The Times Spent in Pretense

Chapter 64

Chapter 64 The Third Prince“Absurd!” Liu Mingshi was shocked to learn that the Third Prince, in order to get close to the beloved daughter of a favored minister in Great Jin, was willing to compromise himself by using the beauty trap. He was so infuriated that he almost fainted on the spot, “Your Highness, you are a prince, how can you degrade yourself like this?”

The Third Prince understood Liu Mingshi’s good intentions, but at this point, the Emperor of Great Jin had been refusing to see them. How could he be at ease?

“Daren, Great Jin is as powerful as the heavens. Even the skilled warriors of Jinpo had been defeated under their iron hooves,” the Third Prince sighed bitterly, “In the past, the three countries balanced each other, with occasional frictions but maintaining a surface-level equilibrium. However, ever since Jinpo attacked Great Jin and killed civilians, that balance has been broken.”

“Jinpo was defeated. Since they had no capable individuals, after signing the surrender treaty, they will have to pay tribute to Great Jin every year,” the Third Prince felt more bitter than a bitter gourd, “Benwang is genuinely worried that since the Great Jin suppressed Jinpo, they will now turn their attention to us, Daimao.”

Daimao excelled in literary arts, emphasizing culture over martial prowess. If they were to engage in a conflict with Great Jin, Daimao would undoubtedly suffer.

“During the conflict between Jinpo and Great Jin, if His Majesty had been willing to join forces with Great Jin to attack Jinpo, things wouldn’t have turned out like this…” Liu Mingshi sighed. During the war between Great Jin and Jinpo, Daimao dared not offend either side and could only play dumb, which led to the situation they found themselves in today.

Although Liu Mingshi didn’t like the culture of Great Jin, Jinpo was aggressive and inclined to plunder, behaving in a domineering manner. Compared to that, Great Jin was more reasonable. Back then, they should have followed Great Jin in suppressing Jinpo.

But who could have expected that Great Jin would be so determined, spending so many years just to subdue Jinpo into obedience?

Blaming and complaining won’t change anything; it can only be blamed on Jinpo for provoking other nations. Now, they’ve suffered a defeat that will go down in history. Not only do they have to pay tribute every year, but they also have to cede cities and territories, which affected not only them, but also Daimao.

Oh, how good it was when the three kingdoms stood strong! Who knew that being in a triangle was the most stable?

But now, things have changed. They have cut off one of their own legs and become vassals to the Great Jin. Is that something to be happy about?

The officials of the Jinpo Kingdom may say that they are not afraid of external enemies, but deep down, everyone knows that they don’t want to fight and that if they do, they will surely lose. They can’t afford to be like the Jinpo Kingdom, which went down in history for losing, ceding cities and territories, and even having their prince taken captive. That is absolutely unacceptable.

It was precisely because of this that, as soon as they arrived at Great Jin, they had been wanting to find out if Emperor Changlong had any plans to attack the Daimao. However, Emperor Changlong didn’t even bother to meet with them.

The envoys from the Daimao had solemn expressions and looked at their Third Prince with guilt and helplessness. However, there were not many who, like Liu Mingshi, firmly opposed the strategy of using the beauty trap.

When it comes to the rise and fall of a nation, principles are not important anymore.

The dignity of men, the nobility of a prince, are all illusory.

In a heavy atmosphere, everyone finished their lunch. While the Third Prince bathed and changed clothes, and groomed himself, the officials looked at him as if they were seeing off a princess departing for a political marriage with another country.

“Let’s think positively. Perhaps this Junzhu won’t do anything to the Third Prince,” Envoy A reassured the others after the Third Prince left in the carriage.

“But if she doesn’t like the Third Prince, how could she be willing to speak favorably for us?” Envoy B said with a worried expression, “Wouldn’t everything we’ve done be in vain?”

Everyone fell into a painful silence, unsure for a moment whether they should pray for Fushou Junzhu to take a liking to the Third Prince or pray that the Third Prince wouldn’t be influenced by Fushou Junzhu.

The afternoon cuju match had not yet begun, but the surroundings of the cuju field were already crowded with spectators. Since it was a cuju match played by young ladies, the audience had intentionally changed into clothes that resembled the colors of the teams they supported.

Hua Liuli didn’t know which team to support, but because Yao Jiamin supported the Red Peony team, she had no choice but to change into a red dress. She even replaced her hairpin with a red gem.

“Oh my goodness,” Yao Jiamin covered her eyes when she saw Hua Liuli coming out of Hua Family Estate, “You should wear less of this color in the future.”

“Why?” Hua Liuli climbed onto the carriage and smiled at Yao Jiamin, looking very beautiful.

“I’m afraid others will curse you as a calamity-causing fairy,” Despite being a young girl herself, Yao Jiamin couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Hua Liuli. With her fair and tender appearance, the red clothes on her made her look like a perfected fairy, with a contradictory charm and purity as if she had just arrived in the mortal realm.

If she were a man, she would probably want to lift up her sleeve and take a look at the delicate white wrist hidden underneath, and smell the faint fragrance on her tender neck.

“Thank you for your compliment,” Hua Liuli used the embroidered fan in her hand to cover half of her cheek and intentionally smiled coquettishly, “I really like it.”

“Stop with your pretentious act,” Yao Jiamin pushed Hua Liuli away from herself, “I’m not a man, I’m not falling for your tricks.”

“Is Junzhu treating me so heartlessly?” Hua Liuli’s smile faded, her eyebrows lightly furrowing, and her beautiful eyes seemed to be filled with infinite melancholy, “Have you forgotten that we had relied on each other through life and death, never leaving each other behind?”

Yao Jiamin covered her chest and took a step back, “Just, just consider me scared of you, okay?”

Just moments ago, she was an enchanting fairy, but now she seemed like a pitiful red flower beaten down by rain. Women like Hua Liuli, if they genuinely tried to enchant a man, that man would surely die under the hem of her dress.

Even she, a woman, found it hard to resist, let alone a man.

Thinking of this, she began to doubt if Ying Wang had a problem with his brain. Why would he refuse to marry such a peerless beauty?

The two of them arrived at the cuju field, and indeed, as soon as they arrived, many young gentlemen came over to pay their respects. Yao Jiamin looked at the shy and weak Hua Liuli; she put on a stern face and drove away all these people, then she found Tian Shan and Yao Wenyin with Hua Liuli.

“Fushou Junzhu,” Yao Wenyin saw that Hua Liuli was feeling a bit embarrassed and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe a chair that wasn’t even dirty, offering it for Hua Liuli to sit on.

Yao Jiamin: “…”

Why is my cousin suddenly so attentive to Hua Liuli?

“Thank you,” Hua Liuli smiled at Yao Wenyin and sat down as she held up her skirt.

“No need to thank me,” Yao Wenyin blushed and whispered, “Junzhu, you look really beautiful today. Your presence is enough to make all the flowers pale in comparison.”

Yao Jiamin looked at Yao Wenyin in shock. Who is this bootlicker that possessed her cousin? Her cousin couldn’t possibly act like this!

However, reality slapped her in the face. Not only did her cousin praise Hua Liuli, but she also blushed and took out snacks she had prepared in advance, holding them out in front of Hua Liuli, and asking her to pick whichever she liked.

Watching her cousin’s reddened cheeks and shy appearance, Yao Jiamin really wanted to grab her shoulders and shake her hard, to make her sober up.

Weren’t we supposed to hate Hua Liuli together?

Not long ago, we even used a wooden carving as a replacement to poke at Hua Liuli. And now you’re fawning over her. Even if you’re a traitor, you shouldn’t be this enthusiastic!

Tian Shan wasn’t wearing red clothes, but to support the Red Peony team, she had the team emblem of the Red Peony embroidered on her clothes. Even the fan in her hand had the words “Red Peony will win” embroidered on it.

She saw that Yao Wenyin had finally let go of her prejudice against Hua Liuli and took the initiative to make friends with her. Tian Shan felt extremely relieved, as she no longer had to be caught in the middle.

The women’s cuju match was very exciting, with the score constantly changing. In the end, the Red Peony team won the match, and the stands were filled with cheers.

Yao Jiamin had screamed until her voice went hoarse. Hua Liuli handed her a bottle of floral dew, so she took it and drank it without hesitation.

“What is this?” Yao Jiamin smacked her lips, “It’s quite tasty.”

“It’s Huaihua Dew. If you like it, I’ll have someone send you the recipe to your estate tomorrow,” Hua Liuli rubbed her ears, which were buzzing from Yao Jiamin’s screams, “It detoxifies and nourishes the complexion.”

“Can you send the recipe too?” Tian Shan asked.

“Of course,” Hua Liuli smiled and nodded. Seeing Yao Wenyin also looking at her expectantly, she chuckled and said, “Would you also like it, Miss Yao?”

“Yes, yes,” Yao Wenyin blushed and thought, What kind of fairy is she? Not only does she not hold a grudge against me for what I’ve done in the past, but she also voluntarily gives me a beauty recipe. Is there a better young lady than her in the capital city?

No, there isn’t!

Yao Jiamin silently watched this scene, her heart filled with a sense of sadness and world-weariness that only she could understand.

The Third Prince stood outside the cuju field, dumbfounded as countless people in blue and red shirts walked out. With so many people dressed similarly, where would he find her?

“Why are these people dressed like this?” the Third Prince asked his attendant.

“Gentlemen, are you a foreign envoy visiting the capital city?” A passerby happened to overhear and enthusiastically answered his question, “This is a custom in our Great Jin. Whenever there is a women’s cuju match, the audience supporting them will wear clothes similar in color to their team uniforms.”

“Is it only for women’s cuju?”

“Yes,” the passerby said, “Most women have less physical strength than men, but they can kick the ball so well. As spectators, we naturally want to support them enthusiastically.”

“All of you who have come from afar, the people of our entire capital city warmly welcome you and wish you a pleasant time,” The passerby didn’t forget to showcase the broad-mindedness of the people of the capital city and said some polite words to the group before leaving satisfied.

Their words and actions represented the face of the Great Jin. At a time like this, they couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

Third Prince and his group, who suddenly witnessed the grandeur of the common people of Great Jin: “…”

The Third Prince sighed, “The ordinary people of Great Jin have such remarkable demeanor. How can we let our country be their enemy?”

The mood of the group became even heavier.

The Third Prince raised his head and looked around with a worried expression when suddenly a woman caught his full attention.

Among the crowd dressed in red, that young girl stood out, with her snow-like face, starry eyes, and long hair as dark as the night. Her presence made all the red colors fade in comparison.

Can there really be such a beauty in the world? Who is she?

As the girl approached closer, the Third Prince heard the thumping of his own heartbeat, finally understanding the feeling of a pounding drum in his heart.

“Fushou Junzhu,” He heard someone approaching and bowing to the girl, addressing her as Fushou Junzhu.

Is she the Fushou Junzhu, the one favored by the Empress Dowager?

The Third Prince took a moment to regain his composure, took a deep breath, and walked quickly towards Hua Liuli, “I am He Yuanting, the envoy from the Kingdom of Daimao. May I ask if you are the esteemed Fushou Junzhu?”

“He?” Hua Liuli looked at the handsome young man before her, dressed in luxurious attire and with a fair and gentle face. She withdrew the foot she had stepped on the stirrup and replied, “I’ve heard that the imperial surname of the Daimao Kingdom is He. I wonder what relationship the honorable gentleman has with the imperial family of Daimao?”

“Benwang is the Third Prince of Daimao,” He Yuanting bowed and said, “Benwang has come here without prior notice. Benwang hopes the Junzhu can forgive me.”

In the bustling marketplace, where people were coming and going, it was indeed not the place for conversation. Hua Liuli looked at the Daimao prince and said, with a smile that was not quite a smile, “Your Highness is the esteemed Third Prince of Daimao. May I ask why Your Highness has sought me out?”

Yao Jiamin and the other two who were accompanying Hua Liuli felt very puzzled upon learning about this person’s identity. Why would an envoy from Daimao come to find Hua Liuli?

He Yuanting once again bowed politely and said, “We are newcomers, if there has been any rudeness, Benwang asks for Junzhu‘s forgiveness. Benwang has long heard of your esteemed father’s and mother’s great names, and Benwang holds them in high regard. However, Benwang is curious why your household refused the gifts Benwang sent. Could it be that the gifts Benwang sent were not to the liking of the two generals?”

It was not surprising to Hua Liuli that an envoy from the Kingdom of Daimao would come to find her. What surprised her was that it was the Third Prince of Daimao who sought her out.

She chuckled softly, “Your Highness, the generous gifts sent by you were entirely appropriate, and my parents were pleased with them.”

The Third Prince’s heart stirred, “So it is like that, but why…”

“It’s just that this humble girl knows that she is unworthy of such generous gifts, so I had them returned to Your Highness,” Hua Liuli smiled on her face, but there was no trace of amusement in her eyes, “I understand Your Highness’s goodwill, but our humble household is insignificant and cannot bear it.”

Sensing that something was amiss in Hua Liuli’s words, the Third Prince became even more perplexed. Had they offended the Hua family? Otherwise, why would they have such an attitude?

Although the other party spoke impolitely, the Third Prince couldn’t muster any anger. He bowed to Hua Liuli and said, “Junzhu, there may be some misunderstanding here. Benwang has prepared a feast at the restaurant and hopes that Junzhu will grace us with her presence, allowing Benwang to apologize to Junzhu.”

“Your Highness, as a person of noble status, I cannot accept your hospitality,” Hua Liuli returned the courtesy, “Your Highness is being too polite. There is no misunderstanding on our part. Please do not overthink it.”

Yao Wenyin, standing beside them, thought silently: You Daimao envoys have the audacity to say disrespectful things about a female general right in front of Hua Liuli, and yet you expect her to be amicable towards you? You don’t even understand the basic principle of not insulting someone’s mother and expecting them to be friendly. You come here asking why she didn’t accept your gift. It’s already a gesture of preserving the dignity of both nations that the gifts weren’t smashed in your faces.

Just when the situation was unfolding, a young man dressed in elegant attire appeared on horseback next to them.

He Yuanting looked at the handsome man on the horse and bowed, “May I ask who the gentleman is?”

The Crown Prince lazily returned the bow while sitting on his horse, “I am the cousin of Liuli’s close friend. I came to check on her since she seemed bothered by someone.”

Liuli’s close friend, Yao Jiamin: “…”

Thank the heavens, thank the earth, she finally had some presence in the Crown Prince’s eyes.