what was happening and quickly shut her mouth.

However, the surprise in the girl's eyes was impossible to hide.

She was terrified today!

The two went together to investigate the vixen, but Jiang Ning heard the sounds of someone catching an assassin coming from the courtyard, realizing that the man had been exposed. She anxiously tried to rescue him, but the Crown Princess stopped her outside, preventing her from entering.

Jiang Ning was so anxious she was pacing around in circles.

He had been loitering outside the Crown Princess's courtyard from afternoon to evening until recently when his mother discovered his suspicious behavior and forcibly took him away.

Jiang Ning was still worried about whether something had happened to Li Chuqiu, but seeing him appear finally put her mind at ease.

"you----"

Jiang Ning was eager to ask him what had happened today, but with so many people around, she could only suppress her curiosity and ask with concern, "Are you... alright?"

Li Chuqiu understood Jiang Ning's look: "Don't worry, everything will be alright—"

"That's good!"

Jiang Ning patted her slightly bulging chest, relieved.

"Ning'er————"

Just then, a cold voice came from behind.

At this moment, Princess Jing, standing ahead, was somewhat bewildered by what she saw.

—She looked at her precious daughter, who was standing excitedly in front of the strange, furtive man. The two seemed to be very intimate.

Princess Jing was stunned. After a long while, she finally realized what was going on: "Ning'er, who is this?"

"Huh? Him?"

Only then did Jiang Ning realize that her mother was still here.

She was so excited when she saw Li Chuqiu that she forgot her mother was there. Now, hearing her mother ask about it, she felt a strange panic in her heart.

She glanced at Li Chuqiu subconsciously, her face flushed slightly, and said in a low, reserved voice, "Mother, he, he is my friend."

"friend?"

Princess Jing narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling on Li Chuqiu, her suspicion deepening.

How come she didn't know that Ning'er had gained such a friend?

At this moment, Li Chuqiu also realized that the little princess's behavior just now had aroused the suspicion of the Princess Jing.

He immediately cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

"Your subordinate, Li Chuqiu, is the newly appointed commander of the Tianxuan Division. I had a brief encounter with Her Highness the Princess a few days ago—I helped Her Highness with a small favor, and Her Highness, being kind-hearted, considers me a friend."

—Helping Jiang Ning investigate the Crown Princess can be considered helping her, right?

Princess Jing stared at Li Chuqiu without saying a word.

Did I do you a small favor?

Consider them friends?

She knew her daughter well, knowing that she was usually outgoing and easy to talk to. But someone Ning'er considered a friend wouldn't just be someone who had helped her with some small favor.

—This small favor is probably not so simple, is it?

However, seeing that this young man's expression was calm and he showed no signs of panic, one could tell that he was either genuinely innocent or—someone with a very deep mind.

Princess Jing's gaze then fell on Jiang Ning beside her, noticing her slightly flushed cheeks, her hands clasped in front of her, looking awkward and somewhat shy.

Princess Jing's heart sank.

However, her expression remained unchanged as she calmly stated, "Since they are Ning'er's friends, they are also guests of my Jingwang Mansion. As guests, how could my Mansion possibly be unhospitable?"

"Chief Guard Chen."

Chen Muyi cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subordinate is here."

"It's getting late, let's escort this magistrate back."

Upon hearing this, Chen Muyi's expression changed slightly. He wanted to speak, but seeing the princess's calm and composed face, he held back.

He looked at Li Chuqiu, his eyes shifting between light and shadow, before finally concealing all his emotions.

"Your subordinate obeys."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Hearing that the princess had given her permission, Li Chuqiu breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless of the princess's intentions, at least she didn't plan to make things difficult for her at the moment.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard Jiang Ning tug at his sleeve and whisper, "Then remember to come see me tomorrow!"

Her eyes were full of hope.

"That depends on the situation—"

So many things happened today, he might not have time tomorrow.

But Jiang Ning didn't care about any of that: "No, you have to come tomorrow—"

The young princess was filled with excitement, curiosity, and a thirst for knowledge. If her mother hadn't been watching her closely, she would have even wanted to take Li Chuqiu back to her room, lock her up, and interrogate her overnight.

Seeing that the young princess was relentless and the princess was still eyeing her menacingly, Li Chuqiu had no choice but to say, "Alright, I'll try my best tomorrow?"

Satisfied with the reply, Jiang Ning's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Then, I'll send the maids away in the courtyard beforehand tomorrow and leave a window open for you—remember to be careful and don't get caught—"

No, why does it sound like you're having an affair?

After Jiang Ning finished speaking, she ran back behind her mother in a flash. In the dim light, the girl smiled and winked at Li Chuqiu.

Playful and cute.

This scene was also witnessed by Princess Jing.

Night fell.

Inside the Prince Jing's residence, all was quiet and peaceful.

Two maids led the way with lanterns, while Princess Jing walked ahead, accompanied by the bouncy young girl Jiang Ning. She occasionally lifted her skirt, lowered her head, and hummed something rhythmically on the cobblestone path, seemingly in a very good mood.

"Ning'er".

"what?"

Hearing her mother suddenly call her name, Jiang Ning looked up: "Mother, what's wrong?"

"What was the name of that envoy from the Heavenly Mystery Division again?"

"Li Chuqiu!"

Princess Jing gave her a meaningful look: "He doesn't seem to be very old?"

"I guess so?" Jiang Ning wasn't sure either; she didn't know how old that guy was.

They must be older than me, right?

"At such a young age, he's already the Chief Envoy of the Heavenly Profound Division; he's truly promising and has a limitless future. I wonder where he lives, and what positions his parents hold?"

Jiang Ning looked blank: "I don't know either."

The girl then realized that she didn't seem to know where that guy lived.

We agreed to meet tomorrow, but what if he doesn't show up?

The girl began to worry.

Princess Jing was also quite surprised. It seemed that her daughter knew nothing about the young man's background.

Li Chuqiu?

Princess Jing silently repeated the name in her mind, then casually asked, "How did you two meet? Could you tell me in detail?"

Can you tell me in detail?

This can't be explained in detail!

As if remembering something, Jiang Ning's face flushed red, and she said shyly, "Mother—why are you asking this? Didn't I just say—"

"—That's how we met~"

Upon seeing this scene, Princess Jing's heart sank once again.

Could it be that my daughter has been deceived by that young man?

Then I thought of the young man, who was fair-skinned and clean-cut. Although he was soaking wet and looked a bit disheveled, it couldn't hide his extremely handsome and dignified face. With such a good-looking face, I wonder how many girls he could charm.

Could it be that my daughter has taken the bait?

Thinking of this, Princess Jing's expression gradually became serious and earnest.

—It seems she needs to have a serious talk with her daughter!

On the other side, the figure of the old man in black robes appeared silently inside the underground palace.

Before his eyes, the underground palace was in complete disarray. The spirit spring pool that he had painstakingly summoned was now filled with impurities, its luster dimmed and even its flow seemingly blocked.

This scene caused the black-robed elder's pupils to shrink sharply, and his expression to change drastically.

"My sacred spring!"

He hurried forward, looking at the "defiled" spiritual spring, feeling extremely distressed.

Realizing something, he strode forward and saw that the spiritual herbs that were almost ripe were now lying haphazardly on the ground, as if destroyed by some force, leaving the entire spiritual field in a mess.

This scene made the old man in black robes so angry that he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He suppressed his trembling and angry emotions and leaped swiftly towards the alchemy room inside.

A sense of foreboding washed over me as I looked at the ancient bronze gate that had been opened in the distance.

The old man in black robes rushed into the room, only to find it in a similar mess. The alchemy furnace in the center of the room had been opened and was now empty.

At this moment, the old man in black robes could no longer suppress his emotions.

"puff!"

He coughed up a mouthful of blood, and everything went black.

He staggered and fell.

"My dear Dan!"

An old, angry voice came from inside the alchemy room.

The spiritual spring was destroyed, the spiritual field was destroyed, and even the crucial elixir had vanished without a trace!

"Who did this?"

"Who did this?!"

The old man in black robes flew into a rage, and a terrifying aura filled the entire hall.

Just then, a weak growl came from outside the door.

The old man in black robes strode out, and next to him lay a beast-like creature with bloodshot eyes.

"My spirit beast!"

The old man in black robes trembled all over, quickly stepped forward, and stuffed a pill into the mouth of the ape spirit beast.

"Who hurt you? Who was it?"

"Who stole my elixir?"

"explain!"

The ape spirit beast roared softly, as if it were complaining and raging about something.

"—What does 'one man and two women' mean?"

"Are you sure? Tell me who hurt you?!"

"—A demoness who wields a rope whip?"

"Okay, okay!"

Beneath the black robe, the old man's voice was low and angry.

"You stole my elixirs! I will never forgive your demon race!!"

Under the cover of darkness.

A figure in green staggered, heavily injured, clutching his waist and chest, blood flowing freely. He hadn't taken more than a few steps before collapsing to the ground.

In the darkness, a delicate yet furious face was revealed, and a pair of cold eyes revealed a burning killing intent!

"Chu Wanqing, a human male!"

Her voice was low and trembling, unable to conceal her overwhelming anger.

Soon, a strange noise was heard behind them.

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Qian Xie suddenly stood up and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

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