Male superiority and female superiority: forced love

"Yumei, do you know who that noble lady is?" Cai Lei asked curiously. If she hadn't already witnessed Ruan Chuyin's ethereal beauty, she would have stared with her mouth agape, her eyes wide open, like everyone else.

Wang Yumei shook her head in confusion, her eyes falling on the two snow-capped mountains in front of Sun Wanning's chest, feeling envious.

"Shameless!" Liu Dongxiang snorted, staring at her two white thighs, blushing and looking away.

"That's called coming prepared! There's going to be something fun to watch tonight!" Cai Lei picked up the wine glass and took a sip thoughtfully.

Cai Zhiyuan glanced sideways upon hearing this, surprised at his daughter's keen insight, and had even more expectations for her.

When he looked back, Prince Beiyue was already sitting next to Jiang Wenzhou with the beauty.

Their table wasn't too far from Kong Ji's, so it was a little hard to hear what they were talking about, but Cai Lei understood through lip reading. Knowing her abilities, her two friends anxiously awaited firsthand information.

"Ziyu, it's been ages. This is my adopted sister, Sun Wanning, the Princess of Qinghe," Lu Yinnian introduced gracefully. Jiang Wenzhou's eyes were visibly stunned, but there wasn't the lustful look of desire for a beautiful woman he'd hoped to see, which immediately irritated him.

"I've long heard that the Crown Prince of Dayong is of outstanding talent and has extraordinary talents. Today I see that he is indeed extraordinary in bearing and style. I admire him very much." Sun Wanning's dimples smiled slightly and she secretly gave him a wink.

Jiang Wenzhou gently fiddled with the jade ring on his thumb, the corner of his lips slightly raised, without saying anything, he looked at the beauty in front of him slowly and unhurriedly.

His actions made Lu Yinnian and Sun Wanning's hearts jump. The atmosphere between the three of them became strange.

After ten breaths, he slowly replied, "My lord, you are too kind. Your beauty is truly remarkable, and one can forget the world at first sight. Jing'an, you are so lucky!"

After a brief greeting, Jiang Wenzhou never looked at Sun Wanning again.

The princes of the two countries were chatting casually. If you observe carefully, you can still feel that the air pressure around Lu Yinnian has dropped a little.

Sun Wanning sat alone, a look of unease on her face. This Crown Prince of Dayong was far more difficult to deal with than she had imagined. Those eyes were unfathomable, as if they contained the ability to see through everything, revealing her every intention. His half-smile, his unfathomable thoughts, drove her mad. She couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety, and the confidence that had once shone between her brows vanished.

Why wasn't this man charmed by her?

Cai Lei silently averted her gaze and turned back to reveal the news when she saw her two friends staring at Lu Yinnian with infatuated expressions. So, she turned her gaze back. She had been so focused on deciphering the lip reading that she hadn't noticed the appearance of the Beiyue Crown Prince.

"hiss"

She gasped sharply.

Lu Yinnian was dressed in a long, dark robe, its sleeves fluttering in the wind. A few plum blossoms outlined in gold thread on the sleeves accentuated his aura, making him appear pure and elegant, open-minded and uninhibited.

Beneath his dark hair and golden crown was a face as graceful as the moon and the wind. His cold, pale skin was coated with a layer of warm gold under the flickering candlelight, adding a touch of softness to his divinely crafted face.

A pair of starry eyes are as bright and clear as a glass bottle, and the arc at the corner of the eyes is like the ripples on the lake caused by the autumn wind, exuding a fatal charm.

His eyebrows were shaped like willow leaves and as green as emerald feathers. They were more delicate than those of most men, but not feminine.

His tall, peak-like nose bridge supports his facial features, making his beautiful eyes look even deeper and brighter.

The people on Mo are like jade, and the son is unparalleled in the world.

Cai Lei felt that this man was the most handsome she had ever seen, even more handsome than the gray-haired handsome man she had met during her last night cruise on Lianghe River. Her heart began to pound uncontrollably.

Why isn’t he choosing a concubine today?

"Dad, does Crown Prince Beiyue have a Crown Princess?" She leaned close to her father and asked quietly.

Cai Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows slightly, patted her head lightly, and poured a basin of cold water on her.

"He doesn't even like the red-dressed woman beside him, so how could he like you?"

Their voices were very soft, but they were still heard by Kong Ji who was standing nearby. He then looked towards the prince's table with a meaningful smile.

The surroundings were so quiet that you could hear a pin drop in the vast space.

Looking around, you can find that the attention in the venue is now divided into three groups.

All the eligible men's attention was focused on Sun Wanning. Her red dress was already thin and light, with two high slits at the hem. She sat with her legs crossed, revealing her slender curves, which were radiantly white and dazzlingly bright. Add to that the two-thirds exposed white jade-like breasts, and the blood in the young men's veins raced, their noses bleeding.

The noble ladies, whether they were young or married, all fell head over heels for the two peerless princes. Since their gazes were directed in the same direction, it was hard to tell who was more popular.

Gradually, the sounds of whispering and giggles began to rise, and the atmosphere began to become lively again.

Following a loud shout from the chief eunuch, Emperor Yong, dressed in a dragon robe, stepped calmly onto the imperial platform.

The place suddenly became silent again.

Jiang Chenfeng spoke briefly and began a cordial conversation with Lu Yinnian. When his eyes fell on the woman in red, he paused and suddenly asked, "Jing'an, who is this?"

"Your Majesty, she is my adopted sister, Sun Wanning, the Princess of Qinghe. She has always admired Ziyu's talent and is deeply fascinated by his poem 'Ode to the Cold Plum Blossoms.' I have brought her here on this mission specifically to see Ziyu in all his glory."

"Wanning pays homage to His Majesty." Sun Wanning smiled sweetly and stepped forward to salute.

The words of the Crown Prince of Beiyue Kingdom were tantamount to an explicit hint, as if he had specially brought this unparalleled beauty to participate in the election of the Crown Princess, which put a lot of pressure on all the noble ladies present who liked Jiang Wenzhou.

Cai Zhiyuan stroked his beard, glanced at Cai Lei, and suddenly felt uneasy. After all, compared to the Princess of Qinghe, his daughter was still a distant second. But Liu Ze'an remained undaunted. It wasn't that he had faith in Liu Dongxiang, but rather that if his daughter could shine in the palace, even if she couldn't enter the Eastern Palace, she would still attract the attention of many prominent men, greatly benefiting her marriage prospects. Perhaps even gaining the Emperor's favor and earning a promotion.

If you want to gain a foothold in Liangcheng, you must find a "towering tree." Marrying your daughter to several powerful men will not only prosper the family, but also bring blessings to future generations.

His rank was far too low, and his knowledge and abilities were unremarkable within the Ministry of Rites. To rise above the rest, he had no choice but to cling to the powerful. And Liu Dongxiang was his greatest source of confidence. Thinking of this, he touched his daughter's head with a visceral touch, tears welling in his eyes, but he fought hard to hold them back.

Liu Dongxiang's heart skipped a beat as she sensed the weight of her father's love for her in his eyes. This hope for his daughter to become a successful person was a bit overwhelming, but it also deeply touched her heart, causing her previously indifferent and nonchalant attitude to undergo a complete about-face.

Looking at her father with gray hair on his temples, she felt that she should be serious for once.

Emperor Dayong was slow to announce the start of the banquet, and some shrewd "old foxes" guessed that he was probably waiting for Prince Linhuai and Princess Linhuai.

Why aren't these two here yet?