Cui Yan stared at him in disbelief, and for a moment thought she was hallucinating. Otherwise, how could she hear someone say such shameless things?

If he can say something like "He's better looking than the Prince of Xiaoyao," what else can't he say?

However, it cannot be denied that Shen Qingque's appearance is very similar to that of his sister, Shen Qingyu. Shen Qingyu is a recognized beauty in the capital city. Her beauty is not flamboyant, but it is captivating. Even on a man, such a face would make people want to look twice.

Shen Qingque usually wore a stern face, just like his grandfather, like an old relic. His appearance was like a pearl covered in dust, having lost its original luster.

Now, standing before Cui Yan, he spoke arrogantly and exuded an imposing aura, seemingly ready to challenge him. Far from being disliked, this display of youthful arrogance made him irresistible, drawing attention wherever he went!

"So handsome..." Yongle, hiding inside the door, swallowed hard and subconsciously licked his lips.

Granny Feng reached out and grabbed her ear. "Princess, have you forgotten what this old servant told you again!"

How could a woman display such a lecherous appearance!

Yongle covered her ears and pouted, "Granny, this is the first time I've ever seen two men fighting over me! Please let me have some fun!"

Granny Feng stood with her hands on her hips, completely defenseless against the gaze of the woman's big, round eyes.

Alright, alright, but Princess, your arrogant tail is practically wagging to the sky!

Cui Yan, standing outside, was so angry with Shen Qingque that her face turned red. After a long pause, she finally managed to say, "Shameless! The princess isn't someone who judges by appearances! She values ​​inner qualities more!"

Shen Qingque placed his hands in front of his abdomen and said calmly, "I am unworthy. I was fortunate enough to be on the list this time, ranking ninth. I can barely be considered a person with some substance. I believe that the princess will forgive me for not having much substance, considering my good looks."

Cui Yan's eyes widened like copper bells. Shen Qingque was not only on the list, but also on the top list! And even in the top ten!

His ranking outside the top 100 is simply not worth mentioning!

Cui Yan was furious and embarrassed. "I won't talk to you! I want to see the princess! The princess and I are of one mind, and we don't care about such things!"

Yongle, inside the gate, was almost completely infatuated with the arrogant Shen Qingque. This kind of younger brother, who was handsome, talented, and jealous, had completely captured her heart!

Hearing Cui Yan's words, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. This guy was like a leech; once he was stuck to her, she couldn't get rid of him!

She flung open the door with a "whoosh," not even glancing at Cui Yan, and gave Shen Qingque a sweet smile.

"Why are you standing there? I've been waiting for you for ages!"

Shen Qingque smiled faintly and walked towards her, his eyes filled with undisguised joy.

When he stood next to Cui Yan, he was afraid of seeing Yongle still harboring feelings for Cui Yan. Fortunately, she didn't even glance at him.

"Yongle, I have something to say to you!" Cui Yan immediately stepped forward when he saw her appear.

Granny Feng stepped in front of Yongle, shouting, "How dare you! You dare to address our Princess by her title! This is insubordination! Guards, seize this person and slap him!"

Cui Yan glared at the old woman, scoffed, and didn't take her words to heart. This old fogey was always trying to stop her from meeting Yongle, and Yongle was thoroughly annoyed by her!

Moreover, Yongle had feelings for him, so how could he possibly watch her punish him!

“Granny,” Yongle said.

Cui Yan was secretly delighted. See? Yongle is devoted to him. How could she bear to see him get beaten?

"Did you bring Erlang's favorite Maojian tea? Come in and make him some tea!"

Yongle didn't mention him at all, and happily went into the private room with Shen Qingque, not even giving him a second glance.

The door to the private room closed, and Cui Yan stood there, stunned, with only one thought in his mind: What happened? Wasn't Yongle devoted to him? How could she have fallen for someone else so quickly!

Just as he was in a daze, two servants came up and pinned him down. A maid took a long wooden plank that she had taken from somewhere and slapped it across his face.

"Everyone come and see! This scoundrel dared to verbally harass our princess in broad daylight. Today, he will be given a small punishment as a warning to all of you!"

The teahouse was packed with people. Even before Cui Yan started making a scene about wanting to see the princess, people had already stopped to watch.

"Wasn't it said that Princess Yongle went on a hunger strike and refused to marry anyone but Cui Yan? Why didn't she even glance at him just now?"

"Who knows? But Cui Yan's character is really not good. In order to marry the princess, he broke off his engagement with his childhood sweetheart cousin. Isn't that a betrayal of his promise?"

"That's right! Look, this rumor says that the princess went on a hunger strike because of Cui Yan, but the imperial decree was for the princess to marry the young master of the Shen family! After the marriage was arranged, the princess didn't cause any trouble! And look at how the princess looked when she saw Shen Langjun just now, that's what you call being in love! Don't you think this rumor is wrong? Actually, the princess had a fight with her family because she wanted to marry Shen Langjun, and Cui Yan took the opportunity to spread rumors to force the princess to marry him!"

"What you said makes a lot of sense. Cui Yan's character is absolutely terrible!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, it's clear that people who pass the imperial examinations aren't necessarily good people."

The onlookers' comments about Cui Yan infuriated him, but the stinging pain of the slap on his face made him feel ashamed as if he had been stripped naked and thrown into the crowd!

How could these people understand what he sacrificed for his family!

He was disgusted just looking at that fat, slob Princess Yongle! He had sacrificed so much; how could he accept such an ending?

Inside the private room, Yongle rested her chin on her hands as she watched Shen Qingque brew tea for her.

Scalding the teapot, placing the tea leaves, warming the cups... the series of movements were fluid and graceful. The fact that such a handsome person was doing this made it extremely entertaining, captivating even Yongle.

Shen Qingque rolled up one sleeve, revealing his fair and muscular forearm. The muscles bulged unintentionally, and the beautiful lines were full of sexual tension, making Yongle subconsciously swallow.

Standing to the side, Granny Feng resisted the urge to step forward and lift Yongle's chin, thinking to herself that the two of them were a match made in heaven.

One was intentionally seducing the other, who couldn't resist her beauty.

Forget it, since they're already engaged, this old-fashioned woman shouldn't be standing here in the way.

So, Granny Feng, who always adhered to the rules, quietly went out the door.

She looked at Cui Yan, who was being held down by the servants and whose cheeks were bruised and bleeding, and warned him coldly, "This is the last time. If you dare to be disrespectful to the princess again, don't blame us for not showing any mercy!"

Cui Yan was dragged out of the teahouse by the servants, losing all face.

He harbored resentment, thinking: "Yongle, you changed your mind so quickly, don't blame me for using ungentlemanly means to get you back!"