Li Man'er said happily, "Can I? What if I get too used to it?"
Qi Yihan didn't know whether to call her shrewd or foolish. "That is my private property. After we are married, it will all be yours. You can live there for as long as you wish."
Li Man'er nodded, then suddenly thought of something and mused, "His Majesty enfeoffed me as a county princess to acknowledge my merit in the Northern Desert. Then the Empress Dowager immediately issued an imperial decree for our marriage..."
"Are you not satisfied?"
"No!" she shook her head and explained, "I previously thought that the Empress Dowager's decree was at your request, and it was natural. But now that I think about it, it seems like she was challenging His Majesty. Only this explanation makes more sense." They were all calculating their own interests, yet each wanted to use Qi Yihan as a pawn. In other words, this mother and son were engaged in a power struggle, and both wanted to draw the influential Prince Qi Yihan to help them deal with their rivals. But once the rivals were out of the way, it would likely be Qi Yihan, the ultimate pawn, who would fall first!
Upon realizing this, Li Man'er suddenly understood why neither the Empress Dowager nor His Majesty objected to Qi Yihan marrying her. Li Shu's military power had changed hands, with Li Nian taking his place. In this regard, imperial power had a significant advantage, so the Empress Dowager was bound to lose the support of the Li family.
The Empress Dowager likely already knew about her own matters with the Li family. Therefore, by becoming a county princess, she gained the ability to contend with the Li family and qualified to stand in opposition to them.
What a clever maneuver, neutralizing and striking simultaneously. This way, the Li family's power was greatly diminished, and His Majesty's side was weakened. The Empress Dowager, however, could win over Qi Yihan and further increase the friction between him and His Majesty. What a brilliant plan!
No wonder she felt her luck wasn't that good; how could she have become a county princess? It turned out she was also a chess piece.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
Li Man'er stared intently at Qi Yihan and said, "You need to be more competitive."
Qi Yihan smiled faintly and asked, "How can I be competitive? Rebel?"
Rebellion?
Li Man'er actually began to ponder it seriously. "It's not impossible."
This time, it was Qi Yihan's turn to be surprised. He knew Li Man'er was bold, but he hadn't expected her to be *this* bold.
"I'm serious," Li Man'er thought about the weapons in her spatial dimension. Hmm, it seemed that just taking out a few of them could form a suicide squad. In an era of cold weapons, with these items, she would be like a celestial soldier! A few quick bursts and the empire would have a new ruler; what problem could there be?
"Alright, these are not things you need to worry about. I have never had such an idea."
Li Man'er then began to lecture him in earnest, "That's where you're wrong. If you don't contend or fight for it, you will face being schemed against and purged. Do you want that to happen?"
"Things haven't reached the worst point yet," Qi Yihan said. "No matter how they fight or scramble, their ultimate goal is the same."
"Tell me about it."
Qi Yihan said, "The Crown Prince, that is the greatest point of contention."
Li Man'er was not stupid at all; on the contrary, she was very intelligent. Although she was a modern person at heart and didn't fully understand some ancient matters, after spending so much time here, she had learned a thing or two by osmosis.
As soon as Qi Yihan mentioned the Crown Prince, she understood immediately.
No matter what disagreements His Majesty and the Empress Dowager had, and no matter how dire their conflict became, they would ultimately have to select a Crown Prince. This was the key point that would determine the final winner.
His Majesty's health seemed to be declining, so he would definitely push his final heir onto the throne before anything happened to him.
As for the Empress Dowager, she likely thought the same way, but she hoped that after His Majesty passed away, the person she chose would ascend the throne and become the emperor.
Perhaps the matters in the Northern Desert were also inextricably linked to the Empress Dowager, or else why would the Second Prince suddenly appear? Couldn't he just remain as Manmu Hahe? Perhaps someone was backing him.
As for the Crown Prince...
Li Man'er automatically ignored him. Not all Crown Princes could inherit the throne. Sometimes, being the Crown Prince meant drawing too much attention, it meant being a target.
If Qi Yihan himself did not want to ascend the throne, the ultimate solution would be to pick a side!
He would choose a candidate for Crown Prince and ultimately push them onto the throne! This person must trust him implicitly and be completely dependent on him.
Li Man'er tapped her head. The plan was a bit ambitious; it would require more assistance. Not to mention, the Emperor's sons were already quite old!
Children of the imperial family were sensitive from a young age. They were intelligent and possessed the cunning and means, making them difficult to control.
Unless, His Majesty could have another child!
Let these people fight amongst themselves. A young prince, without support, with no prominent maternal relatives, who else could he rely on but his imperial uncle who helped him ascend?
Although this method was somewhat unethical, it was also a relatively compromising solution. Prince Jiu would not usurp the throne or rule the country, nor would he bring disaster to the empire. He would merely be a regent, so what was the problem?
It was just His Majesty's health...
Would it work?
Li Man'er couldn't help but ask, "Hasn't it been several years since there was a newborn in the palace?"
Qi Yihan, not understanding, replied, "It hasn't been that long. The Fifth Princess, born to Consort Jiang, is only two years old."
"Oh, so do you think His Majesty can still have children now?"
They were very close, and Li Man'er clearly saw Qi Yihan's pupils widen involuntarily.
"What are you asking this for?"
"Just asking. If His Majesty's health were better, perhaps he could still have a young prince! Think about it, a young prince is a blank slate, knowing nothing, on whom one can freely write and draw..."
They were both intelligent people, so there was no point in elaborating further.
Qi Yihan turned his head slightly. "We're out for a stroll, let's not talk about state affairs."
It was like the eunuch was more anxious than the emperor.
Li Man'er leaned against the carriage window, pulling aside the curtain to look at the scenery outside.
She was clearly upset.
Qi Yihan knew she was difficult to appease, so he said, "I worry too much about you, thinking too much will tire you and bother you. Moreover, this matter is truly not easy. I don't even know if pulling you into this was a mistake."
Pulling ~ her ~ into ~ this ~
Li Man'er immediately bristled. "Qi, speak clearly! Are you regretting it? I'm telling you..."
Before she could say more, she saw Qi Yihan quickly lean towards her, lowering his head slightly, and kiss her lips.
Here comes that trick again.
Just as Li Man'er was about to break free, Qi Yihan cupped the back of her head and deepened their "exchange of oxygen and sharing" in practice.
After a long while, Qi Yihan released her, but murmured, "I thought about not pulling you into this, but Man'er, I couldn't help it. I have always had a strong will, but I stumbled on this matter. I can't help but want to be close to you, to possess you, to have you become my everything. Perhaps my lack of ambition is a sin in the eyes of others, but you are the only one who understands me. How can I let go?"