The whole family is obsessed with love? The princess woke them up one after another.

Qi Zhiyu spoke those few simple words with such nonchalance and naturalness.

It was her casualness that made the Crown Prince's heart clench suddenly, as if he had been hit by a boulder, and the pain almost made him lose his balance.

The crown prince did not speak, but stared intently at Qi Zhiyu.

However, after Qi Zhiyu finished speaking, she didn't seem to notice anything unusual and remained sitting there leisurely, as if they had just been chatting casually.

This realization made the crown prince feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

He really wanted to grab Jiang Tinghao by the collar and ask him if Jiang Tinghao knew what he had messed with.

The Crown Prince spoke, his voice as unpleasant as if it had been polished by rough sandpaper: "Princess, what a display of spirit!"

Qi Zhiyu smiled, without a trace of mockery, just a normal smile, and even with a hint of tolerance in her smile.

The more she acted this way, the more terrified the crown prince became.

Qi Zhiyu gave him the feeling of being someone high above him, looking down on him.

In her eyes, he was like an ant hopping around on the ground.

She was just curious: what was such a small and weak thing doing jumping around?

Once the idea popped into his head, it took root in the prince's mind and could not be completely eradicated.

"Princess..." the Crown Prince spoke again, with a resolute air, "I am the Crown Prince of Northern Yunnan."

"I will not allow northern Yunnan to fall into such a state!"

After the Crown Prince finished speaking, he stood up as quickly as possible and grabbed Qi Zhiyu's neck with his fingers slightly bent.

With such a fragile neck, he could end Qi Zhiyu's life with just a twist.

If Qi Zhiyu dies... then everything she just said won't happen.

All the servants who were supposed to be serving in the courtyard were outside, including the two maids who were supposed to be secret guards for Qi Zhiyu, given to her by Emperor Kangwu.

Even if those two people heard the commotion and came in.

They couldn't stop him, so they could only use deadly tactics to force him to protect himself in order to save Qi Zhiyu.

But... even if he dies here today, he will kill Qi Zhiyu!

Qi Zhiyu absolutely cannot be allowed to live.

This is his only chance!

The Crown Prince's idea was good, but it was only his own idea.

Because his wrist was held by slender fingers, which rested lightly and loosely on his wrist, Qi Zhiyu looked at him leisurely, unable to feel any force from her.

However, his arm was as if it were clamped by pliers, and he could not move it at all.

He channeled his inner strength to resist, but Qi Zhiyu's lips curled up in a smile. Then, a powerful force surged through his wrist, and instantly, his knees buckled, causing him to kneel heavily, his whole body drenched in cold sweat from the pain.

He had no strength left, let alone attack; he didn't even have the strength to get up.

"As the crown prince, you are qualified." Qi Zhiyu agreed with the Crown Prince of Northern Yunnan.

Such praise made the crown prince laugh.

He looked up at Qi Zhiyu sitting in the chair. She was not wearing a yellow robe or a twelve-tassel crown, and even her posture was not dignified.

Yet, her every move, every smile, exuded the natural aura of someone in a high position.

It doesn't need any external things to manifest itself.

Others are merely rule-followers, but she is the one who makes those rules.

The crown prince's eyes were filled with terror, and he couldn't help but tremble.

He wasn't afraid of death; he was afraid for the people of northern Yunnan!

Because he knew that the fate of Northern Yunnan... was something he couldn't change.

"You...your martial arts have been crippled, haven't they?" When the prince asked this question, he was completely immersed in despair.

His only chance to gamble!

Qi Zhiyu tilted her head slightly, somewhat curious: "Who told you I know martial arts?"

The crown prince shuddered, his incredulous gaze mixed with a sense of relief that he had expected this.

He laughed: "No wonder, no wonder you never teach the soldiers of Da Rui martial arts."

He was right.

Qi Zhiyu's smile deepened: "Jiang Tinghao told you about his plans. He wants to squeeze every last drop of knowledge out of me and teach it all to you in Beidian."

The Crown Prince looked at Qi Zhiyu with mixed feelings.

She wasn't asking questions; she knew perfectly well all of Jiang Tinghao's intentions.

Jiang Tinghao thought he had outsmarted Qi Zhiyu, but what was the truth?

Everything was laid out clearly before her eyes.

"I suppose you had the same question back then: why didn't I teach the soldiers of Da Rui martial arts?" Qi Zhiyu chuckled, tapping the table lightly with a playful gesture.

"You thought of it, but you didn't tell your father... It seems you also know that your father's feelings for you have changed."

"Your Highness... you've become too ambitious. The younger son is much better."

"As the emperor, I can support my youngest son in that position for a few more years."

"Humans, indeed, are mostly still greedy for power."

"You, the crown prince who has grown up, are a threat to him, a declaration that he is old and can abdicate, the last thing he wants to face."

The crown prince closed his eyes.

"You can leave." Qi Zhiyu's words stunned the Crown Prince. "You're not going to kill me?"

Qi Zhiyu laughed: "Why would I kill you?"

"This is Northern Dian. If I kill the Crown Prince of Northern Dian, do you think that gives Northern Dian a legitimate reason to attack my Great Rui?"

"I'm not that stupid."

"Moreover..." Qi Zhiyu looked at the Crown Prince with a smile, "living is much more painful than dying."

"Especially... knowing the right answer but being unable to save those around you, being questioned and hated by the people you want to protect, and finally being abandoned by everyone and becoming the villain that everyone condemns."

"Your Highness, this is the price for opposing me."

The prince gritted his teeth, his pain and despair like a bottomless swamp that swallowed him up instantly, leaving him breathless.

"Qi Zhiyu, you are so cruel." The Crown Prince was filled with hatred, but he was powerless to do anything about it.

Qi Zhiyu smiled slightly, giving him a choice: "You can submit to me, and then..."

"Dream on!" The prince forced himself to stand up.

He stared intently at Qi Zhiyu: "Even if everyone points fingers at me, I will fight you to the very end!"

"I won't let you destroy northern Yunnan!"

Qi Zhiyu applauded for him: "Then I'll be waiting to see!"

The Crown Prince gave Qi Zhiyu a deep look, then turned and strode away.

His upright figure, etched with anger, testifies to his unwavering resolve.

After the Crown Prince left, Ning Shuang and Luo Yu entered.

Even Ning Shuang, who was usually so composed, had a somewhat complicated expression.

Luo Yu, who couldn't keep a secret, asked, "Princess, this Crown Prince..."

"He's a useful person," Qi Zhiyu commented with a smile. "Da Rui is in dire need of capable people right now."

Luo Yu frowned: "But, Princess, he's from Northern Yunnan. What if he harbors rebellious intentions?"

Qi Zhiyu smiled: "When there is no absolute chance of victory, what he hopes to see is that the people of Beidian are doing well."

"He will spare no effort to achieve this goal."

"At that time, Bei Dian had already returned to Da Rui. Wasn't his effort to benefit the people a service to Da Rui? In the long run, would those people still remember that they were from Bei Dian?"