Chapter 170: Resolution

Lin Qingyue's gaze shifted away from the Crown Prince and landed on Princess Ling Xue.

Suddenly, she let out a "pfft" of laughter.

At this moment, the banquet had been very quiet. Even Dongfang Qi was thinking about how to handle the situation that followed.

Therefore, her laugh seemed very abrupt, and it successfully attracted everyone's attention.

Princess Ling Xue asked with dissatisfaction, "I am speaking with Brother Qi, what are you laughing at?"

Lin Qingyue sipped her wine and said with a smile, "Our Qi Guo's Crown Prince is so popular; as a Prince of Qi Guo, I am naturally happy for him."

As she spoke, she winked at Dongfang Qi again: "Since the princesses of Feng Guo and Chu Guo are both fond of you, why not marry them all? There are also the 26 countries of the west and many countries in the south; I estimate there are quite a few princesses there too. Oh my, our Crown Prince truly has such good fortune! It is just a pity..."

"Pity what?" Princess Ling Xue asked.

Lin Qingyue sighed, looking as if she were worried for the Crown Prince: "It is a pity that there are too many princesses to marry into the family, but only one person can sit as the Crown Princess. And there is only one person who can be the future Imperial Grandson."

"Should you choose the one from Feng Guo, or the one from Chu Guo? Or perhaps one from the 26 western countries? Your Highness the Crown Prince, I feel troubled for you!"

Dongfang Qi immediately understood Lin Qingyue's intention, so he also feigned difficulty and said, "It is indeed very hard to choose; I do not know how to make a choice either."

Lin Qingyue said, "Why be troubled? Once all the princesses have arrived, let them gather together and fight it out; whoever wins, you choose her, how about that?"

Princess Ling Xue was instantly enraged: "Fight it out? Do you think this is cockfighting? How unreasonable! Don't think I don't know what you are planning! Why don't I have a match with you first, and whoever loses gets out of Qi Guo."

While speaking, she drew her silver whip and, with a *swish*, struck toward Lin Qingyue's face.

Before the whip could get close, its tail had already been caught by the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince's habitually gentle expression vanished, leaving only coldness in his eyes: "Under the eyes of everyone, you actually want to commit violence against a Prince of our Great Qi. Prince Ling Zhen, does your country wish to start a war?"

Ling Zhen had wanted to stop his sister the moment she swung the whip, but unfortunately, he was a step too late.

"Ling Xue, this is not the Imperial Palace of Feng Guo, you must not be presumptuous!" He snatched the whip away and dragged his sister back.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Prince Chaolan, I am truly sorry! My sister has been spoiled by the elders in our family since she was young. She did not mean to offend; we of Feng Guo have always loved peace and have absolutely no intention of provoking a war."

Ling Zhen apologized first, then turned to glare at Ling Xue: "Still not apologizing?"

Ling Xue gritted her teeth, looking unwilling to bow her head.

Ling Zhen lowered his voice and said, "Don't forget, you came here without permission! If you don't listen, Big Brother will send people to escort you back!"

In the end, Ling Xue held back tears and said aggrievedly, "I'm sorry, Brother Qi."

Dongfang Qi said, "You should apologize to Prince Chaolan."

"Brother Qi..." She gritted her teeth and then reluctantly said to Lin Qingyue, "I'm sorry."

Qi Zhaodi had been silent just now, mainly because he himself approved of the marriage alliance in his heart.

Besides Princess Ling Xue's status, it was also because he felt she had an outstanding appearance, a frank personality, and had spent a few days with Dongfang Qi when they were young.

If his own son could come to like Ling Xue and thereby open his heart and heal his hidden ailment.

That would be a perfect outcome.

Especially since a young girl's admiration is so fiery and beautiful; which man would not be moved?

So he had not interjected, letting the younger generation chat among themselves.

Who knew it would eventually develop into whipping someone; this exposed Ling Xue's arrogant and frivolous personality.

Even if Lin Qingyue had been disrespectful first, acting without regard for the occasion was a sign of poor breeding.

Such a woman, no matter how good her family background, was not suitable to be the mother of the nation in the future.

Thus, Qi Zhaodi, who saw through everything, revealed a kind and tolerant smile: "Princess Ling Xue is innocent and frank; what just happened must have been a joke. I will not take it to heart. Prince Ling Zhen, please do not blame her."

He raised his wine cup like an elder without ulterior motives and chuckled to smooth things over: "I toast the Prince and Princess; welcome to Qi Guo!"

—He naturally would not be harsh toward someone else's daughter. Maintaining harmony between the two countries was what he, as a monarch, ought to do.

Dongfang Qi took in Qi Zhaodi's expression, and the heart he had been holding in suspense finally settled.

Based on his understanding of his Imperial Father, he knew that his father had completely removed Princess Ling Xue from the list of candidates for Crown Princess.

On the other side, Dongfang Yan felt secretly disappointed:

Ling Xue really has no brains. As a princess, it doesn't matter how willful or arrogant she is in private, but in public, she doesn't even know how to put on a facade.

Provoked by Lin Qingyue with just a few words, she actually resorted to violence. She is simply stupid and could never accomplish great things.

By the time the banquet ended, it was nearly the Hour of the Rat.

Ling Xue and Ling Zhen were staying at the Honglu Temple, which was specifically for receiving foreign envoys.

Upon parting, Ling Zhen apologized to Dongfang Qi again: "My sister was just spoiled; if there was any offense, I hope Your Highness the Crown Prince will be magnanimous."

Dongfang Qi naturally would not be unforgiving: "It's just a small matter, it's nothing. Furthermore, my words just now were also a bit harsh; I hope the Prince will not take them to heart."

Ling Zhen said, "Not at all! My sister and I will be staying in your country for a few more days; I will have to trouble Your Highness the Crown Prince for your care."

Dongfang Qi had been assigned the task of reception from the beginning, so he naturally had to fulfill his duties as a host; his polite remarks at this moment were flawless.

Ling Xue, listening from the side, suddenly interjected: "Brother Qi, since you are responsible for receiving us, can you take Xue to tour Jingcheng? I heard there is a lantern festival in Jingcheng tomorrow night; can you accompany me to see it?"

"Xue, do not be presumptuous!" Ling Zhen scolded, "Although His Highness is responsible for receiving us, it is mainly to handle state affairs between the two countries; how would he have time to take you strolling?"

Dongfang Qi smiled and said, "If the Princess wishes to stroll through Jingcheng, I will arrange for people to accompany and guard you."

"Only guards, yet you are unwilling to accompany me yourself?" Ling Xue pouted, very dissatisfied, "You said you weren't angry with me, yet you won't even accompany me for a stroll."

Dongfang Qi said, "I ask for the Princess's forgiveness; the Prince and I still have many state affairs to attend to these two days, so I truly cannot spare the time."

This was not an excuse.

When Ling Zhen visited Qi Guo, he came with political missions. He had to inspect Qi Guo's commerce and military, and there were some matters of cooperation between the two countries to discuss.

Dongfang Qi naturally had to prioritize state affairs.

Of course, being annoyed by Ling Xue and unwilling to have too much contact with her was the main reason.