220: Ali, born rebellious

The more smug you are now, the more miserable you'll be later. When the time comes, you won't even have a place to cry.

Xiaodie understood Duan Zhengchun's strength perfectly well. At this moment, how could she possibly mess around with Li Qingluo?

She immediately chose to withdraw. Li Qingluo never expected that someone would choose to quit even before the fight had begun.

"Sister Xiaodie, you... how could you do this!" Li Qingluo looked at Xiaodie with dissatisfaction.

"Well... you can't blame me for this. Look at the state I'm in now, what can I possibly do?" Xiaodie looked at Li Qingluo with a helpless expression.

Li Qingluo opened her mouth but couldn't find the words. At a time like this, she couldn't very well ask a pregnant woman to fight for her.

It was at this moment that Li Qingluo realized she seemed to have been tricked.

None of these ladies were in a condition to fight. Now she was the only one left. How was she supposed to fight this? Wasn't this just handing herself over on a silver platter?

"You... you're all bullying me on the very first day. I quit," Li Qingluo pouted and spoke unhappily.

"Haha... you can't blame us for this. It wasn't us who told you to challenge His Highness."

"You were the naive newcomer, you can't blame us. Seeing how confident you looked, we thought you really had a way to deal with His Highness."

"It seems now that you're no match for His Highness either," Dao Baifeng said, looking at Li Qingluo with a helpless expression.

Duan Zhengchun watched the women with a smile on his face, in no hurry at all.

I am invincible. Do as you please.

Li Qingluo turned her stiffened expression towards Duan Zhengchun.

"Uh, hehe... well, Your Highness, what if I said I was drunk earlier and talking nonsense? Would you believe me?"

Duan Zhengchun didn't expect Li Qingluo to say such a thing. He was taken aback for a moment before a smile crept onto his lips.

"Haha... do you even believe that yourself?"

"Yes, of course I do. If I don't even believe myself, who else can I believe?"

"So, Your Highness, let's call off today's match. We'll spar another time," Li Qingluo said, then turned and walked away.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Dao Baifeng and the others stared blankly at Li Qingluo, who had turned and left so decisively.

You could operate like this? Why hadn't they thought of it before?

"Wait, you're just going to leave like that?" Duan Zhengchun looked at the departing Li Qingluo in astonishment.

"Why not? I never said the fight was mandatory, so I can cancel it anytime I want."

"As for what you're thinking, that's just your wishful thinking. What does it have to do with me?" Li Qingluo tossed out these words and left without hesitation.

Duan Zhengchun: ... Dao Baifeng: ... Xiaodie: ... Seeing Duan Zhengchun's deflated look, they exchanged glances and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Haha... I never thought I'd see the day when Your Highness would be left speechless."

"This time, someone has finally found a way to deal with His Highness." A Li laughed until her whole body trembled.

"You little rascal, rein it in. Aren't you afraid of disturbing the baby?" Duan Zhengchun glared at A Li with a dark expression.

Hearing Duan Zhengchun's words, A Li's expression froze for a moment, but a smile quickly returned to her lips.

"I can't help it. Seeing you get bested just makes me so happy," A Li said, as if deliberately trying to provoke Duan Zhengchun. Her words made him feel as if a knife had been stabbed into his kidney—it hurt.

"This Prince advises you not to be too arrogant."

"Otherwise, you'll regret it when it's too late," Duan Zhengchun said, glaring darkly at A Li.

"If I don't act arrogantly now, when should I? When I no longer can? I'm not stupid. Once I've 'unloaded the cargo,' I won't have the chance anymore."

"Given that, why shouldn't I act a little arrogant before I 'unload'? Otherwise, wouldn't I be at a loss?" A Li looked at Duan Zhengchun with a completely justified expression.

Dao Baifeng and the others were also stunned by A Li's words. It was only then they realized how much sense A Li was making.

They couldn't let this man stay arrogant forever. They couldn't let him win every time.

Now, all the sisters were carrying this 'Imperial Sword' talisman as a protective charm. Why not take full advantage of it and act arrogantly for a while?

Otherwise, once the protective charm stopped working, any arrogance would be met with punishment.

"A Li, I've discovered that you are the smartest one among us," Zhao Min said, looking seriously at A Li.

A Li herself was shocked by their reactions.

"Really? I don't think so. I was just thinking about how to rebel. I didn't think that much about it," A Li said with a somewhat embarrassed smile.

Duan Zhengchun watched them discussing this topic, sending a shiver down his spine.

He had a feeling that the next few months might be his darkest hour.

Can't hit them, can't scold them, can't even lecture them—instead, he has to pamper them.

Just thinking about this made Duan Zhengchun feel a shudder of horror run through his entire body.

What was going on? Was this a collective rebellion?

"Well then, you all chat. I'm going to the restroom," Duan Zhengchun said, then stood up and left.

"Restroom? What's a restroom? What is that?"

Before the women could figure out what 'restroom' meant, Duan Zhengchun had already left the room.