Quick Transmigration: The Charming Beauty Who Was Short-Lived and Alluring

The birthday banquet for the Prince of Liang was a grand affair, with virtually all the high-ranking officials and dignitaries from the capital in attendance.

Nobles have their own circles, and officials have their own circles. Everyone has their own unique network of relationships, and people who know each other will always gather together. However, the capital is neither too big nor too small, and most people with power and influence know each other and will greet each other when they meet.

Qi Huai-ren and Feng Jin-nian were different. Wherever they went, almost no one paid them any attention. Even if someone greeted them, it was just a perfunctory gesture to save face.

Qi Huai Ren was a member of a collateral branch of the imperial clan and was a good-for-nothing. His best future would be to return to Jiang and become a nominal prince, relying on others for his life. There would be no benefit in associating with him.

Although Feng Jinnian was the legitimate son of the Prince of Zhennan, he left home at a young age and was not close to the Prince of Zhennan. Although the Prince of Zhennan cared about him and often sent people to restrain and discipline his words and deeds, he still failed to guide him back to the right path. He was unreliable, and most importantly, he had such a powerful father as the Prince of Zhennan, whose merits overshadowed the emperor. Unless someone was willing to risk their life, no one would choose to be close to him.

No one would want to befriend such a person, whether for their own reputation or for the fate of their family.

Qi Huai Ren and Feng Jin Nian had no interest in associating with them. The current emperor strictly forbade princes from having any contact with court officials in the capital. These princes were in an awkward position, and they usually entertained themselves and went out to play together. They rarely came into contact with the sons of noble families. Except for Qi Jing Lian, the heir of the Prince of Liang, who was deeply favored by the emperor and trusted by the current emperor, there were quite a few people who fawned over him.

He was dressed in the imperial robes bestowed by the Emperor, looking radiant as he walked forward surrounded by a group of people. When he saw Feng Jinnian and Qi Huai Ren, his smile faded slightly. "Huai Ren, Jinnian, we were just talking about going to play pitch-pot. Would you like to join us?"

“Brother Jinglian, you’re joking. The pitch-pot skills of Prince Jiang and Prince Feng are not even as good as those of a three-year-old. If we compete with them, wouldn’t outsiders say we’re bullying them?” It was Prince Chen who spoke.

He had a long-standing grudge against Feng Jinnian and Qi Huai Ren, and they had never gotten along since childhood. Last time, they even broke off their relationship because he was competing with Feng Jinnian for the same top courtesan.

The two got into a fight, which even alarmed Qi Jingheng. Qi Jingheng ordered them to stay home and face the wall in silence. It was also because of this incident that the Prince of Zhennan had Feng Jinnian severely beaten with dozens of military lashes.

However, the heir apparent of Prince Chen did not fare any better; he too was beaten severely by Prince Chen's men.

I never expected him to forget the pain once the wound healed, and dare to provoke Feng Jinnian again today.

Qi Huai-ren, with his fiery temper, immediately retorted, "What did you say? It's been a month, and your mouth still stinks. Do you want to fight again?"

Last time he helped Feng Jinnian fight, he wasn't punished much because he wasn't the mastermind. Prince Chen was already indignant, and after hearing this, his face turned even uglier, and he clenched his fists tightly. "Fine, let's fight then. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Feng Jinnian didn't speak, but stepped forward to shield Qi Huai Ren behind him, raised his chin, and glanced sideways at the Prince of Chen.

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Qi Jinglian advised, "Alright, we've all grown up together and are brothers. Why are you always bickering? Today is my birthday, so please give me some face and let's all back down."

Feng Jinnian remained noncommittal, still radiating a cold aura. It was the Prince of Chen who was frightened. He curled his lip and said, "Since Brother Jinglian has said so, I will not hold it against you." After saying that, he lowered his eyes, deliberately avoiding Feng Jinnian's gaze.

He had acted impulsively and spoke without thinking. When Feng Jinnian looked at him coldly, he felt his recently healed wound begin to ache again, and he dared not offend him again.

Seeing that Feng Jinnian remained unmoved, Qi Jinglian's eyes flashed with disgust, but he quickly smiled again. "Jinnian, the Prince of Chen already knows he was wrong. For my sake, please don't hold it against him."

Feng Jinnian sneered and stared coldly at Prince Chen, "I'll spare you today for Jing Lian's sake, but if you dare to speak disrespectfully again, I'll beat you to death."

After saying that, Feng Jinnian turned his head to look at Qi Jinglian, "Brother Jinglian, I'm not feeling well, so I won't play with you anymore. I'll go to the living room to have a drink first."

This is ridiculous. If you're not feeling well, why are you drinking? It's obvious you're throwing a tantrum and don't want to travel with Prince Chen.

Qi Jinglian's eyes darkened for a moment. "Since that's the case, I won't force you. We just received some fine aged wine at your residence. Jin Nian should drink it to her heart's content."

Feng Jinnian gave a forced smile and said, "Farewell." With that, he pulled Qi Huai Ren past the crowd and headed towards the living room.

Qi Jinglian tried his best to maintain a smile, but if you looked closely, you could see the deep anger in his eyes.

*

"Jin Nian, you're really bold, not even giving Qi Jinglian face. But then again, Uncle Shi holds a lot of military power. Even if Qi Jinglian is favored by the Emperor, he wouldn't dare to offend you easily. Only that fool, the Prince of Chen's heir, would dare to go against you." Qi Huai Ren took a sip of wine, quite emotional. He drank several cups in a row and said such things, as if he were drunk.

Feng Jinnian didn't speak, and also tilted his head back to drink.

Yes, even a fool like Qi Huai Ren can say that the Prince of Zhennan holds a large army. So what do others think, especially the one on the dragon throne?

How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside an emperor's bed?

It seems that His Majesty considers all the vassal kings and the Zhennan Prince's Mansion as a major threat. But in the end, they all share the surname Qi. If they were to unite one day, the Zhennan Prince's Mansion would be torn apart by the Qi imperial family.

He is now in dire straits, and one wrong step could send him utterly destroyed.

Feng Jinnian had been thinking about all this and was in a really bad mood. He calculated the time and said to Qi Huai Ren, "I'm going to change my clothes. You wait for me here."

Half-drunk and half-awake, Qi Huai-ren agreed, "Okay, go ahead."

Before leaving, Feng Jinnian specifically called Chu Yun over, "Come with me."

Chu Yun lowered her head and went out with him. He turned into a small path, whispered a few words to Chu Yun, and handed her something. Chu Yun looked at him in surprise, but didn't say anything more and left quickly.

Feng Jinnian stared at Chu Yun's retreating figure, casually picked a peony that was in full bloom beside him, and played with it in his hand.

After a while, he saw a pale white hand appear beside the artificial rock not far away. Knowing that the task was accomplished, he threw the flower hard to the ground and stomped on it without mercy, crushing it to extract red juice.

He walked away without looking back in the direction of the fake rock.

Soon, increasingly pitiful screams came from behind the fake rock. Chu Yun rushed out from behind the rock, shouting, "Something's wrong! A fight has broken out! Someone's going to die! Help!"

She walked and ran, her voice shrill and mournful.