"You want me to seduce the Crown Prince? Why are you crying now that I've entered the pala

Chapter 108 Innocent

After learning about what had happened during this period from Eunuch Li, His Highness the Crown Prince remained silent for a long time.

Who would have thought that such a volatile and difficult person would not have caused a single problem in the past half month? Not only was he emotionally stable, but he also handled many political affairs efficiently and perfectly.

Even in the most likely situation to trigger an attack, he could be calmed down by that seemingly helpless girl.

Not only did he not go mad and kill, he was also able to use his father, the emperor, to deal with Xiao Jiu...

He doesn't look normal anymore.

"It seems she does have some skill."

After a long while, His Highness the Crown Prince finally spoke, but his cold voice revealed little emotion.

Thinking of something, Chu Junyan paused: "What did she mean by the garden she just mentioned?"

This time, it was Eunuch Li's turn to be stunned. How could he explain to the Crown Prince that "he" had not only become more patient but was also teaching people to play the zither?

"The Seventh Prince and Miss Qin have made an appointment that the Prince will teach her to play the zither every afternoon when he has free time."

After a long silence, Eunuch Li finally couldn't help but raise his head.

Then I saw His Highness the Crown Prince slightly curving his thin lips, smiling gently and kindly in the sunlight.

He was clearly as otherworldly and handsome as a celestial being in a painting, yet inexplicably, he sent chills down one's spine, even more unsettling than when the Seventh Prince went mad.
-
"The Seventh Prince requests an audience."

The voice of a eunuch summoning someone came from outside the main hall. Emperor Wen in the hall raised an eyebrow slightly, but still nodded: "Summon them."

A short while later, a tall and slender figure walked in through the door: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Faced with this difficult son, Emperor Wen's attitude was rather cold: "No need for formalities, what is it?"

Chu Junyan stood up and said respectfully, "I have caused you trouble and worry these past few days, Father. I have come to apologize."

These words...

Emperor Wen finally realized that it was the Crown Prince who had returned, and a smile finally appeared on his previously indifferent face: "The Crown Prince is back?"

The gentle and handsome young man smiled warmly, about to say something, when he was interrupted by Emperor Wen's next words:

"You've come back just in time. I was just wondering how to write the imperial edict to grant the marriage."

Chu Junyan's smile froze: "A marriage decree?"

"Yes. So, who is it that you are going to marry, the woman from the Qin family or him?"

Your Highness: ...
-
“Miss Qin, this is Musician Chen. The Seventh Prince has been busy with official duties lately and has no time to teach you to play the zither, so he specially found a musician from the Music Bureau to teach you.”

Eunuch Li smiled gently and obsequiously, showing no sign of neglecting Qin Su despite the Crown Prince's return.

What a joke! His Highness the Crown Prince isn't always around, but that other one could go crazy at any moment!

Qin Su looked at the white-clad musician opposite her. He was young, handsome, and tall. His elegant white robes were very appealing to young women.

For a moment, she wondered what the "Crown Prince" was really up to by sending the person over.

Qin Su nodded, then shook her head: "Actually, there's no need to go through all that trouble. I was planning to tell Your Highness today that I want to go home."

"Go...go home?"

Eunuch Li could barely keep his smile going: "Is there something wrong with the palace servants' service? Or is there something that makes Miss Qin uncomfortable? Just tell me, and I'll take good care of it!"

As he finished speaking, a ruthless glint flashed in the old eunuch's eyes; he was no joke.

Qin Su shook her head and smiled, "No. It's just that I've noticed Your Highness's meals have been much more normal these past few days. I've been in the palace for many days and I'm worried about my mother, so..." She didn't finish her sentence, but it was enough to show how thoughtful and filial the young woman was.

Eunuch Li opened his mouth, but in the end he could only say, "Then Miss Qin should talk to His Highness about this herself. This servant... is not in a position to pass on the message."

Qin Su nodded: "Yes, I will."

[Host, the Crown Prince just refused the Emperor's offer of marriage at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.]

As soon as Eunuch Li left with the returned musicians, the system immediately popped up.

"Marriage?"

Qin Su was a little surprised, but not too surprised.

After all, it's quite normal for this kind of thing to happen when you're following a strategy guide, isn't it?

[Yes! His reason was that he was afraid his acting wasn't good enough and that you, the host, would notice, affecting your attitude towards the Seventh Prince.]

That's not exactly what was said, but the meaning is roughly the same.

Qin Su recalled the arrogant and conceited attitude of that person that morning, and his matter-of-fact tone, but she couldn't tell at all that he was "afraid" of being discovered.

"I understand." Qin Su nodded, looking thoughtfully at the flowerbed in the courtyard, which was beautiful in all four seasons.
-
"What are you thinking?"

A girl's sweet and pleasant voice, tinged with doubt, rang in his ears. Chu Junyan looked up and met those clean and beautiful eyes.

He had no memory of their time together and was unsure of "his" attitude towards her, but from the girl's natural and intimate actions, he could roughly guess that she wasn't entirely innocent.

Thinking of all this, the Crown Prince smiled gently, but a cold glint shone deep in his eyes:
"It's quite a coincidence, but my father also told me something just now."

Qin Su's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup, but her tone remained natural: "Hmm? What is it?"

Chu Junyan: "It's nothing serious, just a reminder that I'm not young anymore and it's time to choose a concubine."

Qin Su knew that the man was testing her.

She paused for a moment, then looked up, her expression full of surprise: "W-so in such a hurry?"

The man observed her expression, trying to discern panic and sadness on the girl's face: "At my age, it's not a rush. What do you think I should say?"

What do you mean, how should I reply? Didn't you already refuse?
Qin Su's heart was like still water. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked down at the tea leaves in her cup. Her voice sounded somewhat muffled, making it unclear whether she was heartbroken.

"It's only natural for His Majesty to bring this up, since men should marry when they're of age and women should marry when they're of age."

His Highness the Crown Prince was not satisfied with the reaction he wanted, and his voice deepened, sounding somewhat like an angry tyrant:

"So you also think I should agree?"

He didn't want to see such a calm and boring reaction; he wanted to see her disappointed, sad, or even crying and begging for his pity before being rejected.

Qin Su nodded, and when she looked up at the man, her expression was very gentle: "Yes, don't you want it?"

Chu Junyan: ...

Seeing that he didn't react, Qin Su took it as a tacit agreement and her smile brightened slightly: "So..."

She personally picked up the kettle, poured tea for the man, and uttered the standard lines used by older men and women urging them to get married:
"Choose one while you're young, otherwise you'll miss out on this opportunity and other good girls will be snatched up by someone else."

For a fleeting moment, Chu Junyan really wanted to ask himself if the "information" he had received was correct.

Are you sure no one exaggerated or fabricated the story?
There really are people who would say to their "beloved": Go marry someone else, or you'll miss out.

Fortunately, he remained calm and adjusted his breathing: