On the second floor of the number one tea house in the realm.
Nangong Li munched on melon seeds, praising Gu Qianying, oblivious to the flying spittle.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle, your Gu Qianying is truly formidable, actually managing that girl Nangong Xuanning. This prince has to admire your Gu Qianying."
Hearing Nangong Li's praise for Gu Qianying, Nangong Mo was in an exceptionally good mood.
Just then, Bai Qi hurried in to report, "Master, Miss Gu has also arrived at the tea house and requested a private room."
Upon hearing this, Nangong Mo's mood improved further. "Oh? In which room?"
"Room number three."
"Oh, go and invite her over. Tell her this prince wishes to treat Miss Gu to tea."
Bai Qi lowered his head and whispered, "Your subordinate saw the Crown Prince enter."
"He entered?"
Nangong Mo's voice suddenly turned cold.
A chilling aura emanated from him.
Bai Qi shivered and secretly glanced at Nangong Li, seeking help.
Nangong Li swallowed and silently lowered his head, muttering to himself, "I can't see anything."
With his plea for help unanswered, Bai Qi had no choice but to steel himself and say, "Yes."
The room felt as if it were frozen three feet deep.
Nangong Mo remained silent, and no one dared to speak.
After a long while, Nangong Mo's cold voice finally broke the silence, "Push me over. This prince wants to see what business my good nephew has with his Ninth Imperial Aunt!"
Nangong Li and Bai Qi stared at each other, dumbfounded.
Ninth Imperial Aunt?
Wasn't that a bit too soon for such a title?
Meanwhile.
Gu Qianying leisurely sipped her tea in the private room, contemplating the arrival of someone on the street.
Lost in thought.
The door to the private room was pushed open from the outside, and two figures entered her line of sight.
"Miss Gu, long time no see. How have you been lately?"
Nangong Qi, dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, entered with a eunuch in disguise.
Gu Qianying's body stiffened, and the hand holding the teacup tightened slightly, causing the tea within to slosh gently.
She had never expected to encounter Nangong Qi here.
It was likely not a coincidence. Nangong Qi was the Crown Prince, and his informants were all over the capital, making it not difficult for him to track her.
However, the moment she thought of her past life, Gu Qianying wished she could kill Nangong Qi on the spot.
Suppressing the urge to perish with Nangong Qi, Gu Qianying slowly rose and curtsied slightly towards Nangong Qi, greeting him, "This humble subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"There's no need for such formality outside."
Nangong Qi stepped forward and reached out as if to help Gu Qianying up, but she subtly dodged his touch.
Nangong Qi's eyes flickered.
He had come uninvited. Before Gu Qianying could speak, he smiled and sat down, saying softly, "This prince was observing the common people on the street and happened to see Miss Gu engaging in a verbal dispute with Xuanning. I had originally intended to intervene, as that girl Xuanning is indeed rather arrogant and overbearing. This prince feared Miss Gu might suffer a disadvantage."
"To my surprise, Miss Gu ended up putting that girl Xuanning at a disadvantage instead."
"Is Your Highness here to settle the score with this humble subject on behalf of your sister?"
In this life, when facing Nangong Qi, Gu Qianying's tone and attitude were always cold. She was too lazy to waste words on him with insincere pleasantries.
Slightly displeased by Gu Qianying's attitude, Nangong Qi frowned but did not get angry. He merely said, "Of course not. What Miss Gu did today is quite different from what those young ladies who usually engage in needlework do. This truly piques this prince's interest. Miss Gu is indeed the legitimate granddaughter of the old General Gu, possessing the demeanor of General Gu from yesteryear."
"Does Your Highness fancy this humble subject?" Gu Qianying asked directly.
Nangong Qi was slightly taken aback, then chuckled, "The Eastern Palace is indeed in need of a mistress. Miss Gu can rest assured, on the day this prince marries you, I will definitely..."
"Heh!" Gu Qianying let out a cold laugh, interrupting Nangong Qi. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you know who the most pitiable people in this world are?"
Nangong Qi looked at Gu Qianying and frowned, "Miss Gu, what do you mean by that?"
"There are two types of pitiable people. The first type is extremely narcissistic and conceited. The second type is extremely foolish and unaware of their own foolishness. The reason these two types are pitiable is that the pitiable often have hateful aspects. Your Highness the Crown Prince, congratulations, you embody both!"
Upon hearing this, Nangong Qi was enraged and slammed the table heavily. "Presumptuous!"
The eunuch accompanying him in plain clothes berated, "How dare you insult His Highness the Crown Prince! Guards, seize Gu Qianying and beat her to death with clubs!"
Insulting the Crown Prince was a capital offense!
Although Nangong Qi was in plain clothes investigating the common folk, he was always followed by hidden guards wherever he went.
With the eunuch's shout, five or six hidden guards rushed in, swords in hand.
Gu Qianying pulled Lu Zhu back a couple of steps, preparing to fight her way out with Lu Zhu if they were attacked.
She hadn't wanted to cause trouble, but she couldn't hold back.
However, before Gu Qianying could make a move, a voice sounded from outside the door.
"Does my nephew intend to lay hands on his Ninth Imperial Aunt?"
As Nangong Mo spoke, Bai Qi moved like lightning.
Clang, clang, clang.
Five or six long swords clattered to the ground simultaneously. The hidden guards holding the swords all fell to the ground.
Nangong Li pushed Nangong Mo inside.
The eunuch who had been acting so arrogantly by Nangong Qi's side instantly cowered, retreating to the side with a tremble.
Nangong Qi's expression was extremely grim.
Nangong Mo had ordered Bai Qi to kill his men on the spot, showing him such little regard. How could he not be enraged?
But Nangong Mo's seniority was undeniable, not to mention his fame as a God of War, and he was deeply trusted by his father.
Confronting him directly would yield no benefit.
Considering this.
Nangong Qi rose and cupped his hands in a salute towards Nangong Mo, saying, "Ninth Imperial Uncle, you jest. My nephew and Miss Gu merely had a minor misunderstanding."
Nangong Mo looked at him coldly, not following his lead. Instead, he said, "I heard you intended to make your Ninth Imperial Aunt your Crown Princess?"
The undisguised killing intent in Nangong Mo's eyes made Nangong Qi's pupils contract, and he clenched his fists tightly within his sleeves.
"Ninth Imperial Uncle must have misheard. This nephew never said such a thing."
A few days prior, Nangong Qi had heard that Nangong Mo had gifted Gu Qianying over a dozen valuable items.
Based on his understanding of Nangong Mo, any woman treated with such consideration by Nangong Mo must already be in his heart, or a woman he planned to marry.
Gu Qianying was the most beloved granddaughter of the old General Gu. If he could marry Gu Qianying, he would naturally gain the support of the old General Gu.
For this reason, he had been having Gu Qianying tracked for the past few days. He had originally planned to act first and claim Gu Qianying for himself before she was truly branded as "Ninth Princess."
But now, Nangong Mo kept referring to her as "Ninth Imperial Aunt," left and right.
If he were to do anything to Gu Qianying in the future, he would be criticized by the world and punished by his father.
"Never said it? So this prince misheard?"
"Perhaps Ninth Imperial Uncle misheard."
Nangong Qi played along with Nangong Mo's words, but Nangong Mo had no intention of letting it go.
"Bai Qi!"
Bai Qi's blade fell.
A scream rang out.