Keep your voice down. Are you trying to look glamorous dressed as a forced lover?

Li Qingyan closed her eyes.

Song Qinian's heart sank.

No wonder His Highness refused to answer his previous questions and even turned hostile; it turns out that someone had indeed seen her like that, perhaps even before him.

His heart was pierced, but he still had to smile because she disliked his inappropriate jealousy, and he couldn't afford to lose face.

Ji Mingzheng admitted that he had muttered it on purpose, because he genuinely felt that way: "Your Highness, I thought I was dreaming before, it really wasn't intentional."

Just as Li Qingyan was about to ask, Song Qinian asked with a look of doubt, "How could you make a mistake about something so unforgettable?"

Song Qinian spoke gently, but his attack was incredibly fierce.

"Lord Ji, why don't we consult the imperial physician again? It would be bad if he got involved with someone else and mistook it for a dream, or even for His Highness."

"That would be truly irresponsible."

Song Qinian was genuinely worried about him, and his tone was full of concern.

But for Ji Mingzheng, every word was a stab to the heart.

"No, I was just bitten by a glowing insect. The poison affected me, which is why I can't distinguish between reality and dreams. Shen Lue said this himself."

Ji Mingzheng gritted his teeth, then changed the subject: "If Consort Song doesn't believe me, why don't we invite Shen Lue back?"

This time, it was Song Qinian's turn to have a gloomy expression.

He just got rid of Shen Lue, what's the point of bringing him back?

"How could I not believe you? There's no need for such trouble."

"Your Highness, do you believe me?"

Ji Mingzheng immediately turned to look at Li Qingyan, his tone changing almost instantly, from a fiercely aggressive hound facing Song Qinian to a docile puppy.

It looked at its owner pitifully, wanting its owner to pat its head.

Li Qingyan's hand, as if on its own, touched her before she could even react.

Ji Mingzheng grabbed Li Qingyan's hand: "Your Highness, you can't just touch a man's head like that. You'll have to take responsibility if you do."

He can't stop talking about responsibility.

Li Qingyan, who could feel the coldness in Song Qinian's gaze as it fell on her hands, was speechless.

She couldn't help but look at Song Qinian, who lowered his eyes, his whole being instantly filled with loneliness.

Half of it is acting; the other half is genuine loneliness and desolation.

Having eliminated Shen Lue, and seeing that His Highness remained silent, Song Qinian was still smug.

Especially the recent days of being "exclusively favored" made him think that he had won completely this time.

But at this moment, Song Qinian realized that Shen Lue was actually nothing at all.

His real opponents were never Shen Lue, but these concubines.

He had been waiting for that opportunity, and he was originally very confident, but now that Ji Mingzheng has jumped out, will he also try to snatch it?

No, he would never let Ji Mingzheng take it away.

He looked at Ji Mingzheng, and Ji Mingzheng noticed that Li Qingyan was looking at Song Qinian. His eyes sharpened, and he also stared straight at Song Qinian.

Their gazes met in mid-air, and Song Qinian's usually gentle eyes lost their warmth, leaving only coldness.

The two refused to give in and stood in silent confrontation.

Li Qingyan: "..." Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?

Before this chaotic scene unfolds, could you at least give us a heads-up?

"Your Highness." The two spoke at the same time, looking at her, and Li Qingyan felt a chill run down her spine.

Just then, Huai Xu relayed a message: "Your Highness, Consort Wen and General Tang request an audience."

"Let them in."

Thank you to the two people who saved her from dire straits.

She used to envy Qiu Nanxing's side for having so many chaotic situations and being full of protagonist aura, but when she herself encountered a real chaotic situation, she found that she couldn't handle it.

She still needs to learn.

Watching Li Qingyan's retreating figure, Song Qinian pursed his lips.

I almost forgot that Ji Mingzheng and Wen Sheng are on the same side.

Seeing that Li Qingyan didn't turn around, regret surged up again like a bone-deep sore.

Song Qinian couldn't help but wonder, since he would eventually agree to His Highness's request, why did he refuse before?

Ultimately, he was too arrogant and self-righteous.

He thought he would not regret it, and deep down he naively and arrogantly believed that His Highness could not live without him and that His Highness might eventually come to coax him and even promise him a lifetime of love.

But the result was exactly what he had in mind.

Now he regrets it, has gone back to his old flame, and still fantasizes that he is the only one who is special.

But on what basis?

For the first time, Song Qinian realized with absolute clarity that he was wrong, utterly wrong.

He could have been the most different one. If he could have put aside his so-called pride and talked to her properly, things might have been different. But his self-love and arrogance prevented him from bowing his head, and in the end, he missed what might have been the only chance to win her heart.

He used to only know that hatred was endless, but he never thought that regret would be like this. He could even foresee the endless regret in the future.

He smiled bitterly to himself, almost grinding his teeth to powder, but he had to remain rational.

Song Qinian was in pain, unaware that Ji Mingzheng's heart was also filled with bitterness.

He can stand his ground against Song Qinian, but what about Wen Sheng?

In the future, will he and Wen Sheng compete for the emperor's favor? Will they fall out because of His Highness?

No, no, he and Wen Sheng would never do that.

He might be jealous of Song Qinian, but he would never be jealous of Wen Sheng.

He should be talking to Wen Sheng.

As for Tang Fei...

Just as Ji Mingzheng was thinking of Tang Fei, Song Qinian said, "Speaking of which, why does General Tang still come to see His Highness so often?"

The subtext was a sarcastic jab at Ji Mingzheng's incompetence, pointing out that he hadn't even resolved the Tang Fei issue yet.

Ji Mingzheng smiled: "General Tang is not some powerless nobody. If Consort Song doesn't like General Tang coming, why doesn't she ever say anything?"

Just as Song Qinian was about to retort, he suddenly heard laughter and conversation outside.

So he fell silent.

Today's confrontation with Ji Mingzheng can be described as a lose-lose situation for both sides.

But no matter what, it's a family matter.

They each represent different factions, and the status of the concubine is already set and cannot be changed.

They didn't want to add any more people.

Thus, the two who had just been at odds tacitly united on the same side.

They still understand the principle of pacifying both internal and external threats.

At this moment, Tang Fei, who was talking to Li Qingyan, suddenly felt a chill down his spine, but his attention was on Wen Sheng, so he didn't pay attention to it.

Wen Sheng quickly took his leave.

Wen Sheng had heard that Song Qinian was also there, and was worried that there might be a conflict between Ji Mingzheng and Song Qinian, which is why she was hesitant to ask for a meeting.

After confirming that there were no problems, he took his leave.

Li Qingyan could tell that he seemed preoccupied.

Ji Mingzheng was naturally more able to sense his friend's unusual behavior, and could even guess the reason.

So, as night fell, in the familiar night, Wen Sheng welcomed the familiar Ji Mingzheng.

"I got a bottle of good wine."

The two started off as usual, until after a few rounds of drinks, Ji Mingzheng finally spoke.

"I'm sorry, Wen Sheng."

Wen Sheng knew why he apologized: "No need to apologize. Actually, I also wanted to talk to you. I wanted to work harder so that all three of us could be happy, but it was a bit difficult. Fortunately, you found happiness through your own sincerity."

"I know you like His Highness, don't overthink it, just focus on pursuing your happiness." Wen Sheng said gently but with difficulty, "From now on, let's compete fairly. I don't think we'll fall out, right?"

After a long pause, he gave a low "hmm," and said, "It can't be that bad! It definitely can't be that bad."