Chapter 250: Time Is Running Out?

"Oh, rare guest! Isn't this the former Crown Princess Miss Ye?"

Dongfang Yu smiled half‑heartedly, and his tone was clearly mocking.

Ye Huanhuan clenched the hand in her sleeve tightly. She knew she had previously despised the Fourth Prince, even speaking rudely to him in public.

"Huanhuan has seen the Fourth Prince (His Highness)!" Ye Huanhuan rose and performed a formal bow toward him.

A cold glint flashed in Dongfang Yu's eyes.

"What are you looking for me for? Have you finally decided to spend a night with My Palace?"

Dongfang Yu's lecherous smile made Ye Huanhuan feel nauseous; she forced herself to endure the discomfort and said, "I am nowhere near worthy of the Fourth Prince (His Highness) now. Today I have come to seek a partnership with you."

Dongfang Yu raised an eyebrow, "Partnership?"

Ye Huanhuan nodded lightly, "Hasn't the Fourth Prince (His Highness) been coveting Ye Qingran for a long time?"

At the mention of Ye Qingran, Dongfang Yu couldn't help but recall the unparalleled figure at the Mid‑Autumn Palace banquet—a sight that could topple a city with one glance, and a nation with another!

Seeing his reaction, Ye Huanhuan knew the fish had already taken the bait!

Brimming with confidence, Ye Huanhuan left the Yu Prince's Residence and hurried straight to the Crown Prince Residence.

Dongfang Qingxuan watched Ye Huanhuan, unable to hide the disgust in his eyes as rumors of her streaking swirled outside. If not for lingering feelings from the past, he wouldn't even want to see her!

Dongfang Qingxuan's reaction pricked Ye Huanhuan's eyes. Yet thinking that after tomorrow she would be inextricably linked with this man, she clenched her teeth and endured in silence.

"Crown Prince, Ye Qingran has already become involved with National Master, you have no hope!"

Dongfang Qingxuan was both shocked and angry to hear Ye Huanhuan say that.

However, he knew Ye Huanhuan was speaking the truth!

"If you want to obtain her, you must act at once! At the very least, strike before National Master proposes marriage to Ye Qingran!"

"National Master is about to propose marriage to Ye Qingran?"

Ye Huanhuan gave no reply, as if she consented.

Dongfang Qingxuan's complexion turned extremely sour.

Ye Qingran can only belong to him, Dongfang Qingxuan!

"What are you thinking?"

"The Crown Prince cannot obtain Ye Qingran's heart for now, but acquiring her body is still feasible."

Dongfang Qingxuan's eyes flashed. Ye Huanhuan was not wrong. Ye Qingran is still angry at him; if he secured her body, her heart would soon submit to him, wouldn't it?

"What method do you have?"

Ye Huanhuan gave a cold smile and outlined her plan…

After leaving the Crown Prince Residence and boarding a carriage, Ye Huanhuan's personal maid asked, "Miss, how is everything progressing?"

Ye Huanhuan's lips curled into a determined smile.

"The Crown Princess position will ultimately be mine, Ye Huanhuan!"

The next morning, Ye Qingran received an invitation.

The invitation, sent from the Crown Prince Residence, asked her to attend the Elegant Gathering at Mingyue Fang the following day.

Ye Qingran had someone investigate; the Elegant Gathering was organized for Ling Qingwu and other Xuan Yuan Sword Sect disciples, and the distinguished young masters and ladies of Xiliang City were all invited.

Ye Qingran toyed with the invitation for a moment, raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's the situation with Ye Huanhuan?"

Han Xing gave a cold smile, "Ye Huanhuan secretly slipped into the Fourth Prince's Residence yesterday, stayed for half an hour, and after leaving took a detour to the Crown Prince Residence."

Ye Qingran smiled and nodded slowly.

She seemed to know what Ye Huanhuan was planning and sneered, "This Elegant Gathering looks like a Hongmen Banquet!"

"Miss, this Ye Huanhuan is downright malicious; I'd rather kill her outright!" Upon hearing Ye Huanhuan's name, Leng Yue clenched her teeth in fury.

Ye Qingran shook her head, "That's too lenient for her!"

Han Xing also agreed, "Miss endured so much hardship before; killing her outright would indeed be too easy for her!"

"Then what shall we do?"

Ye Qingran pondered for a moment, then whispered a few instructions to Han Xing and Leng Yue.

The two's eyes brightened, revealing malicious smiles.

The next day, before noon, a line of luxurious carriages halted before Mingyue Fang. From them emerged only the splendidly dressed young masters and ladies, all renowned figures in Xiliang City.

Mingyue Fang is an elegant venue, the favored subsidiary of refinement for the city's noble youths. Here one can admire flowers and the moon, compose poetry, sing, play music, paint, or watch theatrical duels.

The common folk gazed at the procession and couldn't help but show envious expressions.

When Ye Qingran arrived at Mingyue Fang, most of the guests had already gathered.

Ling Qingwu and Dongfang Qingxuan were making small talk when Ling's peripheral glance caught Ye Qingran. His eyes flashed with a hint of lust. She, still as breathtakingly beautiful as ever, left his mouth dry. A woman of such beauty must be soul‑stirring when she sleeps; the thought of soon possessing her completely set his heart racing.

"Qingran, you're here."

Dongfang Qingxuan stepped forward; his splendid attire made him appear even more poised and handsome, and he offered Ye Qingran a warm, elegant smile.

It was a world apart from his previous cold aloofness.

"Crown Prince." Ye Qingran replied coolly.

Ling Qingwu said, "Miss Ye's swordsmanship truly impressed me. It's a pity, though—I fear we may never see it again."

Ye Qingran, surprised, replied, "How could it be hard to see? Has Miss Ling contracted some terminal illness, with little time left?"

Ling Qingwu's face darkened.

Was Ye Qingran deliberately misinterpreting her words?

Dongfang Qingxuan, trying to smooth things over, said, "Senior Sister Ling means that they will return to the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect in two days, so future meetings will be scarce, and naturally they won't get to witness your swordsmanship!"

Speaking of swordsmanship, an unusual gleam flashed in Dongfang Qingxuan's eyes. He had to admit that Ye Qingran's defeat of Ling Qingwu both astonished him and strengthened his resolve to obtain her.

Ye Qingran finally nodded in realization, "Oh, that's how it is. Ling Miss said it so frighteningly, I thought you had caught some strange illness!"

Dongfang Qingxuan certainly didn't want Ye Qingran to offend Ling Qingwu and ruin his plans, so he raised his voice: "Today we've gathered everyone together; on one hand, to give my senior sister Ling Qingwu of the sword sect and fellow disciples a welcome feast, and on the other, to invite everyone to spar a bit."

As his words fell, a burst of cheers rose up.

"I've heard that the Ye family's eldest miss, Ye Qingran, is the daughter of the Dingyuan Marquis, endowed with both virtue and talent, skilled in music; surely her poetry, lyrics, songs, and rhapsodies are likewise no problem?"

A voice rang out amid the clamor, causing the previously lively atmosphere to freeze instantly.

The crowd followed the sound and saw that the speaker was that female disciple of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect; seeing her stern brows and composed expression, they instantly understood the situation.

The news of Ling Qingwu's defeat to Ye Qingran on the Xuanwu Platform has been spreading wildly these past few days. Ye Qingran stepped on Ling Qingwu's body, washing away the name of trash, while Ling Qingwu consequently suffered endless ridicule.

Not only Ling Qingwu herself, but the reputation of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect will also be affected! Therefore, these sword sect disciples cannot simply let it go.

Looks like Ye Qingran is in for a rough time today!