Font Size:
Why was Nangong Yan here?
Qingli quickly averted her gaze, feeling inexplicably flustered whenever she met his eyes.
She coughed awkwardly and hastily retreated from the scene. However, as she reached the bridge, she ran into Nangong Yan, who was walking towards her.
Qingli frowned. Hadn’t he been on the second floor across the river just now? Could he teleport? How could he be on the bridge in the blink of an eye?
She immediately turned to leave, but Nangong Yan stopped her. “Miss Qingli? Why are you so afraid to see me?”
Nangong Yan spoke.
Qingli looked at him in surprise, “How do you know my name?”
Nangong Yan walked towards her, his expression indifferent. “I did some investigating and found that you’re quite mysterious, Miss Qingli. Aside from your name, I couldn’t find anything else about you.”
Qingli frowned, “You investigated me? Why would you do that?”
Seeing her somewhat angry expression, a faint smile flickered in Nangong Yan’s eyes before he said calmly, “Because I wanted to.”
Qingli gritted her teeth. He was so arrogant. Well, he was the emperor, so he had the right to be arrogant.
Seeing that she wasn’t saying anything, Nangong Yan said, “Miss Qingli, don’t you find me familiar?”
Qingli was taken aback and felt a pang of unease. “What do you mean?”
Nangong Yan stared intently into her eyes, “Perhaps we have met before?”
Qingli met his dark, deep gaze, refusing to show weakness. With a blank expression, she said, “You’re the emperor. Do you really need to chat up a woman like this?”
Seeing that there was no emotion in her eyes, Nangong Yan frowned. He recalled the results of his subordinates’ investigation. He had initially focused on Su Qingyue, but she had never left Nanyang City. This Qingli, on the other hand, was extremely mysterious, so mysterious that nothing could be found about her.
Moreover, when he carefully compared her features with Su Qingyue’s, he noticed a striking similarity. If Qingli were to wear a veil, she might resemble Su Qingyue even more.
Nangong Yan’s eyes fixed on Qingli’s brows and eyes.
Then, he said calmly, “Four years ago, someone tried to poison me. I think that person might have resembled you, Miss Qingli.”
Qingli’s body stiffened, and she forced a smile. “Who would be so audacious as to poison the emperor? They must have a death wish. Your Majesty, you should investigate thoroughly. Once you find them, sentence them to death.”
Qingli feigned indignation.
Nangong Yan looked at her deeply, but he didn’t say anything further. Qingli was about to leave, but then she heard him say, “Do you know who the man you just pushed into the water is?”
Qingli felt awkward. It was embarrassing to be caught using underhanded tactics.
She shook her head, “I don’t know who he is. He kept bothering me, like a lecher. I had no choice but to teach him a lesson. Besides, I told him that his fortune was unfavorable today and he shouldn’t go out. It’s his fault for not listening. It’s his destiny.”
Nangong Yan said, “He’s Nangong Rui, the Prince of Xian’s Manor. He’s my cousin.”
Qingli said coldly, “So? You want to avenge him?”
Seeing her face instantly turn cold, Nangong Yan found it amusing. This woman’s facial expressions changed faster than a flip of a page.
“No, I just wanted to remind you that if you offend the Prince of Xian’s Manor, you might not have a good time.”
Qingli had never feared anyone. She simply said, “Thank you for reminding me, but I’m not afraid. Who will make who suffer is yet to be seen!”
Qingli turned to leave, but then she saw a drenched Nangong Rui standing behind her. Their eyes met, and Nangong Rui squeezed out a smile, “I thought you had left.”
“Your Majesty,” Nangong Rui greeted upon seeing Nangong Yan behind Qingli.
Qingli glanced at the ends of the bridge; it was annoying to have both of them blocking her way.
She changed direction and walked towards Nangong Yan, passing him and heading down the bridge to leave.
Nangong Rui wanted to call her to stop, but upon meeting the emperor’s gaze, he swallowed his words.
After Qingli left, Nangong Rui respectfully approached the emperor. “Your Majesty, why did you leave the palace? Is there something I can assist you with?”
Nangong Yan glanced at him with disdain, noting his damp and disheveled appearance, which was quite embarrassing.
“How do you know Qingli?” Nangong Yan asked.
Nangong Rui’s eyes lit up. “Her name is Qingli? Your Majesty, you know her?”
Nangong Yan frowned. The fact that Nangong Rui didn’t even know her name confirmed Qingli’s words; he was indeed pestering her.
With this in mind, Nangong Yan’s tone turned colder. “She is not someone you can pursue. If I see you bothering her again, I suggest you keep your mouth shut forever.”
Nangong Rui looked at the emperor in shock, unable to believe what he had just heard.
Could it be that the emperor had taken a liking to this Qingli? Was that why he forbade him from pursuing her?
Realizing this, Nangong Rui felt astonished! For years, the emperor had shown no interest in women; his harem was empty. Now, it seemed he had found someone he liked.
With this thought, Nangong Rui dared not have any more ideas about Qingli. In truth, he was merely entertained by the situation, but now that he knew she was someone the emperor favored, he felt he couldn’t entertain those thoughts any longer.
Nangong Rui nodded repeatedly. “Yes, Your Majesty, the next time I see her, I will definitely be respectful and will not dare to provoke her again.”
Hearing this, Nangong Yan lightly nodded before leaving.
Once the emperor was gone, Nangong Rui hurried back to share the news with his family.
When the Princess of Xian learned that the emperor had taken an interest in someone who looked exactly like Su Qingyue, she was equally shocked!
She suddenly recalled that the Su family had given birth to identical twins. It was said that one of the baby girls had died, but nobody knew the details of how it happened. During that time, Madam Su was deeply saddened and rarely left her home. Eventually, the Su family gradually moved past the shadow of losing a child.
That was over twenty years ago, so the Princess of Xian didn’t remember the details very clearly.
Now, with someone who looked exactly like Su Qingyue appearing, it was indeed puzzling.
The next morning, the Princess of Xian visited the Su residence.
When Madam Su heard from her servants that the Princess had come, she was somewhat puzzled. Why was the Princess here? Was it another proposal?
Both the Prince of Xian and the Prince of An had come to propose before, and Madam Su had never outright rejected them but also hadn’t agreed, as she was still hesitating and had not decided which family to choose. Now that the Princess had come again, Madam Su surmised that the Prince of Xian must be impatient and had come to court her again.
Regardless of the Princess’s intentions, Madam Su couldn’t refuse to meet her, so she hurriedly changed her clothes and went out to greet her.
Meanwhile, Su Qingyue, who had been confined in her courtyard, learned that the Princess had come to visit.
Fearing that her mother might agree to something rashly, Su Qingyue felt quite nervous and hurried to the front hall.