Rivals meet

Just as they reached the back garden, Chen Sheng turned around and pulled Xu You along, preparing to return to Biluo Courtyard. She really didn't want to provoke Chen Han, the female lead.

But as a female-dominated, strong-woman novel, how could the female protagonist not fight monsters? Otherwise, where would the enjoyment come from? Sex scenes?! (Although there is a small portion of it, but only a small portion!)

So Chen Han took the initiative to greet Chen Sheng, "Chen Sheng, I want to talk to you alone."

Chen Sheng: I want to escape, but I can't...

She greeted me with a smile, "Little sister, what do we have to talk about now? Do you want to chat about what we had for breakfast or how nice the weather is?"

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" Chen Sheng's miserable expression couldn't be hidden. The corners of her upturned lips unconsciously fell down, and her already slightly furrowed brows furrowed even more.

Standing by the lake, Chen Sheng couldn't help but catch a glimpse of her reflection in the water. She opened her eyes wide and looked closely—oh my god! How ugly!

Although I have to admit how different this face is from my former face, this "green tea" face can't handle both crying and laughing expressions!

"Chen Sheng, I advise you to be sensible. I know exactly what you're thinking, so don't push your luck."

Chen Han was clearly angry; the atmosphere around him was extremely oppressive, and his words carried a hint of tension.

Chen Sheng tugged at Xu You's sleeve, taking her pitiful act to the extreme, and even blinked her big, cute eyes.

Xu You pushed Chen Sheng's hand away and held her soft hand through her clothes. "Sister, my husband and I still have some private matters to resolve, so we must take our leave now."

After saying that, he pulled Chen Sheng towards Biluo Courtyard without looking back.

"Ayu! Are you really going to lead us down two different paths?!"

When Chen Sheng looked back, he saw sadness, indignation, and... hatred in Chen Han's eyes!

She stole her ex-boyfriend? Okay, Xu You refused when Ye Cangming broke up with her... so Chen Sheng became the other woman?!

Uh... what a "perfect" character design by that idiot author! Are people going to such lengths for popularity these days?

Xu You stopped in her tracks, her voice hoarse, "Perhaps from the very first moment we met, we began to make one mistake after another, becoming deeply entangled and at a loss."

He turned around and smiled at Chen Han, "Fifth Brother is a very good person. You must treat him well and not lose him again..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng saw Xu Chen standing aside watching the show.

A cold smile played on his lips as he watched this ridiculous drama unfold with an air of detachment, seemingly uninvolved yet impossible to ignore.

Perhaps... this is the aura and "generosity and tolerance" of the empress in harem novels!

No wonder it's called "Reborn Empress with a Harem All Over the World, Yet She Only Loves the Empress!"

Xu Chen noticed Chen Sheng's scrutiny and met Chen Sheng's eyes.

In that one glance he gave her, Chen Sheng seemed to read a chilling "It's okay, you guys continue, I'll just watch the show" attitude.

Ah...isn't his persona supposed to be that of a cold and aloof fifth prince, a ruthless and stunningly beautiful man who seems uninterested in everything around him?!

Chen Sheng ignored the distractions of sentimental language from the outside world and meticulously analyzed every single word in the novel where Xu Chen appeared.

She suddenly realized that Xu Chen's public image hadn't collapsed! He hadn't collapsed at all!

How could Xu You just... just disappear like that? It's unbelievable.

"Brother, have you finished catching up? Why don't you stay a little longer..." Xu Chen's smile faded, his face expressionless. "Then don't leave."

After he finished speaking, the guard beside him drew a long sword!

Sword!

Chen Sheng immediately thought of the Bauhinia Sword that had ended Xu You's life with a single strike!

No matter how tragic the scene was, how angry the protagonist was, how resolute Xu Chen was in killing his brother and his love rival, how much Ye Cangming regretted it after learning the truth, or how heartbreaking and physically torturous it was when Xu You's blood stained the yellow sand!

But! By then, Chen Sheng had long since passed away! All we can say is, "This sword is really sharp; it should be perfect for slicing melons!"

"Fifth Brother, rest assured, we... will not disturb each other, and only wish for a peaceful life and a peaceful world," Xu You said intermittently.

Chen Sheng didn't say much, and pulled Xu You back to Biluo Courtyard.

Xu Chen watched the two figures leave without saying a word, his index finger stroking the blade of the sword back and forth, his brown pupils slowly widening. He lowered his head, his gaze filled with some incredulous emotions.

After quite some time, Chen Han grew a little impatient and finally spoke up, "Achen, I think we might need to cool off for a while. What do you think?"

"What does the mistress want to do..." Xu Chen raised his head and looked at Chen Han, who was ten meters away. "What the mistress wants to do is not for her husband to ask, and I will naturally not break the rules."

"Chenchen, I didn't mean anything by it..."

Before Chen Han could coax her, Xu Chen interrupted her, "I'm a little tired. If my wife wants to go out for a stroll today, I won't accompany her."

Chen Han, who was a step behind Xu Chen, only got a clear view of his back.

Her hand unconsciously reached for the dagger at her waist. It was a secret weapon of the Ye family, forged with potent poison, capable of killing with a single blow. If they didn't obey...

Chen Han stopped his thoughts and left the Prime Minister's residence.

———————

"What are you chickening out for? As the saying goes, a new love can't compare to an old one, and besides, you're his brother. What are you afraid of..."

After closing the door, Xu You sat on the edge of the bed, and Chen Sheng paced back and forth in front of him, beginning to state the pros and cons one by one.

“Look, as the older brother, how can you let a younger brother bully you? You need to show your authority, scare him, and make him give up the competition…”

"Although Ye Moumou has changed her appearance, her heart hasn't changed. At least you're her first love, and besides, she's the white moonlight shining in her heart. She can't possibly lose to Zhu..."

Bang—! "Enough!"

Chen Sheng shut his mouth, not daring to say anything more, his eyes wide open, staring straight at Xu You.

The latter's eyes were bloodshot, tears soaking her clothes, her expression ferocious yet restrained. Her face, once as cold and aloof as the moon, now held a strange terror.

"I told you, you're not allowed to bring up the past again!" Xu You roared.

Then came the sound of hands slamming against the bed!

A dual cultivation of a healer and a wolf? Has the character's persona crumbled and memories are scattered?

Chen Sheng was completely baffled.

"Bang!" The door was kicked open from the outside in.

Aside from shock, Chen Sheng showed no other expression upon seeing the scene before him!

Suddenly, Li Mo, who was usually calm and composed, rushed into the room carrying a large knife. He stood fiercely in front of Chen Sheng, looking like he was protecting his child!

Xu You stared intently into her eyes, without any extra emotion, "You're popular, simply because of yourself."

"Xu, Xu You, speak properly..." Chen Sheng looked at the beautiful woman who was as cold as before their marriage and immediately felt uncomfortable.

What happens if you eat too much sugar and then eat some bitter melon?

Xu You: "I've said it before, I don't like you seeing other men, and I especially don't like people breaking their promises."

"But didn't you go see other women yourself?"

Chen Sheng walked up to Xu You and said emphatically, "Last night I told you to wait for me there, but you went to see your ex instead. Afterwards, I asked you why, but you wouldn't say anything. Is this ridiculous misunderstanding really that interesting?"

Xu You: "...I didn't go to see her on purpose."

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng realized that Xu You wanted to explain. Seeing him glance at Li Mo, she instantly understood. "Li Mo, why don't you go out for a bit? We have some personal matters to attend to."

Li Mo frowned, hesitated for a moment, but still went out.

——

The door closed again.

Chen Sheng sat opposite Xu You, looking like he was interrogating her. "Go ahead and speak, there's no one else here."

Xu You pursed her lips and sighed, "Last night, my hairband was blown out of the window by the wind. I went out to look for it for a long time and accidentally bumped into her."

"You're lying!" Chen Sheng shouted. "You didn't tie your hair up at all last night... Your hairband was tied to the headboard and you only took it off this morning."

Xu You: "..."

Chen Sheng: "Fourth Prince, can you please stop making up such childish lies? Can't we be more sincere with each other and let the world have more love?"

"I..." Xu You sighed helplessly, "I want to cut all ties with her."

Chen Sheng questioned this.

“You might not believe it, but I died once.” Xu You chuckled. “Back then, I naively thought that as long as there was love between us, nothing could stop us. Who knew that in her heart, I was nothing more than a pawn.”