Best friends dressed up in ancient times to become mistresses? You run, I run too!

A stiff smile slowly spread across Jiang Yanche's face.

"Ahem... I was just joking. I'll find someone to take you there now. Remember to come back early. We still need your participation in this competition."

His eyes held a hint of threat.

Shen Ningzhu's eyes darkened, and she let out a cold snort.

He stood up and walked out. Jiang Yanche gave him a wink, and Yuan Yi quickly followed him out.

Upon seeing this, Liu Zhiyi also quietly withdrew.

Unbeknownst to her, a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed in Song Hanchuan's eyes as soon as she left.

The poetry competition is scheduled to begin in fifteen minutes.

As the start time approached, Shen Ningzhu had not yet returned. Yuan Yi, looking displeased, approached Jiang Yanche and whispered something to him.

Jiang Yanche's handsome face visibly darkened.

The gauze curtains surrounding the banquet pavilion fluttered in the wind as two young girls entered.

Without any makeup, her lips were red and her teeth were white, and her skin was as moist and radiant as a freshly peeled egg.

Bathed in sunlight, she possessed a stunning, natural beauty, like a lotus emerging from clear water, captivating everyone's attention instantly, including Jiang Xuan Yan, who was seated at the head of the table.

Why did she come?

I intended to use attending the banquet to provoke her and get her to leave the abandoned hospital on her own.

Who would have thought that she would actually follow us to the scene?

"Wow, it's so lively here, are they having a banquet?"

"Why didn't anyone invite me? Do they look down on me, or on the Crown Prince's residence?" Shen Ningzhu had already changed her clothes, as had Liu Zhiyi.

Just now, Liu Zhiyi tricked Yuan into taking some medicine, causing him to run to the outhouse because he couldn't hold on any longer.

She went to the women's outhouse and met up with Shen Ningzhu.

After discussing it, the two decided to venture into the lion's den again and try to get the jade pendant from the crown prince, hoping to see if they could travel back in time.

If that doesn't work, then find a way to get rid of Jiang Yanche, this obstacle, and then find another opportunity to escape.

So they quickly returned to the carriage.

They changed into their spare dresses, removed their makeup with tea from the car, and appeared confidently at the banquet.

And so, the scene we just witnessed came about.

Jiang Yanche's face was beyond black as ink. Chu Wan'er's eyes were also dark, but she quickly concealed her emotions.

He came out and greeted her with a smile.

"So it's Miss Shen who's here. I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly. It's all my fault, please don't take offense. Come and sit here with me. Someone, quickly make room for Concubine Shen."

She emphasized the word "concubine," presumably to remind everyone of her status.

Shen Ningzhu glanced at her.

Walk straight up to the top.

“I appreciate Miss Chu’s kindness, but as His Highness the Crown Prince’s person, I will naturally be wherever His Highness is, so that I can take care of him at any time.”

Wasn't this meant to remind her of her identity?

Then she would let her know that Chu Wan'er was only a fiancée and had not yet entered the Crown Prince's residence. It was too early for her to assert her dominance.

Chu Wan'er's chest heaved violently with anger.

His Highness the Crown Prince is Chu Wan'er's husband. How dare Shen Ningzhu, a mere concubine, sit next to His Highness the Crown Prince?

"What are you doing here?" Jiang Xuan Yan asked coldly.

A look of grievance welled up on Shen Ningzhu's face.

"Brother Yan, do you not want to see me? Brother Yan, you are so heartless! You haven't come to see me for so long. Do you know how much I miss you? Waaah~~~"

Jiang Xuanyan:......

"Shen Ningzhu, could you please be mindful of the occasion when you speak?"

"What's there to be careful about? I want my own man, not some random guy. It's all aboveboard, why should I hide it?"

Jiang Xuan Yan did not want to talk to her anymore.

This woman talks nonsense all day long. Her mouth is completely unrestrained and practically poisonous. Every time I talk to her, I feel like I can't breathe.

He, the crown prince, had never been so humiliated.

"Alright, enough chit-chat, come sit down."

He spoke words of disdain, but a gentle light, imperceptible to outsiders, flowed in his eyes as he reached out his hand to her.

Jiang Qingyi noticed this difference, and so did Jiang Yanche.

The former clenched the handkerchief in his hand in anger, while the latter was overjoyed.

Originally, the reason for keeping Shen Ningzhu was to arouse Jiang Xuan Yan's possessiveness and make him lose control, so that he would have an opportunity to take advantage of him. Unexpectedly, his good brother actually fell in love with Shen Ningzhu.

That would be even better. Ideally, he should be locked on Shen Ningzhu's bed every day. That way, he would surely die within three years.

At that time, he could sit in that supreme position without bloodshed.

Shen Ningzhu smiled and placed her fingertips on the other person's palm before sitting down beside him.

Shen Ningxue couldn't help but say,

"Sister, you are a concubine. How can you be so disrespectful as to sit next to His Highness?"

All her efforts were in vain. Shen Ningzhu was already annoyed and was even less likely to indulge others. Her face fell instantly. "Please shake your brain before you talk to me."

Shen Ningxue didn't understand, "What paste?"

"What I mean is, you should eat less salt. Look how idle you are every day."

If you're itching for a beating, just say so.

Didn't you hear? It was His Highness who told me to sit here. What, do you think you can make decisions for the Crown Prince?

Shen Ningxue: "You're talking nonsense. I... I didn't mean that. Your Highness, please don't listen to her nonsense."

Shen Ningzhu looked at her coldly.

"What do you mean? What's it to me? I'm just telling you, I, Shen Ningzhu, can sit wherever I want. Who do you think you are, daring to interfere in my affairs?"

"You—sister, how could you do this to me? I'm saying all this for your own good!"

I'm afraid you don't know the rules, and if you offend His Highness the Crown Prince, what will you do then? My sister meant well, why are you being so aggressive?"

"So you're saying that His Highness the Crown Prince is narrow-minded, capricious, and cruel?"

"You...you're lying, I didn't."

"There's no best way. As for your good intentions... I thank you, but I suggest you shut up, because, firstly, you have a foul mouth."

Second, your voice is too unpleasant, I don't like it.

If you have any self-awareness, stay away from me. Or I might lose my temper and splatter blood all over your face.

Someone nearby couldn't stand it anymore.

"Shen Ningzhu, you were raised in the Minister's mansion, don't you feel guilty towards their biological daughter? Why are you speaking so rudely?"

Shen Ningzhu looked at the other person.

"What, I've been too polite to you, and now you think you're all that?"

The other person's face turned a deep shade of liver with rage. "You...you..."

"What do you mean, 'you'? You speak with a lisp and don't know how to shut up? You just have to jump out and get yelled at. Are you bored?"

Jiang Qingyi naturally wouldn't let such a good opportunity slip by.

"This noble lady wasn't wrong just now, so why is Concubine Shen being so sharp-tongued? Miss Xue'er was only trying to be kind, so why is Concubine Shen in such a hurry?"

Shen Ningzhu used a handkerchief to cushion her hand, picked up a lotus-shaped pastry and ate it, giving a neutral retort.

"If you get bitten by a dog, you'll be anxious too."

"you……"