The Divine Doctor and Adorable Consort: The Demonic Emperor is Too Cunning

After Mr. Yuan gave a brief welcoming speech to the guests, graceful dancers walked onto the stage in the garden.

After the song and dance ended, Young Master Yuan invited a group of young men and women from prominent families to perform, ostensibly to add to the festivities of the banquet.

This is the part that everyone is most looking forward to.

These young masters and ladies from prominent families had been preparing for today's performance for a long time. They were all putting in their best efforts to show their best side, and each of them performed quite well.

So Fang Qingyou settled down to be a spectator.

Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, dance, martial arts, and singing—the performances of these aristocratic young masters and ladies flowed like a river, one after another, keeping the audience breathless.

What impressed Fang Qingyou the most was Yuan Yanran, the daughter of Grand Tutor Yuan, who was also the Miss Yuan who sent out the invitations in her name this time.

Yuan Yanran was playing a piece on the guqin, and the music was like heavenly music, lingering for days.

She lived up to her name; her beauty was among the best in Kyoto.

Yuan Yanran is most famous for her talent. Like Gu Jinyi, she studied at the top academy in the country. Although her reputation is not as great as Gu Jinyi's, she is still one of the most talented women in the country.

In Kyoto, few people don't know Yuan Yanran, but many are seeing her for the first time because she has been studying away from home for many years and has only recently returned.

Fang Qingyou was amazed to see such a beauty; she was truly a great beauty who possessed both beauty and talent.

With elegant manners, gentle and intelligent demeanor, and graceful bearing, she is a true lady of high society.

However, when Fang Qingyou noticed Emperor Mingde's gaze upon Yuan Yanran while she was ignoring him, her heart sank.

Undoubtedly, Emperor Mingde admired Yuan Yanran, but his gaze was clearly that of someone looking at their daughter-in-law.

Today, all the princes attended this banquet, but when Emperor Mingde looked at Yuan Yanran, his gaze was also on Luo Qianmo, as if he was watching Luo Qianmo's reaction to Yuan Yanran.

Fang Qingyou understood immediately that Emperor Mingde was clearly intending to betroth Yuan Yanran to Luo Qianmo.

If it were any other woman, it would be fine, but Yuan Yanran is someone Fang Qingyou admires.

Her skill in playing the zither is probably unmatched by any other woman in the capital.

Her appearance and demeanor are indeed unmatched by ordinary women.

And then there's her identity—the daughter of Yuan Taifu, one of the great patriarchs, making her a true lady of high birth.

Moreover, Grand Tutor Yuan and Emperor Mingde had known each other for many years and had a very good relationship.

This is the ideal daughter-in-law in Emperor Mingde's mind.

Such a woman is indeed worthy of Luo Qianmo, but I still can't help but feel a pang of jealousy.

That's her boyfriend!

Fang Qingyou's delicate eyebrows furrowed involuntarily. Yuan Yanran was definitely the most formidable opponent she had ever encountered. She felt immense pressure and wondered what to do.

In terms of talent and family background, Yuan Yanran completely crushed her. The only thing she could surpass Yuan Yanran in was her medical skills, but could that really change Emperor Mingde's mind?

Fang Qingyou was so worried. Before, when she didn't care about the outcome with Luo Qianmo, she didn't care...

Seeing Fang Qingyou suddenly looking worried, Luo Qianmo probably knew what she was thinking. He had also noticed Emperor Mingde's gaze and guessed that he probably wanted to match him up with Yuan Yanran.

I felt a mixture of anger and joy.

What angered him was that Emperor Mingde still wanted to interfere in his marriage, even now, despite his belief that he had made his stance clear on many occasions before.

The good news is that Fang Qingyou's reaction proves that she cares about him very much and will not give up their relationship easily.

Fang Qingyou was feeling troubled when she suddenly noticed someone staring at her. She turned her head and met Luo Qianmo's eyes, which seemed to be smiling but weren't.

Realizing that this guy was secretly gloating, he immediately retaliated with a glare.

What are you laughing at? Is it that funny?

She was so nervous because of him, but he was just gloating.

Unexpectedly, Luo Qianmo not only did not suppress his smile, but the curve of his lips turned up even higher.

As a result, Fang Qingyou became even more depressed and turned her head away, ignoring the smug man.

However, her expression suddenly froze, because just as she was avoiding Luo Qianmo's gaze, she met Gu Jinyi's gaze.

She reacted a few seconds slowly before giving him a smile.

Gu Jinyi still wore that gentle smile, but only he knew how flustered he was inside.

He knew he shouldn't be thinking about Fang Qingyou anymore, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards her.

Just now, watching her and Luo Qianmo's emotional interaction, he felt bitter inside. He knew that if he stopped looking at them, this bitterness would be relieved immediately, but he just couldn't do it.

Unexpectedly, Fang Qingyou suddenly turned her head and noticed his gaze.

Gu Jinyi was a little scared, afraid that she would see through his thoughts.

However, after giving him a friendly smile, Fang Qingyou immediately turned her head back.

At this moment, Gu Jinyi realized that the bitterness in his heart was even stronger. He was nervous when he was afraid that she would see through his thoughts, but now she obviously did not notice anything at all, and he felt a little disappointed.

He was torn between tension and disappointment.

He never felt that his heart would be conflicted.

Fang Qingyou indeed failed to see through Gu Jinyi's thoughts, only seeing his unchanging warm smile. After exchanging glances with him just now, her first reaction was to immediately avoid his gaze.

It wasn't that she really wanted to avoid Gu Jinyi, but at that time, she was thinking that if Luo Qianmo found out, that jealous person would definitely be jealous.

That was just a very instinctive reaction, and now that she has realized it, Fang Qingyou can't help but feel annoyed.

How could she be so spineless, so afraid of that man Luo Qianmo?

The most instinctive reaction is the most genuine reaction. How could she be so completely controlled by Luo Qianmo? How could she not have any sense of resistance?

Fang Qingyou almost turned back to look at Gu Jinyi because she despised herself, but she held back at the crucial moment.

This time it wasn't because she was afraid of Luo Qianmo, but because she didn't want to hold Gu Jinyi back anymore.

She has come to terms with her past naiveté, but she doesn't know if Gu Jinyi has let go of it.

She was quite certain that since she couldn't give Gu Jinyi anything, she shouldn't give him any hope.

As a friend, the most important thing she should do is hope that he can find his true other half.

Let him pursue the happiness that truly belongs to him; that's the best thing she can do for him.