16: Looking for a marriage!

However, Princess Pingyang said pitifully and aggrievedly, “Lord Li holds a high position and heavy power, so of course, you don’t need to do trivial tasks like patrolling.

It was my fault for insisting on it.”

“Fine, I’ll just let this lowly Black Uniform Zhen Mo Shi patrol the streets alone, then encounter Demon Head Shura, be secretly killed by him, and let His Majesty punish you.

Anyway, I’m just a Black Uniform Zhen Mo Shi; no one will feel bad if I’m gone…”

Princess Pingyang’s gaze was dim, looking like she was sacrificing herself for a great cause, but deep in her eyes was a hint of cunning.

Li Shengyuan couldn’t help but sigh to the heavens, his forehead aching as he supported it.

As expected of a princess who grew up in the palace, her acting skills were becoming increasingly refined…

Why did she also have a touch of Daiyu’s flavor?

He clearly remembered not telling Princess Pingyang the story of the Red Chamber.

Could it be that this was an innate talent of women?!

Li Shengyuan sighed helplessly, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t go with you.

Today isn’t my turn to be on duty at the Town Demon Bureau, so let’s go out and patrol together.”

Not to mention it wasn’t his turn; even if it were his shift today, knowing that Lord Li was going out with the Princess, probably no one foolish enough would dare to say another word.

Princess Pingyang, who had been looking pitiful, suddenly had eyes filled with the triumphant smile of a successful scheme.

She quickly cupped her hands and thanked him, “Many thanks, Lord Li!”

Li Shengyuan shook his head and smiled.

When she was little, this girl would only cry, make a fuss, and threaten to hang herself when she wanted to follow him.

Perhaps seeing too much of the treachery between the Previous Emperor’s consorts in the palace, she had learned other tricks.

What was called patrolling was just taking Princess Pingyang shopping everywhere!

From childhood to adulthood, they had visited the Capital of Great Qian at least hundreds of times.

But Princess Pingyang was always overjoyed whenever she went out with Li Shengyuan, showing interest in everything.

Although both of them were well-known among the upper-class people in the Capital of Great Qian, few ordinary citizens recognized them.

Furthermore, Li Shengyuan was not wearing his Golden Uniform official robes, so the street vendors only took him for a rich young master.

The two played for a day, and when night fell, Li Shengyuan sent Princess Pingyang back to her Princess Pingyangs residence.

As the current Emperor’s Imperial Sister, Princess Pingyangs residence was no smaller than the Grand Secretarys Courtyard.

Their mother, the Empress Dowager, also often came to stay here for a period.

After sending Princess Pingyang to the entrance, Li Shengyuan did not intend to go in.

He had just obtained a good item like Pure Yang Source today and needed to go back to absorb and refine it.

Accompanying Princess Pingyang for a day was already considered a waste of time.

If he truly wanted to challenge a seasoned second-rank strong expert like Luo Qingwan, the Questioning Dao Sect’s Sect Master, without diligently cultivating, he would truly become a laughingstock.

Perhaps what he had just said to Luo Yuzhu at the Town Demon Bureau had already spread…

“Alright, you should head back quickly.

Imperial Sister told you to gain experience with me, but I ended up playing with you all day.

If she finds out, she’ll scold both of us again.”

Princess Pingyang’s eyes were filled with reluctance.

She clutched Li Shengyuan’s clothes and refused to let go, pouting and humming, “Then you should cultivate faster!

As long as your cultivation surpasses Imperial Sister’s and you beat her so she doesn’t dare to talk back or fight back, she won’t dare to say anything no matter what we do!”

Li Shengyuan, upon hearing this, rarely showed a bitter smile, “How can a true heaven’s favored daughter like Imperial Sister be so easily surpassed?”

And if that day truly comes, it won’t be as simple as just being intimate with you… Li Shengyuan thought to himself.

However, in his opinion, defeating Luo Qingwan was much simpler than defeating the Empress Imperial Sister.

For more than ten years, he had never truly understood the Empress Imperial Sister…

As for the Immortal Master, whom he had only met a few times, he was even more mysterious.

Princess Pingyang’s small face also instantly drooped, “That’s true, Imperial Sister is truly too amazing…”

If she weren’t amazing, it would be impossible for her to become the second Empress of Great Qian at twenty and remain firmly in power for so many years.

“Alright, go back quickly.

Instead of relying on me, Imperial Sister cares more about you.

Don’t neglect your cultivation when you go back.”

“Got it.” Princess Pingyang playfully stuck out her soft, fragrant tongue.

Then, like a thief, she looked left and right.

Just as Li Shengyuan was wondering, Princess Pingyang quickly stretched out both hands, hooked them around Li Shengyuan’s neck, stood on her tiptoes, and actively kissed him.

Under Li Shengyuan’s surprised gaze, Princess Pingyang’s face flushed, and she hopped and skipped into the residence.

Li Shengyuan subconsciously raised his hand to touch his lips, then a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“How pathetic, to be forcefully kissed on the street by a little girl…”

Come to think of it, this was Princess Pingyang’s first time actively kissing him.

Li Shengyuan vaguely remembered that the first time he kissed Princess Pingyang, she was extremely shy, afraid of being discovered.

Now she was taking the initiative…

Li Shengyuan shook his head with a smile and turned to return to the Grand Secretarys Courtyard.

As Princess Pingyang hopped and skipped back into the residence, she instantly froze when she saw a figure in the front hall.

“Mo… Mother, why are you here?”

The Empress Dowager, with a plump figure, graceful and noble without showing any signs of age, but instead exquisitely beautiful, put down her teacup and glanced at Princess Pingyang indifferently, saying calmly, “What, as a mother, do I need to report to you when I visit you?”

Upon closer inspection, one would find that Princess Pingyang and the Empress Dowager were cast from the same mold; their slightly rounded oval faces were both equally beautiful.

It was just that the Empress Dowager was much more mature than Princess Pingyang, with a hint of mellow richness accumulated over the years…

Princess Pingyang quickly came to the Empress Dowager’s side with a playful smile, squatting down and gently massaging her mother’s faintly visible thighs beneath her skirt.

She smiled fawningly, “Of course not.

What’s Princess Pingyang’s is Mother’s.

You can come anytime; I welcome you.”

A doting smile also appeared on the Empress Dowager’s cold and beautiful jade-like face.

She reached out and gently stroked Princess Pingyang’s cheek, smiling gently, “He went back?

You didn’t ask him to stay for a bit?”

Princess Pingyang, who was pressing her face against her mother’s palm, enjoying her gentle caress, instantly stiffened.

“Mo… Mother, who are you talking about?”

“Are you pretending to be foolish with your mother?

Who else could it be but your Imperial Sister’s junior brother, the famous Gold Robe Li.” The Empress Dowager gave her daughter a charming glance.

Princess Pingyang immediately became bashful, her face flushed, and she said shyly, “It’s so late at night, how could a single man and woman stay together…”

“You know that, yet you came back so late!”

The Empress Dowager playfully poked Princess Pingyang’s forehead.

Princess Pingyang rubbed her forehead, pouting with an aggrieved expression, “I’m a Black Uniform Zhen Mo Shi of the Demon Suppression Division now.

Coming back so late is because I was out with Lord Li handling cases and apprehending criminals!”

The Empress Dowager, however, sneered repeatedly, “Were you apprehending criminals in front of the little yellow duck store?

And was the food at Drunken Immortal Restaurant palatable?”

As for where the little yellow ducks came from in this world, Li Shengyuan had created them to amuse his younger brother and sister…

Once released, their unique design instantly became popular throughout the Capital of Great Qian, winning the affection of countless children, and then were promoted to other prefectures and counties.

Li Shengyuan could live off the copyrights for several lifetimes.

Oh, and the Nian Long (Milk Dragon) dolls also sold well…

The Empress Dowager continued, “Do you want me to list out your whereabouts today, one by one, and tell them to you?!”

Princess Pingyang was instantly shocked upon hearing this.

Did everything she and Li Gege did truly not escape Mother’s keen eyes?

What about Imperial Sister?

Princess Pingyang felt a bit uneasy for a moment…

At this moment, the Empress Dowager’s tone softened, and she said gently, “Princess Pingyang, you are eighteen now, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” Princess Pingyang nodded in response, wondering why her mother was bringing this up.

But what the Empress Dowager said next greatly surprised her.

“You’re not young anymore.

How about Mother finds you a marriage match?

If you think it’s suitable, I’ll have your Imperial Sister issue an imperial decree!”