The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

Jian Yue sneered: "Your Highness is exaggerating. What kind of status do I have? How could I possibly be jealous of Your Highness? I'm just a little sad for Miss Yue. The wedding is approaching, and Qiu Lingfeng is just the eldest daughter of the Qiu family, Your Highness's prospective concubine. Her domineering presence in the Crown Prince's residence is an insult to Miss Yue, the principal wife. And now Your Highness is still so unscrupulous. How is Miss Yue supposed to face this?"

Murong Chuan frowned: "What does this have to do with Yun'er? I just..."

"I won't comment on whether it's related or not. But Your Highness, I don't care if you're just playing along or if you're too caught up in the act to get out. I just hope that Your Highness won't forget what you promised me. No matter how you treat Qiu Lingfeng now, I don't care, but in the end, I must make sure she dies by my hand."

Seeing Jian Yue's serious expression, Murong Chuan knew that if he didn't reveal the reason for keeping Qiu Lingfeng, Jian Yue would probably take action against her soon. But revealing it would not be his last wish.

Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly heard Jian Yue exclaim in surprise. He looked up and saw Jian Yue smiling as she said, "Oh dear, look at my memory, I forgot. I'm just a woman who's been reserving a place for someone else. The deal between me and Your Highness is over. Now, I'm just someone who's staying in Your Highness's residence, reserving a place for another woman."

In that case, I have no right to demand that Your Highness do this or that, so how could I speak ill of the Crown Prince? Your Highness, it was my rudeness; please forgive me.

As Jian Yue spoke, she bowed to Murong Chuan, then poured herself a drink, not giving Murong Chuan even a second glance.

Murong Chuan's expression immediately turned sour. Qiu Lingyu's appearance was indeed unexpected, and he did intend to bring her back directly, but he had some concerns and could only put it aside.

Moreover, he couldn't let momentary romantic feelings cause him to abandon the news of the armored soldiers that was almost within his grasp.

Therefore, even though Jian Yue was speaking sarcastically at this moment, and he was displeased, he could only endure it and not lose his temper. Instead, he said to Jian Yue with a heavy heart, "Yueyue, didn't we agree? I do have unspeakable difficulties with Qiu Lingfeng. Otherwise, how could I keep a woman who has cuckolded me?"

I was at her place, and I really didn't do anything; I just wanted to comfort her. After all, bringing you back and planning to marry Yun'er has inevitably delayed our wedding, which she's certainly not happy about. How could I just leave her alone to prevent her from causing any trouble?

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue suddenly stood up and looked coldly at Murong Chuan, saying, "Your Highness, are you overthinking this? Vinegar is not something you can just eat indiscriminately. Be careful that you don't suddenly feel nauseous and can't vomit it up."

Your Highness need not evade the question. Jian Yue knows her place and naturally wouldn't concern herself with Your Highness's affairs. However, out of curiosity, she still wants to ask: Now that she has appeared, why doesn't Your Highness go and meet her, and ask her why she has come? Why must you only look at my face every day, indulging in unrequited love?"

Murong Chuan stared at Jian Yue. Jian Yue's face didn't seem to show any jealousy, but her tone was full of barbs and sarcasm, aimed directly at Qiu Lingyu. He didn't believe she wasn't jealous.

Thinking about it, Murong Chuan smiled slightly and said, "When will you ever get rid of this petty mind of yours? If I really came to find you because of her, do you think I would explain Qiu Lingyu and Yun'er to you?"

"Yueyue, putting aside whether I have feelings for her or not, I don't even know if she's friend or foe right now. She's with Bai Jianan, while I'm at odds with him. Do you think I should go find her and ask her for an explanation? What if she's lying to me?"

"So you're just waiting to see what she does next. Aren't you conflicted? You hope she'll come back and rekindle your relationship, but you're also afraid she might be getting close to you for some other purpose."

As Jian Yue spoke, she looked at Murong Chuan with a cold smile. Murong Chuan's expression immediately turned ugly, and he frowned and said, "Jian Yue, do you really not understand my feelings at all? If I were truly heartless towards you, why would I be here explaining all this to you? My flirting with other women is a reality that no royal can escape. Do you think I feel good about it?"

But I have to do it this way. My identity means I can't live an ordinary life, but I can't control my feelings for someone just because of that.

As I've already said, my marriage to Qiu Lingfeng is due to some things beyond my control that I must do now. As for my marriage to Yue Leyun, it's merely to solidify my precarious position as crown prince.

I don't care about this identity, but I do care that if I lose this identity, I will also lose you, Yueyue. Without this identity, I can't even guarantee my own life, let alone protect you.

Therefore, I must safeguard my identity and my empire so that I can protect the people I want to protect.

Now that my wedding with Yun'er is getting closer, Qiu Lingfeng's emotions are very unstable. I just went there to comfort her. Otherwise, I'm afraid she would cause a scene at the wedding banquet, which would be bad for everyone's reputation.

Yueyue, you need to learn to think about me. What I want to do is ambitious, for our future. Please, for my sake, be patient for a while, okay?

Murong Chuan's speech was incredibly moving. If Jian Yue hadn't experienced everything she went through in her previous life, she would probably have been moved to tears and nodded in agreement.

But at this moment, she shook her head and sighed inwardly.

She said to herself, "See, Shangguan Jianyue, this is how you got fooled to death. How wronged you are! Just because of a few casual sweet words, you've fallen into an abyss. Have you lost your mind?"

Despite the grand words of comfort, Jian Yue remained silent, her eyes lowered as if lost in thought. Seeing this, Murong Chuan continued, "Yueyue, my heart for you is as clear as day. If you truly cannot understand, then I can let you leave. However, I hope you will not seek revenge now. Wait until I have consolidated everything, and I will help you get everything back from Bai Jianan with interest."

Jian Yue seemed to be persuaded. She raised her eyes, looked at Murong Chuan for a long time, and said, "What if I help you get what you want?"

Murong Chuan's eyes lit up, but he said suspiciously, "My silly Yueyue, you are helping me right now. As long as you behave and pretend you didn't see those people you hate, you are helping me."

Jian Yue gave a sarcastic smile and said, "Don't play dumb, you know perfectly well what I mean."

Murong Chuan frowned: "Yueyue, I really don't understand what you're saying. You said you wanted to help me, but you're all alone, and I can't possibly let you take any risks."

"Who said I'm all alone? Murong Chuan, I think you underestimate me. I, Shangguan Jianyue, can easily hide the Shangguan family in this capital city. Don't you understand whether I'm alone or not?"

Jian Yue's confident words boosted Murong Chuan's confidence even further. He frowned and said, "Even so, that's something for you to protect your life, Yueyue. I won't let you risk your life."

Upon hearing this, Jian Yue suddenly stood up and said coldly, "Murong Chuan, don't think you're so high and mighty. I, Shangguan Jian Yue, am a descendant of a military general, not a sentimental person. Tell me, do you like me, or do you like those beautiful women, or do you still like that woman in the Princess's mansion? Your childhood sweetheart?"

At this moment, Jian Yue seemed to have let go of her burdens and presented another side of herself to Murong Chuan. Murong Chuan felt that he had finally gotten the fish to bite the bait and was overjoyed.

After Jian Yue asked him a question, he decisively said, "You can see my feelings for you. Although I initially approached you because you resembled her, after getting to know you, I saw another side of you and gradually became attracted to you. That's why I was so reluctant to part with you after she appeared."

And it was only at the moment you were leaving that I understood my own heart. I struggled between the two of you, but in the end, I still chose you.

Murong Chuan Chuan stopped there and squatted down dejectedly, as if he was enduring the pain of not receiving a response from Jian Yue, or as if he was saddened that his feelings had not been reciprocated.

In short, Jian Yue gave him a perfect score for this performance.

Murong Chuan left reluctantly. Although Jian Yue said that she had other forces, she did not continue. After Murong Chuan expressed his feelings, she fell silent.

Murong Chuan was worried that he had said too much and that it might be counterproductive, so he told her to rest well and left.

Afterwards, Jian Yue stayed alone in the room for a long time, unaware that there was someone else beside her.

Bai Jianan quietly looked at Jian Yue, at her profile reflected in the mirror. Her gaunt face made his heart ache, and the image of her mistaking Murong Chuanxu for a snake made him even angrier.

All of this is because of him, it's all his fault.

Suddenly, he snapped the white jade hairpin in his hand.

A snapping sound made Jian Yue turn around alertly, and the curved knife in her hand flew out instinctively, aiming at Bai Jianan's neck. However, after the curved knife was thrown, Jian Yue's eyes widened in surprise when she saw the other party's appearance.

Bai Jianan easily sheathed the scimitar, smiled at Jian Yue with his eyes crinkling, and said softly, "My wife, I'm sorry I'm late."

Jian Yue blinked, forcefully suppressing the tears welling up in her eyes. As Bai Jianan walked up to her, she snatched the curved knife from his hand and said coldly, "Husband? Young Master, have you come to the wrong place? Your Princess Consort is not here; she is at the Princess's residence."