Just then, a crisp clapping sound came from behind the crowd, and everyone immediately started clapping, praising how beautifully Murong Qing played the instrument.

"Oh my, it's the Third Prince!"

Hearing this exclamation, everyone looked over, and who else could it be but Dongfang Wuye, the most beautiful woman in the world?

Those who stood in his way automatically made way. Who would dare to block the path of a prince? Especially one who was protected by the crown prince, making him even more unapproachable.

Dongfang Wuye wandered around Jincheng for half an afternoon, successfully making himself known to almost half of the city's residents. Leaving aside his behavior, his stunningly beautiful appearance alone was enough to make him unforgettable.

Murong Qing was stunned. The people around her seemed to blur, and the sounds gradually faded away. She could only hear the sound of her own heartbeat.

As soon as Dongfang Wuye approached Murong Qing, he felt a sense of familiarity.

This feeling came strangely; when he saw Murong Qing, he wasn't very wary.

Dongfang Wuye barely suppressed this strange feeling and walked up to Murong Qing. "You are a weak woman, and it is inconvenient for you to be alone. Do you have any relatives at home?"

Murong Qing shook her head. "Besides my younger brother, there is no one else in the family."

"Where did your brother go missing?" Dongfang Wuye asked. He felt it couldn't be too far from here, otherwise she wouldn't be performing here.

Murong Qing burst into tears. "My brother disappeared right here. He was standing right next to me when I bought him some candied hawthorns. After I paid, he just disappeared."

Dongfang Wuye comforted her, "Does Miss Murong trust me?"

Murong Qing wiped away her tears and nodded.

"My name is Dongfang Wuye. I have a mansion in the city that needs a maid to manage it. If you don't mind, you can go to my mansion first. As for your younger brother, I will help you find one. After that, you can stay or leave as you please. Are you willing?" Dongfang Wuye extended an invitation, sincerely asking Murong Qing to work for him at his mansion, without showing the slightest disdain for her.

Murong Qing had heard someone call him "Your Highness" long ago. The most noble person in the country today was now willing to treat her as an equal. What a good heart it must take to do that.

Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Murong Qing gritted her teeth and nodded. Anyway, things couldn't get any worse than they were now.

Dongfang Wuye said gently, "Let's go, I'll take you to get something to eat first."

"Thank you, benefactor."

"Qiang Di, go back and tell the steward..."

While Dongfang Wuye was still loudly giving instructions, Qiao Qiu had already looked away, her folding fan resting in her hand, a smile playing on her lips. "Go, tell the kitchen to bring some porridge, pastries, vegetables, and the like."

The servant standing nearby immediately went to do as instructed.

"Tsk, Wu Ye is really lucky with women, he's already picked up a young wife." The Second Prince said enviously.

"Wu Sheng, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want."

“I’m telling the truth, eldest brother, don’t you think so?” the second prince retorted defiantly.

“Nothing is set in stone, so it’s not appropriate to say anything casually. The person we marry as our principal wife must be approved by the Emperor’s decree,” Qiao Qiu said, squinting her eyes.

Speaking of this, the Second Prince sighed, his heart aching with anger. "Isn't that right? My mother has already introduced me to several principal wives, but Father Emperor stubbornly refuses. He says things like, 'Brother, you haven't married yet, how can the younger brother presume to marry above you? I can marry a concubine, but the principal wife must come after you. Brother, when are you finally getting married? You..."

Before the Second Prince could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a discordant sound from below the window.

"Oh, where did this young lady come from? And such a handsome man too. I, Hu Yipai, have roamed the martial world for so many years, and this is the first time I've ever seen such a beautiful couple."

"Not good." Qiang Di had just been sent away, and Qiao Qiu immediately got up, stepped onto a stool, and flew out of the window at lightning speed.

"Eh..." Just as the Second Prince was reacting, his eldest brother had already jumped up in a super cool way. "So amazing!"

Below the Drunken Welcome Inn, a seven-foot-tall man was staring at the two men with a lewd look in his eyes. He quickly raised his hand and pressed their pressure points.

Just as they were about to carry the person away, a sudden gust of wind swept by. Based on his assessment of the danger, Hu Yipai decisively dodged.

Qiao Qiu landed in front of Dongfang Wuye and Murong Qing, looked at Hu Yipai indifferently, and said, "Leave? Or die?"

"Even an idiot knows he's going to die, goodbye!" Hu Yipai turned and ran away.

One hundred and eight ways a notorious womanizer can survive.

Qiao Qiu turned around and released the pressure points from the two of them.

The two breathed a sigh of relief, and Dongfang Wuye said, "Thank you for saving us, Your Majesty."

"Thank you for saving my life, Your Highness." Murong Qing thanked him neither humbly nor arrogantly. She thought the other party was some prince, but little did she know that the person in front of her was one of the two most honorable people in the country today, His Highness the Crown Prince.

But Qiao Qiu didn't argue. "Let's go, we haven't finished eating yet."

“Brother, she…” Dongfang Wuye wanted to say that he would arrange a meal for her and pay for it.

Qiao Qiu had already figured out what he was thinking, and said, "I've already ordered food for this young lady, you can pay for it."

“Okay.” Dongfang Wuye nodded.

The three returned upstairs. Dongfang Wuye, seeing that the food was only light, said to Murong Qing, "You eat first. If you want something else, you can order more."

"Thank you, benefactor. That will do." Murong Qing said politely.

The Second Prince couldn't help but chuckle.

However, it was said in a very subtle way, and only the three brothers could understand it.

Dongfang Wuye was a little angry, but there was nothing he could do.

Being teased by his own brother unwittingly improved his relationship with the Second Prince.

Throughout history, how many people in the royal family have shown genuine affection?

This kind of atmosphere was something Dongfang Wuye never dared to imagine, yet now he was experiencing it. It was all thanks to Dongfang Wuche.

...

After finishing their meal, the three brothers said goodbye and went their separate ways.

In fact, Qiao Qiu's purpose in bringing Dongfang Wuye here today was to use the meal as an opportunity to bring about their predestined marriage.

Now that the person has been handed over to Dongfang Wuye, she should go and take care of important matters—choosing wedding supplies!

Actually, she had already sent someone to choose the items when she returned, but she hadn't personally inspected them yet.

Qiao Qiu was scheming against her father, the emperor, and this was in accordance with the law of the court, as the marriage was indeed bestowed by the emperor.

When she made it public, her father, the emperor, couldn't renege on his promise.

If he believes that the marriage was bestowed upon Meng Yuanqing rather than the Crown Prince, she wouldn't mind having two identities: outside the palace, she would be Honghua's husband, and inside the palace, she would be her father, the Emperor's, Crown Prince. However, the Crown Prince would never marry!

As for Honghua's safety, she has the ability to ensure her safety and will not allow anyone to harm her in the slightest.

Having made all the arrangements, Qiao Qiu reviewed the wedding gifts and then sent them to Nanyang.

As for herself, she returned to the palace as usual, having not yet completely filtered through all the candidates.

That's incredibly irresponsible.

Ji Xian: I'm so tired of following such a master. Is there anyone who can save me?