Chapter 37 We'll Compete Fairly

Yang Qing said, "I think your second brother is a pretty good person. Although he's not as outgoing as your eldest brother, he's very polite. Or is it that he's been bullying you behind your back?"

That's hard to say, since people are used to covering their faces with another layer of masks.

If it weren't mentioned, who wouldn't think Rongyue was an ethereal fairy who didn't eat the food of mortals?

Actually, quite the opposite, she is a very competitive person.

Mu Hanjing said, "You all think he's good, and I actually think he's good too, but occasionally, just occasionally, the look in his eyes always makes me feel scared."

Yang Qing thought back carefully. She had spent very little time with Mu Xiangwen. He was always smiling and cheerful, so she couldn't recall any strange look in his eyes.

Mu Hanjing said, "Let's not talk about these things anymore. You're having a great time today. Yangqing, what's the name of this kitten? Have you named it?"

Yang Qing's thoughts were drawn back to the cat. "Of course, I named it as soon as it arrived."

Mu Hanjing asked impatiently, "What's its name?"

Yang Qing said, "It's called Nan Nan, the Nan of 'difficult and easy'."

Mu Hanjing chuckled: "This name is so strange. I thought it would be one of those cute names."

Yang Qing retorted, "This name is cute too."

Mu Hanjing reluctantly replied, "Alright, thinking about it carefully, it does have a certain cuteness. But why use this word?"

Yang Qing pinched the kitten's chubby leg proudly and laughed, "Because it's so clumsy. When it first came, it couldn't even jump out of the basket. When it wanted to go out and play, it would just meow anxiously inside, making people carry it out."

Mu Han looked at the kitten's nose: "Turns out it's a little fool."

The two chattered for a while longer before Yang Qing pulled Mu Hanjing forward. After all, she was the hostess, so how could she stay in the back forever?

Compared to the ladies of high society, the young women were much more reserved. They would at most nod and smile at those they weren't very familiar with, and say a few nice words, but they didn't swarm around each other.

Moreover, the main focus was on Rongyue and Mingmiao, and everyone's attention was drawn away.

Xu Pianran couldn't come today because of family matters, but Yang Qing managed to squeeze in a peek to watch Rong Yue and Ming Miaohe's painting contest, the topic of which was "The Hermit Qiu Ju".

Of the four arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—Yang Qing has some understanding of chess and calligraphy, but as for calligraphy and painting, saying she knows only the basics would be an understatement.

She didn't know much about freehand brushwork painting, and she could tell that both of them had put in a lot of hard work, but she couldn't tell who was better.

After watching for a while, she felt bored and left the crowd, but then she saw a girl in a gardenia-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) staring at her with a look of curiosity in her eyes.

Seeing that Yangqing was also looking back, she spoke with a hint of rudeness, "Are you Chi Yangqing?"

His face clearly said: "It's nothing special."

After a moment's thought, Yang Qing recognized her as Ming Luoqi, another niece of Empress Ming.

She didn't look well.

It's all Li Shangxuan's fault. He's even more annoying in this life than in the last. At least in the last life, before they got married, no suitors came after her.

Yang Qing replied irritably, "What do you want from me?"

Ming Luoqi snorted coldly and turned her face away. "I just wanted to see what kind of person would make my cousin, the Crown Prince, ask His Majesty for a marriage decree. Now it seems that he's just so-so, nothing particularly outstanding."

Yang Qing said, "Hehe, how interesting. I, who am just 'so-so,' was able to get him to ask for a marriage decree. Does that mean you are not even as good as 'so-so'?"

Ming Luoqi angrily said, "Don't get too cocky. It's just an arranged marriage. Whether she can become the Crown Princess is another matter."

Yang Qing said, "It would be best if you didn't get the position. Do you think everyone treats your Crown Prince cousin like a treasure?"

Ming Qiluo mocked, "You're really something. You say you don't want to be the Crown Princess, but behind the scenes you're probably coaxing people into asking for a marriage decree. I really don't know how Lord Chi, with his upright character, could have such a two-faced daughter like you."

Yang Qing chuckled and said, "Does it matter whether I want to or not? It's your cousin, the Crown Prince, who asked for the marriage decree, and it's His Majesty who bestowed it. You're such a bully, always picking on the weak. You don't dare to confront the person in charge, so you only dare to make things difficult for me behind my back."

Ming Luoqi was so angry she jumped up and down: "How have I made things difficult for you!"

She calmed down and snorted coldly, "You're the one who really knows how to twist the truth. You're not thinking of going to your cousin, the Crown Prince, to complain and play the victim, are you?"

Yang Qing said, "Instead of wasting your breath on me, you should think more about how to please your cousin, the Crown Prince. I'd love for you to take the Crown Princess position away from me as soon as possible."

They were speaking far away from the crowd, so others probably couldn't hear them, which allowed Yangqing to speak with extra boldness.

After saying that, she didn't want to linger any longer and was about to leave, but Ming Luoqi wouldn't let her go and grabbed her arm.

Yang Qing's patience had run out, and she said impatiently, "Let go."

Ming Luoqi said, "You think I'll just let go because you tell me to? Why should I?"

Yang Qing suddenly realized that these cousins, who were not related by blood, had something in common: they were both shameless.

She tried to shake off the person, but Ming Luoqi held on so tightly that they both fell to the ground. She was alright, because Ming Luoqi was there as a cushion, so it didn't hurt too much.

Looking up, I saw Ming Luoqi's contorted face; she must have fallen quite hard.

Ming Luoqi was in excruciating pain but dared not cry out. Seeing Yang Qing still staring blankly at her while lying on top of her, their faces so close together, Ming Luoqi blushed. "Aren't you going to get up? Are you trying to crush me to death?"

Yang Qing then came to her senses and hurriedly got off her.

Ming Luoqi got up with a frown, but a large patch of wet mud was stuck to the hem of her skirt, making it very conspicuous.

There was a small pond not far away, and Yang Qing felt relieved that she hadn't rolled into it.

Although she can swim, she wasn't sure if she could save anyone. If Ming Luoqi fell in like that, it would definitely alarm others, and the news would spread like wildfire. Who knows what kind of rumors would it become?

Yang Qing: "You should have brought a change of clothes, right?"

To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, most young ladies in the capital would choose to do this, just in case.

Ming Luoqi wiped the hem of her skirt with a handkerchief, but the stain was too big, and the marks left after wiping it were still very obvious. She glared at Yang Qing resentfully, "This is the second dress I prepared. It's all your fault, how am I supposed to face anyone now!"

Yang Qing touched her nose, feeling a little guilty but not too much. "How can you blame me! If you hadn't been holding me so tightly, would we have fallen?"

Ming Luoqi retorted, "Who knew you were so strong! I don't care, you better think of a solution for me right now."

Yang Qing said helplessly, "Why should I come up with a solution for you? It's not my fault."

Ming Luoqi sneered, "Fine, if you don't come up with a solution for me, I'll just walk around in this dress. If anyone asks, I'll tell them the truth."

The threatening meaning in her words was obvious: "What do you think?"

Yang Qing thought for a moment about how people would imagine it. They might spread rumors that she was a jealous person who had fought with Ming Luoqi, a former popular candidate for Crown Princess. They might also spread rumors that the two of them fought over a love rival. In any case, it wouldn't sound good.

And this is happening in my own home...

Yang Qing retorted angrily, "You're threatening me! You're shameless!"

Ming Luoqi felt she had finally gained the upper hand and was very pleased with herself. Her smile grew even wider. "Say what you want. If this gets out, our reputations will be ruined. I'll go back to Luonan and continue being a pampered young lady. You can't just leave your hometown too, can you?"

Yang Qing really couldn't, and she wouldn't leave her hometown for something like that.

Looking at Ming Luoqi's smug face, Yang Qing really wanted to kick her into the pond, but reason stopped her.

“We’re about the same size. Come with me and I’ll find some of my clothes for you to change into.”

Ming Luoqi said with satisfaction, "That's more like it."

Yang Qing took her back to her own courtyard and instructed Liu Ye'er to find her a dress to change into.

Liu Ye'er assumed that Ming Miaohe was Yang Qing's good friend and was very attentive in taking her to change clothes.

After changing her clothes, Ming Luoqi wanted to comb her hair again, and Liu Ye'er kindly helped her.

Yang Qing stared coldly at her, seeing her wearing her clothes and still ordering her people around, and was very dissatisfied. "Are you done yet? It's just changing clothes, and you've been dawdling for almost half an hour."

Ming Luoqi said, "I'm happy to let you tell me what to do."

When she finally finished tidying up, Yang Qing suddenly noticed a book on the table, which was probably the same book she had lost some time ago, "The Story of Stealing Fragrance".

Her heart skipped a beat. It must have been that bastard Li Shangxuan who made Xiaoman return it. Her face immediately turned bright red.

He must have already seen it.

When Ming Luoqi saw that her face was red, she was slightly taken aback, and her own face couldn't help but turn red as well.

Recalling the scene just now, she looked at her so closely and found that this woman was not entirely without merit; at least she was quite good-looking, which explained why her cousin, the Crown Prince, liked her.

Putting myself in her shoes, the reason she blushed was probably similar to what I felt—most likely because she was captivated by her newly enhanced beauty.

Thinking about it that way, Yang Qing wasn't so bad after all.

She coughed twice, then said in a seemingly generous manner, "Forget it, I won't hold the past against you."

Yang Qing felt completely bewildered.

Ming Luoqi added, "But don't be smug. I won't give up. From now on, we'll compete fairly."

Yang Qing: ...Who wants to compete fairly with you?

"If you like competition, go find someone else, but don't come looking for me."

Ming Luoqi said, "No matter what you say, I will not give up."

Although Yang Qing is indeed very beautiful, she is not bad either. Moreover, she has a childhood bond with her cousin, the Crown Prince, so she is not inferior to others.

Yang Qing remained silent for a moment before saying, "Whatever you want."

Ming Luoqi added, "I will not give up!"

Yang Qing was truly helpless. She sped up, widening the distance between them, wanting to get away from this crazy woman.

Ming Luoqi wouldn't let her off the hook, continuing to talk to herself, "Why do you like your cousin, the Crown Prince?"

Yang Qing asked in surprise, "When did I say I liked him?"

Ming Luoqi snorted and said in a feignedly generous tone, "You're so awkward. Your cousin the Crown Prince is such a good person, isn't it normal for you to like him?"

Yang Qing was too lazy to pay any more attention to her.

Ming Luoqi then asked, "Tell me how you two met?"