On the vast arena, the battle raged back and forth, a truly spectacular display.
The first round is a two-on-one competition, and the winners advance to the next round.
"Round 4: Li Junru, Ye Tianhao."
Xie Lingqin frowned subconsciously when she heard the announcer read the name.
Li Junru, the son of the Minister of War, was the one who tried to get in touch with An Shangning before the incident at the Marquis of Anping's residence, but she ruined it.
This man is handsome and dashing, but like his father, he is suited for politics. His participation in the martial arts examination is truly a great honor for the entire family.
Yu Qingyi glanced back casually and saw Xie Lingqin staring intently at Li Junru on the field. Her eyes flickered, and she smiled, "I say, little girl, is this Li Junru really that good-looking that you can't take your eyes off him?"
The question was asked softly, but the Crown Prince could hear it just in time, and his gaze suddenly fell on Xie Lingqin.
Xie Lingqin felt uncomfortable under the Crown Prince's gaze, then looked at Yu Qingyi and replied, "Yes, it looks quite good."
There was a hint of spite in those words.
Yu Qingyi didn't notice the Crown Prince's gaze. Instead, he rested his chin on his hand and said thoughtfully, "But I think it's just so-so. It's not even as good as one of my toes."
Xie Lingqin gave a light sneer without any politeness.
"Hey, I'm telling you, little girl..."
"Don't call me little girl."
"Why don't you call me that? You're not even fifteen yet, but I'm nineteen."
"Nineteen, you're still not married. You should reflect on yourself." Xie Lingqin seized the opportunity to try and shut up the talkative Prince Yi.
but……
"What? The Crown Prince is two years older than me, and he hasn't even realized it yet."
Xie Lingqin...
Can we talk properly and not bring up the crown prince?
Why!
Meeting the Crown Prince's cold gaze, Xie Lingqin looked over, her forced smile clearly lacking sincerity, "Your Highness, that's not what I meant."
"So what do you mean?"
"What I mean is, how can an ordinary person be worthy of someone as intelligent, wise, strategic, and handsome as you? You should choose carefully."
The best choice is to live a life of solitude, until the end of time, in eternal loneliness.
Xie Lingqin spoke with a forced smile and sincerity, but in reality, she was inwardly cursing.
The crown prince snorted coldly, but remained silent.
Xie Lingqin breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Yu Qingyi with a glare and said, "Shut up."
“I say, little girl, how can you be so ungrateful? If it were any other time, the Crown Prince would have dragged you away and beheaded you countless times for what you just said. It’s because of me, you know, because of me…” Yu Qingyi pointed to himself and solemnly reminded him, “The Crown Prince is only being so polite to you because of me.”
Xie Lingqin...
After thinking about it, that makes sense.
"Okay, then you're allowed to call out."
Yu Qingyi chuckled, "That's more like it."
I thought I had handled it perfectly.
Listening to the wind from the side...
Look at the dark and cold expression on his own crown prince's face.
Why!
Prince Yi, what can I say to Tingfeng?
The Crown Prince's true nature is not what you think.
Meanwhile, the competition has officially begun in the arena.
Li Junru, as expected of the son of the Minister of War, quickly distinguished himself in a few moves. Xie Lingqin had heard of Ye Tianhao before; he was the second-place scholar in this year's civil service examination, and his father was said to be the commander of the guards in the Crown Prince's residence.
However, he was clearly not favored. It is said that he served as the crown prince for more than ten years and was still just a commander.
To see if someone is valued, one only needs to look at their position.
Thinking of this, Xie Lingqin couldn't help but secretly glance at the Crown Prince.
Yuwen Yao was looking straight ahead.
His gaze seemed to be watching the competition in the arena, or taking in everything, but it was more like he didn't care about anything at all.
That flawless profile, like mountains and water, that perfectly placed brow that seemed to hold the weight of mountains and rivers, those thick, long eyelashes fluttering in the soft sunlight.
Reflecting the distant green mountains, it seems to blend into a virtual landscape, its beauty surpassing all things.
What is this kind of person really thinking?
As the crown prince, it was one thing to be out of favor, but when the emperor arrived just now, he even treated him like a stranger, being close to Yu Qingyi and exchanging pleasantries with the Prince Xian, without saying much to him. He was so openly disrespected, yet he remained calm and composed.
What kind of mindset does it take to cultivate such detachment from worldly affairs?
"I see this young man isn't watching the competition, but rather staring at the Crown Prince. Is the Crown Prince that handsome?"
Suddenly, a voice interrupted Xie Lingqin's thoughts, startling her.
She was so engrossed in watching that she didn't notice Yuwen Xian suddenly looking in her direction.
As soon as Yuwen Xian spoke, several gazes immediately fell on her.
The deepest one, of course, belongs to the Emperor.
Her presence here was already a spectacle, and many people harbored doubts but dared not ask. Now, she had seized the perfect opportunity.
Xie Lingqin immediately knelt on the ground, her expression solemn yet neither humble nor arrogant, "In response to Your Highness, the Crown Prince is indeed quite handsome, but I was only looking at the distant green mountains just now, not at the Crown Prince."
"Oh?" Yuwen Xian chuckled lightly, seeing that the Crown Prince had no special reaction, and said softly, "Then why aren't you watching the competition? Why are you looking at the distant green mountains?"
That question is clearly a trap.
This is of utmost importance. Everyone is watching the competition, so why isn't she watching? On a smaller scale, could it be that she's dissatisfied with someone, or looks down on someone? On a larger scale, could it be that she's dissatisfied with the entire imperial system?
Xie Lingqin had just denied that she was looking at the Crown Prince, so if she didn't give a clear answer now, Yu Qingyi might not be able to protect her.
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