I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

"Did you hear that? I'm a peak ninth-rank expert! You're just a weakling at the eighth rank—no, not even that! If you dare bully me again, you'll regret it!"

Snake Elder and Li Fuyao didn't know how long they would drink. After Qin Li left with Bai Zhenzhen, Bai Zhenzhen kept making threats at Qin Li along the way, and didn't forget to raise her little pink fist.

Upon hearing this, Qin Li smiled and said, "I'm not even an eighth-rank official, but dealing with you is more than enough for me. I can handle you with one hand. Didn't we already prove that this morning?"

Bai Zhenzhen blushed with embarrassment when she thought about what happened this morning; even her ears turned red, making her extremely adorable!

Qin Li did it on purpose!

In bed, she was no match for Qin Li.

No, even under the bed, she was no match for Qin Li.

Her status as a peak ninth-rank official is nothing but a hollow title!

To defeat Qin Li, one would need to master several different martial arts techniques.

Thinking of this, Bai Zhenzhen reached out and grabbed Qin Li's sleeve, then looked up and asked, "Do you have a library in your mansion? There are many, many powerful martial arts techniques inside."

Qin Li raised an eyebrow: "Even if there is, so what? Why should I let you in?"

Bai Zhenzhen said angrily, "I'm yours, yours..."

For a long time, Bai Zhenzhen couldn't come up with the next form of address.

She didn't know what she was now.

She can only be considered Qin Li's old flame.

But she didn't like that title.

"Alright."

Qin Li reached out and affectionately patted her head. "My library is yours. Once we return to the capital, you can move in without anyone saying anything."

He couldn't be happier for Bai Zhenzhen to become a true peak ninth-rank expert.

Qin Li would probably be laughing in his dreams if his woman was a peak ninth-rank expert.

"That's more like it." Bai Zhenzhen wrinkled her nose, snorted, and slapped Qin Li's hand away.

"By the way, where are you going?" Bai Zhenzhen asked again.

Qin Li pointed to a room not far away and said truthfully, "I have something to discuss with Pei Qingluan. Would you like to come along?"

Bai Zhenzhen shook her head: "I won't go, I need to seize the time to practice my skills."

She hadn't fully digested the moves that Snake Elder and Li Fuyao had taught her.

She wanted to use this time to practice hard and try to impress Qin Li as soon as possible.

"Alright, go ahead."

"When it's time to leave, I will send someone to inform you."

After saying that, Qin Li reached out and patted Bai Zhenzhen's little bottom, urging her to hurry back to her room.

Anyway, Qin Li didn't plan to take Bai Zhenzhen with him to see Pei Qingluan, and Bai Zhenzhen couldn't be of much help anyway.

Bai Zhenzhen felt a surge of desire as her buttocks were slapped, and she really wanted to bite Qin Li to death.

However, the approaching peach and willow trees made Bai Zhenzhen abandon this idea.

"Spring Peach and Summer Willow, you've come at the right time! I need to talk to you about something!"

Bai Zhenzhen pulled the two of them into her room, not giving them any chance to get close to Qin Li.

After watching the three enter the room and close the door, Qin Li walked straight towards Pei Qingluan's room.

The door to the room was not closed, but Qin Li still reached out and knocked.

dong dong!

"Who?"

Pei Qingluan's voice came from inside.

Qin Li replied, "He is your husband."

boom!

Something was thrown by Pei Qingluan, hitting the back of the door with a sound.

Qin Li smiled, then reached out and pushed open the door, walking inside.

Pei Qingluan sat by the window, glaring angrily at Qin Li as he walked in.

"Is it fun?"

Pei Qingluan coldly questioned.

Qin Li's relationship with her was just a fling; she would get married in the future.

Qin Li kept saying that, which damaged her reputation.

Qin Li sat down opposite her and said, "It's not fun."

Pei Qingluan said, "Then why do you keep mentioning your husband?"

To everyone's surprise, Qin Li said with a hint of resentment, "I can't not mention it, but since someone doesn't call me that, I have to remind them from time to time."

The person being referred to was naturally Pei Qingluan.

Upon hearing this, Pei Qingluan frowned, wondering what Qin Li meant.

"Are you serious?"

After a while, Pei Qingluan suddenly asked, realizing what was going on.

He seemed to understand what Qin Li meant.

Qin Li meant that the two were not just playing around, but were a real couple.

"If it's not real, then what, is it fake?"

Qin Li said, "I have already made my word. All six great families know that I am going to marry you, and they all want to marry their daughters to me."

"Then I have no choice but to marry you!"

"Are you feeling wronged by marrying me?"

Pei Qingluan expressed her dissatisfaction.

Although she was only the twelfth child in the Pei family.

But she is the eldest daughter of the Pei family, and can be considered the legitimate daughter of the Pei family.

The Pei family's status in Jiangnan is self-evident. Although their position in Jiangnan has been challenged by the Lu family, to which Lu Ruanxiong belongs, in recent years, the Pei family still firmly holds the top position among the six great families.

The men in the world who want to marry her could line up from the Yellow Crane Tower all the way to the East China Sea.

To everyone's surprise, Qin Li was unwilling to marry her; it would be unfair to him.

"I'm not wronged."

Qin Li said, "But I also yearn for a harmonious and united marriage. As for us? Let's just forget about it."

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Pei Qingluan asked. "Just say it straight. I don't like beating around the bush."

"What a coincidence, it's me too."

Qin Li said, "Soon, we will return to the Yellow Crane Tower in Jiangxia. The six great families will be waiting for me there."

"You know the purpose of my trip to Jiangnan, don't you?"

"Of course I know," Pei Qingluan said. "Didn't you come here this time to deal with us aristocratic families?"

Snapped!

Qin Li snapped his fingers and said, "Smart. I like smart women, so you have to help me."

Pei Qingluan laughed, but it was a laugh born of anger.

She stretched out her hand, pointed to herself, and said, "I'm also from one of the six great families. You want me to help you deal with our families? What's the difference between that and slapping myself in the face? Do you think I, Pei Qingluan, am that stupid?"

"Hey, you can't say that."

Qin Li sighed and said, "Just by the fact that you, Pei Qingluan, often dress as a man, you are different from other women. You are a woman with ideals and ambitions."

"You are probably more aware than I am of what your family has been doing in Jiangnan. If this continues, Jiangnan will be in turmoil, and the Great Zhou will be in turmoil. This is not a good thing for the people or the country. Do you really want to just watch Jiangnan get worse and worse?"

"The states of the Central Plains are all eyeing your Jiangnan region. If they have the chance, they won't let go of this lucrative opportunity."

"What benefit would I get from helping you deal with our powerful families? Don't end up taking care of them all and then turning around and targeting me."

Qin Li said, "I haven't appointed a Crown Princess yet. Help me reorganize Jiangnan, and you, Pei Qingluan, will be my Crown Princess!"

"cut!"

Pei Qingluan pouted and said, "I don't believe it. Men's words are deceitful. How long have we known each other? Not even as long as you and your old flame. Besides, you just said yourself that you yearn for a harmonious and devoted marriage. Do you really think we're on the same page? You don't even like me; you just want to use my status as a noblewoman to do things for you!"

Qin Li replied, "At my level, I can't decide who I marry. Whoever helps me ascend the throne and provides me with the greatest support will be my Crown Princess. What difference does it make whether I like her or not? Feelings can be cultivated over time."

In terms of feelings alone, Qin Li likes Wei Hongying and Bai Zhenzhen the most, but due to various factors, the two cannot be the Crown Prince's principal wives. If he were to make them his principal wives, there would be unimaginable resistance.

There was little resistance to making Xiao Xue'er his principal wife, but Qin Li was unwilling from the bottom of his heart.

Then there was only one compromise: to appoint Pei Qingluan. Qin Li thought about this for a long time before making a decision.

Pei Qingluan's status speaks for itself: the eldest daughter of the Pei family, the daughter of a sword immortal. Marrying her would be tantamount to taking control of Jiangnan.

With both the northern border and the south in Qin Li's hands, the throne is his for the taking.

As for feelings, they can be cultivated gradually in the future.

Moreover, Qin Li also liked Pei Qingluan's personality.

At least she won't be as annoying as Xiao Xueer.

"Alright, that's all I have to say."

Qin Li stood up and said, "Think it over carefully, and give me an answer tonight."

After saying that, Qin Li turned and left, leaving Pei Qingluan standing there in a daze, pondering the pros and cons...