CHAPTER 51: GUARDIANSHIP (1)

But the resemblance to the royal portraits from across the border was unmistakable.

’What is he doing here? And why is he in such a condition?’

There is no way Ling Yu would fail to recognize the descendants of the Nie empire after seeing those obvious features. No other empire’s royal family has navy blue hair color and the special trait going down through generations, a pair of silver eyes that shone like the moon in a dark night sky.

But considering the time and place, why didn’t she meet him in her past life?

Ling Yu observed the fool closely as she thought deeply. The direction he was brought from is the Lily Palace, right?

Plus, the condition he is in right now...

Was it safe to say that he was being abused in the side annex?

"The boy you see here," the emperor said, his tone heavy with a mixture of authority and hidden calculation, "Is the youngest prince of the Nie Empire. Once sent as an envoy of goodwill... but now..." His eyes slid toward Jiang Meng, whose lips curved in mockery.

’So my hunch was right after all, that despicable girl did something to him indeed....’ Ling Yu thought as she looked back at the fool, only to see him staring back at her.

!

’Since when has he been staring at me like that?’ Ling Yu felt rather uncomfortable under the boy’s sparkling gaze, which was directed at her.

Ever since he was brought into the throne room, he had just been sitting on the floor and looking around, growling at Jiang Meng with wary eyes from time to time, until his gaze fell onto Ling Yu.

"Grr... gaga... whimper..." His actions imitated those of a wild animal, using his instincts to judge the surrounding area.

"Growl... uh?" The boy’s whimpers came to a halt after his eyes locked with Ling Yum, who was staring back at her. He stopped as he stared back for a long time, before the corner of his lips rose upwards.

Ling Yu didn’t understand his thoughts as she stared at him with a questioning gaze. But the boy seemed wary as he tried to move; the sound of the chains that came each time he moved seemed to make him feel a kind of fear as he flinched each time.

"Tsk. Didn’t I tell the servants to wash him and make him look presentable before letting him come here? Why didn’t they listen? What is this?" The Crown Prince squinted his nose in disgust, as if he smelled something foul and dirty.

"It’s my fault, brother. I told my servants the same, but they didn’t listen, fearing that his filth might affect my sick body... that’s why. I’ll make sure to punish them for this..." Jiang Meng acted pitifully as she pretended to cry, to be consoled by the princes.

As the Crown Prince and the Second Prince got busy consoling Jiang Meng, she wanted to show it off to Ling Yu.

’Look at me, aren’t I so loved? Even if you are to accept it and come back to being a princess, you’ll never be loved like this!’

Unfortunately for her, Ling Yu’s attention was elsewhere rather than on her stupid acting.

"Aww... aww?" As if unsure, the boy approached Ling Yu slowly, holding the hem of her clothes cautiously. The moment he finally caught it, all the fear seemed to have disappeared from his mind as his face lifted up in a broad smile.

He looked at her like she was sunlight after endless years of darkness. As if her warmth was the only thing that could thaw his broken spirit.

Ling Yu’s chest tightened. For a fleeting heartbeat, the memories of her past life, the betrayals, the coldness, the agony, everything flashed by. What remained was this boy, with the innocence of a child locked inside a body marred by torment, reaching for her as if she were his salvation.

Ling Yu stared at the boy in silence, just as he held onto her.

The emperor’s words shattered the silence.

"Ling Yu, if you agree to take him as your husband, I will restore your status as a princess of Jiang. This marriage will tie us closer to Nie in ways they cannot refuse, for their bloodline will remain under our control. Do this, and your position in the palace will be secured again."

"But you can decline too. Though it comes with a cost. You’ll have to give up your authority over the East."

Ah.

So that’s it.

The proposal struck like a thunderclap.

This isn’t a proposal at all, rather it’s a threat.

Ling Yu’s lips curled into the faintest smile, though her eyes remained unreadable. Inside, however, thoughts whirled like the coldest and sharpest blade of fury.

’So this is it. They want to use me as a pawn again. But they don’t realize... I am no longer the same Ling Yu they discarded once before.’

Her gaze flickered to Jiang Meng, who looked triumphant, expecting her disgust, her refusal, her downfall. But instead, Ling Yu’s eyes softened as she looked back at the battered prince, as though she were seeing not a broken child, but a fragile ember struggling against the darkness.

"Marriage? So that’s it. I guess the Nie envoy sent this boy for a marriage proposal to Jiang Meng, right? But now that he isn’t in his right mind, you want me to take over? Will you give me full authority over him, too, if I were to accept the deal?" Ling Yu’s words were thrown towards Emperor Jiang like a jug of cold water being splashed on his face.

But regardless, he couldn’t find the right words to put it into and make it sound grand. Just looking into her cold gaze made him get cold feet, much less to speak.

"Sister, you should feel honored that you are marrying a prince. And your status is also being elevated. What are you waiting for? Just hurry up and kneel down to express your gratitude!" Jiang Meng seemed amused, because she was enjoying this farce more than anyone.

A discarded and cursed princess and a crazy guy are becoming a couple. Isn’t this like a perfect match made in heaven?

Ling Yu was about to say something when she was suddenly interrupted by a certain someone.

Second Prince Jiang Cheng rose from his position abruptly as he asked Emperor Jiang, "What do you mean, father? You want that wretched girl to get married to this crazy bastard?"

"Cheng’er, watch your manners in front of His Majesty!" The Empress warned him as she subtly glared at Jiang Cheng. No matter how important a prince he was, if he acted out of line in front of His Majesty, there is a chance he might fall out of favor with the Emperor.

It would be a problem if that were to happen, but why is he acting out in a time like this?

Ling Yu also had the same doubt as others. Obviously, since he lives in the palace, he must be in this plan with others. Why does he pretend he didn’t know anything?

"A-anyway, we shouldn’t immediately discuss things like that. How about giving some time to adapt first? She can stay in the Palace for the time being." Jiang Cheng seemed flustered as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly, glancing at his father from time to time.

"No need to stay, I’d like to come clean with this matter by today and return." Ling Yu spoke out as she fixed her gaze on Emperor Jiang.

"Rather, I have something I would like to ask His Majesty. If I may?" Ling Yu asked for permission for the next things that she was about to say, feeling the bruised hand that clenched on her hem.

"Permission granted, what do you want?"

"I’ll take him off of your hands as you wish. Instead, give me guardian rights of this child." Ling Yu’s gaze didn’t falter as she declared her own proposal without backing off.

"What do you mean?" The Empress couldn’t just sit back after being given such a deal as she asked in bewilderment.

"That’s right," Ling Yu smiled as she looked down at the kid, brushing her hand over his head as she said, "I also don’t need the title back, you can keep it for Jiang Meng as you wish. Instead, transfer the guardianship, easy right? I’ll take care of him, so you’ll get your hands free from him, isn’t that a win-win on your side?"

It’s true that since they just wanted to brush their hands off of this irrelevant creature, even if they transferred the guardianship, it wouldn’t matter.

But the problem is that he is still a prince even if she were to get him off their hands. What if she tried to start something behind their back?

What’s more, today’s point was not just about the legality of the Nie prince. The main thing was how to take the mines of the East off her hands!