Chapter 722: Competition

A joyful atmosphere filled the Regent Prince Mansion.

But Chen Wangbei rushed over at that moment.

He ignored the unibrow on the Regent King’s face, cupped his fist in salute, and spoke gravely.

“Your Highness, we’ve found the Xiliang prince.”

The smile on Li Ji’s face faded quickly.

He said to Manman, “I’ll be right back.”

Manman could guess what he was about to do. She quickly grabbed his sleeve, leaned in, and whispered a warning.

“I know you despise Ah Qi, but he is a Xiliang prince. If he dies in Tianjing, the Emperor of Xiliang will certainly not let the matter rest.”

Considering Xiliang’s predatory attitude toward Great Zhou, the Emperor of Xiliang would likely use this as a pretext to declare war.

Great Zhou had just endured a war and was in the critical transition between the old and new dynasties. Neither the court nor the common people could afford another conflict.

The wisest course of action now was to reduce friction and stabilize the morale of the people.

Li Ji took her hand, stared into her eyes, and asked, enunciating each word.

“Are you pleading for that guy?”

Hua Manman retorted irritably, “You know that’s not what I mean!”

Li Ji’s lips curved into a smile. “Don’t worry. I know what to do.”

But Hua Manman was still worried.

Everyone said the Regent King was vindictive and would seek revenge for the smallest slight. While that might be an exaggeration, he was certainly not a magnanimous man.

Manman was afraid he would act on impulse and kill Ah Qi.

Ah Qi’s death alone wasn’t a big deal, but provoking a dispute between two nations and starting a war would be a catastrophe.

She squeezed Li Ji’s hand and said softly.

“Ah Qi may deserve to die, but in the end, he did choose to let go. Spare his life.”

Li Ji scoffed, “Even if he hadn’t let go, he couldn’t have taken you away.”

Hua Manman swayed his hand, her voice soft.

“Please?”

This coquettish gesture should have been cute, but paired with the two thick, black, caterpillar-like eyebrows on her face, it instantly became a train wreck. Li Ji couldn’t help but want to laugh.

But he had to maintain a serious expression as he reminded her.

“That man has ill intentions toward you, yet you’re pleading for him. Manman, I’m a man. How could I not be jealous?”

Hua Manman took the hint. Her expression changed in an instant, and she cursed angrily.

“A despicable scoundrel like Ah Qi isn’t even worth dirtying Your Highness’s hands to kill! Let him live out his miserable life for a few more years. Once Great Zhou is stable, we can hang him up and beat him senseless!”

These words pleased Li Ji immensely.

He asked pretentiously, “If I listen to my dear Princess Consort, what’s in it for me?”

Manman blinked. “What do you want?”

Li Ji leaned down and whispered something in her ear.

After he finished, Manman couldn’t help but look astonished.

“Are you sure you want to do that?”

Li Ji pressed close to her ear and murmured, “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Will you agree?”

Hua Manman replied without hesitation.

“Alright.”

Li Ji turned his head and kissed her on the cheek. “Then it’s settled. No backing out.”

After Li Ji and Chen Wangbei left, Li Xun immediately scurried to his mother’s side and asked nervously.

“Mother, what did Father just say to you? Did he take the opportunity to make some outrageous demand? If he did, you mustn’t agree to it!”

Hua Manman ruffled his hair and said with a beaming smile.

“Your father told me he wants to hold another wedding ceremony. He wants to marry me with the rites befitting an Empress.”

Li Xun was surprised. “But aren’t you and Father already married? Why have another wedding?”

“It’s a long story.”

Hua Manman led her son over to a pavilion to sit down and slowly recounted what had happened back then.

Back then, in order to make her his main wife, Li Ji had faked his own death to deceive the Emperor.

Although he got his wish in the end, the process was filled with many regrets.

The biggest regret was having that boy, Li Ying, perform the wedding ceremony with Manman in his place.

Even though Li Ying was now as dead as could be, that incident remained a thorn in Li Ji’s side. Every time he thought of it, he felt deeply displeased.

Truly his father’s son, Li Xun immediately exclaimed after hearing the story.

“How could Mother perform the wedding ceremony with another man?!”

Hua Manman gave an embarrassed laugh. “It was just a stopgap measure. It wasn’t for real.”

Despite her words, Li Xun was still very unhappy about it.

He clenched his small fists, secretly determined to make sure his mother and father’s wedding was a magnificent affair this time!

In the future, when people thought of his mother, the image of her grand wedding with Li Ji would automatically come to mind, completely erasing the memory of Li Ying performing the ceremony with her.

…

Following the Regent King’s orders, the Xuanjia Army captured a disguised Ah Qi at the home of a wealthy merchant.

Ah Qi thought he would be thrown into a dungeon, but instead, he was taken to a training ground.

This training ground was where the city’s Patrol Soldiers held their daily drills. The area was very spacious, and it even had a fighting arena for martial arts competitions.

At that moment, Li Ji was standing in the arena, watching the Patrol Soldiers practice their moves in the distance.

Ah Qi was thrown down below the arena.

Hearing the commotion, Li Ji turned, his gaze sweeping over Ah Qi.

Ah Qi’s hands and feet were bound. He wore the clothes of a Great Zhou man, his hair was styled in the same fashion, and with makeup on his face, he really did look like one of the Great Zhou people at first glance.

He looked up at Li Ji and asked in perfect Great Zhou official dialect.

“Is Manman okay?”

Those three simple words successfully struck Li Ji’s biggest nerve, and his gaze turned icy in an instant.

He narrowed his eyes, murderous intent flaring within him.

Remembering Manman’s warning, Li Ji did his best to suppress his murderous intent and said coldly.

“None of your damn business.”

As if he hadn’t noticed the other’s killing intent, Ah Qi continued speaking on his own.

“Manman is a wonderful person. If you dare fail her, I will definitely kill you.”

Li Ji sneered disdainfully. “Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to say such things to me?”

Ah Qi retorted, “The only reason Manman chose you is because she met you first. If I had met her before you did, I would be the one with her now.”

Li Ji laughed out loud as if he had just heard a hilarious joke.

“You? You think far too highly of yourself.”

Ah Qi said, “I’m just speaking the truth. If you don’t believe me, we can fight.”

Li Ji replied, “And why should I fight you?”

Ah Qi shot back, “Are you scared?”

Li Ji’s smile slowly vanished.

“I know you’re trying to provoke me, but it doesn’t matter. Men, untie him.”

Chen Wangbei was a little worried. “Your Highness, this man is highly skilled. It took us a great deal of effort to capture him.”

Li Ji gave him a cool glance.

That single glance was enough to make Chen Wangbei shut his mouth.

He walked to the area below the arena and untied the ropes binding Ah Qi.

Chen Wangbei rested his hand on the hilt of the saber at his waist, secretly on high alert. If Ah Qi dared to run, he could draw his blade in an instant.

However, Ah Qi didn’t even spare Chen Wangbei a glance. He leaped into the arena.

He didn’t grab any weapon. Raising his bare fists, he swung viciously at Li Ji!