Chapter Nine: The Grand Princess's Grand Ceremony

The sun was setting in the west as the carriage slowly entered a secluded mansion. This was not the imperial palace but one of the Long Princess Li Qingning’s private gardens outside the city. Compared to the resplendent splendor of the imperial city, this place was more serene and elegant, yet beneath its refined appearance lingered a chill that kept others at a distance—much like its owner.

The carriage came to a halt, and a middle-aged maid dressed in a dark purple palace robe, her hair perfectly coiffed, approached briskly with a solemn expression. Behind her followed two tall, upright young men.

“Your Highness, you have finally returned,” the maid said with a warm smile, though her voice remained steady. She knelt respectfully, her eyes betraying a subtle concern. She had served Li Qingning since childhood, and their bond had long surpassed that of mistress and servant.

Supported by Tao Hua, Li Qingning stepped down from the carriage. Her pale face showed little color, but the heavy burden of years of suppressed sorrow seemed somewhat lighter between her brows. She gave a faint acknowledgment, her gaze sweeping over the two youths behind the maid.

The two boys, about sixteen or seventeen, bore sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, their looks strikingly handsome. Clad in matching black battle attire with swords at their waists, they stood as straight as pines, exuding an aura of deadly seriousness merely by standing there.

“These are the covert operatives you ordered trained over the past several years,” the maid said, glancing back at them.

“Qingfeng, Mingyue, pay respects to the Long Princess,” she instructed.

The two boys stiffened, then stepped forward and knelt on one knee in unison.

“Qingfeng and Mingyue pay respects to Your Highness,” they intoned.

Li Qingning nodded slightly and motioned for them to rise.

“Have they both been tested?”

The maid bowed respectfully. “Rest assured, Your Highness. Both have been thoroughly trained and are masters of the sword, capable of facing a hundred foes alone.”

Li Qingning’s gaze swept across Qingfeng and Mingyue without lingering, as if they were mere objects rather than living beings. She nodded and was about to step inside when her feet suddenly halted.

Unbidden, a scene from inside the carriage flashed through her mind: the boy named Xie Ning, clumsily barging in, then boldly claiming he could cure her illness. She had thought him a charlatan, but with just a few words, he had uncovered her most secret ailment. Then came his audacious gesture—his hand, warm with youthful heat, resting upon her chest. In that moment, she felt both shamed and enraged.

Yet, immediately after, a sensation unlike any before—a comforting warmth like the spring sun—dissolved the cold that had plagued her body for nearly twenty years. The long-lost feeling of being truly alive in her own flesh almost made her want to surrender to it. When he finally collapsed from exhaustion and withdrew his hand, she felt an unexpected pang of loss.

This was a stirring of emotions never before experienced in two decades. Her heart, once hardened by pain and power struggles, had rippled for the first time because of this chance encounter with a boy.

“These two…” Li Qingning turned, her voice cold. “Send them to the Marquis of Dingyuan’s heir, Xie Ning.”

Silence fell.

Tao Hua lifted her head in disbelief. The maid was stunned, thinking she had misheard.

“Your Highness, did you say what I think you said?”

“I said, send them both to the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence, to Xie Ning,” Li Qingning repeated calmly, leaving no room for argument.

“Your Highness, absolutely not!” the maid urged, stepping forward despite protocol. “Qingfeng and Mingyue are your personal covert operatives, trained with great effort and care. Who is this Xie Ning to deserve such a gift? Moreover, Your Highness, you are in critical need of capable guards—how can you give away your most trusted protectors?”

To the maid, this order was absurd. These two loyal agents recognized only the princess as their master and were invaluable for her security and future stability. Handing them over to an outsider could cause a scandal, and others would judge harshly.

Li Qingning listened quietly, her gaze unmoved. She turned to the maid, and for the first time, a sharp, almost obsessive light gleamed in her usually calm eyes.

“Rong, he can save me,” she said softly but with unmistakable conviction.

Those four simple words struck the maid like thunder. All her doubts, worries, and confusion vanished instantly. She bowed her head deeply, offering no further objections, only complete respect and obedience.

“Yes, your servant understands.”

Li Qingning nodded, seemingly satisfied.

“Be careful when you go. Find out the current situation at the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence, how Xie Ning is treated there—every detail must be investigated and reported back to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the maid replied respectfully.

Meanwhile, at the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence, Jia Yibo stared angrily at Jia Huizu, who was bandaged like a mummy and still unconscious. Fury and bitterness threatened to consume him entirely.

A fool? His son—his pride and hope, the future heir to the Marquisate of Dingyuan—might become a fool? And the one responsible was that unfilial wretch, Xie Ning!

He could not understand how that worthless bastard had suddenly become so cunning. What sorcery had he used?

No, this child must never remain here! Keeping him in the residence was like keeping a ticking time bomb.

A ruthless gleam flashed in Jia Yibo’s eyes.

Though the Long Princess was a problem, it was not unsolvable. As long as Xie Ning caused no trouble in his household, the Long Princess could not blame him.

The best solution was naturally the Prince Jing’s mansion.

That spoiled Princess Li Rushi was infatuated with this unfilial scoundrel, wasn’t she? Perfect—let the Prince Jing’s household deal with this hot potato.

Once Xie Ning was married into the Prince Jing’s household as a son-in-law, he would have no further ties to the Marquis of Dingyuan.

Whether he lived or died, went mad or became a fool, it would be none of Jia Yibo’s concern.

Besides, considering Li Rushi’s temperament and the methods of the Prince Jing’s household, Xie Ning’s fate there would likely be worse than death.

At this thought, Jia Yibo’s pent-up rage finally found an outlet.

He darkened his face and summoned a trusted servant, whispering orders.

“Prepare a generous gift immediately and personally deliver it to the Prince Jing’s mansion. Tell them the heir Xie Ning is pining for the princess and has lost his appetite.”

“Explain that his earlier offense against the Long Princess’s carriage was an unintentional mistake made in desperation. Request that the Prince’s household, seeing his sincere affection, send someone promptly to bring him into their mansion to complete the marriage.”

He was certain that Li Rushi’s headstrong nature would prompt her to send someone to claim Xie Ning at once.

“Yes, my lord, I will see to it immediately.”

The servant bowed and hurried away.