After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Chen Mianmian was led by her maid to a magnificent courtyard, where she entered the dining hall amidst the aroma of food and wine.

[No, why did you call me here in the middle of the night? What can't you say during the day? Red Leaves and Green Ivy are keeping their mouths shut; I can't think of any other explanation besides them being lewd. There are so many slender horses in Jiangnan, why don't you just buy a couple?]

"..." The long fingers of the person holding the wine cup froze for a moment.

The King of Qin looked up and saw that the woman was still bowing her head and lowering her eyebrows, looking docile. Her beautiful face was full of respectful smiles, no different from the other servants, which was in stark contrast to the complaints she had in her heart.

Are all women so two-faced?

Or is it just this woman who is two-faced?

It can be said that this was the first time the King of Qin had the desire to explore women.

Just then, a servant announced, "Miss Jiang has arrived."

Chen Mianmian's eyes suddenly lit up. [Miss Jiang? Jiang Yinjin? My goodness, happiness has come so suddenly! I was just wondering how to contact Jiang Yinjin, this is truly a godsend!]

A moment later, accompanied by a delicate fragrance, Jiang Yinjin entered the dining hall, accompanied by her maid.

"This humble woman greets Your Highness and pays her respects." Jiang Yinjin bowed gracefully, noticing another woman out of the corner of her eye, but she didn't go to look at her in front of the Prince of Qin.

"No need for formalities," the King of Qin put down his wine cup, raised an eyebrow at the direction of the Gu, and said, "Do you recognize that person?"

Jiang Yinjin turned her head to look, then exclaimed in surprise, "Chen Mianmian? What are you doing here?"

Chen Mianmian coughed awkwardly, "I was captured."

Jiang Yinjin looked at the Prince of Qin in surprise, "Your Highness, why...why did you arrest Shen? Did she do something to offend you?"

The King of Qin would not say that he had captured Gu Zi to listen to his thoughts; he simply said, "If you want to capture him, then capture him."

Jiang Yinjin understood—it seemed that the King of Qin had also taken a liking to Shen's appearance.

Yes, it's not surprising that Shen's stunning beauty could captivate men. What surprised her was that even someone as aloof as the Prince of Qin could be attracted to her.

Shen Mianmian was overjoyed, her lips almost trembling with excitement. [Great! Great! As long as I see the female lead, I can attack or defend! I can bring them together. As long as they have an affair, the story ends, and I'll have a chance to leave this lousy novel.]

[If I can't leave, then... I'll ask Jiang Yinjin to find a way to rescue me. Jiang Yinjin will definitely have a way! She's the protagonist, she has the protagonist's halo! Besides, this novel is a female-oriented novel, from the female lead's perspective, so the female lead's halo is definitely stronger than the male lead's halo.]

Almost imperceptibly, a cold glint appeared in the King of Qin's eyes, but he did not show it. "Let them take their seats."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Two maids immediately stepped forward, one to serve Jiang Yinjin and the other to serve Shen Mianmian, and invited the two to their seats.

At the same time, the maidservants had already set out bowls and chopsticks for the two of them and brought out a small copper basin for washing their hands.

After quickly washing her hands, Chen Mianmian's attention was entirely on Jiang Yinjin.

Jiang Yinjin felt the burning gaze and turned to look.

Chen Mianmian whispered, "Don't forget what I said before."

Jiang Yinjin asked, puzzled, "What did you say?"

Shen Mianmian winked knowingly and whispered, "Think about your life's important matters! I think you and the King of Qin are a perfect match!"

"..." Jiang Yinjin.

The King of Qin raised his eyes and said, "You two can chat as you please. I don't have many rules here, so this will liven things up a bit."

The servants around were astonished—the Prince of Qin's mansion has no rules? If the Prince of Qin's mansion has no rules, then where are the rules?

Chen Mianmian whispered excitedly, "What did I tell you? The prince even changed the rules for you."

"..." King of Qin.

"..." Jiang Yinjin.

Jiang Yinjin bit her lip and replied in a low voice, "Don't talk nonsense. The prince is not as easygoing as you think. You must be careful with your words and actions here."

Chen Mianmian nodded obediently. [I'll definitely be careful with my words and actions. I'm almost home, and I can't possibly kill myself at this crucial moment! The subservient I acted in front of the Prince of Qin was even more subservient than I was at the Marquis of Anning's residence! I was the ultimate subservient.]

King Qin—So, Gu Zi was also pretending when she was at the Marquis of Anning's residence? He was curious about how she had done it.

After that, the two of them stopped talking.

The King of Qin asked, "Miss Jiang, are you settling in well at the royal residence?"

Jiang Yinjin was startled by the Prince of Qin's sudden concern. "Your Highness, I am quite comfortable here."

Chen Mianmian winked at Jiang Yinjin, [I told you it was going to work! It's all set, time to go home!]

Jiang Yinjin blushed slightly as Shen Mianmian stared at her.

But before Chen Mianmian could even enjoy her happiness for long, a gentle and refined face appeared in her mind. Instantly, the flames of joy seemed to have been doused with a bucket of cold water, and she could no longer feel happy.

The King of Qin glanced at Gu Zi and then said to Jiang Yinjin, "If you need anything, just tell the maid."

"Yes, Your Highness," Jiang Yinjin replied respectfully.

The King of Qin nodded, said nothing more, and continued eating, while listening to Gu Zi's inner thoughts.

Surprisingly, the talkative Gu Zi's inner thoughts were never heard again.

The King of Qin glanced at the Gu Zi without showing any emotion, but saw that she was in a daze, seemingly lost in thought.

Dinner ended quickly.

Chen Mianmian pulled herself out of her thoughts and asked timidly, "Your Highness, I have a request. I wonder if Your Highness will grant it?"

"Tell me about it." The King of Qin took a handkerchief from the tray held by a maid and lightly wiped his mouth.

"Thank you, Your Highness. It is like this: I am an old acquaintance of Miss Jiang. May I stay with Miss Jiang?"

The King of Qin paused in his act of wiping his lips, then raised his eyes, his sinister gaze scrutinizing him. "Living together?"

Shen Mianmian felt a chill run down her spine under that gaze. For a moment, she even felt as if she had been seen through, and she instantly felt guilty. "...Yes."

Seeing that the situation was not good, Jiang Yinjin hurriedly said, "Sister Chen, just be obedient in the Prince's mansion. The Prince will make his own arrangements."

As he spoke, he winked at Chen Mianmian—the King of Qin has a bad temper, so don't assume everyone is as easygoing as Prince Bai.

Chen Mianmian nodded obediently. [Sigh, how could I not know the King of Qin's character? But since we're separated, how can I incite you to seduce him? This is my only little wish... oh well... I should learn to accept my fate.]

The King of Qin's lips curled up almost imperceptibly—it seemed rather interesting.

"Approved."

Jiang Yinjin was taken aback—approved?

Chen Mianmian was taken aback. "[Granted?]"

The King of Qin stood up and said, "Move it." Then he left the dining hall.

The King of Qin's unusual behavior shocked even the servants standing nearby.

After all, in their eyes, the prince, who was strict with himself and unwavering in his principles, had never been so easy to talk to.

Shen Mianmian winked at Jiang Yinjin and whispered, "See? I told you so, didn't I? You and the Prince of Qin definitely have a chance. Look at the surprised looks on the faces of the servants around us."

Jiang Yinjin asked in confusion, "You mean, the prince's unusual behavior is related to me?"

"Otherwise what?"

"It might also be related to you."