Qi Yihan twitched his nose, "Such a strong smell of vinegar. You get so angry and show your claws whenever she's mentioned. If she makes you this uncomfortable, why don't you just kill her?"
"Are you truly willing to do that?"
Qi Yihan recalled Xiao Qiniang's specific words to him before he returned from Mobei. He smiled and took Li Man'er's hand. "If you wish for her to die, then she shall die."
Li Man'er was finally satisfied. "That would be for the best! Also, Imperial Consort Rong seems to have a lot of free time. Instead of trying to please His Majesty, she insists on causing trouble for me. What do you think we should do?"
"What do you want to do?" Qi Yihan knew Li Man'er all too well. When she wore that ambiguous expression, it meant she was ready to crush her enemies.
"Anything is fine?"
Qi Yihan replied, "You are my intended princess consort and His Majesty's savior. Naturally, anything you wish is permissible. She is merely an imperial consort with no heirs. As long as you don't embarrass His Majesty, it should be fine."
"I think Imperial Consort Rong's ambitions are quite grand."
"What do you want to do?"
Li Man'er beckoned Qi Yihan closer and whispered a few words into his ear.
He had always known the young girl was bold, but he hadn't expected her to be so audacious.
"Are you sure?"
"Everything is within my grasp! However, I wish to have your assurance, Your Highness."
Qi Yihan raised an eyebrow. "Speak."
"Are you certain you only wish to be a prince for the rest of your life?" Although Qi Yihan had previously expressed his disinterest in the throne, men could sometimes be stubborn. Li Man'er's plan was directly linked to Qi Yihan's aspirations. If he had no desire for the throne, her actions would be much smoother. Conversely, if he did, she would have to be more restrained, as ancient emperors feared being recorded as usurpers and worried about the legitimacy of their ascension.
"What if I harbored other ambitions, would you still accompany me in rebellion?" He spoke the last two words so softly that Li Man'er, unless she was close, wouldn't have heard him.
"As long as it is someone I deem worthy, I would accompany them through mountains of knives and seas of fire."
Qi Yihan felt a warmth spread through his chest, as if something was about to surge out.
"I stand by my words. The empire means nothing to me. To be able to spend my life with Man'er is all I ask for."
Li Man'er was overjoyed at his words. She couldn't help but throw herself into his arms and whisper, "Then I am relieved. How about I bestow upon you a title of 'Iron Hat Prince'?"
"Iron Hat Prince? What is that?"
Li Man'er giggled. "Don't worry about it. I have my plan, and I intend to..."
Li Man'er revealed her entire plan. Qi Yihan was so stunned he couldn't recover for a long time.
"What's wrong? Did you go foolish with happiness?" Li Man'er looked up, sitting up straight, and saw Qi Yihan looking at her as if he were seeing her for the first time.
"What exactly is in that little head of yours? We grown men can't even outwit you. Man'er, it's fortunate you are a woman, otherwise, the empire of Da Zun might have fallen to you."
Li Man'er burst into laughter. "Women can be emperors too, haven't you heard of Empress Wu?"
"Empress Wu? Who is that?"
Li Man'er explained, "She was an empress, with the surname Wu. Let me tell you..." Since Li Man'er was idle, she recounted Empress Wu's story to Qi Yihan.
Everyone, regardless of age or gender, could tell a few tales about Empress Wu. Li Man'er chose the most interesting ones, as Empress Wu did not exist in this time period anyway.
"Is this a story from a chapbook?"
"Ah! What do you think if I wrote this story? I'd surely make a lot of money."
Qi Yihan gritted his teeth. "No!"
"Why not? It's about making money."
"It involves father and son, and it's morally corrupting." His handsome face darkened considerably, making Li Man'er laugh heartily.
"It's for the plot."
"Still no."
The next day, Li Man'er didn't need to go to the palace. However, to lure Imperial Consort Rong, she went anyway.
"County Princess, this is the patient's medical record."
Li Man'er waved her hand. "First, examine His Majesty's pulse, then look at the medical record."
The imperial physicians dared not speak. Their lives were spared because of Princess Anning; naturally, they would do as she said.
Emperor Chenghua's health had recovered significantly. He was currently enjoying some artifacts when he heard of Princess Anning's arrival and ordered her to be invited in.
"Anning pays her respects to His Majesty."
"Anning has arrived. Rise quickly. Grant the County Princess a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Li Man'er said with a smile, "Looking at Your Majesty's complexion, you seem ten years younger."
Everyone loves flattery, and even emperors are no exception. Emperor Chenghua, having recently recovered from a serious illness, was even more receptive to such unrealistic but hopeful words.
"Didn't they say you didn't need to come for the next few days? Why have you come to the palace today?"
Li Man'er replied, "A few days ago, Anning refined a few elixirs, but their quality was poor, and I dared not offer them to His Majesty. Yesterday, the batch I refined was of excellent quality. I intended to offer it to His Majesty, but I feared being accused of misleading the sovereign, so I was hesitant. Thus, I've come directly to ask you."
Emperor Chenghua was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. "You clever girl, what can I say about you?"
"Your Majesty, mocking Anning like this is truly unbecoming of a gentleman."
Eunuch Xia's forehead broke out in a sweat. How could this little ancestor say such things? Did she truly believe His Majesty's sword was made of paper?
"Did you not ask Ninth Prince for advice?"
"Don't mention him. He's even less reliable than you."
Emperor Chenghua's eyes lit up with interest. "What did he say?"
Li Man'er sighed, "Anning doesn't want to say."
Eunuch Xia chuckled, "County Princess, there are no outsiders here. Please do tell us. We are all curious."
"Yes, tell us."
Li Man'er's lips twitched, and she said reluctantly, "He told me to put the elixir in a gourd, get a rattle, and go into the common folk as a traveling physician, hawking my wares on the streets. Perhaps I could even earn some money."
Eunuch Xia couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Emperor Chenghua also said, "That does sound like something Ninth Prince would say. He's always been straightforward."
"You don't believe me either!" Li Man'er exclaimed. "I can truly refine elixirs. It's a secret art passed down in my lineage."
"Since ancient times, emperors have yearned for longevity, seeking elixirs and immortality. But how many have truly achieved eternal life? In the end, they are still recorded by historians as foolish!"
Eunuch Xia trembled with fear.
Li Man'er casually handed her small box to Eunuch Xia. "Please trouble Eunuch to present this to His Majesty."
"This..."