Empress, please have some self-respect. I am not your husband.

When the coachman passed Qin Xinyi, he reined in the horse, knocked on the carriage door, and spoke respectfully.

"Miss, Miss Qin has arrived."

The carriage hadn't opened, but a lazy voice came from inside: "Let Xinyi come up. That girl is always like this. I told you not to wait."

The driver smiled, picked up a stool from the side, got off the carriage and placed it down, then respectfully said to Qin Xinyi, "Miss Qin, my lady invites you to get in the carriage."

Qin Xinyi pouted. Still so lazy.

She stepped onto the carriage using a stool, pushed open the carriage door, and went inside. The driver then drove off again.

The carriage was exceptionally spacious, with a soft couch large enough for a person to lie on, and plenty of fruits and snacks were available.

Qin Xinyi's gaze fell directly on the soft couch.

On the couch, a person was reclining languidly, her exquisite figure barely concealed by her elegant purple brocade dress, leaving much to the imagination.

Her long, slender legs were crossed, and her bare feet were very eye-catching.

But what truly captivates the eye is her alluring, bewitching face, with a pair of beautiful eyes like peach blossoms, brimming with spring-like waves and carrying a hazy, intoxicating quality.

Those eyes alone seem to have the power to bewitch and steal souls.

Not to mention her other exquisite facial features, when combined, they give off only one feeling: seductive!

She held a book that was listed as a forbidden book by the Qian Kingdom in one hand.

The book is titled "Night Rain in Spring Nights." It is a banned book not because its contents are treasonous or shocking.

Rather, this book deals with matters between men and women, and in extremely explicit and detailed terms.

It's hard to imagine that in broad daylight, such a stunningly beautiful woman would be looking at Liu Bei in the carriage.

But Qin Xinyi was used to it.

The woman's surname was Chu, and her given name was Hongyan.

There is only one family in the entire capital with the surname Chu.

The Chu family of the King's Mansion in Zhenwang!

And this Chu Hongyan is the other one who, along with Qin Xinyi, is known as one of the two most beautiful women in the capital!

But compared to Qin Xinyi, the goddess in the hearts of young talents in the capital.

Although Chu Hongyan was granted the title of Princess Hongyan by the late emperor in her early years, she was of noble status and had an exceptionally beautiful appearance.

Countless men want to experience it, yet they avoid it like the plague, resorting to sour grapes and secretly calling the other woman a slut.

It's because of just two things.

Five years ago, Chu Hongyan was only twenty-two years old and was betrothed to the most outstanding young general in the Qian Kingdom at that time.

Chu Hongyan's excellence goes without saying, and the young general is equally remarkable, having achieved three major military exploits at a young age: beheading generals, charging into battle, and being the first to scale the walls.

He was hailed as the future leader of the Qian Kingdom for the next fifty years, and his military status was second only to King Chu Fangming of the Zhen Kingdom.

At that time, everyone in the capital envied this perfect couple, a match made in heaven.

But what no one expected was that on the very night of his wedding, the young general got drunk, fell into the lake, and drowned, dying young.

Chu Hongyan became a widow shortly after marrying into the family.

Even more bizarrely, in the following year, the young general's family members either committed crimes or contracted diseases, and all of them died within a year.

Immediately afterwards, a rumor emerged that Chu Hongyan was the reincarnation of a thousand-year-old fox spirit.

Any man who gets involved with her will have his family ruined, let alone even get a glimpse of what's under her skirt.

With that young general's example serving as a warning, who would dare to provoke Chu Hongyan? They could only fantasize about it in secret.

The other thing is something that people find shameful, and they might call her a slut behind her back.

Qin Xinyi and she had a very good relationship. Qin Xinyi had grown up playing with Qin Xinyi since childhood and always regarded Qin Xinyi as an older sister. After those rumors were spread, Qin Xinyi was very angry about them and taught a lot of people who gossiped behind her back a lesson.

Seeing the rosy complexion on her best friend's face, Qin Xinyi sat down on the soft couch, somewhat speechless.

The next moment, the other person threw down the book in his hand, pounced on this goddess of the capital and pinned her down, and said with a foxy smile, "Little darling, I've missed you so much, let me satisfy my craving first."

As she spoke, her slender fingers reached into Qin Xinyi's chest, gave it a firm pinch, and teased, "It's gotten quite a bit bigger."

"Be serious."

Qin Xinyi was speechless, but a blush appeared on her pretty face because of Chu Hongyan's previous lewd play.

"Is it tight, sister? You can feel it yourself, can't you?" Chu Hongyan said with a smile, and then she actually pulled Qin Xinyi's right hand to feel under her skirt.

Miss Qin immediately glared at him: "If you keep doing this, I'll get angry!"

"You heartless brat! I've been gone for so long, can't I even touch you?" Chu Hongyan said angrily.

As she spoke, she released Qin Xinyi, leaned against the pillows on the soft couch, her peach blossom eyes smiling like crescent moons as she looked at her best friend whom she loved to tease: "Xinyi, I heard that the capital is quite lively during my time in Qingzhou."

Qin Xinyi straightened her clothes and pouted, "What rumors have you heard?"

Chu Hongyan immediately giggled and leaned forward, reaching out to touch her pretty face: "Such a beautiful face, and she was actually rejected in front of all the civil and military officials! I really want to see which blind fool is it that can't even take a liking to my little darling."

The image of Lu Feng's handsome face, which she found inexplicably repulsive, immediately flashed into her mind. Qin Xinyi snorted, "He's just a despicable and shameless bastard."

Chu Hongyan was overjoyed: "Oh dear, it seems you're quite angry. Let's call her out tomorrow and let me have some fun with her to help you get revenge. After I've bewitched her, I'll kick her aside and give you a piece of my mind!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Xinyi was about to agree when she shook her head: "I'm afraid that's a bit difficult."

Chu Hongyan was somewhat surprised: "Why do you say that?"

"There was a woman with him, and she only talked about his appearance."

Even Qin Xinyi didn't notice the hint of sourness in her words: "Even if you and I were together, we couldn't compare."

Now Chu Hongyan was truly intrigued: "Really? Is there such a stunning beauty in the world? How come I've never heard of her before?"

"I only saw it once that day, but it left a very deep impression on me."

Qin Xinyi shook her head: "Let's not talk about this anymore, Sister Hongyan. I came to pick you up today because there's another important thing."

Chu Hongyan clearly didn't care: "What important things do you have to say to me?"

Qin Xinyi said, "The treasure of the Lantern Festival is in my hands right now."

"What did you say!"

Chu Hongyan, who had previously looked indifferent, immediately sat up straight, her beautiful peach blossom eyes staring at Qin Xinyi in disbelief: "How did you get your hands on it! Wasn't that ginseng orchid not for sale at the festival?"

"Speaking of this."

Qin Xinyi gave a wry smile: "I don't know how that guy got his hands on it either."

Chu Hongyan realized: "You mean, this ginseng was given to you by the guy who rejected you?"

“It is indeed Lu Feng.” Qin Xinyi nodded.