Chapter 171: No, I’m Tired of Him

The husband-selection banquet was causing a huge stir. The Emperor disapproved. It was too ostentatious. How could a dignified princess’s selection of a husband be so farcical?

So he summoned Xiao Li to the palace and said sternly, "How could you hold a ’husband-selection banquet’ without my permission?"

Xiao Li wanted to say it wasn’t a husband-selection banquet, but it was too complicated to explain. So, she decided to just go along with it.

"The Empress Dowager and you, my Brother, both wanted me to find a man, didn’t you? Naturally, I have to find one I like."

The Emperor frowned. "Fine, select one then. But why must you do it with such fanfare? What is this supposed to look like?"

Xiao Li leaned lazily against the armrest. "You wouldn’t understand, Brother. It’s called ’casting a wide net to make a choice catch.’ If I don’t get a big enough pool of candidates, how am I supposed to pick the one who best suits my fancy?"

The Emperor got a headache just looking at her. "Put a stop to this at once. I will have someone prepare a new list of candidates for you. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied."

Xiao Li said, "I want to choose them myself. I’ll pick a dignified and gracious steward, an interesting and perceptive companion, a sweet, girl-next-door type to play with, and then a bewitching, seductive one..."

The Emperor was shocked. "How many do you plan to choose?"

Xiao Li said with a perfectly straight face, "Brother, you have so many Concubines in your rear palace. I am your most beloved sister. Can’t I choose a few male consorts?"

The Emperor’s pupils trembled. "How can that be the same? And besides, aren’t you supposed to be choosing a husband?"

Xiao Li waved her hand dismissively. "I have no desire to choose a man to control me. I’m going to choose three thousand male consorts. One for each day, and when I’m tired of them, I’ll toss them aside."

The Emperor was so furious he could barely breathe. "Outrageous! Outrageous! You are a dignified princess! How can you be so debauched?"

Xiao Li rolled her eyes at him. "I haven’t even slept with one yet. How is that debauched?"

The Emperor: "..."

He choked, but his reason returned. ’Maybe this situation is still salvageable.’

"Don’t you like that boy from the Feng Family? I’ll go speak with Imperial Tutor Feng at once and have him be your Prince Consort, how about that?"

Xiao Li tilted her head back, her tone practically begging for a slap. "No. I’m tired of him."

The Emperor’s heart clenched. "Then what kind do you want?"

With an air of shameless defiance, Xiao Li said, "I want one of every kind. That’s my only request. Can’t you grant it, Brother?"

The Emperor felt like he was going to be angered to death. "You are a princess! How can you act so recklessly? Where is the Royal Family’s dignity? Where is my dignity?"

Xiao Li spread her hands. "Then why don’t you just kill me, Brother? In any case, I’m not getting married. I only want male consorts."

"You..." The Emperor pointed a trembling finger at her, so angry he was sputtering. "Don’t think I won’t punish you! Don’t go too far! I will absolutely not allow you to act so recklessly."

Xiao Li couldn’t even be bothered to argue. She pulled a hairpin from her hair and, SWISH, plunged it toward her heart.

A hand blocked her chest. The hairpin nearly pierced through the palm, showing just how much force she had used.

Xiao Li looked down and saw a section of a purple sleeve. Looking up, she saw only Lou Yan’s cold, tense jawline.

Fresh blood welled up, dripping down the golden hairpin.

Lou Yan clutched his hand and stepped back, not letting any blood drip onto Xiao Li. He didn’t make a single sound the entire time.

Those two were very calm, but the Emperor was scared senseless.

It took him a long moment to find his voice. "You... Was that really necessary?"

Xiao Li: ’I have a blood pack on my chest and a Heart Protection Mirror underneath. I just couldn’t be bothered to listen to the Emperor’s nagging and wanted to scare him. Now he’s scared, but things seem to have gone a little sideways.’

Too lazy to explain to the Emperor, she just said, "If you want to stop me, Brother, just issue an order to seal up my Princess Mansion. As for the Prince Consort, just pick anyone. The ending will be the same regardless."

What ending? The same ending as Lu Yanzhi?

Xiao Li would even kill herself. What would stop her from killing another Prince Consort?

The Emperor was truly afraid of her now. ’Can’t she just choose a husband and live a proper life?’

"You... You’re really trying to anger me to death... Fine. You choose. I’d like to see just what kind of person you can pick."

Xiao Li: "Many thanks, Brother."

With that, she stood up and left.

After Xiao Li had gone, Lou Yan, who had been standing to the side with his head bowed, finally spoke to the Emperor. "This servant will take his leave."

The Emperor glanced at his hand. The thought that Xiao Li had nearly pierced it through made him wave his hand immediately. "Quickly, go find an Imperial Physician and have that treated."

Lou Yan: "Yes."

After he left, the Emperor stomped his foot in anger. "What a... scoundrel!"

In the end, the Emperor didn’t stop her. The husband-selection banquet continued, but he took the list of names from the Empress Dowager and picked out two candidates he approved of.

He wouldn’t stop it, but he absolutely could not let Princess Xuanyang act so recklessly.

He ordered that these two men must attend the banquet at the Princess Mansion. If one of them were chosen and won the Princess’s favor, their rewards would be great.

After a moment’s thought, he sent someone to summon Imperial Tutor Feng.

Although Xuanyang said she was tired of him, he felt the boy from the Feng Family still had a very good chance.

----

The Princess Mansion was bustling with rare activity. Servants moved back and forth, carrying things. It looked chaotic, but there was an order to the chaos.

Although Nanny Jinping was new, she had a real knack for management. She didn’t use her age or status to boss people around, but rather used reason and skill to win them over completely. In just a few days, she had mobilized the entire household, and everything was running in perfect order.

Of course, this was mainly because Xiao Li had delegated authority. Moreover, everyone in the mansion was wary of their mistress; no one dared to be negligent about something Xiao Li had decided.

Xiao Li hadn’t sent out invitations. Anyone who met her requirements could come and participate. But participation was one thing; not just anyone would get to see her.

The banquet was a series of trials, starting right at the gate. There were seven trials in total, and only those who passed them all, proving their abilities, would be allowed to meet her.

However, meeting her was only the beginning of the real test.

Xiao Li had summoned Song Junzhan to help her write all sorts of test questions.

Xiao Li wasn’t very familiar with the literature of this world, so she was in charge of setting the criteria, while Song Junzhan was responsible for writing the content.

They sat at two separate low tables. Song Junzhan sat opposite her, his brush flying across the paper, while Xiao Li sat on her side with a pot of wine and a table of side dishes, eating and drinking with relish.

Seeing the thick stack of test papers next to him, she realized he had been writing for quite a while. A sudden pang of conscience struck her, and she asked Song Junzhan, "There’s no rush. Why don’t you come have a drink?"

Song Junzhan stopped his brush and looked up at her. "Please wait a moment, Princess."

He lowered his head to finish writing a passage, then rose. He took the towel offered by a maid, wiped his hands, and went over to sit down.

Xiao Li was drinking warmed wine, which wasn’t too strong. Song Junzhan’s health had improved considerably, so it was fine for him to have a little.

However, he didn’t drink often and wasn’t used to the taste. The expression on his face changed as he drank.

Xiao Li smiled. "If you can’t drink it, don’t force yourself."

Hong Yue immediately brought over some tea.

Song Junzhan didn’t try to tough it out. He quickly took a sip of tea to wash away the taste of the wine.

"I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you, Princess."

Xiao Li picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, chewed it slowly, and swallowed before saying, "Is your illness completely cured now?"

Song Junzhan: "For now, yes. I hardly cough anymore, but I still have to drink medicine regularly to recuperate."

Watching Xiao Li drink cup after cup with such ease, Song Junzhan frowned slightly. "Is something troubling you, Princess?"

Xiao Li: "Not at all."

Song Junzhan looked at her face. It was calm and serene, showing almost no fluctuation of emotion. Her tolerance for alcohol must be quite good; despite drinking so much, there wasn’t the slightest trace of it on her face.

His gaze fell slightly, his mood inexplicably turning somber. "Everyone outside is saying you’re holding a husband-selection banquet. Aren’t you going to explain?"

Xiao Li: "Who would I explain it to? And who is worthy of my explanation?"

Song Junzhan chuckled. ’Such a response is truly worthy of Princess Xuanyang.’

"I heard the Empress Dowager and His Majesty both want you to choose a Prince Consort. I wonder, does the Princess have anyone in mind?"

Xiao Li filled her wine cup to the brim and looked up. "There is no Prince Consort. There never will be."

Song Junzhan stared at her, stunned. For a moment, he was overcome by a complicated mix of emotions he couldn’t begin to describe.