The Dark Moonlight returns to the capital, and the mad prince is accused of forcing love.

Dinner time.

Fu was so upset by what had happened during the day that she skipped dinner and had the bed curtains drawn early, so she went to bed with Lin Rulan.

Lin Zhiwei and Qin Miaoyun were both in the new tent.

Several glass lamps had just been lit inside the tent, their flickering shadows casting long, dark shadows across the screen.

When news arrived that Xu Qianhui and Chu Yunci had been kept in the main tent by Princess Fu'an for drinking, Lin Zhiwei angrily pushed the teacup on the table aside.

"Just because you won one game, you think you can fly to the top?" Lin Zhiwei turned to look at Lin Zuoqing sitting on the couch: "Aqing, what is Princess Fu'an thinking that she has taken a liking to her?"

Lin Zuoqing said calmly, "One must not speak ill of the princess."

"How could I dare?" Lin Zhiwei lowered her voice: "Xu Qianhui wrongly accused me of pushing her last time, I just didn't want to see her so smug."

Lin Zuoqing did not respond.

Qin Miaoyun, who was having dinner with Lin Zuo'an, said, "Miss Xu is willing to risk her life to frame you? Lin Zhiwei, so you don't need evidence to say anything, you just make things up."

"Qin Miaoyun, don't go too far!"

"Did I say something wrong?" Qin Miaoyun put down her chopsticks and turned to look at Lin Zhiwei. "The doctor who treated Miss Xu was Dr. Wang. You can find out by asking at the gate of the Duke's mansion. Are you suggesting that Dr. Wang is helping Xu Qianhui deceive the Duke's mansion?"

"you......"

Lin Zhiwei was rendered speechless by the rebuttal, and turned to Lin Zuoqing for help: "Zuoqing..."

"Alright, stop fooling around."

Lin Zuoqing called out to the outside of the tent, "Qingshu."

Qing Shu lifted the curtain and entered: "Master."

"It's rare to have such a lively polo match. Go outside and set up a bonfire, then invite the princess over for a seat."

Qing Shu did as instructed and went out.

Lin Zhiwei was even more furious.

She forcefully smoothed out the crumpled silk handkerchief, but dared not lash out in front of Lin Zuoqing, and could only grit her teeth and swallow back those sarcastic words.

......

A campfire was lit on the grassland, its orange flames licking the dry wood and making soft crackling sounds.

Xu Qianhui walked from the direction of the princess's tent.

Her eyes were slightly flushed, with a hint of alcohol, but she walked very steadily without the slightest stumble.

Chu Yunci stepped half a body behind her, shielding her from the night wind blowing from the side.

Lin Zuoqing sat by the campfire, watching the two people approaching through the flickering flames.

"She always gets seen off wherever she goes."

These words were spoken very softly, and only Qing Shu, who was standing behind him, heard them clearly.

Xu Qianhui stopped in front of the campfire circle.

He smiled as he looked at the people sitting in a circle around the campfire.

Upon seeing this, Lin Zuo'an immediately stood up and moved his cushion half a foot to the side.

He tried to make more space.

Qin Miaoyun leaned closer to Lin Zuoan and handed him the smoky-colored cloak she had been holding.

"Miss Xu, you're not fully recovered yet. If you find it too windy, you can use mine."

Xu Qianhui accepted the cloak without hesitation and sat down.

"Thank you, Ms. Qin."

"Didn't the princess come along?" Qin Miaoyun asked.

"His Highness is a little drunk and shouldn't be out in the wind." Xu Qianhui smiled. "However, His Highness bestowed two jars of rice wine, saying it would help everyone have some fun."

Chu Yunci placed the two jars of wine on a low table to the side at the right time.

Noticing the change in Xu Qianhui's way of addressing the princess, Qin Miaoyun smiled and said, "I just saw you and General Chu come over together; you look quite well-matched."

She was taking the initiative to make peace, and whether she was sincere or not, Xu Qianhui would not be ungrateful.

"Miss Qin and the Second Young Master are a match made in heaven."

Lin Zhiwei sat opposite, watching this scene, her face darkening.

She turned her head and gave a few instructions to the maid, who immediately brought over a small cowhide drum and a red silk flower ball.

"Minister Zuo, we cannot let the princess's gift go to waste. How about we play a game of musical chairs?"

Lin Zuoqing nodded.

Lin Zhiwei immediately smiled: "The rules remain the same. When the drum stops, whoever gets the flower must answer a question or drink a bowl of wine as a penalty. I'll ask the question for the first round, shall we?"

The bonfire party was meant for fun, and with Princess Fu'an offering rice wine, no one refused.

The guards opened the wine jars and filled each bowl with wine.

The maidservant raised the drumstick with her back to her.

"Thump, thump, thump."

The deep drumbeats echoed across the open meadow as red ribbons and flower balls were passed around rapidly.

The drumming stopped abruptly.

Qin Miaoyun exclaimed "Oh!" and looked annoyed as she held the flower ball.

Lin Zhiwei couldn't hide the pleasure in her eyes.

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

"Qin Miaoyun, will you choose to drink or answer the question?"

Qin Miaoyun rolled her eyes at her: "You know I can't hold my liquor, so why are you pretending?"

Lin Zhi smiled smugly: "My question is, you stole Xu Qianhui's fiancé, so how come you can still chat and laugh with her so easily?"

This was a tricky question, but Qin Miaoyun didn't get angry.

She smiled and said, "I used to believe rumors and misunderstand Miss Xu, but now I think she is a person of noble character and worth befriending."

Lin Zhiwei was rendered speechless.

Xu Qianhui picked up the wine bowl and handed it to Qin Miaoyun.

"Miss Qin has a strong sense of right and wrong, I respect you."

Qin Miaoyun was very accommodating and took a small sip from the bowl.

The second game begins.

The red silk flowers spun rapidly once again.

The drumming stopped.

The flower ball landed steadily in Lin Zuo'an's hands.

According to the rules, it was Qin Miaoyun's turn to ask questions, as she had been penalized in the previous round.

Qin Miaoyun didn't give Lin Zuo'an a choice, and asked directly, "Zuo'an, is the person you love most here?"

Lin Zuo'an was taken aback, and his eyes unconsciously glanced at Xu Qianhui.

Then he answered, "Yes."

Qin Miaoyun felt her earlobes burning and glared at him reproachfully.

Lin Zuoqing, sitting opposite, took everything in and merely twitched the corner of his mouth.

In the third set, the ball was passed to Xu Qianhui.

Just as the maid was about to stop raising her drumsticks, a large, well-defined hand swept across and snatched the flower ball away.

"Thump!"

The drumming stopped just then.

Chu Yunci fiddled with the flower for a couple of moments, then casually tossed it onto the low table.

"I was faster, so I admit defeat."

Everyone could see that he was shielding Xu Qianhui from disaster.

Lin Zuo'an felt a sour feeling stuck in his chest, and wished he could strangle Chu Yunci.

He said coldly, "I'm very curious, when does General Chu plan to get married?"

Chu Yunci glanced at Xu Qianhui and smiled softly.

"If she agrees, it will be soon."

"Young General Chu, don't let fleeting novelty blind you," Lin Zuo'an said with a mocking smile. "How long have you known each other? Isn't it a bit too hasty to talk about marriage?"

Chu Yunci turned his gaze back to Lin Zuoan: "My affairs with Miss Xu are none of your concern, Second Young Master."

The fourth round begins with the drumming.

The flower ball fell into Qin Miaoyun's hands again.

Chu Yunci picked up the rice wine in front of him and drank it all in one gulp.

"I don't have any problems."

Qin Miaoyun smiled and thanked her.

Lin Zhiwei took in all of this.

She gritted her teeth and gave the maid who was playing the drum a wink.

"Don't let anyone substitute for you in the next round," she deliberately drawled, "otherwise it won't be as fun."

The drums sounded in the fifth inning.

The flower balls were quickly passed between the hands of the crowd.

When it was passed to Xu Qianhui, the rhythm of the drumbeats was unusually slow.

Her eyes darted around, and with a flick of her wrist, she quickly stuffed the flower ball into Chu Yunci's hand.

Chu Yunci tossed the ball, and it flew over Lin Zhiwei and landed directly in Lin Zuoqing's arms.

"Thump!"

The drumbeats subsided.

Lin Zuoqing lost this round.

According to the rules, it was Qin Miaoyun's turn to ask a question from the previous round.

Qin Miaoyun glanced at Lin Zhiwei, whose face was full of astonishment, and slowly curled up her lips.

"Your Highness, if Lin Zhiwei and Miss Xu fell into the water at the same time, who would you save first?"