Indescribable emotions surged within Li Chengjing’s heart, and he said helplessly, “You are comparing me to Cheng Yuanxian again?”
“Your Highness is an astute nobleman with a deep mind and tactic. Of course my father is not worthy of being compared with you.” Cheng Yujin’s eyes were still wet with tears, but her tone was aggressive, “Your Highness is now framed by a villain and has been restricted in the Eastern Palace as a result. Naturally, the court officials are worried and feel injustice for you. At this moment, Your Highness should stand in line with the wish of the people to set things right, get rid of traitorous villains, and restore peace and order. Your next step is extremely critical, so of course you need as much reliable help as you can get. It’s best if you can obtain a powerful ally, and a perfect one just happens to deliver themselves to your door. Your Highness has been planning carefully for so long, so how can you hesitate at the last moment? By accepting General Dong’s beloved daughter as your side consort, you will obtain both a powerful general and a beautiful girl who is deeply infatuated with you. This will benefit both the Eastern Palace and the Dong father and daughter, so there is no need for Your Highness to hesitate, no? As for me, I already have Mingyue and Mingqian, so Your Highness no longer has to worry about the lineage issue of your eldest son. As the Crown Princess, I should take the overall situation into account and support Your Highness’s cause unconditionally. Rest assured, I will never be your hindrance.”
“I never have the intention of taking a concubine.” Li Chengjing finally realized that Cheng Yujin was angry and trying to avoid the topic. “Calm down first, okay? Taking a side consort is just a suggestion from an aide, and I have already rejected it. That palace maid only listened to the first half of the conversation and hastily passed you the wrong information.”
“If you never express such an intent to your staff, would they dare make such a suggestion?” Cheng Yujin dismissed Li Chengjing’s explanation as a mere excuse. The accusation in her angry eyes was so sharp, as if she wanted to cut him into pieces, “So it turns out that you secretly have this intention? What else do you want? Marrying another woman, but still want me to be devoted to you? Worried that I would disagree, you took the chance to accuse me of not caring about you and have never trusted you. Your behavior is even worse than Cheng Yuanxian’s!”
Li Chengjing found that he couldn’t communicate with Cheng Yujin in her current state, so he sighed and simply said, “I don’t want to argue with you. Let’s talk about it later after you calm down.”
“Reasonable is reasonable, and unreasonable is unreasonable. What does Your Highness mean by do not want to argue with me? Do you think I am making a fuss over nothing?”
Li Chengjing was stifled so thoroughly that he completely lost his words. He used to watch as Huo Changyuan was scolded by Cheng Yujin, but never expected that the day would come when he stood by the receiving end of her scolding.
Li Chengjing finally realized the feelings of Ruan-shi, Huo Xue-shi, Huo Changyuan and others when they faced Cheng Yujin’s tongue. This girl was too superb with her words and had the ability to render her opponents truly speechless. Anything he said would come back biting at him, but staying silent was not an option either. Li Chengjing completely gave up reasoning. Instead, he reached out and pulled Cheng Yujin into his embrace as he spoke to her softly, “Alright, whatever you say is correct. I cannot argue with you. But the matter of concubines is totally wronging me. Listen until I finish first before you scold me again, okay?”
“Let me go!” Cheng Yujin was in a fit of rage, and Li Chengjing’s sudden hug poured oil into the burning flame. “Don’t touch me, and don’t you dare use sophistry to change the topic!”
Hearing this, Li Chengjing finally got really angry. He picked Cheng Yujin and put her on the desk, then clasped her chin and kissed her hard. Cheng Yujin was halfway speaking when her lips were suddenly blocked. She was shocked beyond words. Li Chengjing was always very gentle with her and had never forced her like this. Facing his strong pressure, Cheng Yujin couldn’t do anything and was completely helpless. Air kept going out of her lungs, and as Cheng Yujin gradually found it hard to breathe, she started hitting Li Chengjing’s shoulders with her hands.
After Li Chengjing finally let her go, both of them were breathing heavily. Only then did Cheng Yujin realize that she was lying flat on the desk. The study was totally messy now, with the scrolls and such that were originally on the desk having fallen to the floor at some point. Cheng Yujin touched the corner of her lips, which had been bitten during their intense struggle just now, and looked around as the absurdity of the situation slowly came to her. In a hurry to restore her demeanor, she was about to get off the desk, but was stopped by Li Chengjing. Li Chengjing put his arms on her sides, completely blocking her way out. Anxious, Cheng Yujin tried to push him away, “Get out of the way. What if someone comes in?”
“No one will enter.” Li Chengjing did not budge an inch. The servants, upon hearing the noises in the study, had long since withdrawn. Although what actually happened was different from their thoughts, there should be no one in the hall at this moment. If Li Chengjing wanted to do something tangible now, he totally could.
As he blocked Cheng Yujin’s way out, Li Chengjing said sternly to her, “Let’s finish our conversation first, and don’t make me force you, okay?”
Cheng Yujin pushed Li Chengjing’s hands angrily, “It’s still broad daylight outside. What do you think you are doing?”
< Advanced TOC >
