Chapter Two: The Libertine

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Li Rushi saw that Xie Ning not only did not stop but instead became more excessive in his actions. Her face, already twisted with anger, began to twitch uncontrollably. Suddenly, she let out a wild scream, half her body leaning on the carriage, her plump, jade-like hand reaching directly for Xie Ning.

At that moment, a figure flashed by and swiftly appeared behind Li Rushi, grabbing the back of her garment. With a burst of immense strength, she was thrown completely out. Following closely behind were the maids of Prince Jing’s residence, who, seeing their mistress flying backward, hurriedly reached out to catch her.

Four maids together exerted all their strength to barely catch Li Rushi, who weighed two to three hundred pounds. The one who had thrown her was Taohua, the personal maid of the Princess Dowager. Her gaze swept over the carriage’s interior, and her expression changed.

Taohua had been by Li Qingning’s side since childhood. She was both her personal attendant and the leader of her guards, thus most familiar with Li Qingning. By observing the expression between Li Qingning’s elegant brows, Taohua could tell that it was not Xie Ning forcing himself on her; the Princess Dowager was clearly enjoying it at that moment.

Though she did not understand why the usually serene Princess Dowager would display such an expression under the rude actions of a stranger, as a servant, Taohua’s only thought was to protect her mistress’s dignity. Without hesitation, she pulled down the carriage curtain and turned, her eyes coldly fixed on Li Rushi and her entourage.

Just moments ago, she had been slightly distracted, trying to stop several maids from the prince’s residence, and had not noticed Li Rushi being caught off guard. Now, with so many bystanders present, who knew how many had seen what was happening inside the carriage? If anyone were to gossip carelessly, the Princess Dowager’s reputation would be ruined.

And all of this was because Li Rushi, the arrogant princess, had dared to assault the carriage of the Princess Dowager. She deserved to die! Taohua’s murderous intent flared.

Li Rushi was already mad, her mind filled with the scenes inside the carriage. Even after being thrown several feet by Taohua and barely caught by the maids, she continued to shout wildly, “Drag him down! I won’t allow him to stay in that carriage, go!”

As the maids stepped forward, Taohua’s expression hardened sharply.

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The guards of the Princess Dowager flanked Taohua, drawing their swords. Outside, tensions escalated, and a fierce battle seemed imminent.

Inside the carriage, however, a different scene unfolded.

Xie Ning’s palm pressed against Li Qingning’s chest. The skin-to-skin contact was tender and smooth yet chillingly cold, filling his entire palm. In his golden-glowing eyes, tendrils of black energy surged from Li Qingning’s heart into his hand.

A bone-deep chill swept over him. Time passed, his consciousness becoming increasingly hazy, until even supporting his hand on Li Qingning’s chest became impossible. With a sudden thud, he collapsed onto her.

Only when that warm hand left did Li Qingning come to, feeling a bittersweet emptiness. She instinctively looked down to see Xie Ning fainted again in her arms.

Compared to before, she could now clearly feel her body had recovered much. It was as if a withered tree had sprung new life.

He truly possessed such divine skill to save her! Filled with joy, Li Qingning suddenly recalled how he had slipped his hand beneath her clothing, placing it over her...

The thought flushed her already rosy cheeks even deeper, a vague heat spreading through her.

“Scoundrel!” Li Qingning bit her lip, fury and embarrassment reaching their peak.

Outside, Li Rushi’s shrill yelling caught her attention; her eyes narrowed, her expression darkened. Now that her body had regained much strength, she moved Xie Ning aside, adjusted her clothes, and lifted the carriage curtain to step out.

Standing atop the carriage, she looked coldly at the hysterical Li Rushi and spoke in a chilling voice.

“Li Rushi, have you caused enough trouble?”

In an instant, a cold, commanding aura enveloped the scene. Even the furious, nearly mad Li Rushi shivered involuntarily under Li Qingning’s presence, instinctively growing quiet.

The Princess Dowager of Qi, privately known as the “Sick Empress,” wielded such power that even a slight display of it could shake the entire realm.

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Li Rushi dared not meet Li Qingning’s gaze. Though both were royal relatives, by seniority and age, Li Qingning should have addressed her as “elder sister.” Yet Li Rushi was only outwardly arrogant and unruly, notorious for her bullying in the capital, claiming she would become Qi’s first female general and lead troops into battle—mere empty boasts.

The Princess Dowager before her, however, was a true force: able to destroy entire ministerial families and entangle hundreds in death with just a few words from her sickbed.

To bolster her “imperial younger brother’s” authority, she had slain numerous royal princes and relatives. Even the emperor respectfully called her “Imperial Elder Sister.”

Yet, thinking of the man she had painstakingly chosen—who had fled before their marriage and now crawled into Li Qingning’s carriage, even committing shameless acts inside—Li Rushi’s anger surged again.

Tilting her head stubbornly, she retorted, “What trouble have I caused? Xie Ning is my husband, the formally betrothed son-in-law of the prince’s residence! Even if you are the Princess Dowager, you have no right to snatch someone else’s man in public!”

Li Rushi’s nature was rough and her speech coarse.

Li Qingning frowned slightly. Since Xie Ning was the prince’s son-in-law, by that logic, perhaps she had no grounds—after all, where in the world did a princess dowager snatch her royal cousin’s husband in broad daylight?

While she hesitated, Xie Ning’s voice suddenly came from inside the carriage.

“Who said I’m the prince’s son-in-law? Did I agree to that? Li Qingning and I are mutually in love. You forced me into this while she was away from the capital.”

“The Princess Dowager is my wife. I am the prince consort, not just a son-in-law!”

Xie Ning’s voice was low but clear enough for the surrounding crowd to hear.

The crowd erupted in surprise once more. The Princess Dowager had fallen for the heir of the Dingyuan Marquis, and judging from his words, they might already be secretly betrothed? This revelation was far more sensational than the princess of Prince Jing’s residence snatching a husband in public.

Li Qingning’s brows furrowed, a flash of displeasure crossing her eyes as she instinctively glanced at Xie Ning’s half-visible head behind her.

Before she could say anything, Li Rushi lost control.

“You lie! You worthless trash! The Dingyuan Marquis clearly told me you’ve never married nor touched any woman! How could this be…”