Qin Jingzhan's handsome face flushed bright red instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
The unease spread from her cheeks to her ears and neck; her eyes darted around in a panic, but she dared not look into Qin Zhaoyue's teasing gaze.
He subconsciously raised his voice, his tone hurried and strained, as if trying to cover something up, "I just... I just..."
But after racking my brains for a long time, I still couldn't come up with a suitable reason.
Seeing his embarrassed yet forced appearance, Qin Zhaoyue's heart softened, and she let out a soft breath.
She took two steps forward, got close to Qin Jingzhan, reached out and gently patted his shoulder, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
"Okay, thank you, Fifth Brother."
Who says royalty is all about cold-blooded scheming? Her fifth brother, with his straightforward mind, protective nature, and tendency to blush easily…
Sigh, this is what it means to be a child who is not valued by the Queen Mother, much like the original owner of this body.
With his personality, if he really gets caught up in the struggle for the throne, he'll probably be devoured until there's nothing left but bones.
Forget it, if possible, I'll try to get him to join me in this mess.
As for the third and fourth sisters, oh dear...
Qin Zhaoyue inwardly scoffed. They were all cunning and shrewd people; why should she worry about them?
Qin Jingzhan became even more uncomfortable at her sudden closeness and thanks. His face was still flushed, and he could only try to cover it up with a rough voice:
"Why are you saying all that! Let's go upstairs."
He turned to leave, but couldn't help turning back to glare at her, muttering earnestly:
"Sixth Sister, your taste in men is really questionable."
"Huh?" Qin Zhaoyue caught up with him, deliberately dragging out her words, "You mean Yan Zhibai? I think he's pretty good."
Qin Jingzhan's initial goodwill towards the other party because of his status as a "descendant of a famous scholar" vanished instantly, leaving only utter displeasure. "What's so good about him!"
“A renowned scholar,” Qin Zhaoyue emphasized, “didn’t you also say that his family has a long history of scholarship and that he’s very accomplished?”
"His father is the one who's powerful, not him," Qin Jingzhan retorted decisively.
"Fifth brother, are you blind?"
Just now, in front of the inscribed poem wall, he only read the poem once, and immediately he was able to pick up his brush and create a painting with an extraordinary artistic conception!
How bad could someone so devoted to a single path be? And…”
She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, turned her head, and looked at Qin Jingzhan mischievously with her bright, sparkling eyes.
"Fifth Brother, you have to admit it, he's extremely handsome. Hmm... much more handsome than you."
Qin Jingzhan clenched his fist instantly, his knuckles turning white.
He gritted his teeth, practically squeezing out the words: "Can good looks put food on the table?"
Qin Zhaoyue tilted her head slightly, her slender white fingers lightly tapping her chin, as if she were deep in thought.
Then she smiled brightly, "Sure, you can eat it as a main meal, as a dessert, as fruit... it'll taste good no matter how you eat it!"
Qin Jingzhan: !!!
As if struck by lightning, he froze on the spot, his handsome face turning completely red again at a visible speed, even his neck turned bright red.
He stared at his younger sister in disbelief, unable to believe his ears.
“You…you are an unmarried young lady…”
How could someone say such shameless things without batting an eye, and even with a hint of smugness?
"So what? You're allowed to wreak havoc in the backyard, but I'm not allowed to..."
"Shut up! You, you, you..."
Qin Jingzhan pointed at Qin Zhaoyue, his fingers trembling, so angry that he could barely speak.
...
The early autumn nights in Fengjing have shed the sweltering heat of midsummer, but have not yet been tinged with the desolation of late autumn.
As dusk settles, the pavilions and taverns on both sides of Zhuque Street have already lit up their glazed palace lanterns, illuminating the bluestone pavement as bright as day.
The sounds of string and wind instruments flowed from the open, carved wooden windows, mingling with the clamor of drinkers, the melodious singing of courtesans, and the shouts of street vendors.
"Freshly steamed osmanthus cake..."
"The aroma of roasted mutton is so strong it penetrates to the bone..."
"Lychee paste that just arrived from the south..."
The air was filled with various enticing aromas.
Gentlemen and ladies dressed in fine clothes thronged the streets, laughing and chatting.
Foreign merchants led camels laden with spices and jewels slowly through the area;
The Wuhou scouts patrolled the streets with firm steps, maintaining the bustling prosperity of the era.
In the distant northern border, at Zhenbei Pass.
This place is near the northernmost point of Xuanwu North Road. It is a majestic city built on steep mountain terrain, guarding the national gate.
Like a colossal steel beast lurking in the darkness, the towering Xuan Tie city gate, over ten zhang tall, gleamed with a cold, eerie light in the night.
The thick city walls are covered with mottled marks left by swords, axes, and arrows, silently telling the story of countless baptisms of blood and fire.
At the crenellations of the city wall, the soldiers on night duty, clad in heavy iron armor, cast their gazes through the deep night sky, towards the boundless, dark wasteland ahead.
The biting north wind howled across the city walls, making a mournful sound, and the entire fortress was shrouded in a somber and heavy atmosphere.
As the curfew began, the city fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the sound of the night watchman's clapper and the faint sound of watchtowers from the distant military camp.
The heavy sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, shattering the deathly silence beyond the pass.
A cavalry force of about a thousand men appeared outside the tightly closed city gates, tearing a gap in the darkness of the night.
They were weary from their journey, their armor covered in dust and frost.
But the team maintained its disciplined formation, exuding an air of elite ferocity and composure.
The leader, dressed in light black armor and with a tall and straight figure, was none other than Princess Qin Zhaoqiong.
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