Chapter 209

Dongfang Qingxuan unconsciously narrowed his eyes, looking at Mu Qingrou before him, feeling that he had previously underestimated her

You help me so much, what benefits do you want?

Mu Qingrou's eyelashes fluttered, and unbidden the image of that peerlessly charming man surfaced in her mind; a look of obsession appeared in the depths of her eyes.

Crown Prince, Qingrou wishes to marry the National Master in the future, and also hopes the Crown Prince will lend Qingrou a hand!

Dongfang Qingxuan stared, never expecting Mu Qingrou's ambition to be so great.

Being the woman of the National Master is no easy task.

So that's why I need the Crown Prince's help.

Even the Father Emperor shows the National Master three points of deference; how can I help you?

Mu Qingrou gave a cold smile, "This world will eventually be yours, Crown Prince; no matter how exalted the National Master, he remains your subject. As the saying goes: 'If the ruler demands a subject's death, the subject cannot refuse.' Once you become the emperor of Donglin, won't you still be able to control the National Master?"

Those words greatly satisfied Dongfang Qingxuan's vanity.

To speak frankly, My Palace has long disliked Father Emperor's servile attitude toward the National Master. Once My Palace ascends the throne, I will surely purge the court!

A flash of sharp light crossed Mu Qingrou's eyes.

Thus, excellent!

……

In the back garden, Xia Zhimeng wanted to take Ye Qingran away, but was stopped by Dongfang Xuan.

Xia Zhimeng's face darkened, she narrowed her eyes, "Seventh Prince, what are you doing?"

Dongfang Xuan, having just received a glance from Dongfang Qingxuan, now sneered, "What are you doing? Ye Qingran is seducing my imperial brother, intending to just walk away?"

What?!

Xia Zhimeng felt as if she had heard the biggest joke.

Her sister Ran is seducing Dongfang Qingxuan?

"Are you crazy? My sister Ran isn't blind!" With that one sentence, she cursed two people.

Dongfang Xuan, his face contorted with rage, snapped, "Xia Zhimeng, you have the gall to insult the Imperial Clan!"

"Not hitting you is already giving you face!" Xia Zhimeng clenched her fists, wishing she could smash Dongfang Xuan's head with a single punch.

"Seventh Prince, even though you're of the Imperial Clan, you can't just spout blood, can you?" Gu Dongliu unfolded his folding fan with a 'whoosh', his charming smile hiding a hint of coldness.

"Gu Dongliu, you ungrateful wretch! My imperial brother treats you so well, yet you speak up for Ye Qingran? You have the heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog!"

Does he treat him well?

Gu Dongliu gave a disdainful smile.

Isn't it all for that position?

He didn't want to refute anything.

At that moment, Dongfang Qingxuan and Mu Qingrou returned, one after the other.

"Huanhuan, are you alright?"

Ye Huanhuan's face was swollen; she lifted her gaze to the gentle-eyed Dongfang Qingxuan before her, and tears streamed down, "Qingxuan brother…"

Dongfang Qingxuan recalled what Mu Qingrou had just said to him, and forced out an apologetic expression.

"Huanhuan, I misunderstood you just now! I apologize! Can you forgive me? I promise I won't do this again."

Ye Huanhuan felt a surge of emotion.

"Qingxuan brother, I don't blame you; it's all because of Ye Qingran!"

"Yes, it's all because of her! If she hadn't intentionally or unintentionally seduced me, I wouldn't have made today's mistake."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shi and the others' expressions shifted from grief and anger to delight.

"Ye Qingran, I said it—how could the Crown Prince brother take a liking to you? It turns out you've been seducing him all along! You're truly a shameless, lowly slut!" Dongfang Ling'er was the first to curse.

"Ye Qingran, the Crown Prince himself admitted you seduced him—what else do you have to say?" Mu Qingrou stared at Ye Qingran with a cold smile.

"You really are a fox spirit! I said I couldn't possibly have wronged you! As the saying goes, like mother, like daughter—you and your mother are equally shameless! Equally lowly!"

……

"Xing Er." Ye Qingran called out lazily. Han Xing understood instantly, flashed forward, lunging at Zhao Shi and delivering a heavy slap to her mouth!

Slap slap slap slap~~~~

The crisp sounds rang nonstop; Zhao Shi, struck by the fan, felt dizzy and saw stars, her hair disheveled, several teeth knocked out.

"Ye Qingran, quickly call off your servant!"

Dongfang Qingxuan shouted to stop.

Ye Qingran sneered, "Insulting a martyr, according to Donglin law, should be punished by death; having someone teach Zhao Yi Niang's mouth a lesson is already quite merciful."

……

Dongfang Qingxuan couldn't refute. The only one to blame is Zhao Shi for not only scolding Ye Qingran but also Yun Sui Feng. He could only watch helplessly as Zhao Shi was beaten like a drowned dog.

Xia Zhimeng and the others felt no sympathy. Who made her mouth so cheap?

Ye Qingran glanced at Dongfang Qingxuan, curled the corner of her lip, her eyes filled with sarcasm.

"Crown Prince, you weren't saying that just now."

Dongfang Qingxuan averted his gaze, looked elsewhere, and said without blushing or racing heart, "That's because you deliberately seduced My Palace; My Palace was momentarily bewitched."

"Not bad, I was there too—indeed Ye Qingran seduced the Crown Prince."

"I can testify that Ye Qingran seduced the Crown Prince first. After all, Ye Qingran is the Xiliang Cheng First Beauty; if she intentionally seduces, few can resist."

"The Crown Prince is innocent…"

……

The noble youths invited by Dongfang Qingxuan all rose to his support. Conversely, Ye Qingran's side was left isolated and helpless.

"You're all in cahoots—who are you saying this for?" Xia Zhimeng shouted in rebuttal.

"Gu Huanghou has arrived!" The excited male duck's voice rang through everyone's ears.

The crowd couldn't help but turn pale.

As the words fell, a bright yellow figure entered through the Moon Gate, surrounded by attendants, exuding extraordinary nobility.

The people hurried to welcome the arrival.

"What's going on? Why all this commotion?"

Gu Huanghou smiled faintly as she walked inside, her gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Someone gave her a brief explanation of the situation.

"Oh? Ye Qingran, is it really as they said?"

Gu Huanghou stared intently at Ye Qingran, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

Ye Qingran's lips curled slightly, "I came at the Crown Prince's invitation; I don't know why they say I was lured."

"If it was an invitation, is there a formal summons?"

"No, it was a verbal invitation from the Crown Prince."

"Verbal invitation?" Gu Huanghou raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise, "Invitations from the Crown Prince Residence, big or small, always come with a summons. That's the rule; you wouldn't be unaware of that, Ye Qingran, would you?"

Having said that, Gu Huanghou turned her gaze to Dongfang Qingxuan, "Crown Prince, did you ever verbally invite Ye Qingran to the residence?"

Dongfang Qingxuan shook his head, "I have not. For tonight's banquet, I only invited a few friends. I also don't know why Ye Qingran came. But a guest is a guest, so I didn't refuse. I didn't expect her…"

As he spoke, Dongfang Qingxuan gave a signal to his friends, who promptly had their attendants produce a summons.

Gu Huanghou smiled at Ye Qingran, "Look, everyone at tonight's banquet has a summons; why do you alone not have one, Ye Qingran?"

"Perhaps you need to ask the Crown Prince," Ye Qingran replied calmly.

"Ask the Crown Prince? Ye Qingran, I think you just came uninvited!"

"Indeed, even I have my elder brother's summons. Ye Qingran, what do you think your status is, that you can attend the Crown Prince Residence banquet without a summons?" Dongfang Xuan clenched his own summons, his expression fierce.

At this point, how could Xia Zhimeng and the others still not know that Ye Qingran was set up by the Crown Prince? He probably had already prepared for the worst, fearing exposure, and deliberately withheld Ye Qingran's summons.

Now there's no room for anyone to argue.

Xia Zhimeng watched Ye Qingran anxiously, but saw her completely unruffled, and couldn't help thinking, "The emperor truly is impatient!"

"Ye Qingran, this matter has become so big today; you will likely bear the blame!" Gu Huanghou's mouth twitched, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

"According to Gu Huanghou, what does it mean?"

"Trespassing into the Crown Prince Residence, attempting to lure the Crown Prince before his wedding—that's a grave crime! Bring the men!" Gu Huanghou's gaze sharpened, her voice rose an octave, tinged with excitement.

Ye Qingran finally fell into her own trap!

Thinking about it, it's especially satisfying!

Hearing Gu Huanghou's words, Ye Huanhuan and the others became especially excited.

At the Empress's command, numerous royal guards immediately surrounded Ye Qingran.

At that moment, a cold, husky voice sounded, making everyone's spine stiff.