Male superiority and female superiority: forced love

The hall was silent, and pairs of eyes were looking towards His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Emperor Dayong's question was full of profound meaning, which made the originally joyful atmosphere in the air gradually tense.

Especially Sun Wanning. If she couldn't successfully enter the Eastern Palace, neither of the remaining two options would be what she wanted.

Lu Yinnian glanced sideways slightly, suppressed the smug look in his eyes that showed he had won the victory, and drank the tribute wine in the cup slowly and leisurely.

Time passed by little by little, but everyone still hadn't received Jiang Wenzhou's answer.

There was no entanglement or solemnity between his brows that some people wanted to see, nor was there much fluctuation in his eyes. The calmness and composure he possessed, as if he were leisurely watching white clouds return to the mountains or weary birds take refuge in the forest, gave Lu Yinnian a deeper understanding of the Crown Prince of Dayong.

He remembered that Prince Yixiang had once said that the character of Prince Linhuai of Dayong was a tough nut to crack. Now, he felt that Jiang Wenzhou's character was even tougher, and he couldn't help but deeply doubt the credibility of the information he had learned about his preferences over the years.

"Your Majesty, Princess Qinghe's paintings are innovative in conception and soft in brushstrokes, like a gentle breeze refreshing your heart. But I believe that the princess's talent is more than that. I think the ladies are a little tired after two competitions. I kindly ask that they be allowed to rest for a while and compete again later." Jiang Wenzhou's clear and gentle voice rang out in the hall, like a gentle breeze and drizzle, which was extremely soothing to the ears.

"That makes sense. Okay! We'll compete in half an incense stick." Emperor Yong laughed, but a hint of doubt flickered in his eyes. He doubted any of the noble ladies present would stand up to challenge Princess Qinghe. What was his son's intention? Did he want to give Lady Cai another chance? If so, it would be perfectly fine.

Jiang Wenzhou stood up and walked out of the hall amidst a chorus of suspicion.

Upon seeing this, the noble ladies present all stood up and went in pairs to touch up their makeup and change their clothes.

The three golden flowers took this opportunity to wink at Ruan Chuyin and pulled her out for some fresh air.

The night was as cold as water, and the cold moonlight shining on their bodies gave them goose bumps.

Wang Yumei rubbed her arms slightly and suggested going back. Several of them were about to do the same, but as they turned around, they were suddenly stopped by a palace attendant who said the Crown Prince had invited them to go to the Showa Hall to rest for a while.

Ruan Chuyin was startled and asked in confusion, "Am I going too?"

"That's right." The palace servant's expression flickered slightly, and he replied respectfully with his eyes lowered.

The four of them looked at each other, and without hesitation, followed.

"Leilei, why is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince looking for us?" Liu Dongxiang asked in a low voice. Her first reaction was that Jiang Wenzhou was looking for Cai Lei, and the others were all cover.

"We'll know in a minute." Cai Lei was extremely nervous. Just now in the hall, Jiang Wenzhou had glanced at her, intentionally or not. She must not let him notice her, or else she would have to be as abstinent as possible for the rest of her life. What difference would that make her no different from always being by the side of a green lamp?

Wang Yumei didn't think that the prince was here to see Cai Lei. She glanced at Ruan Chuyin meaningfully and was about to speak, but felt unsure and ended up saying nothing.

The lights in Showaden were much dimmer than those in Hosenden, but it was very warm. Seven or eight large stoves were placed in a row, making them feel as if the sun was right in their arms.

Ruan Chuyin put her hand close to the fireplace, feeling the tranquility and warmth of this moment.

She didn't hear a single word of her friend's conversation, her mind was filled with the contents of the note that the palace servant had just quietly slipped into her hands.

After thinking it over again and again, he used the excuse of changing clothes and was led by a palace servant into a quiet room in the inner hall.

In the dim candlelight, a tall figure stood by the window, hands behind his back. The gleaming Gunlong Cannon accentuated his imposing presence, making Ruan Chuyin feel a sense of pressure that could not be ignored, making her afraid to approach.

"Your Highness, you...are looking for me?"

The delicate voice was light and thin, and the slightly trembling tone revealed a hint of uneasiness, which made Jiang Wenzhou's originally frowned relax instantly, and he rarely felt like teasing her.

"Are you afraid of being alone?" He turned around, his clear and picturesque starry eyes flickering in the faint orange light, making it difficult to tell his emotions at the moment.

Ruan Chuyin shook her head. She knew the Crown Prince had no ill will towards her.

"In that case, please come over, Madam Qin, and have a cup of hot tea." Jiang Wenzhou sat down at the table and slowly pushed the brewed tea over.

A peach blossom branch outside the window, carried by the gentle breeze, quietly lurked inside. Suddenly, a plume of jade mist descended, landing beside Jiang Wenzhou's hand. His fingers, each like a jade onion, were distinctly articulated, their joints sharp and defined. The slightly arched back of his hand shone with a faint, cold glow, like a flawless, meticulously crafted jade. His radiant fingertips were clean and neat, their curves perfectly manicured. Every tap on the table seemed to evoke a poetic feeling.

Ruan Chuyin stared blankly at the amazing "work of art" and almost forgot to move.

A gentle laugh suddenly rang out, and the big hand gracefully took Yu Ming into the palm of its hand, spinning it between its fingers and playing with it.

After a moment of awkwardness, their eyes met, and it was like fireworks bursting, lighting up the entire void.

"Madam Qin, do you still remember that I saved Guanzhi from danger twice?" Jiang Wenzhou suppressed the throbbing in his heart and asked slowly with a serious attitude.

The two calls of "Mrs. Qin" made Ruan Chuyin no longer able to ignore the deep meaning behind them. She immediately regained her composure and became focused.

"Your Highness's kindness to Guanzhi will forever be remembered by me. I will never forget it." Ruan Chuyin's heart suddenly tensed, and the slightly upturned curve at the corner of her lips unconsciously suppressed. Why did His Highness call her out specifically to speak to her? Was there something he needed her to do?

The scenes of palace fighting in his memory flashed through his mind, and his face turned pale.

He wasn't going to ask me to assassinate someone, was he? Thinking of this, he suddenly felt his palms warm and wet.

"I didn't come to see Madam Qin today to listen to these empty words." Jiang Wenzhou's smile did not reach his eyes, and the voice that escaped from his lips was cold and low, with a hint of temptation.

"Your Highness, please feel free to say whatever you want. As long as... it does not violate public order and good morals... I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation." At this moment, it was useless for Ruan Chuyin to deceive herself. If she was not asked to do anything against the will of heaven, she would repay the favor.

"Violating public order and good morals? Not really." Jiang Wenzhou gazed at the magnificent beauty so close to him and couldn't help but caress the jade flower in his hand. Delicate and tender, it slid across his fingertips like silk. With a gentle squeeze, a drop of sweet dew flowed out, and a subtle fragrance instantly filled the air.

"I want Madam Qin to come on stage and compete with Princess Qinghe, and the one who comes out on top will become the Crown Princess." Jiang Wenzhou retracted the power from his fingertips and lazily stated his intention.

The terrified expression on the beauty's face delighted him deeply. After all, sooner or later, this "scene" would happen between them.

"Your Highness, are you serious? But I... didn't..." Ruan Chuyin felt dizzy and her head was only one step away from going blind. She was so frightened by his words that she couldn't even speak.

"Are you trying to say that you are not qualified? I can handle this, so don't worry about it." Jiang Wenzhou didn't want to reveal his true face so soon, but now he was forced into a corner, so he simply took this opportunity to get the person into his pocket.

The identity of Princess Qinghe is unknown. Lu Yinnian does not keep her for himself, but takes great pains to send her to him. Sima Zhao's intentions are known to everyone.

If you marry her, it would be like putting a sharp knife next to your pillow every day.

If he doesn't marry, this woman will most likely be taken into the harem by his father, and his crown princess will be Cai Lei, the daughter of Cai Daru.

It was impossible to break the deadlock at the same time, so he could only solve the difficult problem that he least wanted to see.

"Why me?" Ruan Chuyin was a little aware of Jiang Wenzhou's feelings for her, but she still asked bravely. What if she had misunderstood?

"Because Guanzhi is the only one who owes me two lives."

Ruan Chuyin was speechless for a moment. Her mind was in turmoil, so she simply dumped all her questions out loud.

"Your Highness, would you like me to help you or..."

If it's just to help, my family probably won't mind. But if it's really about getting married, then that won't work.

The candlelight on the table flickered gracefully, and in the interweaving of light and shadow, the face that looked like Chang'e in the moon was so beautiful that he completely crushed the jade mist on his fingertips.

Two pairs of eyes, one pair is ignorant and uneasy, the other pair is deep and gloomy, reflecting each other's figures.

"Help." He suppressed the rising feeling of suffocation, put on the warm mask again, and buried his covetous heart deep in his heart.

"Then... I have to talk to Xuanzhou and my parents-in-law first." Ruan Chuyin felt that it would be easy to talk to her parents-in-law, but Jiang Xuanzhou would definitely not agree.

"Madam Qin, repaying a favor isn't just talk, nor is it something you say casually. Right now, I'm at my most helpless. Are you saying you won't repay this favor if any of them disagree?" Jiang Wenzhou's expression suddenly grew serious. His words pressed her, leaving her no chance to consider further.

A sentimental person is always soft-hearted. He never misjudges people.