"You flatter me, little sister! But since you've given me your all, what will you do when you need money later?" Zhao Lie asked with concern.
Zhao Yanran laughed and replied, "Hehe, don't worry! A magnificent capital city like this can't defeat me, Zhao Yanran! I'm just here to warn you about one thing—you must be careful!"
Of course Zhao Zhao knew she was referring to Li Lihua, the woman from the Li Family whom Emperor Yuan had betrothed to him.
Although Li Lihua was naturally gifted with exceptional beauty, she was also an arrogant young lady of a prominent household. As the daughter of the Minister of War, she had practiced martial arts and studied military strategy since childhood.
Consequently, her martial arts skills were formidable, and she had a solid grasp of troop deployment. She excelled in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She possessed both literary and martial prowess alongside peerless beauty—making her, save for her temperamental personality, a nearly perfect woman.
Li Lihua's marriage to Zhao Lie was not actually a recent imperial decree; they had been betrothed before they were even born! Back then, to secure his official career, Li Gang had struck hands with Emperor Yuan to seal this match.
However, the world was unpredictable and fortunes shifted. The Li Family had never expected that Zhao Lie's origins would become a target for attack, bringing a sense of shame upon them.
The Li Family had long wanted to break off the engagement, but held back by the imperial household, they had to remember that no matter how pathetic Zhao Lie was, he was still the Ninth Prince. Although his true parentage remained a subject of speculation, even Emperor Yuan himself was unsure, merely suspecting them and thus growing cold toward Zhu Lian and her son Zhao Lie.
Yet it remained an undeniable fact that Zhao Lie was the Ninth Prince. Zhu Lian had once been a Cairen, and Zhao Lie was born in the Imperial Palace—these three points no one could deny.
As Zhao Yanran offered her warning, she felt in her heart that the Ninth Brother standing before her truly did not deserve someone like Li Lihua.
Hearing this, Zhao Lie simply smiled and said, "Little sister, rest assured! The woman from the Li Family may be exceptional, but your Ninth Brother is no slouch either! Fate is something one meets by chance rather than seeking it out. Of all the birds in the world, mandarin ducks only pair with their own; let everything take its course! Besides, if the Li Family's daughter looks down on your Ninth Brother, then your Ninth Brother has no use for her either! Hahaha, a real man need never worry about finding a wife!"
Zhao Yanran clapped in admiration. "Well said! A real man need never worry about finding a wife! Good, worthy of my Ninth Brother, you've got spirit!"
By now, Zhao Lie was brimming with excitement. As a top-tier special forces commander and academic powerhouse from the twenty-first century, arriving in this world meant he possessed a sheer dimensionality advantage over everyone here. Naturally, his confidence was through the roof.
The eight characters inscribed on the index finger of his left hand read: *In times of trouble, recall the past; whatever is desired shall appear!*
At first, Zhao Lie hadn't understood these eight characters. Later, through experimentation, he realized that whenever he faced difficulties, he needed to think back on his past. He had lived two lives; the past of the Zhao Lie from this world was a miserable existence filled with bullying and humiliation, whereas only his life from the twenty-first century was a glorious history.
Just on his way to the Golden Throne Hall, he had tested these eight characters, realizing with his supreme intelligence that he needed a self-defense weapon for the audience.
The moment that thought crossed his mind, a "short gun" appeared in his left palm, loaded with fifteen rounds, accompanied by two spare magazines. Shocked beyond measure, he immediately hid the items on his person while his mother Zhu Lian walked ahead unaware, keeping them ready for any emergency. This was also the trump card that gave Zhao Lie the courage to stand up directly to Qin Kui and the Eighth Prince Zhao Jian in the Golden Throne Hall.
With such supernatural abilities, backed by his status as a special forces leader, he naturally feared no one in this world.
Therefore, when Zhao Yanran warned him, he was brimming with confidence and paid the Li Family's daughter no mind at all.
Zhao Lie smiled as well. "Rest assured, little sister. Your Ninth Brother is no longer the man he used to be. A real man makes his mark upon the world to bring honor and achieve his ambitions! Just watch as your Ninth Brother accomplishes earth-shattering feats!"
"Good! I believe in Ninth Brother! I must head back now. Farewell! We shall chat again when we have time!"
Zhao Lie rose to escort Zhao Yanran outside, watching her figure disappear into the distance before returning indoors.
As soon as he stepped back inside, his mother Zhu Lian spun around him once and asked, "Lie'er, you knelt in the blizzard all last night—are you truly alright?"
"Mother! Your son is fine. Watch me throw a few punches to show you," Zhao Lie said with a smile.
Zhu Lian smiled. "Wonderful! Mother has been wanting to see her son box. Today in the Golden Throne Hall, you frightened your mother half to death, but the way you struck the Eighth Prince with a fist and a few slaps was simply dashing!"
Zhao Lie laughed in response. "Naturally! But mother, have no fear. From this day forward, no one shall ever bully the two of us again. Whoever dares bully us, your son will thrash them!"
Hearing these words, Zhu Lian's eyes turned red, brimming with tears. In the twenty years since she entered the palace, she had only experienced two good years. Ever since Zhao Lie turned one, Emperor Yuan had stripped Zhu Lian of her title as Cairen.
From then on, mother and son endured an inhumane existence, suffering nearly constant bullying for over a decade. Had it not been for Thirteenth Princess Zhao Yanran shielding them for the past seven years, it was uncertain whether the two of them would still be alive today.
Seeing her son now showing such promise filled her heart with joy, yet it was also swirling with endless confusion: How could Lie'er have changed so drastically from before? Could the winter cold last night have awakened some kind of super-potential within him?
Regardless of the reason, Zhu Lian was happy.
Mother and son sat by the charcoal brazier, chatting and warming themselves. At that moment, a voice rang out from outside: "Is the Ninth Prince at home? My young mistress has come to visit!"
It was a woman's voice. The mother and son exchanged glances, failing to recognize whose voice it was, but Zhao Lie went to open the door anyway.
He saw a sword-wielding woman standing outside, her gaze toward Zhao Lie filled with utter contempt.
"Pardon me, miss, who are you looking for?" Zhao Lie asked politely.
The sword-wielding woman frowned before answering, "We are looking for the Ninth Prince—the newly conferred Prince of Yelang!"
Zhao Lie smiled and replied, "I am indeed the Ninth Prince, Zhao Lie. Might I ask what business you have with me?"
"You're the Ninth Prince? The Zhao Lie whom the other princes used to play with like a monkey?"
Hearing the sword-wielding woman's words, Zhao Lie instantly realized she had come with ill intent. Still, suppressing his rising anger, he smiled and asked, "Could it be that you've come here to pick a fight with this prince?"
"Pick a fight? You're not even worthy! My young mistress has come to your home because she has words for you." The sword-wielding woman struck a deeply overbearing pose.
Zhao Lie had no desire to argue with such a person; she was merely a servant, after all. He decided to find out what the matter was first.
Thus, Zhao Lie asked, "Who is your young mistress? Do I know her?"
"Of course you know her!" The sword-wielding woman gestured behind her. A woman wearing a black veil stepped forward and reached Zhao Lie in just a few strides.
Noticing the woman's exceptionally swift footwork, Zhao Lie quickly praised, "Fine lightness skill!"
"This humble person greets the Ninth Prince—no, I should call you the Prince of Yelang now!" the masked woman replied.
"Young mistress, there is no need for such formalities. Might I ask who you are..." Zhao Lie inquired.
"Oh, I am Li Lihua, daughter of the Minister of War, Li Gang!" the masked woman announced.
"You are Li Lihua? That means you are my fiancée!" Zhao Lie laughed heartily.
"Shut your mouth! How could you ever be worthy of my young mistress?" the sword-wielding woman sneered.
"Xiaoyu, hold your tongue!" Li Lihua reprimanded the sword-wielding woman.
Clever as he was, Zhao Lie had already guessed that Li Lihua was here to call off the engagement.
"Yes, young mistress!" Xiaoyu immediately fell silent.
"I wonder what brings Miss Lihua here today? Why don't you step inside and warm yourselves by the fire? It is freezing out, and I wouldn't want to freeze Miss Li's precious golden branches and jade leaves." Zhao Lie feigned hospitality, inviting the two of them inside to warm up.
"Oh! I thank the Ninth Prince for his kind offer, but the Ninth Prince surely knows the purpose of my visit!" Li Lihua said.
Zhao Lie deliberately feigned ignorance. "Oh? This prince truly has no idea. I must ask Miss Li to make it clear!"