The arrival of a mysterious woman eased the originally tense atmosphere in the courtyard.
This woman was stunningly beautiful!
Moreover, her attire was rather daring.
She wore a short-sleeved purple top, with a white inner lining at her chest, which bulged proudly underneath, ample assets indeed!
Her lower body was clad in an ultra-short black leather skirt, the hem reaching up to her thighs, and beneath it were two snow-white legs longer than life itself!
She was barefoot, with a red string tied around her ankle, adorned with a small bell at the knot.
It jangled with a "ding-a-ling" as she walked.
Quite unique!
Ahem!
The Second Prince, Zhao Mian, lightly cleared his throat, snapping Zhao Yi out of his immersion in the woman's beauty.
Looking at the woman, he sneered and said, "Your Charm Technique is well-practiced, but daring to enchant a Prince, it seems you have a death wish!"
"Is this the legendary Charm Technique?"
Zhao Yi curiously examined the woman, observing her for a while, finding her entirely beautiful without feeling enchanted!
He tugged at Zhao Mian's sleeve and seriously said, "Second brother, I can handle this!"
Zhao Mian's mouth twitched slightly, and he resolutely shook his head, "Sixth brother, this one you truly cannot handle!"
When a Prince is born, Xuanzhen Temple sends someone to test their aptitude.
The old emperor has nine sons; among them, Zhao Mian's talent is the best, while Zhao Yi's aptitude is the worst!
Zhao Mian's talent was so great that even without practice, his progress with the Mad Dragon Technique advanced by leaps and bounds!
Zhao Yi's aptitude was so poor that even a lifetime of hard practice might not get him anywhere!
Therefore, Zhao Mian couldn't let Zhao Yi interact with this woman who clearly practiced the Charm Technique, lest he be drained without knowing how!
The woman had a good temper.
Even as Zhao Yi and Zhao Mian discussed her in front of her, she didn't react in any unusual way.
She was rather respectful.
Her demeanor was far better than the female lead!
After Zhao Yi and Zhao Mian finished discussing, she respectfully performed a salute, "Yao Qing, the newly appointed Steward of Four Seas Commerce Association in Shengjing City, pays her respects to Your Highness!"
Hmm?
Upon hearing the name of the Four Seas Commerce Association's steward, Zhao Yi and Zhao Mian were simultaneously surprised.
The two scrutinized Yao Qing, showing a look of appraisal on their faces.
Zhao Yi asked, "Did the fat guy from Four Seas Restaurant die?"
Yao Qing quickly responded, "Your Highness is joking. Shopkeeper Zhu was promoted and now serves as a deacon at headquarters; I am the new shopkeeper!"
Zhao Yi was quite surprised, "He actually got promoted?"
Suddenly, Zhao Yi remembered spending twenty thousand taels of gold at a recent auction.
Ten thousand taels were for the Golden Dragon Sword, and the other ten thousand taels were for that Dead Dragon Egg.
The fat shopkeeper's promotion was likely related to these twenty thousand taels of gold.
Zhao Mian only loved drinking, disliked attending auctions, rarely visited Four Seas Restaurant, and wasn't interested in the change of steward at Four Seas Commerce Association.
He frowned and asked Yao Qing, "Shopkeeper Yao, why did you prevent me from apprehending a wanted criminal?"
Upon hearing this, Yao Qing turned to look at the male lead beside her, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.
The male lead snorted coldly, turning his face away with a cold expression.
Yao Qing was unbothered.
She saluted Zhao Mian again, "Your Highness, this matter is a misunderstanding! My nephew is a monk, and could not possibly be involved with the Imperial Consort; I beg Your Highness to see clearly!"
Nephew?
Zhao Yi was momentarily taken aback.
He didn't recall the male lead having any relatives in the original novel.
Zhao Yi turned to look at the male lead.
When the male lead heard Yao Qing call him nephew, a flash of anger crossed his face, but he didn't deny his relation to Yao Qing!
Interesting!
Zhao Yi's eyes brightened.
Zhao Yi had originally thought the male lead was just a privileged monk.
Now it seemed.
The male lead's background seemed rather unconventional too!
Yao Qing respectfully addressed Zhao Mian, "Your Highness, my nephew became a monk at a young age, is ignorant of worldly matters, and can easily be deceived, I humbly request Your Highness to be merciful!"
It was a slap in the face!
That's a direct slap in the face!
Zhao Yi turned to glance at the female lead, wanting to see her reaction.
Unfortunately!
The female lead seemed utterly shocked, perhaps by the threat of her family being executed.
Her eyes appeared listless, her gaze vacant, looking utterly frightened, completely devoid of her previous arrogance and wilfulness!
Uninteresting!
Zhao Yi shook his head.
He had hoped to dupe around and play with the female lead.
He hadn't expected her to give in so quickly.
Though disdain filled Zhao Yi's heart, his face remained impassive.
Zhao Yi casually joked, "Mother said beautiful women never lie. Since Shopkeeper Yao is so beautiful, if you say the monk didn't seduce a married woman, then it must be true."
Zhao Mian paused, puzzled, "Did Mother really say that?"
"Of course!" Zhao Yi nodded affirmatively, "If you don't believe me, go ask her!"
Zhao Mian quickly shook his head, "Better not! If Mother finds out I'm doubting her, she'd definitely beat me!"
After speaking, he asked Zhao Yi, "What do you plan to do with these two people?"
Zhao Yi, feeling uninterested, casually said to Huang Ying, "Today is Second Brother's birthday, it's unlucky to see blood on such a joyous day, we'll keep the account for now and settle it with them later."
Originally, Zhao Yi didn't intend to really kill these two.
And it's quite possible he couldn't kill them!
The main characters in novels generally have a protagonist's halo.
Before that halo is removed, they are like indestructible cockroaches, only growing stronger the more you try to kill them.
Zhao Yi certainly wouldn't help others just for fun!
After Zhao Yi finished, he reminded Yao Qing, "Steward Yao, you'd better remind that Wild Monk. Although I have announced the engagement annulment, as long as the divorce letter hasn't been formally issued, Su Qianqian is still considered my Imperial Consort. Even if the monk is desperate, he must control himself in public because our royal family still needs to save face!"
Although Huang Ying was unwilling, since Zhao Yi had spoken, she could only nod in agreement.
Yao Qing immediately breathed a sigh of relief!
She bowed to Zhao Yi and respectfully said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for the guidance!"
Although Zhao Yi's words were harsh and almost nailed Fajing Wild Monk's guilt, at least he spared his life.
As long as he's alive, the rest doesn't matter!
Zhao Yi, seeing Yao Qing's discernment, nodded with satisfaction, then waved his hand to the surrounding Imperial Guards.
"It's fine now, all of you stand down!"
The Imperial Guards sheathed their swords in response.
"Yes!"
The steel blade near her neck retreated, and Su Qianqian felt her shoulders lighten, her eyes gradually regaining their shine.
She moved her stiff neck, feeling as if she had been through another world.
Just now, she had walked through Ghost Gate.
No, that's not right.
Not just her.
Her entire family nearly lost their heads!
The female protagonist looked at Zhao Yi, who was chatting with that "exposed" woman nearby, and her face suddenly showed a strange expression.
The reason she always ignored Zhao Yi was because she firmly believed Zhao Yi was devoted to her—forever incapable of betraying her!
But now things seem different.
Zhao Yi nearly killed her whole family, and yet he's flirting with other women.
This was impossible before!
The female protagonist frowned, her mind spinning with all sorts of thoughts.
She glanced at Zhao Yi, then at the male protagonist.
Zhao Yi's distinguished status could give her a comfortable identity and a dignified position.
The male protagonist was someone she longed to accompany for a lifetime with just one look.
Not choosing Zhao Yi would make her life very tough.
But without the male protagonist, she felt life would be dull.
It's too difficult!
The female protagonist was trapped in a dilemma.
No matter whom she chooses, there will be regrets in the future.
If only the male protagonist had Zhao Yi's power and position!
Zhao Yi wouldn't know what the female protagonist was thinking; otherwise, he would surely laugh at her for overthinking it.
She's not some "heartthrob," yet she really thinks she's everyone's favorite?
Without a protagonist's halo, she's nothing!
The male protagonist, noticing Su Qianqian constantly peeking at him, shuffled a few steps aside and, noticing he was getting closer to Yao Qing, shuffled back a few steps.
So difficult!
A place with two women he disliked!
He's really having a hard time!
If it weren't for the need to get that Dead Egg, he would have returned to the temple to practice and pray long ago!
Yao Qing caught sight of the male protagonist distancing himself from her in the corner of her eye, and her heart felt a pang of bitterness.
Too difficult!
It's hard for the nephew to grow up alone.
It's been tough for Yao Qing to come here, with the help of her sister, after all the hardships!
But it's fortunate to finally see her nephew.
And he's very outstanding.
Except that some women constantly watch her nephew, making her very unhappy.
Yao Qing's corner glance swept over the female protagonist.
Seeing the female protagonist still obsessed with her nephew, a trace of determination flashed in her eyes.
The weather cooled, the Su Family should be ruined!
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