Chapter 96: Don't Stir Up Trouble

Since you want to watch the dance, why bother watching those you've already seen too many times?

Let's start with Xiao!

When the zither player saw this line of notation, he was stunned on the spot, but reacted swiftly, quickly catching up to the tempo.

Although Jiao Qingyun wore a long skirt, she executed splits and even more difficult maneuvers with no trace of awkwardness.

Watching her dance gracefully at the center of the stage, her entire body radiating murderous intent, the crowd's eyes widened in utter disbelief.

Even the queen's gaze carried a trace of envy.

Let alone the other girls, and some of the princes, their gazes seemed glued to him.

After the song ended, Jiao Qingyun stood in the center of the grand hall and curtsied to the emperor. "Your Majesty, your servant has finished dancing."

Only then did the crowd regain their senses, realizing that Jiao Qingyun's breathtaking figure had completely captivated them all.

The emperor was the first to praise her. The queen, moreover, because of the emperor, grew even more curious about Jiao Qingyun's demeanor, yet who could have imagined that in her heart she had long since been itching with hatred.

Watching Jiao Qingyun take her seat, her heart felt even more complicated.

Yet the one who suffered most was Jiao Qingyun. After the dance, even more gazes turned toward her, so she hurriedly tried to find a way to take Qingluo out first.

"Miss, why are you in such a hurry? Did you eat something bad?"

After emerging from the toilet, Jiao Qingyun let out a long breath and sighed helplessly, "Didn't you notice that many people are staring at me? To avoid being devoured alive, I definitely need to escape first!"

With that, the master and servant walked slowly, step by step, toward the direction of the banquet.

For them, only after coming out could they truly breathe a long sigh of relief.

"Miss, it seems this Bu girl really wants to target you."

"I don't even know why he wanted to enter the Crown Prince's Mansion, so he did. It's none of my business. As a result, he occupied my courtyard and acted as if I had bullied him."

The angrier Jiao Qingyun grew the more she thought, and in her heart she nailed Yuan Zaichun to the pillar of shame as a scumbag.

Who wouldn't hope that their own woman wasn't driven out?

Thinking it over from every angle, it did make sense. Yuan Zaichun's deep affection for Bu Shenglian probably wasn't something ordinary people could compare to, right?

"Jiao Miss?"

Just as the master and servant were about to enter the banquet hall, a call suddenly came from behind.

The woman's footsteps halted, and she turned to look, discovering it was the Fourth Prince!

"Paying respects to the Fourth Prince."

Jiao Qingyun curtsied obediently. Beside her, Qingluo, although she already knew this Fourth Prince was no good, still saluted when it was time to do so.

The Fourth Prince sized up Jiao Qingyun from head to toe. Under the moonlight, this woman in a bright red dress appeared even more enchanting and alluring, and those bewitching eyes could make one's heart flutter.

"Jiao Miss, do you still remember this palace?"

Jiao Qingyun felt a wave of nausea in her heart, yet on her face she kept her composure and began to spout nonsense.

"Of course I remember. How is the Fourth Prince's health these days?"

After all, the first meeting had nearly killed the Fourth Prince with an asthma attack.

Upon receiving Jiao Qingyun's answer, the Fourth Prince seemed very satisfied, his lips curving slightly upward. He opened a white paper fan with one hand and gently fanned himself, his three thousand strands of black hair swaying in the wind, adding an even freer and more unrestrained air.

"I didn't expect Ninth Brother to be so wasteful. Having such a beauty by his side and still wanting to return to his old ways."

Jiao Qingyun: Damn it!

Which pot doesn't open which pot. Indeed, the mending technique is strongest, and each one in the imperial family is capable of it!

One better than the next at topping people. The previous Yuan Zaichun would have thrown her back to the graveyard for the slightest disagreement, but now the Fourth Prince didn't look like a good match either.

"Is the Fourth Prince joking with this servant?"

The woman deliberately stepped back one pace to create distance from the Fourth Prince. After all, this was their territory; who knew what might happen?

The Fourth Prince sized her up again, his mouth twitching, a bewitching aura radiating from his body as he stepped closer and closer. Qingluo instinctively blocked in front of Jiao Qingyun.

"Fourth Prince, please restrain yourself!" Ah!

With that, Qingluo was pushed by the Fourth Prince's hand and fell onto the rockery nearby.

"Qingluo!"

Jiao Qingyun exclaimed in shock, rushing forward to pull her up. Who knew that the next second she was pulled into his arms by the Fourth Prince.

No matter how she struggled, the Fourth Prince's arm was like an iron clamp, firmly locking her in place!

"Release me! Let go!"

The Fourth Prince smiled triumphantly. "Jiao Miss, it's better for you to accept your fate now. Although you have been married, with your abilities, even if he bestows you the title of side consort, your father would not object."

"This charming little person, I really can't bear to let you suffer. Come with this palace; I guarantee you will eat the finest delicacies and drink the best wines!"

"Get away from me!"

The strength that had been suppressed by Jiao Qingyun almost exploded at once. She suddenly pushed him away with great force and immediately ran to Qingluo's side.

Looking down, Qingluo's hand was bleeding profusely from being cut by the stone. One glance was enough to make her unable to bear looking directly.

"Qingluo, does it hurt?"

"Miss, let's leave quickly."

Qingluo looked at Jiao Qingyun with tears in her eyes, her gaze misty and blurry, sinking Jiao Qingyun's heart like a heavy weight.

This Fourth Prince had long harbored evil intentions toward her; now she could only run!

Thinking this, Jiao Qingyun and Qingluo exchanged a glance and immediately ran toward the side.

But because she was holding back a sick person, the Fourth Prince quickly reached Jiao Qingyun's side. Just as he was about to do something, a cold shout came from behind.

"Stop!"

Jiao Qingyun's body trembled. She turned her head in disbelief and saw it was Yuan Zaichun!

"Crown Prince?"

The Fourth Prince frowned tightly, his mockery unchanged, "Didn't you abandon her? Why are you here now acting like a hero saving a beauty?"

Qingluo still blocked Jiao Qingyun's front, knowing she might get hurt, but she didn't retreat in the slightest.

Yuan Zaichun quickly stepped forward, looked Jiao Qingyun up and down, confirmed she wasn't injured, and only then did his heart relax slightly.

Although he didn't know why he cared so much about this woman.

"Today is the Hundred Flowers Banquet. Do you want the Mother Empress to speak with your mother-in-law? Or what? Fourth Brother, when doing things, leave some room. Her father is a first-rank meritorious official of our dynasty and has already died. Are you still going to force his daughter?"

This big hat was dropped, stunning the Fourth Prince on the spot.

Yes, if he bullied the daughter of a meritorious minister at this time, he would be reprimanded by the emperor.

"Crown Prince, you were the one who wronged her first. This palace can bestow her the position of side consort, which also gives her a place for the rest of her life. Otherwise, whom would she rely on?"