Reborn Spoiled Girl Tames the Regent

Chapter 17 Youngster Li Zhijing

Mo Ping was taken aback when she saw Li Zhijing walk behind the screen.

Wen Qian was still kneeling, and when she saw him coming over, she lowered her head even further.

"Get up," he said softly, then opened the ointment. "I'll apply the medicine for you."

Wen Qian stood up in response, a look of confusion in her eyes: "Why did the young master suddenly..."

Li Zhijing sniffed the ointment, then looked at the couch and gestured for her to sit down.

She continued, "You don't need to overthink it. I just think my second sister is right. We are not enemies. Besides, you brought me clothes yesterday, so I should thank you no matter what."

His voice was soft and indifferent, revealing no other emotion.

He was polite and proper, and his manners were impeccable.

Seeing that he was about to apply the ointment, Wen Qian hesitated and pulled her clothes down a little.

She had barely peeked out of her shoulder when she started tugging at her clothes.

Then, her face flushed slightly, and she stammered, "Young Master, perhaps... we should let Mo Ping do it instead."

Li Zhijing noticed her shyness and was about to give up when the servant suddenly came to report.

"Your Highness, Miss Jiang has arrived."

Li Zhijing paused, instinctively wanting to go out and greet her.

He took two steps, then stopped.

He was in a state of turmoil, wanting to see her but also afraid that she would say something he didn't want to hear.

Emotions are like paper that has been baked by fire, crumpled and tangled into a ball.

He knew she was right—he was married and should give up on the idea.

But... how can he just let go like that?

He turned his head again to look at Wen Qian.

A pang of guilt flashed through my mind, but it was quickly suppressed by a defiant thought.

He then gripped the medicine bottle tightly, sat down by the bed, and instructed, "Let her in."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Qian suddenly felt her clothes being pulled down a little on her shoulders, followed by a chill.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head to see Li Zhijing applying medicine to her.

The ointment on his hands was icy cold, but as he applied it to her skin, it made her heart burn. However, she could tell he was distracted, his movements casual and inattentive.

She guessed it; Li Zhijing was thinking of Jiang Wan, and his kindness at this moment was just a way to spite her.

Wen Qian bit her lower lip and lowered her head to hide the disappointment on her face.

Soon, Jiang Wan arrived.

Upon entering the room, one sees Li Zhijing sitting there, casually holding a medicine bottle in his hand, the bottle slightly tilted, seemingly unconcerned about whether the ointment would spill out.

It was obvious at a glance that he was just putting on an act.

But Jiang Mian didn't expose him; she just stood at the door watching him apply the medicine.

Wen Qian felt a little embarrassed and whispered a reminder: "Young Master, Miss Jiang the Second is here."

Li Zhijing didn't respond, and didn't even lift his eyelids.

After applying the medicine, he slowly stood up, his tone indifferent: "Did you come here for something?"

Looking at his indifferent attitude, Jiang Mian felt a surge of anger rising within her.

He's still the same as before; whenever he gets angry, he puts on that smug look that makes him want to punch someone.

But she neither lectured nor got angry; she simply said, "I've come to visit the Crown Princess. I wonder if her injuries are any better?"

Li Zhijing replied indifferently, "Uncle Jiang has already come, so you don't need to bother."

After saying that, he helped Wen Qian up and said gently, "The sun is shining brightly today. I'll accompany you for a walk in the yard."

He walked out as soon as he finished speaking, without even giving Wen Qian a chance to speak.

Jiang Mian followed up and explained to Wen Qian, "My eldest sister knelt all night last night and her legs are too weak to walk today, so I came here specifically to apologize to the Crown Princess. I hope the Crown Princess can forgive and forget."

Wen Qian said softly, "It's alright. What's done is done, and she has been punished. She must already know she was wrong."

After she finished speaking, Li Zhijing urged her to leave.

Jiang Mian was somewhat displeased and stepped forward, saying, "I've only come today to apologize to the Crown Princess. If you don't want to see me, you can just refuse to see me. Why use the Crown Princess as a shield to treat me coldly?"

Li Zhijing finally turned around and looked at her: "You're angry because I'm nothing special? Did you ever think about my feelings when you said those things?"

"Was what I said wrong?!"

"You're not wrong! How could you be wrong? You're absolutely right. I'm married now, so all our past should be forgotten. You're getting married too, so there shouldn't be any contact between us!"

He spoke with some emotion, and Jiang Mian also felt a surge of anger.

Considering her age across lifetimes, she shouldn't have gotten angry with a brat like Li Zhijing, but she was indeed quite annoyed by him.

"Li Zhijing, if you can't understand this, then we can't even be friends anymore!"

Li Zhijing stood there, speechless.

The air grew heavy, like a taut string, with neither side willing to let go first.

Jiang Mian took a deep breath to calm herself down.

After a moment, he said to Wen Qian, "Since the Crown Princess is alright, I will not disturb you any longer."

She finished speaking and turned to leave.

Li Zhijing watched her retreating figure, his eyes following her until she disappeared outside the door.

Wen Qian stared blankly at the argument that the two of them had just had, and for a moment she felt a little envious.

After meeting Jiang Mian, she realized that Li Zhijing liked such a bright and flamboyant woman.

She was by nature unambitious and quite timid, so it seemed she had no chance of winning his heart.

Li Zhijing came to his senses and saw Wen Qian still standing there.

He was already full of resentment, and seeing her timid and submissive demeanor only made him more annoyed. If it weren't for the sake of his family's reputation, he would definitely have found a way to divorce her.

Under the warm sun in the courtyard, Wen Qian felt a slight itch on the wound on her back, with occasional sharp pains.

Seeing that she was not feeling well, Mo Ping quickly said, "Would the Crown Princess like to go back to her room to rest?"

Wen Qian nodded.

Just as he was about to leave, Li Zhijing said irritably, "As the heir apparent of the Pingnan Marquis's mansion, no one would dare to criticize you for being a little unreasonable. But if you are always soft-hearted, others will think that anyone can manipulate my mansion. If anything like this happens again, I will not help you."

He didn't speak harshly, but Wen Qian was somewhat at a loss.

She lowered her eyes, her hands gripping her sleeves tightly, and answered softly, "What the young master says is true..."

Li Zhijing didn't look at her and started walking out.

My mind is filled with Jiang Wan's words, "Let's not even be friends anymore."

He knew Jiang Wan was truly angry. In the past, he would have brought her gifts to coax her every half day.

But now he felt very distressed, wanting to go to her but also feeling that he was no longer worthy to go.

If I go, I'm afraid it will only annoy her more...

He looked worried and walked around the corridor when he saw a group of people walking in through the doorway.

The one in the lead was dressed in a dark red official robe with long sleeves and a flat, round yellow pearl palace hat.

He was Wei Chunlai, a close attendant of the Empress.