Chapter 710: Putting Up Her Hair

Princess Ningyang then asked about another matter.

“Now that the fighting has stopped, shouldn’t it be time to reopen the city gates?”

Keeping the city gates sealed wasn’t a long-term solution. It could easily cause panic among the populace.

Li Ji had other plans for this and replied casually, “Let’s wait a little longer.”

Ah Qi was still hiding in the city. Once the gates were reopened, he would have a chance to slip out.

Therefore, Li Ji had to root out Ah Qi before reopening the gates.

Princess Ningyang asked again, “What about Xun’er? When do you plan to bring him back?”

‘Li Ji actually didn’t want to bring Gou Dan back so soon. Once Gou Dan returned, he and Manman wouldn’t be able to have their time alone together. That little brat would definitely do everything he could to steal Manman’s attention. So annoying!’

But he couldn’t just leave Gou Dan outside the city, either. After all, Manman would worry.

Li Ji replied reluctantly.

“I’ll send someone to get him later.”

Princess Ningyang looked at him helplessly. “Xun’er is your only son. You should be nicer to him.”

Li Ji retorted, “Am I not good to him?”

Princess Ningyang said irritably.

“You should ask yourself that. Look at you right now. When you mention Xun’er, you don’t sound like you’re talking about your son. You sound more like you’re talking about a love rival. The impatience is written all over your face. I can’t even pretend not to see it.”

‘In some ways,’ Li Ji thought, ‘Gou Dan is even more annoying than a love rival.’

He gave a perfunctory reply, “Is that so?”

Princess Ningyang made small talk with him for a little while longer before getting up to leave.

Li Ji asked out of politeness, “Grandaunt, won’t you stay for lunch before you go?”

Princess Ningyang looked at him with a smile.

“Not bad. You actually know to ask someone to stay for a meal now?”

She knew it was just a polite pleasantry, but for Li Ji, who had always done as he pleased, to take the initiative to say such a thing was extremely rare.

For once, Li Ji showed a trace of discomfort.

He gave a light cough to cover it up. “You’ve helped me a great deal. It’s only right that I thank you.”

Princess Ningyang’s smile grew even more benevolent.

“Your grandmother and I were childhood best friends, and I watched your birth father grow up. Now that they’re gone, it’s only right that I look after you a little more in their stead.”

She paused, then couldn’t help but offer a few more words of advice.

“You’re doing well now, and you should continue like this in the future. Try not to be so blunt. Allow others to save face, even if it’s just through surface-level pleasantries. It’s not that I want you to become shrewd and worldly. I just hope you’ll see more of the good in this world and stop being as extreme as you used to be.”

Li Ji replied earnestly, “I understand.”

Seeing that he was able to take her words to heart, Princess Ningyang was very gratified.

She stood up with the help of her maidservant.

“I’ll skip the meal. I was busy all last night and feel quite exhausted. I want to go back and get some proper rest.”

At this, she couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

“I’m getting old, after all. My body isn’t what it used to be. I remember when I was your age, I could pull an all-nighter and feel just fine.”

Li Ji looked at her graying hair and her eyes, which were slightly bloodshot from lack of sleep. He thought about how, at her advanced age, she still had to toil and worry over his affairs, nearly losing her life in the process. A wave of guilt washed over him, followed by a profound sense of being moved.

He used to stubbornly believe that everyone in the world was cold and heartless, that not even his closest kin were worthy of trust.

Only now did he understand that he had been blinded by hatred, unable to see the kindness of those around him.

He said nothing but took the initiative to step forward and support Princess Ningyang’s arm.

Seeing this, Princess Ningyang was startled for a moment, then she broke into a smile.

Li Ji helped her walk out of the Regent Prince Mansion.

Just before she boarded her carriage, Princess Ningyang brought up Mu Qing.

“Fortunately, she was treated in time, and Mu Qing’s life has been saved. But the residual poison hasn’t been completely purged from her system. She’s still weak and needs a period of quiet recuperation.”

“I had someone bring Mu Qing to the Princess Mansion. For now, she’ll stay with me to recover. Once she’s fully healed, I’ll ask her where she wants to go.”

Princess Ningyang actually wanted to keep Mu Qing by her side, but she was afraid Mu Qing wouldn’t want to stay, so in the end, it would all depend on Mu Qing’s own wishes.

Li Ji nodded, indicating that he understood.

After seeing Princess Ningyang off, Li Ji ordered someone to summon Li Liao.

He gave Li Liao two tasks.

“Pick a few men to bring Gou Dan home. Also, issue a command for a city-wide bounty on the prince of the Western Liang Country, Xiao Qi. Anyone who provides a clue will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver. Anyone who captures him alive will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver.”

Li Liao knew that the Xiao Qi he mentioned was Ah Qi and immediately replied.

“I’ll see to it at once.”

Last night, because of Ah Qi’s secret machinations, the Xuanjia Army and the Celestial Capital’s garrison almost came to blows.

If that battle had actually broken out, who knows how many people would have died.

Every time he thought about it, Li Liao would grind his teeth in hatred. That brat had to be taught a harsh lesson!

Manman slept until high noon.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the man sitting silently by her bed and was stunned for a moment.

“How long have you been sitting there?”

“Not long,” Li Ji replied.

Hua Manman looked at him skeptically. “Really?”

‘She had a strong suspicion this dog of a man had been sitting there staring at her for a long time.’

‘It was exactly the kind of thing he would do!’

Hearing her inner thoughts, Li Ji raised an eyebrow slightly. “Are you cursing me in your head again?”

Hua Manman touched her nose. She had almost forgotten he had the Mind Reading Technique.

She quickly changed the subject.

“I’m hungry.”

Li Ji didn’t pursue the matter of her calling him a “dog of a man” in her head. He reached out to help her sit up and said, “I’ve already asked the kitchen to prepare lunch. Do you want to eat here, or in the dining hall?”

Hua Manman said without hesitation.

“Here.”

Li Ji knew she was just too lazy to move. He smiled silently. “Alright.”

Si Yun placed a low table on the bed, and she and Qing Huan filled it with steaming, fragrant dishes.

Because Manman’s body was still rather weak, the dishes the kitchen prepared for her were all relatively light and easy to digest.

Li Ji personally ladled a bowl of chicken soup for Manman.

“Have some soup first.”

Hua Manman took the bowl and began to drink it with relish.

As she lowered her head, her long hair slipped over her shoulder, getting in the way.

Li Ji had someone bring a jade hairpin and personally tied up Manman’s hair for her.

His well-defined fingers combed through her jet-black hair, gathering it bit by bit into a simple bun. Then, he gently inserted the jade hairpin to hold it in place.

The man lowered his gaze to look at Manman. Seeing her still focused on her soup, a gentle smile bloomed in his eyes.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon the two of them, bathing them in a soft, pale golden light.

From a distance, it looked as if the two of them were glowing.

Si Yun and Qing Huan, who were standing in attendance nearby, couldn’t help but hold their breath at the sight, afraid of disturbing the beautiful scene.