Chapter 181: These Two Annoying Things!

When Princess Consort Hui heard her children had been injured, she, unable to leave the palace herself, stormed in to demand justice from the Emperor. She wanted him to pass judgment on the outrageous Xuanyang, but to her surprise, not only did the Emperor refuse to help, he was swayed by Xuanyang after just a few words.

"Your Majesty!"

Princess Consort Hui was trembling with rage. She seethed, "I see it clearly now. Your Majesty is just playing favorites with her! Is there no justice, no law in this world anymore?!"

Xiao Li casually found a seat and sat down. "The Emperor *is* the law, and he’s sitting right in front of you. Is Princess Consort Hui dissatisfied with my brother? Do you wish for the laws of this land to bend to your will?"

Prince Wei suddenly chimed in like an echo. "Exactly! His Majesty is the law!"

Xiao Li sneered. "And you want justice? This is the first I’ve heard of someone going to another’s home to stir up trouble, getting beaten for it, and then having the audacity to demand justice."

"Exactly, exactly," Prince Wei added.

"Going to someone’s home to provoke them when you don’t have the skills to back it up," Xiao Li continued. "What’s laughable is that you got beaten for it. What’s even more laughable is that after getting beaten, you still have the nerve to tattle. It’s an absolute disgrace!"

Prince Wei nodded vigorously. "Mhm, mhm, mhm!"

Princess Consort Hui looked as if she might die from sheer rage. "You... you... This is outrageous! Simply outrageous!"

After Princess Consort Hui stormed off in a rage, Xiao Jingyi sidled up to Xiao Li. "Imperial Sister, they’ll definitely retaliate."

Xiao Li was full of confidence. "What’s there to be afraid of? We have our brother to protect us. It’s not like they can rebel, can they? Right, Brother?"

The Emperor: "..." He was so tired.

’These two troublesome brats!’

Xuanyang was a hedgehog now—anyone who provoked her got pricked. It would be one thing if she just threw tantrums, but she was also reckless with her own life.

If you tried to beat her or punish her, she’d just run off. And as for killing her? It hadn’t come to that.

The main thing was Xiao Li’s attitude—she would defy the heavens and the earth, yet she respected him, her brother, and him alone. This special treatment made the Emperor feel an odd sense of authority and importance. He even felt an indescribable, addictive pleasure at being acknowledged by her.

He subconsciously felt that he ought to be a good older brother. (In other words: he’d been brainwashed.)

Never mind Xuanyang. Prince Wei used to be so obedient. No, wait, he was still obedient—he just obeyed Xuanyang now, joining her in all her nonsense.

But on second thought, there was a reason for all this. The Prince Yanping siblings had suffered at Xuanyang’s hands so many times, yet they still kept coming back for more. They were truly asking for a beating.

’Very good. I’ve convinced myself.’

The Emperor pressed his forehead. "Could you two just settle down a little?"

Xiao Li and Xiao Jingyi sat obediently, the very picture of "settled down."

The sight left the Emperor utterly exhausted, body and soul.

"Xuanyang, how is your selection of men coming along? I heard you picked out seven people. Have you decided who you’ll ultimately keep?"

Xiao Li said, "I was just about to talk to you about that, Brother. I want to keep all seven."

The Emperor was so shocked he sat bolt upright. "What do you mean?"

Xiao Li leaned in close. "Brother, you have to help me with this."

The Emperor gritted his teeth in anger. "And you’re asking *me* for help?"

Xiao Li sighed. "None of them have any experience as officials. I want to place them in various departments to learn. I can only make use of them once they’re properly trained."

The Emperor’s face turned green. He took a deep breath. "Why... why do your male consorts need to go study in all the different departments? What is there in my ministries for them to learn?"

Until this moment, the Emperor had still been under the impression that Xiao Li was choosing male consorts.

Xiao Li understood. She widened her eyes, feigning innocence. "But if I don’t have them study, how can they help me manage my fiefdom properly?"

"What did you say?" The Emperor thought he had misheard. "Fiefdom? What fiefdom?"

Xiao Li said, "The one you gave me, Brother. I’m planning to go visit my fiefdom for a while in a few days. I’m just getting some people ready so that if I see an official I don’t like, I can replace them."

The Emperor felt his heart drop. His anger vanished, replaced by a sudden, chilling calm.

"You held that talent banquet for *this*?"

Xiao Li replied, "What else?"

She then gave a wicked smile. "Actually, these men are quite excellent. If you don’t agree, Brother, I suppose I could just keep them as my male consorts."

"Don’t!"

The Emperor quickly raised a hand. "Give me the list. I’ll make the arrangements. I’ll make sure they study hard and take up their posts as soon as possible."

Xiao Li wore a regretful expression. "Then I must thank you, Brother."

How could the Emperor not see she was faking it? But he had no choice but to agree. If she really kept them as male consorts, that would be a disaster!

"The matter with Prince Yanping and Jia Ruo still isn’t resolved. If you didn’t welcome them, you could have just thrown them out. Why did you have to be so heavy-handed?"

Xiao Li said, "Yes, Brother, you are right to lecture me. Next time I see them, I’ll just throw them out."

The Emperor slammed the table. "Fix your attitude! Don’t just pay me lip service."

Xiao Li frowned in deep thought. "Then how about you give them some gifts to appease them, Brother?"

The Emperor was about to ask why he should, but Xiao Li immediately gave him a reason. "I certainly won’t be the one to send gifts, and even if I did, they wouldn’t accept them. But if you reward them, Brother, they will surely be grateful to you. And if they still cause a fuss, you can just punish me with a month of confinement or something. It would be good for them to feel like justice has been served."

The Emperor: "...Get out!"

Xiao Li promptly got out, with Prince Wei following her like a shadow, never leaving her side.

The Emperor watched the two of them, his heart aching with frustration. They were useless when it came to helping, but they were number one when it came to causing trouble.

He glanced down and saw the imperial edict beside him. He had been so preoccupied with his anger that he’d forgotten about arranging the marriage.

But now, he felt this marriage couldn’t be rushed.

’Of the two men I chose, Su Ziqi was indeed selected by Xuanyang. But looking at it from another angle, can anyone chosen by Xuanyang truly be reliable?’

’This marriage absolutely cannot be decreed.’

---

Xiao Li left in such a hurry that she nearly crashed right into someone’s arms.

The person reached out to steady her, but then took half a step back. "Forgive me, Princess."

Xiao Li’s gaze fell upon him. Lou Yan kept his head lowered, his posture one of respectful distance.

Xiao Jingyi stepped forward. Seeing it was Lou Yan, he quickly waved a hand. "It’s fine. You’re dismissed."

He then quickly pulled Xiao Li away. ’That Lou Yan is so gloomy. Just looking at him gives me the creeps.’

The brother and sister walked along the path out of the palace. The moon was a half-circle tonight, but it was exceptionally bright, illuminating everything around them with clarity.

Xiao Jingyi hurried to catch up with Xiao Li and walk beside her. "Imperial Sister, are you really going to your fiefdom?"

Xiao Li said, "I’ve grown tired of the Capital City. I want to get out and stretch my legs."

Xiao Jingyi asked, "Then... will you come back, Imperial Sister?"

Xiao Li glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Why wouldn’t I?"

Xiao Jingyi smiled. "As long as you come back. You’re the one who pampers me the most now, Imperial Sister. If you go to your fiefdom and don’t return, I’ll die of a broken heart."

Xiao Li smiled but didn’t say anything.

The two of them walked to the palace gates together. Rong Qing was waiting with a carriage, and people from the Wei Prince Mansion had also arrived.

Just before they parted, Xiao Li said softly, "You’re a pretty good actor, little brat. But don’t get too lost in your role. You might end up fooling yourself."

With that said, she climbed into her carriage without a backward glance.

Xiao Jingyi stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly as the Princess Mansion’s carriage departed. The hand hidden in his sleeve clenched and then relaxed.

"Imperial Sister... you’re not me. How do you know it’s all an act...?"