Chapter 805: Chapter 803: So, what’s your plan?
“Despicable!” Xia Ningxing clenched her fists tightly, her face slightly twisted in anger as she glared at him, as if trying to bore two bloody holes through him with her stare.
For a prince of his stature to threaten a weak woman like this!
“Well cursed!” He suddenly laughed, not a laugh of anger or sarcasm, but one that ca from the heart.
“…” Xia Ningxing was stunned and speechless.
Could it be that this man has lost his mind, actually enjoying being cursed by others?
Seeming to perceive her puzzlent, Lu Tingli explained, “This prince simply prefers to hear the truth, Xia Ningxing, you have truly captured my interest.”
He had never felt that any woman could attract his attention as she did, even kindling a desire to understand her more.
Xia Ningxing offered a false smile, “Then I hope the prince will keep hold of his heart, for this lady will certainly not fall for you!”
Love?
Lu Tingli told her coldly to the extre: “You flatter yourself too much. I will not love anyone, especially not you, never in this lifeti!”
It’s true that he was interested in her, but only in terms of how such a rustic girl could craft such exquisite and lethal weapons.
As for love, how could an emperor let himself be entangled by such emotions?
Xia Ningxing: “…”
Lu Tingli gave her another dose of harsh reality: “Xia Ningxing, I can see the hatred in your eyes. If I’m not mistaken, you wish to destroy the Minister Mansion to avenge your mother and yourself.”
“But with just you and your foolish brother, you simply cannot topple the deeply entrenched Minister Mansion; you need a powerful backer.”
“I suppose you’ve planned to have the Minister’s legitimate daughter take your place and marry into the family on the day of your grand wedding.”
“But have you thought about the consequences? Once you do that, the Minister Mansion will absolutely not let you off. Who knows how your dear father and stepmother will tornt you and your brother? Are you sure you can erge unscathed?”
“So, agreeing to my terms is a win-win situation!”
He wasn’t wrong; it was nearly impossible for her alone to bring down the Minister Mansion.
Moreover, Tuanzi’s life was still in his hands; this man was determined to drag her into this muddy water.
Xia Ningxing formally responded: “I can agree to your demand just now, but once I help you ascend the throne, you must grant and my brother our freedom.”
Her current predicant left her no option but to seek preservation, revenge, and reluctantly stay by his side, but she would never allow him to keep her trapped for a lifeti.
“No problem.” This trivial matter was not sothing Lu Tingli would refuse.
It was much later that Lu Tingli truly regretted his decision, wishing he could turn back ti and slap so sense into his past self.
Xia Ningxing didn’t trust his empty promises: “Prince, promises an nothing without proof. Shall we put it in writing?”
With a written promise, she would essentially have leverage over him.
If he dared to go back on his word, she would make the docunt public, letting everyone see the true extent of his wolfish ambitions behind that carefree facade.
Lu Tingli frowned slightly, clearly displeased, but eventually nodded in agreent.
The written promise was made in duplicate, each party pressing their thumbprint and signing it.
Xia Ningxing handed him one copy and carefully secured her own.
After receiving it, Lu Tingli added, “Once you’ve dealt with your engagent to that worthless man, I will personally petition the emperor to decree your marriage to as the principal wife, bestowing upon you the title of Queen.”
“Are you satisfied now?” Lu Tingli suddenly leaned in close to her, his tall nose almost touching her cheek, the warm breath of his exhalation caused her heart to skip a beat.
Ningxing had never been so close to a man, not even Tuanzi had ever been this intimate, and suddenly she felt uncomfortable, stepping back slightly: “Anyway, it’s all fake. To , there’s no difference between being a legal wife or a concubine.”
Her complexion was indifferent, showing an unconcerned deanor.
The more she appeared nonchalant, the more it irritated a nerve in Tingli, and he advanced on her again: “If you wish for it to be real, that’s not impossible either. Just try to please as best as you can, and perhaps I will consider making you truly my woman!”
“After all, you are not too bad-looking.” He again frivolously lifted her chin, but this ti with a touch of tenderness.
Xia Ningxing directly swatted his hand away with disgust: “Dream on.”
Lu Tingli regained his composure, reminding her: “Give the blueprints.”
“Hmm…” Xia Ningxing picked up the paper and ink, about to write, but then looked up at him again: “I can only give you half of the blueprints for now. I’ll give you the other half after I see Tuanzi.”
“After all this, you still don’t trust ?” Lu Tingli’s eyebrows furrowed in displeasure, and he slamd his hand on the table towards her.
“No trust.” Ningxing stopped writing and spoke frankly: “What if I finish drawing the blueprints, and the Prince kills and then destroys the letter of agreent?”
So, for the safety of herself and her brother, she had no choice but to be more cautious.
Seeing her so wary, Tingli scoffed: “I am not that sort of person. You’re smart, I’m in need of a clever woman like you by my side to assist in planning my great undertakings.”
Won may be fragile, but they possess certain qualities that n lack.
In short, they can be extrely useful.
So he wouldn’t do sothing as foolish as killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
However, to prevent betrayal, he must have control over her lifeline!
“Now that we are in the sa boat, naturally I can release your brother. But he’s too impulsive; if he involves himself in the greater plots, he will only cause trouble,” said Tingli with a serious expression.
Ningxing followed his lead and asked, “Then what are your plans?”
“He’s smart and has the makings of a general. I can help you by sending him to my secret military camp.”
Xia Ningxing couldn’t help but sneer, revealing his true intentions: “It seems to that you just want to keep my brother in your hands as a hostage.”
Just like she doesn’t trust him, requiring him to leave a written agreent.
Lu Tingli curved his lips slightly and nodded subtly: “You’re right, indeed that’s part of my intent.”
Sine we are all tied to the sa fate, he naturally won’t hide anything from her anymore and will speak his mind directly.
“But I do intend to help refine your brother. Don’t you want him to achieve success and bring glory to your family na, rather than live an idle and diocre life?”
These words struck a chord with Xia Ningxing; of course she hoped for Tuanzi to stand out, but: “That place is too harsh.”
If possible, she didn’t want Tuanzi to suffer at all.
“Such benevolent sentints of a woman!” Lu Tingli snorted and reminded her: “Can the military camp be any harsher than the wolves’ den that is the Minister Mansion? Or would you prefer to marry into my family with your brother?”
“I don’t mind, but the Minister Mansion most likely won’t let him go.”
Not to ntion how shaful that would be, Xia Tuanzi is also the legitimate son of the Minister Mansion, destined to inherit part of the estate; would the Queen let him go? She would likely resort to dirty tricks to get rid of him.
But it would be different on his territory. As long as she doesn’t turn against him, he can always protect him, ensuring his safety.
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