Chapter 425 Who is More Innocent

Chapter 425: Who Is More Innocent

Luo Jingshen dressed and got up from the bed, his pent-up resentment having nowhere to go. He kicked the stool in front of him, sending it flying to the ground.

"Crying? She has the nerve to cry!?"

"If it weren't for her sneaking over to seduce me last night and giving me that wine to drink, would I be in this mess right now?"

Liu Qingya said nothing.

He had been on night duty outside the door last night and had heard Luo Jingshen seemed to be really into it too.

They were both as bad as each other.

However, Ji Qingqing's actions were indeed contemptible.

She was already going to be the Crown Princess, yet she still had the audacity to shamelessly sneak into the Eastern Palace and climb into bed. Honestly, that's just low!

That's not how a proper young lady from a noble family behaves.

Suddenly thinking of something, a murderous glint flashed in Luo Jingshen's eyes.

"Mr. Liu, any leads on that thing I asked you to look into?"

Liu Qingya nodded. "I was just about to bring this up with you, Your Highness. I heard the explosion last night came from the Prince Ye's mansion."

"Some officers went by this morning to ask questions. The servants at the Prince Ye's mansion said that Princess Ye accidentally blew up her kitchen while making dinner last night!"

"They even took the officers inside to show them. Indeed, half of the kitchen at Prince Ye's mansion had collapsed, exactly matching what they said."

Luo Jingshen slammed his fist onto the table in anger, grinding his teeth. "Ji Yuntang! Her again!"

"That bitch, is she doing this just to spite me?"

The very thought of it made Luo Jingshen's blood boil.

Last night, he was right in the middle of things with Ji Qingqing when a sudden explosion went off, scaring him limp!

After that, no matter what he tried, he couldn't get it back up, and he was forced to call in the imperial physician.

Unexpectedly, even the physician's diagnosis was wishy-washy. Luo Jingshen still had no idea if he'd ever be able to get it up again.

Just thinking that this was all Ji Qingqing's fault made him seethe with anger.

"Spread the word—today's betrothal ceremony is off. I'm not going to deliver the betrothal gifts!"

"That bitch Ji Qingqing is already screwing me over before she's even married into the family. It's hard not to wonder if she's a spy sent by Ji Yuntang."

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingya quickly tried to persuade him. "Your Highness, you mustn't do this! I already spread the news yesterday that you would be going to the Marquis's residence today to deliver the betrothal gifts, and now the whole city knows about it!"

"If you don't go today, people will start talking, saying that you, the Crown Prince, don't keep your promises?"

"You can't afford to lose both your health and your reputation, can you, Your Highness?"

Luo Jingshen was speechless.

Luo Jingshen was furious.

Although he was angry, he knew Liu Qingya's words were blunt but made sense.

He had asked Liu Qingya to spread the news about the betrothal gifts, so the citizens of the capital could all see how generous he was and earn himself a good name.

But if he didn't go, wouldn't he lose face and get a bad reputation instead?

Luo Jingshen thought it over and figured it really wasn't worth it. Although he resented Ji Qingqing, he could still tell what mattered more.

He never needed Ji Qingqing herself—he needed the support of the Marquis Yongning's household.

Worst case scenario, once he married her, he could slowly torment her to vent his anger.

Having made up his mind, Luo Jingshen said to Liu Qingya, "Mr. Liu, I understand. I will go to the Marquis's residence to deliver the betrothal gifts."

"As for the business, I'll leave it in your hands."

Liu Qingya sighed. The barbecue restaurant's business had been a total mess lately—all the customers had disappeared overnight.

He didn't even know how to tell Luo Jingshen about it.

"Your Highness, go deliver the betrothal gifts first. When you get back, I'll bring the account books for you to look over."

Hearing that, Luo Jingshen figured the profits must be doing well, and he felt a lot more relieved.

"Then I'll be counting on you, Mr. Liu!"

At the Marquis Yongning's residence.

Ji Qingqing didn't dare use the front door. After sneaking in through the back door, she didn't say a word and just hid in her room crying.

Madam Meng brought her a bowl of bird's nest soup she'd made and asked with concern, "Qingqing, did the Crown Prince rough you up last night?"

Ji Qingqing continued to cover her face and cry without answering.

Madam Meng assumed she was in pain and said, "Every woman goes through this the first time around. You'll get used to it in time."

"Come, drink this bowl of bird's nest soup. I'll have someone come help you freshen up and get ready."

Ji Qingqing shoved Madam Meng's hand aside and said, her voice thick with tears, "I don't want to drink. Take the bird's nest soup away."

During the struggle, Madam Meng noticed a slap mark on her face. She quickly grabbed Ji Qingqing's hand.

"Qingqing, what happened to your face? Did the Crown Prince hit you?"

If she hadn't asked, it might have been fine, but the question made all the hurt in Ji Qingqing's heart come flooding out.

She threw herself into Madam Meng's arms, sobbing. "Mother, the Crown Prince is not coming today!"

That slap was from Luo Jingshen.

Ji Qingqing had been lost in the moment with Luo Jingshen, but then, in the middle of the night, an explosion went off, and he suddenly went limp.

He blamed Ji Qingqing for the whole thing, saying that if she hadn't seduced him, he wouldn't have slept with her.

And if he hadn't done it, he wouldn't have been scared by the explosion and gone limp.

Ji Qingqing was like a mute swallowing bitter medicine—she had grievances but couldn't voice them.

In the end, Luo Jingshen told her to get lost and never show her face in front of him again.

After hearing Ji Qingqing's story, Madam Meng had mixed feelings.

At this moment, even with all her resourcefulness, she didn't know how to comfort Ji Qingqing.

Was Ji Qingqing innocent?

Indeed, she was.

But Luo Jingshen was even more innocent.

A perfectly good crown prince becoming impotent—if the other princes found out, not only would he be ridiculed for the rest of his life, but he might lose his position as crown prince!

After all, of the three unfilial acts, having no heir is the worst; no emperor could be infertile.

Mrs. Meng also worried that Luo Jingshen might never have heirs, which would be a disaster for Ji Qingqing if she married him!

She paused for a moment, then reached out and patted Ji Qingqing's shoulder.

"Qing Qing, the crown prince is still young; he's bound to get better, and you'll have children in the future."

"Stop crying for now. Go eat something, wash up, and make yourself presentable—what if the crown prince actually does show up later?"

"You wouldn't want to meet him looking like this, would you?"

Ji Qingqing looked up, sobbing, and asked, "Mother, will the crown prince really come?"

"I've already given myself to him. What if he refuses to marry me?"

Mrs. Meng took out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. "Don't worry, the crown prince will definitely come. The emperor has already sent down the marriage decree; how could he not marry you?"

"But you must keep his impotence a secret. You must not let a third person know—this is about the prince's reputation and your future."

Ji Qingqing obediently responded, "Mother, I understand. I will keep it a secret."

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