A barrier? So he discovered her before she even entered? That's why he removed the barrier beforehand!

"Once you've entered my residence, how could you possibly run away so easily? Hmm?"

With a wave of his hand, Gong Mingyue sent Ji Jiuying flying off the ground to his front.

"·····"

"Run? Who's running away? I just think it's not good to disturb the Imperial Preceptor's sleep in the middle of the night!" Ji Jiuying said, feigning ignorance.

"Hehe~ I think this moment of bliss is worth a thousand pieces of gold!"

Gong Mingyue spoke in a seductive voice, his large hand idly playing with her hair.

Ji Jiuying glared at him, annoyed. What happened to not being interested in women? Who wants to spend a night with him?

"You pervert! You don't even spare a minor like me!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Jiuying appeared in a bedroom that looked like a palace. Before she could react, Gong Mingyue picked her up and laid her down!

······

"There are countless people your age in Cangyue Kingdom who are already married~" Gong Mingyue stared at her with burning eyes, unable to resist teasing her.

"Hey~ Gong Mingyue, I'm warning you, don't do anything reckless!" Ji Jiuying opened her eyes wide in fright, twisting her body uncomfortably, trying to break free from the man's hold. She was really afraid that this damned man might do something.

Unfortunately, she had no chance to resist him.

"Little Jiu'er, behave yourself, or I can't guarantee what I might do later~" Gong Mingyue's voice was slightly hoarse, with an obvious seductive quality.

Ji Jiuying immediately stopped moving. His chin rested gently on the top of her head, and his warm breath and strong heartbeat made her feel flustered.

After an unknown amount of time, a steady breathing sound could be heard.

Ji Jiuying slowly raised her head to look at the man in front of her, meeting his face so close to hers. His straight brows were slightly furrowed, as if something was bothering him in his sleep.

She reached out and gently smoothed the wrinkles between his brows.

Then she gently pried open the hands around her waist, trying to get up and leave, but the more she pried, the tighter he hugged her. Ji Jiuying even wondered if he was asleep at all!

Finally, with no other choice, Ji Jiuying chose to give up the struggle!

Before long, her eyelids also started to droop.

He heard soft breathing beneath him and opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on her butterfly-like eyelashes...

That night, Ji Jiuying and Gong Mingyue slept in each other's arms all night.

Vertical day.

A sliver of light appeared on the eastern horizon.

Ji Jiuying was awakened by the light. She opened her eyes and was greeted by an unfamiliar room. She immediately sat up straight.

Looking into the room, it was empty.

Thinking of how she and he had slept in each other's arms last night, two blushes instantly rose on her face!

Upon seeing the door open, Yingyue quickly stepped forward and respectfully said, "Miss Ji, the master has been waiting for you in the main hall for a long time!"

When he heard his master's command, he thought he had misheard! Was his master, this eternally incorrigible tree, finally going to bloom? Miss Ji was the only one who was allowed into his master's room and even slept there for a night; it seemed the mistress of the house was finally settled.

Ji Jiuying froze as soon as she stepped outside. She noticed that Yingyue's gaze towards her was different than before. Thinking about how she had spent the night alone with him, even if nothing had happened, people would still speculate.

That damned Gong Mingyue, did he do it on purpose?!

Ji Jiuying stormed into the main hall, her face contorted with rage. She glared at the man sitting leisurely at the table. "Gong Mingyue, are you doing this on purpose? Why didn't you wake me? Why did you have to wake me...?"

Upon hearing this, I suddenly felt something was wrong! Then I glanced at Yingyue and the others beside me!

When Yingyue and the others saw Ji Jiuying looking over, they quickly turned to the side, pretending that they hadn't seen or heard anything, but their slightly trembling shoulders betrayed their true feelings.

"Little Jiu'er, why are you so angry so early in the morning? Is it because I didn't agree to your request last night...?"

"Gong Mingyue! Shut up!"

Ji Jiuying glared angrily at Gong Mingyue, then turned and pointed at Yingyue and the others, "Get out!"

Yingyue and the others slunk away, who knows how hard they had to suppress their laughter.

"Gong Mingyue, if you dare to talk nonsense again, believe me or not!" Ji Jiuying was so angry that she couldn't speak, and she couldn't beat him in a fight!

Seeing that she was angry, Gong Mingyue stopped teasing her and said, "Come and have breakfast. You have a competition later!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Jiuying agreed, saying that it made sense; how could one have the energy to compete if they weren't well-fed?

Without being polite, they sat down and started eating!

······

When Ji Jiuying arrived at the arena, the square was already packed with people.

The emperor and empress were seated in the main seats. Consort Liang had arrived earlier, and next to her was a noblewoman who looked very much like the fourth princess. Presumably, that was Consort Qing.

However, the man's seat was still empty.

Just as she was wondering how to find them.

"Little Jiu, Little Jiu!"

"Fatty Zhen, you just got here too?"

"I've been here for a while now. Xiaoting was worried you wouldn't be able to find them, so she specially asked me to wait for you here. Xiaoting and the others are over there." Ji Jiuying followed the direction the fat man pointed and indeed saw Wen Chuyu and the others.

Aren't you going over there?

"No, I'll watch you from the stands with my father and mother. Good luck!" The fat man pointed to the stands.

"Okay, I'll head over now."

"good."

It felt like there were even more people in the square today than yesterday. Ji Jiuying squeezed her way through for ages before she even got halfway there!

At this moment, the referee on the stage began to make his declaration.

"Congratulations to the contestant who passed the third round of one-on-one challenges. Today is the final of the Genius Ranking. Who will be this year's dark horse? We look forward to it."

"Now the contestants will come up on stage to draw lots."

Ji Jiuying decided to go up and draw lots first, and then go to find them from the arena!

"Chuyu, Axiu, Xiaoting!"

"Xiao Jiu, you've finally arrived! Did you draw lots?" Wen Longting asked.

"I drew one, it's number eighteen," Ji Jiuying said calmly.

"It's a good thing you didn't match up with the eldest brother. He's number seventeen, right in front of you!"

Wen Chuyu and Ji Jiuying exchanged a glance and smiled. He had a feeling that they would eventually face off.

He actually harbored a tiny bit of hope!

Shortly after they were all seated, the referee announced the start of the match!

Just like yesterday, the arena is divided into left and right sides, and the matches are held simultaneously.

The second arena is actually occupied by Ji Fengyan. Wen Longting said that her opponent is Nan Lingmo, the young master of the Nanyang Marquis's mansion.

As luck would have it, Nan Lingmo was one of Ji Fengyan's admirers.

However, the match on Number One's side has already started, while Ji Fengyan's side hasn't even made a move yet.

"It seems Ji Fengyan is really lucky this time. She's already met an admirer right from the start. She'll probably win this match easily without even having to use her words!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ji Fengyan and the others started fighting.

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(Seeking free gifts and positive reviews!)