Chapter 717: Chapter 716: 716: The Tool Man

Li Hongyuan heard her muttering, but said nothing.

The two of them walked side by side in silence for a while, and then he suddenly said, “Sometimes I think you’re the most unambitious person in the world, lazy, without discipline, and indifferent to everything.”

Jiang Ning pinched a plum blossom, smelling it as she walked, not responding to his evaluation.

Li Hongyuan said again, “But sometimes, I feel that your desire for power is very strong. You know, occasionally the way you look at Emperor Father, it’s as if you want to replace him.”

Jiang Ning laughed in astonishment, “What nonsense are you talking about? Do you know that if this gets out, I could easily be nailed to the pillar of shame for plotting a rebellion?”

“No one else is here.”

Li Hongyuan always liked to be alone, occasionally accompanied by a single eunuch, Li Quan. As for Jiang Ning, she didn’t mind having a group of people around her, but ever since Gucheng, she got used to going out without anyone.

She knew that somewhere not far from her, someone was watching her every move, every moment.

Even a yawn or digging her nose, everything would be seen by others.

Others might have a hard time accepting this.

Miraculously, Jiang Ning didn’t feel watched, but rather exceptionally secure.

Li Hongyuan had always been aware of Gucheng’s existence.

More miraculously, he seemed to consider Gucheng as part of his own, or rather, he didn’t consider Gucheng a person at all.

Perhaps in his mind, Gucheng was nothing more than a tool to protect Jiang Ning’s safety.

So, he said, no one else is here.

But Jiang Ning didn’t think so.

Li Hongyuan treated Gucheng as a tool, but Jiang Ning treated him as a younger brother.

What was there to guard against her own brother?

She didn’t say anything.

Li Hongyuan said, “Everyone has desires, which I think is normal. Desire drives people forward, and those without desire are monks who have entered the empty gate. So, your thirst for power, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”

“Perhaps that’s because you’re also one of them.”

“Yes, as a woman, you can only rely on men to get what you want.”

“Hmph.”

Jiang Ning’s snort was full of discontent and contempt.

Li Hongyuan heard it, “You seem very dissatisfied.”

“You just said that I can only rely on men to get what I want?”

“Isn’t that true?”

“Do you think you are smarter and stronger than me?”

“I don’t think so.”

“If the girls of your royal family could also have the right to inherit, I don’t think you would be so arrogant and proud.” Jiang Ning said coldly.

Li Hongyuan did not speak.

Perhaps he thought that Jiang Ning’s words were purely meaningless venting.

Girls having inheritance rights?

It’s a fool’s dream.

Regardless of royal girls, noble girls, or common girls, their sole mission in life is to marry, bring glory to their families, and reproduce for others’ families.

In short, a woman’s greatest value lies in her ability to bear children.

Jiang Ning, of course, disdained Li Hongyuan’s view, but she also knew that in this feudal society of absolute monarchy, discussing these issues with a prince with the right to inherit would be like playing a lute to a cow.

She didn’t like working fruitlessly.

What she wanted to do now was to change her own destiny first.