Given the previous events of Zhuo Ni gifting him feathers and the little girl appearing before him, Bai Li Chong Yan naturally suspected her identity.
To be precise, he was certain. Although Zhuo Ni hadn't told him directly, she hadn't intended to hide anything.
He simply didn't want her to be labeled a demon. No one could do that.
The head guard paused, then quickly said, "What I meant was, thank you, Princess Consort, for your help. Your Highness, you should quickly look at the Northern Frontier military report."
The provisions were already on their way. With Long Qian present, Yang Zhong Xu wouldn't be able to cause much trouble, but if a real battle were to break out, both the imperial court and the Northern Frontier would need them to prepare in advance.
Bai Li Chong Yan then lowered his head to read the letter.
Reporting military intelligence was not like submitting an official memorial. It didn't require flowery language or neat penmanship; one only needed to state the key points. Therefore, Bai Li Chong Yan quickly finished reading its contents.
Seeing him look up, the head guard immediately asked, "How is it? Has a battle broken out?"
Bai Li Chong Yan was quite speechless. "You sound as if you can't wait for a battle to break out. Should I send you to the Northern Frontier then?"
The head guard froze again.
He felt like his master was targeting him.
The reason was none other than his earlier mention of the Princess Consort's affinity with birds.
He had already been suspicious of Zhuo Ni, and he felt that if she truly were a demon, she would be of the bird kind. He had blurted it out subconsciously, not expecting to offend two people at once.
"I don't want to, Your Highness. I know I was wrong. Please, Your Highness, stop joking with me."
"Who's joking with you?" Bai Li Chong Yan's face was cold, and he showed no signs of amusement, which genuinely frightened him.
He thought that if the Prince really ordered him to go, he wouldn't be able to refuse. He could only say, "Everything is as Your Highness decides."
Bai Li Chong Yan snorted coldly. "The Northern Frontier is temporarily safe. Long Qian killed Yang Zhong Xu and sent back his subordinates along with them. Inform the court to prepare, and ensure that the Crown Prince's faction's crimes are thoroughly proven."
His tone was particularly unpleasant when he mentioned that person, clearly showing his deep hatred.
"Yes."
He left the room. Bai Li Chong Yan looked at the letter again, then placed it into the brazier before them.
Her emotions, which had stabilized for many days, were once again stirred by this matter. Zhuo Ni felt his hatred for the Crown Prince anew.
The blackening value still hadn't decreased.
It wasn't that he didn't love Zhuo Ni, but rather that he hated those people too much.
The root of the problem wasn't Zhuo Ni; no matter how much she did, it wouldn't be enough.
"I'll help you kill him."
Bai Li Chong Yan knew that she had toyed with the Crown Prince on her wedding day and that she possessed the ability to kill him silently, unlike the second prince whose fate was currently unknown.
But he didn't want her to.
"No need. I don't want you to dirty your hands."
Zhuo Ni rubbed his hand. "They won't be dirty. They all harmed you before. Our fates are intertwined. I am your wife now. If I kill them, it will be for your revenge, and it will be fine."
Even if it wasn't, what did it matter if she killed a few people?
Bai Li Chong Yan still refused.
"I want revenge. I will eliminate anyone who has harmed me or stood in my way. There's no need for unnecessary actions. Besides, for someone like the Crown Prince, death would be too easy."
Deceitful, double-faced, betrayal, framing, torment of all kinds.
How could he let him die easily and painlessly?
His tone was calm, and his emotions weren't significantly volatile. Zhuo Ni didn't insist. "Then do it yourself, but remember one thing: your current body was given to me by you. You must not injure it."
Bai Li Chong Yan flipped off his "cat's nest," took her hand, picked her up, and walked towards the inner room. "What the Princess Consort says, this Prince will remember with all his heart."
Zhuo Ni hugged his neck. "Where are we going?"
"My body was given to me by the Princess Consort. Of course, I must repay you generously."
As he spoke, he had already placed her on the bed.
Zhuo Ni pushed him away. "Daylight fornication. You are becoming more and more presumptuous."
"It's all thanks to the Princess Consort's good teaching. To be acknowledged by the Princess Consort is my honor."
Zhuo Ni, who used to flirt constantly: "..."
She wondered if she was asking for trouble.
At the same time, she was also thinking: was it because she had gone too far and turned him into this? Or was he always like this, and she had merely awakened him?
Bai Li Chong Yan had already lowered the incense curtain. "Life is short. Enjoy it while you can. Nie'er, don't waste this beautiful spring day."
"It's winter right now."
Bai Li Chong Yan smiled and leaned down. "This Prince is mistaken. The spring scenery is elsewhere."
Zhuo Ni: "..."