Nine out of ten gamblers lose; I've run into a jerk!

Chapter 21 The Weasel Living in the Melon Field

The system has been quiet lately, probably contemplating system life, and Shen Qing's life has returned to normal.

"Virtuous words".

Just as Jiang Se was about to step into Wenhan Pavilion, she heard a clear and melodious voice calling out. Turning around, she saw a handsome man in brocade robes and a jade belt, whose gloomy face was now tinged with a faint smile. "Your Highness Jingchuan."

Jingchuan, the third prince of Qi, came to Xuan as a hostage at the age of twelve. Now it has been almost four years. If he were favored, he would not have been assigned this job. They are both in the same boat and feel a sense of sympathy for each other.

"I heard from the palace servants that His Majesty has bestowed a title upon you. Congratulations!"

"I also wish Your Highness a speedy return to your country," Jiang Se returned the greeting.

Just then, a mood killer happened to pass by and chuckled. Suhe asked in a cooperative tone, "Why is Your Highness laughing?"

Que Qiong glanced at them, a mocking look on his face, "That beautiful Meng Jiang, whose virtuous words are unforgettable, is only thinking of the former Grand Attendant of the previous dynasty."

Jiang Se clenched her fists, her face becoming even more gloomy. Jing Chuan angrily pointed at Que Qiong, but before he could even start cursing, he was interrupted.

"So you're getting arrogant now? Do you really think that just because the Qi Kingdom sent an envoy, you have any hope of returning home? Are your brothers happy about that?"

"you!"

The three deadly questions in a row infuriated Jingchuan so much that he almost resorted to violence again.

"What are you all doing blocking the doorway! Come in and start class!"

Que Qiong snorted coldly and turned away, while Su Xueshi's roar stopped a fight.

"So, what teacher doesn't go crazy?" Shen Qing sighed as she followed the crowd into the Wenhan Pavilion, asking as she walked, "What did the Third Prince mean by that?"

Lin Chisu, the granddaughter of the Grand Historian, explained: "In the previous dynasty, there was an emperor's concubine who died young. Because he missed her so much, he took her brother into the palace to keep her company."

Holy crap! Que Qiong's swearing is so sophisticated; you really can't understand it without some knowledge of romance and history.

"What's wrong with Prince Jingchuan?"

“I’ve heard about this,” the Fourth Princess joined the chat group. “When Qi was defeated and signed the alliance, Father Emperor asked for a hostage to be sent over. None of the princes of Qi were willing to come, so Emperor Qi had no choice but to bring out Jingchuan from the Cold Palace.”

Damn it, that dog emperor is no human being. He didn't enjoy any of the good fortune, but he has to take the blame for everything.

"Emperor Qi probably knew he was being unfair, or perhaps he wanted to give Jingchuan more weight as a hostage, so he announced that he would make Jingchuan the crown prince once he returned to the country."

Tsk tsk~ What a huge pie! Back then, nobody wanted to be a hostage, so the princes naturally had no objections. Now, times have changed, and if Jingchuan can return to the country safely, he'll be on a meteoric rise. No wonder Que Qiong said his brothers didn't want him to go back.

This is definitely the male lead template! Emperor Zulong was also a hostage back then. Young man, I have high hopes for you!

Wait, Shen Qing suddenly realized that if Jing Chuan really had the script of the First Emperor, wouldn't he be swept away by the Six Harmonies?

Jiang Se skipped class, which was unusual for her, by the lake in the Imperial Garden, even though it was a self-study period.

He had been squatting there, looking at his reflection in the water, for a long time. He had heard similar things Que Qiong had said countless times since he was a child. His mother and sister had humiliated him when he was young, and all kinds of slander and abuse were commonplace.

After he turned ten, they started targeting him personally, looking at him with disgusting and filthy eyes. If it weren't for his sister's favor, he would have ended up in a terrible state. After all, as an illegitimate child without a name or status, he would have no one to stand up for him when he was bullied.

His sister secured him the opportunity to study at the palace, hoping he would learn skills to integrate into the elite class, but no matter how well he did in his studies, it was all in vain.

Jiang Se picked up a sharp stone and held it to her face, thinking that destroying it would save her a lot of trouble.

Suddenly, a slender hand pressed down on his arm. Jiang Se looked up and met a pair of clear, starry eyes.

Le An reached out and took the stone from Jiang Se's hand, saying, "Being good-looking is an advantage. Does anyone actually like ugly people?"

"The county princess comes from a noble family, I don't understand."

“Thirty-seven years ago, when the world was not in chaos, the Que family was just a third-rate family, while your mother came from a first-rate family. Your mother’s family had been prosperous for hundreds of years, while the Que family had only been rising in power for thirty years. Who was more noble than whom?”

"In terms of academics, who do you lose to in the Six Arts of a Gentleman? Their mockery of you is only because they know they are no match for you. They can't do anything to you through legitimate means, so they seize on some flaws and magnify them hundreds of times. They are just trying to confuse you and make you fall into self-doubt and lead you to self-destruction."

"Deyin, do not be blinded by a leaf and underestimate yourself. Your father is the Marquis of Wu'an, your sister is a Jieyu, your nephew is a prince and will be a prince in the future, and you yourself are both literate and martial. Why should you worry about not being able to achieve great things?"

Jiang Se's eyes gradually brightened. He had been too attached to appearances. Even Que Qiong could only talk a good game now. He was no longer penniless.

In the distance, Shen Qing was perched on the artificial hill, eating melon seeds. Tsk tsk, no wonder Jiang Se was so devoted to Le An, she's definitely the heroine of a redemption novel!

"Shen Qingxi, what are you doing?"

"Shh~ You have melon."

Ding Min was puzzled, but seeing Shen Qing's furtive behavior, she also quietly climbed up the artificial hill and poked half her head out.

"Thank you, Princess," Jiang Se said, her heart at ease. "Why are you so kind to me, Princess?"

"Because I like it."

Jiang Se's face flushed red instantly. She was flustered and stammered, "I...I..."

"I like doing good deeds."

"……Oh."

Shen Qing was watching the emotional tug-of-war between the young man and woman when he heard a gasp. Turning his head, he saw that the Fourth Princess had also climbed up at some point and was watching with great interest.

"..." At this moment, everyone is like a badger in a melon field.

Looking at the Fourth Princess's innocent and carefree appearance, Shen Qing never imagined that she would be such a vicious person who tricked her cousin into a marriage alliance for her.

Did she know that Le'an and Jiang Se were in love in her previous life? At least she knows now, so would she still be able to do such a despicable thing in the future?

However, he could understand. As the saying goes, "better to die than to die for yourself." The Fourth Princess might not be bad; she was just simply selfish.

Le'an is a good girl. Perhaps he, like a butterfly, can flap his wings and help this young couple become a couple.

Looking at Ding Min, who was clenching her fists excitedly, her eyes showed a firm determination.

"You're not going to get inspired to flirt with Song Ziyan, are you?" Shen Qing had seen it all, so how could he not guess what the young girl was thinking?

Ding Min didn't understand what "flirting" meant, but that didn't stop her from getting the idea. Her face flushed slightly, and she tilted her chin up: "Hmph~ Is that not allowed?"

Shen Qing wanted to say, "Girl, give up. He doesn't like your type." But then she thought of how Song Yuan liked gentle and quiet girls like the original owner in his first life, and female generals who fought on the battlefield in his second life. People's tastes change.

Perhaps if he flapped his butterfly wings, Song Yuan's fate would change?

So Shen Qing patted Ding Min on the shoulder and encouraged her, "Go for it bravely!"

"What nonsense are you spouting again?" Ding Min said angrily, slapping Shen Qing's hand away and jumping off the artificial hill to flee in panic.