I'm Competing With The Male Lead For A Woman - Chapter 32

Although the atmosphere in the hall was somewhat strange, it didn’t affect the two people hiding in the corner of the building at all.

On the third floor of the Yanyu Pavilion, the guests and the girls had already dressed and gone down to the ground floor to watch the excitement.

The two of them bypassed the corner and quietly walked to the place hidden by a bamboo curtain. The hanging curtain obscured their figures, making it impossible for people outside the curtain to see them.

These two were Xiao Jin and Chu Shao.

Ever since Xiao Jin had tapped the latter with her fist, Chu Shao had stopped trying to explore Xiao Jin’s secrets.

After seriously considering Xiao Jin’s suggestion, Chu Shao actually agreed happily. She decided to observe the situation and act like a ruler listening to court affairs behind a screen, hiding inside the bamboo curtain to watch.

However, Chu Shao still had no intention of untying the silk ribbon for Xiao Jin.

But at the same time as she put away the box of “Chunshankong,” she carried the other person into the bamboo curtain.

Their breaths were close. Chu Shao also picked up a chair from the side and placed Xiao Jin firmly on it.

Looking at Xiao Jin, who was sitting on the chair with her hands bound and her face clouded, Chu Shao smiled. She felt that the other person’s appearance at this moment was indeed very docile.

And it was the kind of reluctant obedience that came from suppressed anger.

In fact, Chu Shao was overthinking it.

Xiao Jin was not angry because she was already numb. Moreover, listening to the commotion downstairs, Su Tan seemed to be even worse off than her.

So, comparatively, she was only publicly embarrassed in front of Chu Shao, while Su Tan was truly in a difficult situation and publicly embarrassed in front of everyone.

However, one thing was indeed tricky.

Because Su Tan was now sitting in the wheelchair that she was sitting in just now.

Although this wheelchair was only replaced by Xiao Jin after she arrived at Fengyang City. The bamboo sections were also very common green bamboo, not the purple bamboo wheelchair she usually used.

The purpose was naturally to cover her tracks so that others would not associate the completely paralyzed Prince of Yan with an ordinary green bamboo wheelchair.

But just now on the ninth floor, Bai Zheng had already met Su Tan, and she also knew that this wheelchair belonged to her, not to Su Tan.

With Bai Zheng’s intelligence and vigilance, she would definitely notice the anomaly.

However, it was unexpected.

Xiao Jin was quietly listening to the commotion downstairs and found that Bai Zheng not only deliberately helped Su Tan get out of the situation but also actively provided an opportunity for her to save face.

This is so unbelievable. Could it be that Bai Zheng and Su Tan also have some connection?

Downstairs, the crowd was dense, and no one spoke. Everyone stared at the three people in the center of the hall, really not understanding what play this was.

The Fourth Prince frowned as he looked at Su Tan, trying to see something from her face.

But he saw that the other person was neither humble nor arrogant. Even sitting in a wheelchair, she was open and composed, seemingly fearless.

In fact, the purpose of his trip had already been achieved. If he stopped now, the worst that would happen was that the Emperor of Qi would scold him a couple of times.

Logically, it was time to leave.

But the Fourth Prince always felt that something about Xiao Jin had changed. Ever since the marriage snatching incident, the person’s actions had become more and more unpredictable.

Since he could get information from the Dali Temple, Xiao Jin was not stupid and would definitely know some information as well.

With Xiao Jin’s vengeful nature, if someone secretly plotted against him, he would definitely get revenge. Therefore, regarding the assassination, the Fourth Prince was certain that Xiao Jin would not let the matter rest easily.

Thinking of this, the Fourth Prince shifted his gaze and looked up at the layers of the building.

He had a hunch that Xiao Jin was currently hiding in one of the private rooms, lurking in the dark and observing everything.

“Thump, thump—”

Bai Zheng watched coldly as the Fourth Prince raised his hand and tapped the table with his knuckles. He seemed to be thinking about something.

But she never cared about what Xiao Yi was thinking. She just wanted to hurry up and drive this person out of the Yanyu Pavilion.

After tapping the table three times, the Fourth Prince stopped his actions and shook his head. “She’s not the person I’m looking for.”

Bai Zheng was silent for a moment. She began to rudely chase him away. “Fourth Prince, my Yanyu Pavilion is clean. Even if you search the entire Yanyu Pavilion, you won’t find the person you’re looking for.”

The Fourth Prince laughed. “I don’t intend to disturb Miss Bai’s business, but since this concerns my Third Brother’s assassination, I must be careful.”

Bai Zheng glanced at the Fourth Prince. “Your Highness has already searched the building. How much more careful do you need to be?”

“Miss Bai is wrong. Even a perfect plan can have a loophole.”

The Fourth Prince looked at Bai Zheng and said slowly, “The guards at my estate are very careless. If they miss an assassin who tried to harm my Third Brother, how can I face my Third Brother, and how can I explain it to my Father?”

When this was said, even Xiao Jin, who was watching the show upstairs, couldn’t help but frown slightly.

She thought, you keep saying “Third Brother.” Someone who doesn’t know better would think that the original owner is very close to you.

In the original novel, although the original owner didn’t have many scenes, Xiao Jin had been in the book for so long and could tell that the relationship between the second male lead and the original owner was not good.

It wasn’t that it wasn’t good. It was that they were completely unfamiliar with each other.

When people were around, they could barely be considered to be on good terms. When no one was around, they probably wouldn’t even bother to greet each other.

So, there was no need to force a connection.

However, the Fourth Prince’s desire to cling to Xiao Jin was very strong. Even when he came to the Yanyu Pavilion to cause trouble, he had to use the excuse of tracking down the real culprit. “Miss Bai, after all, your Yanyu Pavilion has guests coming and going every day. It’s inevitable that it’s a mix of good and bad people. You don’t know who is mixed in here.”

The Fourth Prince didn’t look old, but his words were very sharp.

With just one sentence, he offended all the “distinguished guests” present.

The guests all glared at him. If it weren’t for the fact that the Fourth Prince was the son of the Emperor of Qi, they would probably have rushed up and cursed at him on the spot.

Bai Zheng felt that the Fourth Prince’s words were inconsistent. It was as if he was deliberately trying to offend everyone in the building. He really had some kind of problem.

She immediately said, “Then what else does Your Highness want? Are you going to send people to tear down my Yanyu Pavilion?”

The Fourth Prince said slowly, “Miss Bai, please calm down. I don’t intend to do anything to your building. It’s just that I want to personally lead the people to search it.”

Bai Zheng glanced at Su Tan, who was sitting in the wheelchair. She took a deep breath and said, “Your Highness’s actions are completely disregarding the laws of Great Qi! I have already sent people to report to the authorities. The soldiers will arrive soon. I hope Your Highness will still be able to justify yourself and speak reasonably in front of the soldiers.”

The Fourth Prince raised his eyebrows. He hadn’t expected that old stubborn Minister Bai would actually have such a clever daughter.

However, the water in the Yanyu Pavilion was very murky. He could step into it, but the Dali Temple might not have the courage.

Thinking of this, the Fourth Prince laughed.

He stood up, tidied his clothes, and then said very arrogantly, “It is only right and proper for me to be eager to protect my brother, and it is absolutely reasonable.”

After he finished speaking, he gestured to the steward beside him. “Old Wang, follow me to search. I don’t believe that this building can make a person disappear.”

Seeing the guards downstairs getting ready to go, it seemed like they would immediately rush up the stairs and turn the Yanyu Pavilion upside down.

Chu Shao stood behind the bamboo curtain and said to Xiao Jin with a smile, “Your Highness, they’re coming soon. Do you have any brilliant ideas?”

Xiao Jin’s heart was numb because Chu Shao’s words were full of anticipation, almost written on her face.

However, she was not panicking either. After all, in the original novel, the Yanyu Pavilion had backing. According to the current development, the Fourth Prince was inexplicably going crazy, and someone had to come and stop him.

So she sat calmly on the chair and mysteriously said one word: “Wait.”

Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin, who was trapped between the chair. She really couldn’t think of what the other person could do at this moment.

A white peony that was coveted by others. Since she couldn’t walk, and her hands were tied with a silk ribbon, where else could she escape to?

It had to be said that Chu Shao was very much looking forward to what unexpected actions Xiao Jin would take.

So she smiled slightly and asked softly, “What are you waiting for?”

Xiao Jin put on the demeanor of a big shot. Like all the riddle-solvers, she said indifferently, “You’ll know what I’m waiting for, Princess Consort, in a moment.”

Su Tan, who was sitting in the wheelchair, didn’t know what Xiao Jin was waiting for. Chu Shao didn’t know what Xiao Jin was waiting for.

Even Xiao Jin herself wasn’t sure what she was waiting for.

But according to the common tropes of web novels, Xiao Jin could be certain: under this circumstance, some variable would definitely appear.

As for whether it would change for the better or for the worse, she didn’t know.

The next moment, as if to confirm Xiao Jin’s words, a voice suddenly came from outside the Yanyu Pavilion. “Fourth Brother, wait.”

The voice was gentle and peaceful. But when Xiao Jin heard this sentence, a ray of dawn broke through the calm on her face in her heart.

He’s here. The disruptor.

The person’s voice was not loud, but when it fell into the Yanyu Pavilion, it was like a northern wind passing through, causing everyone in the hall to involuntarily freeze.

The guards who were climbing the stairs were frozen stiff and almost dropped the weapons in their hands.

Even the usually arrogant Fourth Prince couldn’t help but frown at this moment. But when he turned around, the displeasure in his eyes completely turned into a smile.

He slightly bowed to the person standing below the hall and greeted him warmly, “This Yanyu Pavilion is truly lively today. Crown Prince, you’re usually very busy with many affairs. I didn’t expect you to have the leisure to come here and enjoy yourself in the midst of your busy schedule.”

Xiao Jin: “…”

Saying that visiting a brothel is “enjoying yourself.” The second male lead’s verbal skills are unmatched.

But then again, Xiao Jin was actually the most comfortable right now.

As a cannon fodder and also the most important person in this incident, she could leisurely sit behind a bamboo curtain and listen to the show. She was truly lucky.

What’s more, this show was a gathering of heroes. The male lead, the second male lead, the female lead, and the female supporting character were all present. Such a grand scene was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Xiao Jin, the person involved, looked up at Chu Shao and found that the other person seemed a little stunned. She felt very sorry.

It’s a pity that the female lead won’t have a chance to appear. Otherwise, it would definitely turn into a battlefield in minutes.

However, judging from the female lead’s severely broken character setting, this battlefield might not necessarily be a forced marriage between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince. Instead, it was more likely to be… Chu Shao.

Chu Shao didn’t know that Xiao Jin’s heart was so excited.

When she heard the Crown Prince’s voice, she actually frowned. The look in her eyes as she looked at Xiao Jin was also full of confusion.

Because Chu Shao really didn’t understand why Xiao Jin knew that there were silver needles hidden in Su Tan’s bamboo tube and why she could predict that the Crown Prince would definitely come to the Yanyu Pavilion.

A moment later, a smile appeared on her lips. There were too many mysteries about Xiao Jin. If she slowly explored them, it would actually be a fun thing to do.

Thinking of this, Chu Shao lowered her eyes, looked at Xiao Jin, and asked the riddle that she was most interested in.

Her question and tone were just as gentle. “Your Highness, are you waiting for the Crown Prince?”

Xiao Jin was using the broken part of the chair’s armrest to rub the white silk that was tying her hands. After the sharp edge cut the silk ribbon, she answered Chu Shao’s question indifferently, “No.”

Chu Shao quietly watched Xiao Jin move her wrist joints. After being tied by the silk ribbon for a long time, there were already some red marks rubbed on her skin.

It was like rouge smeared on peony petals, and it also seemed like fresh blood dripping onto the Ice Lotus Flower.

Recalling the snowfall in the past, Chu Shao’s ears heard the song of the Great Yao Imperial Palace.

Chu Shao had long forgotten those melodies. The only thing she could remember was that Ice Lotus Flower that was stained with fresh blood.

The current Xiao Jin reminded her of that Ice Lotus Flower.

Xiao Jin’s current situation was clearly more desperate than that flower, but the other person did not seem desperate.

This made Chu Shao realize that perhaps something about Xiao Jin was as fragile as snow and would soon melt in the spring.

But if it was in the bitter cold winter, the sweeping frost would make the snow even more vast, turning it into an unshakeable solid ice.

Unseduced, unshakeable. This was truly a solid and inviolable beauty.

Thinking of this, Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin and asked softly, “Not the Crown Prince, then what are you waiting for?”

The white silk, which had been cut into strips, fell to the ground. Xiao Jin stroked the broken armrest and did not answer Chu Shao’s question.

How was she supposed to explain this? After all, she was waiting for the plot.

Xiao Jin could only raise her head and give Chu Shao a meaningful look, letting her figure it out herself.

It’s just the basic operation of a transmigrator. You locals wouldn’t understand.

The atmosphere in the hall was not as relaxed as it was upstairs.

This was because the person who had arrived was wearing a jade belt and a python robe. It was the Crown Prince of the current dynasty. His appearance was more intimidating than a hundred guards sent by the Dali Temple.

In fact, the Crown Prince, Xiao Yu, did lead a team of guards. However, these guards were drawn from the Shenji Camp, and their aura completely overshadowed the Fourth Prince’s.

The Crown Prince first ordered this team to lift the lockdown on the Yanyu Pavilion. Then, he looked at the Fourth Prince standing near the stairs and laughed, “Fourth Brother, I didn’t come here to enjoy myself. I just heard that Fourth Brother has been getting more and more willful recently, so I came here to take a look.”

The Fourth Prince hated it the most when the Crown Prince called him “willful.”

If we’re talking about willfulness, Xiao Jin is a thousand times more willful and a thousand times more hateful than me. Why doesn’t this virtuous Crown Prince go and manage him?

But Xiao Yu was the Crown Prince of the current dynasty, and he was his elder brother.

Even though the Fourth Prince was angry, he could only respectfully say, “Brother, this time it’s not me being willful. There’s a reason for this.”

The Crown Prince smiled again. “What reason?”

Xiao Jin sat upstairs, listening boredly as the Fourth Prince repeated the reason that “someone tipped him off, so he was chasing the assassin for the Third Brother.”

Because Chu Shao was present, Xiao Jin’s face was expressionless, but in her heart, she was already tired of being pushed around by others.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was currently wearing a snow-white robe and had the system-added cutesy voice, she would definitely go down and question the Fourth Prince: Does this Prince need you to uphold justice for me?

However, the Fourth Prince unilaterally declared that he wanted to uphold justice for Xiao Jin.

Even though everyone present knew that he and Xiao Jin were at odds, and this person had only recently had his bride snatched by Xiao Jin.

But as long as his tone was serious enough and his skin was thick enough, even if no one present believed him, the Fourth Prince could still perform on his own.

But after he finished his performance, the Crown Prince looked at the Fourth Prince and replied indifferently, “Fourth Brother, you have a good heart. But Third Brother’s matter is naturally taken care of by the Dali Temple. I don’t think you need to be so…”

He paused, looked at the guards who had surrounded the Yanyu Pavilion, and said bluntly, “Exaggerated.”

Hearing the Crown Prince’s evaluation of the Fourth Prince, although Xiao Jin also felt that it was very accurate, she didn’t expect Bai Zheng to actually let out a light laugh.

Bai Zheng, who had always aspired to be the Crown Princess, saw the man she was looking for at this moment, but she did not have the shyness of a young woman.

She took a step forward, bowed to the Crown Prince, and laughed, “Thank you, Crown Prince, for leading your soldiers here and lifting the siege of the Yanyu Pavilion. I am very grateful.”

The Crown Prince looked at Bai Zheng. He glanced at her and nodded. “Miss Bai, you’re too kind. Fourth Brother is my brother. I hope you can be more understanding about his offense today.”

Bai Zheng smiled and said, “With the Prince of Yan and the Crown Prince here, I will naturally be more understanding.”

Xiao Jin: “…”

She couldn’t help but rub her temples. Why was Bai Zheng talking about her again?

It was bad enough that she was dragged into this for no reason, but she even put her name before the Crown Prince. Is she deliberately trying to attract hatred?

The guests also looked at Bai Zheng with admiration at this moment.

Anyone with an eye could see that the Crown Prince was only trying to be polite, but Bai Zheng was truly sincere. She actually took his words and ran with them.

She not only claimed to be “understanding” of a prince of the country but also put the Crown Prince’s face after the Prince of Yan’s.

She was indeed a heroine. She dared to say anything.

The Fourth Prince, who was “understood” for no reason, was a little depressed. It was bad enough that the Crown Prince was lecturing him. Where did Bai Zheng get the guts to be “understanding” of him?

The Fourth Prince wanted to flare up, but then he thought that Bai Zheng had just mentioned Xiao Jin and Xiao Yu. If he got angry now, he would inevitably be criticized.

It was then that he realized that Bai Zheng was not simple either.

Her words seemed reckless, but if he were to point them out, he would fall into the trap she set.

After all, Bai Zheng had already “understood” him for the sake of the Crown Prince and the Prince of Yan. If he were to mock Bai Zheng again, he would be disrespecting the Crown Prince and the Prince of Yan.

Helplessly, the Fourth Prince had no choice but to swallow his anger and remain silent.

The Crown Prince looked at Bai Zheng, laughed, and bowed. “Then, I thank Miss Bai on behalf of Fourth Brother.”

No matter how bold Bai Zheng was, she didn’t dare to accept the Crown Prince’s bow. She immediately returned the gesture. “I wouldn’t dare… But if the Fourth Prince insists on thanking someone, he should thank the Prince of Yan.”

The Crown Prince was stunned for a moment.

Bai Zheng looked up and around the building. Only then did she say softly, “When I was young, at the hunting ground, the Prince of Yan once saved my life. Perhaps His Highness thinks that this small matter is not worth mentioning and has long forgotten it, but I still remember your kindness to this day.”

Hidden inside the bamboo curtain, Xiao Jin was silent.

Because she really hadn’t expected that even being outside the scene, she could still be dragged into it innocently. She also hadn’t expected that the original owner, a cannon fodder who would be offline in three chapters, had actually saved the third female lead, Bai Zheng.

And listening to Bai Zheng’s words, why did it feel like she knew who she was, so she was deliberately saying this to her?

Chu Shao obviously noticed this too. She gently opened the lid of the “Chunshankong” box and said to Xiao Jin with a smile, “It seems like His Highness has more than one romantic debt.”

“…”

Xiao Jin was silent. She could barely understand that the original owner had inexplicably left her with a debt, but she couldn’t quite understand the last sentence.

So she slowly asked, “What is the other debt?”

Chu Shao moved her fingertips slightly. The delicate fragrance of “Chunshankong” lingered inside the bamboo curtain, like a hazy mist rising from a mountain stream.

In the haze, the corners of Chu Shao’s lips curved into a smile. The beauty mark under the corner of her eye was almost dazzling.

“When Your Highness snatched the bride that day, you claimed that you were deeply in love with me and would only marry me in this life. I believed you at the time, so I am also a romantic debt that His Highness owes.”

“Did you forget?”