The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 292 The Prince's Palace Meeting (1)

As Jing Anle had predicted, Qi Zhi, upon learning the news, immediately cleaved the pear blossom table in two with a single palm strike, his rage uncontrollable.

"Your Highness, please calm down." It was Wu Cheng, his close attendant, who spoke.

Today, Emperor Jing issued an edict setting the wedding date for Qi Zhi and Jing Rou for fifteen days from now, which is far too tight.

"That old bastard!" Qi Zhi gritted his teeth. "He thinks that just because he's handed his daughter to me, I'll be at his mercy? Dream on!"

Qi Zhi was initially attracted by Jing Rou's beauty, and Prince Qing also held a high position and some power, so marrying Jing Rou wasn't out of the question. However, Prince Qing schemed against him, revealing that Jing Rou was actually a "second-hand" woman. This was a forced sale, and Qi Zhi, being very vengeful, was determined not to let him have his way.

"So, are we still going to the banquet hosted by Prince Qing today?" Wu Cheng asked cautiously, looking up. He knew that this matter would make Qi Zhi try every means to deal with Prince Qing, but now that the imperial decree had been issued and the whole court knew about it, it was really difficult to refuse.

"Why wouldn't I go? Of course I'll go." He wanted to see what other tricks Prince Qing could pull.

Prince Qing's Mansion.

Prince Qing's face darkened as he recalled what Princess Yongping had said to him.

"Brother, don't worry, I'm on your side. You just need to persuade Crown Prince Qi first and win him over."

Princess Qing saw through Prince Qing's thoughts and revealed, "Yongping is not stupid after all."

"Of course she's not stupid. Yongping helped me only to avenge the day I was forced to marry far away. Now that I haven't completely won over Qi Zhi and without Qi's military support, she naturally won't act rashly. She's leaving herself a way out," Prince Qing sneered.

Princess Qing nodded. "In my opinion, Princess Yongping isn't that sincere. As long as the Jing Kingdom still belongs to the Jing family, it doesn't matter to her who sits on the throne."

Prince Qing turned to look at Princess Qing and sneered, "That's not necessarily true!"

"Ok?"

"She and Jing Huai were so close back then, but Jing Huai still let her marry into that godforsaken place. They say a woman's heart is smaller than the eye of a needle. Since she dared to cooperate with me, she must have been prepared to make Jing Huai suffer a terrible fate. Otherwise, she won't have a good ending either."

Men focused on their careers are the most charming, and at this moment, Prince Qing's appearance stirred Princess Qing's heart, as if she had returned to her youth. She gazed at Prince Qing with tender affection, "Your Highness..."

The couple were of one mind. Prince Qing embraced Princess Qing and stroked her belly, saying, "Now we are just waiting for the prince in your womb to be born. Oh, no... he will be called a prince in the future, hahahaha!"

Hearing Prince Qing say this, Princess Qing's face also lit up with joy. It was her blessing to be with such an ambitious man. "Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely ask my father to assist you well."

"It's just a pity that the elite troops suffered heavy losses, which has troubled my father-in-law."

The late emperor entrusted the elite troops to Ji Kun's supervision, and later passed it on to Prince Qing. But now that something has happened, Ji Kun has to take over again.

"Your Highness is too kind. I am my father's only daughter, and he will naturally do his best for us."

Prince Qing nodded in satisfaction.

"And what about Crown Prince Qi?"

"Do you think he'll willingly be driven by us after we've schemed against him like this?"

Prince Qing smiled smugly, “My beloved concubine doesn’t understand men’s minds. Only interests are the most secure. I can solidify his position and bring him a continuous stream of benefits. No man would be willing to refuse that.”

"Besides, our daughter is both beautiful and talented, and it is a blessing for her to be Rou'er's husband."

Princess Qing lowered her eyes. As a wife, she naturally supported Prince Qing wholeheartedly, but as a mother, she had to think about Jing Rou. She remembered that Jing Rou had first lost her virginity to Murong Peifeng and then plotted against Qi Zhi. She felt that her daughter was really pitiful.

As the two were talking, a servant came to report: "Crown Prince Qi is almost here."

The two exchanged a glance, then joined hands to go and greet them.

Unlike last time, this meeting wasn't in the main hall, but in a small, winding courtyard.

Upon seeing how secluded the room was, Qi Zhi immediately guessed that Prince Qing had something to say to him.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, have graced us with your presence. Your Highness and I, the Princess and the King, would like to offer you a toast."

Prince Qing raised his wine cup, but Qi Zhi ignored him.

"I am not feeling well and cannot drink alcohol." Qi Zhi appeared polite, but in reality, he kept people at arm's length.

How could Prince Qing, that old fox, not see through Qi Zhi's thoughts? He laughed and said, "Since the Crown Prince cannot drink wine, then let's have tea. The pre-rain Longjing tea from West Lake is barely palatable."

Qi Zhi smiled coldly.

"Prince Qi, there's no need to be so polite. After all, we'll soon be family," Princess Qing said, sensing that things were getting a little awkward.

"Although the princess and I are in love, marriage is a major event that still needs to be discussed with my father and mother." Qi Zhi was very dissatisfied with Prince Qing setting the wedding date so early.

Prince Qing had anticipated this, and immediately said, "I have already petitioned His Majesty to send a carrier pigeon to the border in the name of Jing Kingdom, and then send the message to Qi Kingdom by fast horse."

The Qi Kingdom is adjacent to the Jing Kingdom, and with the addition of the carrier pigeon and the journey, the Qi Kingdom will receive the news in three days at the latest.

"Your Highness is indeed incredibly fast." Qi Zhi's sarcasm was palpable.

Prince Qing ignored him and instead poured himself a drink, saying, "The Qi Kingdom is currently in dire financial straits and has no choice but to increase taxes. The officials below only care about collecting money and do not care about the lives of the people. The people are suffering and resentment. Although you have been made crown prince, you are not popular."

Qi Zhi's expression changed slightly, then returned to normal.

"What does Your Highness wish to say?"

"I can help you out of this predicament."

Qi Zhi was taken aback. This Prince Qing had really figured him out. He had so many younger brothers, each of whom was just as capable. If it weren't for his mother's support, he really wouldn't have gotten the position of Crown Prince.

The Qi Kingdom's court is now divided into two factions: one faction fully supports him and Empress Qi, while the other faction wants to govern the country with benevolence and righteousness and establish a virtuous heir. In his opinion, these old fools are the ones who are stubborn and incorrigible, but he dares not make any rash moves.

So he came to Jing Kingdom for two reasons: first, to kill Murong Peifeng, and second, to see if Chi Wenyuan could be used by him.

Hearing what Prince Qing said, he became somewhat interested.