Starting with Intercepting and Marrying the Eldest Princess - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: “You Are Indeed Coveting This Princess’s Body…”

Ever since Xie Ning and Pei Shujing’s relationship evolved from cooperative partners to cooperative lip partners, Xie Ning was immersed in a daily sea of happiness.

Couldn’t kiss enough!

Truly couldn’t kiss enough!

Heaven knew why Pei Shujing’s lips were cool and had a jelly-like texture.

“Woman… your name is desire,” Xiaoyu silently complained.

That’s right, Xiaoyu and Xiaozhu had also arrived.

After all, she and Pei Shujing couldn’t return to the capital anytime soon.

Now that they had finally grasped the thirty thousand Zhennan Army soldiers, how could they possibly return to the capital?

Moreover, a Grand Princess in the Northern Frontier was more likely to strike fear into the Great Xia court than a Grand Princess in the capital.

And to sweep across the realm, thirty thousand Zhennan Army soldiers were far from enough; they had to expand.

They needed to develop their own troops, their own provisions, and their own populace.

It must be said that the foundation left behind by the Zhenbei Army was excellent, enough for the Zhennan Army to smoothly take over all the surrounding forces.

Li Yi, the Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Zhenbei, arrived with Xiaozhu and Xiaoyu.

Xie Ning had previously been puzzled as to why the Marquis of Zhenbei would agree to the mutual rotation of the North and South armies.

Why did the Marquis of Zhenbei, possessing a hundred thousand troops, not harbor any special ambitions himself?

When she saw Li Yi up close, she understood.

She also understood what Pei Shujing meant when she said, “You are not alone in this world.”

The heroes of the world were as numerous as fish crossing the river.

No one would have expected that the Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Zhenbei, the Young Marquis of the Zhenbei Army, would be a woman.

Just as Li Yi also hadn’t expected that the Imperial Son-in-Law of the Great Xia Grand Princess, the Commander of the Vermillion Bird Camp, the mastermind of the Chengtian Gate Incident, the one who killed a Grand Secretary and intimidated the Emperor, was also a woman.

“Stop, stop, stop. If you keep complimenting me like this, I might really float up to the sky.”

Xie Ning was a bit speechless. Where did all those titles come from? She wasn’t collecting all the achievements in Great Xia Online.

Li Yi laughed heartily.

“There are few people in this world that I admire. From today on, I must add you, Sister Ning.”

Pei Shujing narrowed her eyes and glared fiercely at Xie Ning.

Xie Ning was numb.

She quickly changed the subject and sighed: “The Marquis’s profound intentions…”

Li Yi slowly nodded and said solemnly: “Indeed. Father placed his bet on Her Highness to ensure that his daughter could one day stand openly in the court and openly lead the Zhenbei Army to guard the frontier.”

Speaking of this, Li Yi smiled: “Sister Ning, I am already looking forward to the day Her Highness ascends the throne, and we restore our true identities. What kind of storm will sweep across the world then.”

Please stop calling me Sister Ning.

She didn’t know what kind of storm would sweep across the world, but she knew what kind of storm she would face after Li Yi left.

Ever since her relationship with Pei Shujing began to change, Pei Shujing didn’t even bother to pretend anymore.

If she passed a female kitten, Pei Shujing would still ask an extra question.

Xie Ning forced a smile and changed the subject again: “How is the capital now?”

Li Yi was also somewhat puzzled: “I can’t fully grasp the situation in the capital at the moment. According to the news I’ve heard, the Emperor suddenly fell ill, and the Empress is overseeing court matters, with state affairs jointly managed by the Empress and Consort Wan.”

Good heavens, a double moon in the sky!

How did Wan’er manage that?

Didn’t the Empress know her identity?

Pei Shujing nodded: “Quite good.”

Li Yi couldn’t see through it only because he didn’t know Wan’er’s true identity.

However, neither Pei Shujing nor Xie Ning explained it to Li Yi.

It was the same principle: they could reveal their own secrets to anyone, but they would not arbitrarily increase the risk by disclosing someone else’s identity without that person’s consent.

Even though Pei Shujing had orchestrated the entire affair.

Li Yi took an Imperial Edict from his bosom: “I have another mission this time, which is to bring the Imperial Edict for Her Highness’s ennoblement as a Prince.”

Pei Shujing took the Edict directly, sinking into contemplation as she looked at the three words “Ennobled as Prince Xia” on it.

“Prince Xia?”

Xie Ning was also startled.

The title is the same as the dynastic name?

How could this be?

Would the Emperor agree?

Would the officials agree?

“In fact, this was initiated by Grand Secretary Wang Yan, with officials submitting memorials, and approved by the Empress and Consort Wan.”

Li Yi saw their confusion and proactively explained.

“Before I left, Grand Secretary Wang gave me five words to relay to Her Highness—Yielding is better than seizing.”

Xie Ning immediately understood.

Wang Yan’s meaning was that if the Grand Princess wished to ascend the throne later, she should not brutally seize it, as that would ultimately cause turmoil in Great Xia. The best method would be abdication, where the Emperor peacefully transitions the imperial throne to the Grand Princess. This would significantly reduce resistance from the realm.

After all, the Grand Princess was also a member of the Pei family. Being too heavy-handed would draw criticism.

To appease the Grand Princess, the court officials bestowed the title of Prince Xia upon Pei Shujing.

It served both as a test and a declaration of their stance.

To be honest, the method proposed by the old man Wang Yan might have involved some personal motives, but it was undeniably the best choice from any perspective.

But would Pei Shujing forgive the Emperor so easily?

Xie Ning couldn’t guess.

However, Xie Ning knew that whatever choice Pei Shujing made, she would wholeheartedly assist her.

Li Yi left. He still had to rush to the Southern Frontier. Going through all this hardship just to see them once—even Pei Shujing was somewhat moved.

Li Yi sat on horseback, his laughter hearty: “There’s no need for such sentimentality. It’s just a detour. Moreover, after this exchange with Her Highness and Sister Ning, I wouldn’t mind circling back a couple more times.”

“Your Highness, Sister Ning, the mountains are high and the roads are long. I believe we won’t see each other again for some time unless something major happens. The best outcome is for the three of us to meet in the capital.”

Xie Ning nodded firmly: “See you in the capital.”

“Haha.” Li Yi spurred his horse away. “Your Highness, Sister Ning, please take care!”

Xie Ning watched the retreating figures of Li Yi and his hundred Zhenbei Army riders, her heart inevitably stirred.

Even having only met Li Yi this once, and though the meeting was brief, Xie Ning was impressed by Li Yi’s personal charisma.

“If you hate to see him go, you can chase after him, Sister Ning.”

Amidst the sympathetic glances of Xiaoyu and Xiaozhu, Xie Ning followed Pei Shujing into the room with her head bowed.

Pei Shujing didn’t change her clothes. She lay sideways on the bed, propping her head up with her arm, and said lazily: “You and Li Yi seem to have a good relationship, don’t you?”

“That’s not true! Slander!”

Pei Shujing chuckled.

Xie Ning continued to argue: “Your Highness, you know I only met Li Yi this one time. The seemingly good relationship is just courtesy.”

“Is that really so?”

“I swear to the heavens! If I’m lying, may I, Xie Jing, die a terrible death!”

“Stop being a smooth talker!” Pei Shujing scolded.

Xie Ning sat up obediently, batting her large eyes, waiting for Pei Shujing’s command.

Pei Shujing frowned: “What are you waiting for?”

“Nothing, I’m not waiting for anything. Why would Your Highness think that?”

Pei Shujing remained silent, staring intently at the seemingly well-behaved Xie Ning.

After a long time, Xie Ning coughed twice.

“I feel that I didn’t embarrass Your Highness in front of Li Yi today. Your Highness should give an appropriate reward.”

Pei Shujing scoffed coldly, staring at her: “You are indeed coveting this Princess’s body.”

“…Uh… Your Highness, firstly, you are now Prince Xia. Although it hasn’t been publicly announced, you can try referring to yourself as ‘this Prince’ (ben wang).”

“Secondly, Your Highness… I feel that the progress between Your Highness and me is a bit slow. At the moment, it’s only a ‘lip friendship.’ It’s not unreasonable for me to want to be more intimate with Your Highness, is it?”

“Pure friendship (chun youyi)?”

Pei Shujing narrowed her eyes, repeating the words one by one.

Xie Ning immediately felt a sense of dread and quickly explained: “Lip of the mouth’s lip, ‘lip friendship’…”

Pei Shujing sneered: “Where do you learn all these nonsense things?”

Xie Ning nodded obediently: “Then is Your Highness willing to deepen our friendship?”

Pei Shujing casually crooked her finger: “Then will you be obedient?”

“Obedient.”

“If you’re obedient, go out and play.”

Xie Ning: ???

Pei Shujing yawned and said: “I’m sleepy. You figure out what to do.”

Xie Ning sighed. It seemed the friendship deepening plan wouldn’t happen today: “Sleepy? Then Your Highness, you rest first. I’ll come back and wake you up later.”

With that, she got up and walked toward the door.

“Come back.”

Xie Ning turned back. Pei Shujing, with her eyes already closed, patted the empty space on the bed: “Lie here.”

“Huh?”

“What? Reluctant?”

“You said it!”

“Mm, I said it. Come.”

Xie Ning climbed onto the bed, lay down on the inner side, and stared blankly at the ceiling for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Suddenly, she turned and embraced Pei Shujing.

Pei Shujing felt the warmth coming from behind her and mocked: “I thought you could pretend for longer.”

Xie Ning hugged Pei Shujing’s slender waist and held her distinctly jointed small hand. She suddenly felt a little ungrateful.

Who was Pei Shujing?

The Grand Princess of a dynasty, now Prince Xia, and potentially the Empress in the future.

This highly esteemed Pei Shujing, she could hug her however she wanted, and kiss her however she wanted.

Then, thinking that this wonderful body belonged only to her, Xie Ning’s breathing suddenly became rapid.

Pei Shujing waited for a moment and didn’t hear a response from the person behind her. She frowned.

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

“Xie Ning…”

“I told you to speak!”

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Xie Ning flipped Pei Shujing over onto her back. Feeling the rapid breathing of the person beside her, Pei Shujing suddenly felt a bit flustered.

“This Prince… Mh!”

Xie Ning used her lips to block the words Pei Shujing was about to say.

Pei Shujing’s body went soft. As their lips and teeth intertwined, her arms involuntarily wrapped around Xie Ning’s neck.

Xie Ning slightly lifted her lips, savoring the sweet scent of the person beneath her.

“…Your Highness.”

“…Mm.”

“Can you refer to yourself as ‘Zhen’ (the Emperor’s term for I)?”

Pei Shujing sneered: “Are you a pervert?”

“…I am a pervert, so can Your Highness refer to herself as ‘Zhen’?”

“No.”

Xie Ning pecked the beautiful, tempting red lips, her voice husky: “…Why?”

“This Prince (Ben Wang)…”

“Enough.”

“Mh?!!!”

A quarter of an hour later, Xie Ning was kicked off the bed.

Pei Shujing glared angrily at the person. Her tongue was numb from the intensity.

Xie Ning smiled awkwardly and climbed back onto the bed.

Pei Shujing didn’t stop her and leaned against Xie Ning’s chest again.

“Only sleeping, understood?”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

“Then what are your dog paws doing?” Pei Shujing slapped her hard.

Xie Ning retracted her hand. After a while, she secretly reached out again.

Pei Shujing, without opening her eyes, slapped her again.

A little while later, Xie Ning didn’t reach out this time.

Pei Shujing still slapped her.

“If you dare to move again, you’re dead.”

“If I dare to move again, I’m dead.”

“…Put your hands up!”

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