Chapter 118 Heir Xie’s “Problem”

Chapter 118: Heir Xie’s "Flaw"

"You haven't been at court these days, and no one can lighten the Emperor's load. My other imperial brothers only care about fighting for the throne; they have no regard for the nation's welfare or the people's survival. They..."

"Cough, cough..." Luo Qingge had barely spoken half a sentence when Xie Liuzheng interrupted her with a light cough.

His gaze flickered, and he leaned close to Luo Qingge's ear, lowering his voice: "Listen, Princess Jiu, even if you are a princess, the precious jewel of the Emperor and Empress, such sensitive topics cannot be spoken carelessly. Even if you don't consider yourself, you must think of the Empress and your three-year-old brother. The struggle among princes for the throne through the years has always led to rivers of blood and fields of corpses—this is not a laughing matter."

Xie Liuzheng wasn't too close, but from the angle, it looked as if he was embracing her from behind. His warm breath brushed against her neck, and her neck turned bright red immediately.

Startled, she quickly stepped back several paces, putting distance between them, and pretended to be calm: "What’s there to fear? There are no outsiders here."

"It’s not that I, this princess, look down on my few brothers. If Third Imperial Brother were here, where would they have the nerve to act arrogantly?"

Day in and day out, they squabble all day long—it annoys her to no end.

Xie Liuzheng: "..."

He wanted to ask, "Isn't Crown Prince Luo Jingshen her own brother?"

How could she speak in favor of an outsider and even mock her own brother?

Still, her saying there were no outsiders here made Xie Liuzheng quite pleased.

Though he didn't know why he was happy.

Luo Junhe frowned deeply, pondered for a moment, and then said: "Qingge, Heir Xie is right. The matter of princes vying for the throne is no small matter. It’s fine if you say such things in front of me and your third brother's wife, the Night Princess, but you must never speak of them to outsiders, especially in front of the Crown Prince and Prince Qi."

"In the palace, every word and deed of yours will be magnified. Even if that's not your intention, if someone with ill intent hears it, it could implicate the Grand Tutor's household and the Empress."

Luo Qingge wasn't angered by the lecture. She understood that Luo Junhe was right, and he said it for her own good.

"Third Imperial Brother, I know. I understand in my heart. I just think of those bad people still alive and well, while you... it makes me sad!"

"You need not grieve for me. Good luck and bad luck go hand in hand; each person has their own fate. Being bedridden for three years has brought some benefits."

At this point, a faint smile curved on Luo Junhe's lips, and his expression became especially gentle.

Luo Qingge was momentarily taken aback and asked in confusion: "Ah, Third Imperial Brother, what gains have you gotten?"

She racked her brain, but couldn't figure out what benefit there could be from being bedridden for three years.

Could it be the benefit of doing nothing, worrying about nothing, and sleeping all day?

Xie Liuzheng was nearly speechless.

For the first time, he realized that Luo Qingge wasn't just dumb on the surface—she really wasn't that clever.

Honest and innocent, yes, but perhaps she had been too well protected by the Empress in the palace, making her seem entirely without cunning.

If she had to contend with someone like Luo Qianxue, how could she possibly win?

Xie Liuzheng didn't want her to be tricked before she even started to like him, so he gently reminded her: "Princess Jiu, use that smart head of yours and think carefully: how did your third brother's wife marry into the family, and how did she become Princess Ye?"

Prompted by Xie Liuzheng’s reminder, Luo Qingge suddenly understood.

The marriage bestowed by her imperial father was originally meant for Ji Qingqing, but the Marquis Yongning estate found a stand-in bride from the countryside—her third sister-in-law.

Luo Junhe had already married five princesses. If he hadn’t been paralyzed in bed, the position of Princess Ye would never have fallen to Ji Yuntang.

Thus, true feelings emerge in adversity. The only good thing about being paralyzed for three years was marrying such an excellent princess!

Luo Qingge smiled, for once looking at Xie Liuzheng with approval.

“This princess understands. I didn’t expect you to be quite clever.”

Xie Liuzheng turned his head to look at her jade-like face, a lazy smile on his lips.

“Of course. Don’t you know who this young lord is? Not everyone deserves the title ‘Capital’s Top Playboy.’”

“You should learn more from this young lord in the future!”

Luo Qingge: “...”

He’s so thick-skinned—he can’t take a compliment!

One compliment and he’s on cloud nine.

Just then, Ji Yuntang’s bell-like voice came from outside.

“The meal is ready! Qingge, Young Master Xie, come out and wash up for dinner!”

At the mention of food, Luo Qingge’s eyes lit up. She swallowed and said to Luo Junhe, “Third imperial brother, my third brother’s wife is calling us. We’re going out now and come back to see you later.”

With that, without waiting for Xie Liuzheng’s reaction, she took his hand and dragged him out.

Xie Liuzheng: “???”

The girl’s hand was smooth as jade. His gaze fell on the hand holding his, and his phoenix eyes narrowed.

Was Luo Qingge taking advantage of him?

No one knew that Xie Liuzheng had a strange condition since childhood—he hated being touched by women, even his own mother was no exception.

Over the years, the Duchess of Rong had sought medical treatment everywhere but to no avail.

The illness showed no signs, except that whenever he touched a woman, he would feel nauseous and throw up.

Once, because of this, he threw up all over a girl who was pursuing him. After that incident, she steered clear of him like the plague, cursing him as “sick.”

Xie Liuzheng sneered disdainfully. Yes, he was sick—but only because that girl had ill intentions and tried to drug him to take advantage of him.

She failed, and instead, he vomited all over her.

If this was a disease, he thought it was a good one—it kept scheming women at a distance.

But to his surprise, Luo Qingge could touch him.

Even more importantly, not only did he not feel repulsed by her touch, but he had no urge to vomit.

Too astonished to react, Xie Liuzheng forgot to pull away. He let Luo Qingge drag him all the way to the courtyard.

Ji Yuntang saw them at once—a handsome man and a beautiful woman walking side by side, perfectly matched.

Her sparkling eyes fell on their intertwined hands, and her brow arched slightly.

What's going on?

Weren't these two just bickering moments ago? She heard them from the small kitchen.

How did they become so close now?

Did she miss something important while she was cooking?

Luo Qingge, carefree as always, didn't have a clue, but Xie Liuzheng caught Ji Yuntang's stare and felt uneasy from her watching.

It was as if he and Luo Qingge had something going on.

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