When Shang Dong heard the first few lines of Yue Ran''s poems, he immediately had the urge to talk to her, but he could not bear to disturb her recitation. Hence, now was just the right time to offer an olive branch.

    He really did admire Yue Ran''s literary talent very much. In addition, he had also invited Xue Lu before, but unfortunately, Xue Lu did not like the literary thinking of him and the others at the poetry exchange banquet, so she never did agree to go after one meeting.

    Women''s ingenuity is often more delicate and stable than men''s, and it is the perfect complement to their group in the poetry exchange banquet. sea??h thё Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now that there are other talented noble young ladies like Yue Ran, he does not have to be obsessed with Xue Lu''s participation anymore.

    "Oh, tell me more information about the poetry exchange banquet," Yue Ran said, a little interested in the man''s suggestion.

    "This poetry exchange banquet is where we, the noble sons and daughters of important officials, gather together to recite new poems that we have made and discuss our ideas with one another. This will allow us to improve the exchange of words and sentences."

    "Is that so?" Yue Ran nodded understandingly. "If that were the case, then I would go and have a look."

    "Then that is a deal!"

    Shang Dong''s eyes lit up, and he could not feel happier than this.

    If Xue Lu did not come, then someone else would. Yue Ran is not bad; she could say she is more outstanding than her peers. If Yue Ran has no marriage candidates to marry in the future, he can also marry her!

    Shang Dong: I can reluctantly marry her.

    Ruan Ruan: Dream on! You are as unrealistic as the female protagonist!

    Shang Dong, deep in his dreams, which he had personally woven with imaginary clouds, has forgotten the fact that Yue Ran has a follower behind her whenever she goes, one that has a great status and ferocious reputation, one that was so infatuated with Yue Ran like that of a licking dog—Ming Ze!

    Yes, Yue Ran''s acceptance of his invitation has long sunk Shang Dong''s brain into the clouds.

    Xue Lu was a very proud person, while Yue Ran was not so much. Xue Lu loves poetry just as much as Yue Ran, and Yue Ran definitely has the talent to match her beautiful appearance. Therefore, it was not like he could not marry her!

    In the future, the wife must follow behind her husband. The wife must do all that her husband asks for.

    So, even though Yue Ran''s nature is a little more frank and spoiled, it is not impossible for him to smooth out such a temper in the future.

    Seeing Shang Dong, the son of the Shang Mansion, looking at her with brighter and brighter eyes, Yue Ran does not need to think with her head for her to guess what was in the man''s mind. It was not a hard thing to guess.

    Is it not just that he coveted her beauty, body, and, lastly, talent? Does he have the status to match her—Yue Ran?

    "Forget it," Yue Ran said with a polite yet charming smile. "I suddenly remembered that my own literary talent does not seem to be so outstanding; Young Master Shang might as well invite Young Lady Xue instead."

    Her politeness made it impossible for everyone to find any mistakes in her words. However, Shang Dong was not happy when he received such a rejection.

    "You!"

    Shang Dong was more than a little bit annoyed.

    Who among the nobles in the capital did not know that he had invited Xue Lu many, many times, but she had never responded in turn?

    Yue Ran''s rejection was just throwing his face to the ground, stepping on it under her shoes, and rubbing it with dirt in public!

    "Hey, hey, calm down, Brother Shang, calm down!"

    The noble young master beside Shang Dong hurriedly pulled Shang Dong, who had stood up from his seat, back down to his seat.

    If Shang Dong wanted to get angry, he had to first look at the two men beside Yue Ran—Yue Yu and Ming Ze. These two men beside her were not just pretty ornaments for a show!

    Ming Ze was always paying attention to everything related to Yue Ran. With him here, no one is allowed to get close to Yue Ran or to hurt a hair of Yue Ran in front of him! He is the mad dog belonging to Yue Ran. Therefore, anyone who dares to hurt and belittle her will need to weigh their weight first before daring to cross him! He will always take revenge!

    Yue Yu smiled with the same curvature of his lips. Although his smile looked gentle in the sunlight, it still made Shang Dong sweat all over his body. He was drenched with cold sweat, feeling all flustered as if he were being stared at by a gigantic, cold-blooded snake.

    Taking advantage of the crowd''s attention being attracted by Yue Ran, General Xia, Xia Zhan, secretly moved closer to Xue Lu and stood behind her.

    "Young Lady Xue..." he started.

    However, what Xia Zhan never expected was how gloomy Xue Lu''s mood was at the moment. It was the first time ever that she was robbed of all her spotlight at a poetry exchange banquet! This is impossible! How absurd!

    Yue Ran? Outstanding? Hah! As if!

    The anger, gloom, and disgust in her heart that had sprouted into a big tree because of Yue Ran made Xue Lu look even colder and much more evil than before.

    And now she had to be disturbed by an unimportant person!

    "What is the matter, General Xia?" Xue Lu asked with an unsmiling face. Not only was Xue Lu''s voice as cold as freezing ice, but the breath around her was just as cold. "I do not seem to be familiar with General Xia, so I will go ahead first. See you next time, General Xia."

    After saying so, Xue Lu moved away with cold steps, not wanting to talk too much with Xia Zhan to put more distance between them.

    "I…" Xia Zhan''s words trailed off into nothingness.

    He was still not able to talk to Xue Lu properly today.

    Xia Zhan never thought that Xue Lu would have such an attitude toward him. He now felt that everything was terrible!

    Not only did Xue Lu seem to have a bad impression of him, but even Yue Ran also did not care to give him any of her attention! Everything in his world went wrong!

    Xia Zhan subconsciously and uncontrollably shifted his eyes to Yue Ran. When his eyes touched the bright red dress that was as dazzling as flames and the charming and unforgettable figure, he swallowed and looked away awkwardly, only to meet Xue Lu, who was looking at him with an obvious sneer on her face.

    Xia Zhan''s heart skipped a beat. He suddenly had a realization. Reality had smashed him in the head.

    How could it be so?

    Could it be that he likes two women at the same time?

    How could he be so… be so corrupt?

    With these thoughts in mind, Xia Zhan can only leave in a panic. He needs time to think about who he really has in his heart and who he really likes!

    Xia Zhan had left so sneakily and so quickly that almost everyone did not know of his disappearance. The crowd on the other side was still fervently discussing the poetry exchange activity.

    "Young Lady Xue''s poems are as brilliant and outstanding as those of Young Lady Yue!" A noble young lady said it out loud in the midst of the chatter.

    She did not like that Yue Ran had dominated the scene with a few lines and poems. She was used to Xue Lu being the center of the spotlight, but now with the addition of Yue Ran, she felt especially defeated! That was why she wanted to dilute Yue Ran''s newfound achievement and tried her best to change the focus of the crowd.

    "Yes, Young Lady Xue''s poems are just as brilliant and outstanding as Young Lady Yue''s," a deep voice spoke.

    The crowd was really neglecting Xue Lu too much. Does this mean that they do not take the crown prince''s face into account?

    Who among the nobles and commoners in the capital does not know that he—the current crown prince—has Xue Lu in his heart? Does embarrassing Xue Lu not mean that the crowd is embarrassing him?

    God knows how angry he was when he came out and saw Xue Lu''s frosty and gloomy face!

    Everyone was shocked and knelt down together.

    "Your Royal Highness!" someone in the crowd exclaimed in shock.

    After a united greeting, there was a pause and deafening silence.

    Yue Ran only raised a brow and bent her knees a little.

    "Hmph, you may rise!" The man waved his sleeves; his demeanor showed the majestic aura that only a member of the imperial family has.

    It turns out that the one who had just spoken was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Ming Chen.

    Ming Chen walked up to Xue Lu and stretched a hand out, wanting to touch Xue Lu''s shoulder, but he did not expect that Xue Lu would avoid his hand in public.

    There was another wordless silence.

    "Xue Lu, do you really not have any feelings for me at all?" Ming Chen asked with a lowered head.