The Demonic Crown Prince

Duanfu Garden, this is Li Jun's residence.

"Once he gets married and has female relatives in the capital, and even has children, it's like we've got Li Yuan's weakness in our grasp. Then, no matter how much trouble he causes outside, we'll have him under our control! If he dares to come back, he'll surely die!"

Duke Xu Rui of Qi explained to Li Jun in a sinister tone.

"If I could, I'd want him to die as soon as he leaves the capital!"

Li Jun gritted his teeth and said, "The thought of those 500,000 taels of silver makes my heart ache so much I can't breathe!"

"Understood." Xu Rui nodded with a sinister look in his eyes.

Then, his expression softened slightly as he asked Li Jun, "How are things going between Your Highness and Shuying?"

Li Jun has been pursuing Xu Rui's daughter, Xu Shuying, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Qi's mansion. Although they are not yet engaged, everyone in the capital knows about it.

"However, Shuying consistently rejected my advances without giving me the slightest hint, which made me feel very embarrassed."

Li Jun let out a sigh of relief. If it weren't for the fact that she was the daughter of a Duke, he would have forced himself on her long ago.

"That ungrateful wretch! Your Highness, you might as well use this opportunity tonight to ask His Majesty to grant you a marriage!"

Xu Rui snorted angrily!

"Good!" Li Jun's anger subsided slightly, and his mood finally improved.

……

Night falls, and lights illuminate every home.

Inside the Duanhe Hall, the lights were bright and the aroma of wine filled the air.

All the high-ranking officials were ordered to bring unmarried female relatives into the palace.

But the news had already spread that Li Yuan was going to Yanbei Road to his death, and whoever he chose would be the one who got into trouble.

That's why all the unmarried daughters from various families came, regardless of whether they were pretty or not, and dressed up however they wanted.

Some deliberately smeared him, some made out to be monstrous, and some even cut their hair into patches of baldness.

Li Yuan sat there, feeling both amused and exasperated, but also filled with a myriad of emotions!

One must be strong in life, otherwise everyone will see one as a jinx and avoid them at all costs!

After several rounds of drinks and numerous dishes, Emperor Jinglong announced loudly to the crowd, "Today's Dragon Boat Festival palace banquet is specially held for the selection of a consort for the Prince of Qin."

Turning to Li Yuan, he said, "Yuan'er, you choose for yourself. Whichever one you fancy, your father will bestow a marriage upon you!"

Li Yuan had already made up his mind. He smiled slightly, stood up, and said, "Then I won't stand on ceremony."

He then stood up and deliberately pointed slowly towards the women's section, saying, "I choose..."

Wherever his finger traced, all the women screamed and prostrated themselves, fearing they would be chosen, like a row of wheat cut by a sickle.

Finally, Li Yuan pointed, "I choose her!"

Everyone turned to look, and were immediately taken aback.

Then they saw the girl Li Yuan was pointing to. She was seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a moon-white long dress embroidered with silver lotus patterns. Her hair was piled high, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, and her eyes were like autumn water. She was incredibly beautiful.

She still held a book in her hand, and the scholarly air made her beautiful without being vulgar; she was absolutely a rare beauty!

At that moment, she looked up in astonishment at Li Yuan, seemingly unable to believe that he had actually chosen her.

She is none other than Xu Shuying, the only daughter of Xu Rui of the Duke of Qi's mansion, a woman of exceptional talent and beauty who has captivated the capital!

"No way!" Duke Qi, Xu Rui, and Li Jun stood up and roared in exasperation at the same time!

"Why not?" Li Yuan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ying'er is already engaged to my Second Prince, so she cannot marry Prince Qin. Your Highness, please choose someone else."

Xu Rui composed himself and said hurriedly.

"Oh? Is there a betrothal document?" Li Yuan asked with a smile.

"This, this..." Xu Rui was speechless. The matter was not yet settled, so what kind of engagement document was there?

He instantly realized that Li Yuan was doing this on purpose. If he had known this would happen, he would have had Li Jun ask His Majesty for a marriage decree first.

Too late, damn it!

"The fact that I, the prince, am pursuing Xu Shuying of the Duke of Qi's mansion is known throughout the capital."

The veins on Li Jun's forehead bulged, and his eyes were filled with malice as he stared at Li Yuan.

"You can pursue him, so why can't I?" Li Yuan asked calmly.

"You, you..." Li Jun gritted his teeth and looked at Emperor Jinglong.

"Father, I am deeply in love with Xu Shuying, the daughter of the Duke of Qi. Today, I humbly request Your Majesty to grant us marriage on this auspicious day!"

Li Jun also turned around and knelt down on the ground, pleading.

"Your Majesty, Xu Shuying is the woman Jun'er has been longing for day and night. He once vowed that he would marry no one but her in this life. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy and agree to the marriage between Jun'er and Xu Shuying..."

At that moment, Consort Wang, the favored mother of Li Jun, poured out her heart to Emperor Jinglong in tears.

"Father, I will only choose Xu Shuying; I will not consider anyone else!"

Li Yuan also turned to look at Emperor Jinglong, speaking in a calm tone.

After several rounds of intense confrontation, Emperor Jinglong became quite annoyed.

If the two princes really caused a scene in Duanhe Palace over a woman, it would be a disgrace to the royal family.

However, it's not appropriate to directly decide who to marry, as showing favoritism would only make them a laughing stock!

After a moment's thought, he looked up and said, "There must be a reason for this. Let's ask Xu Shuying."

"Xu Shuying, which one do you prefer? I hereby bestow a marriage upon you on the spot."

The cunning and shrewd Emperor Jinglong threw the problem to Xu Shuying!

All eyes were fixed on the woman, whose beauty was as radiant as the moon, to see how she would make her decision.

"Quickly, report back to His Majesty: reject Li Yuan and approve Li Jun."

Xu Rui shouted at Xu Shuying in a low voice.

Xu Shuying put down her book, slowly stood up, and looked at Li Yuan and Li Jun opposite her with her beautiful eyes!

Li Jun gazed greedily at Xu Shuying's beautiful face, while Li Yuan's eyes held a knowing look.

Xu Shuying's gaze did not linger on the two men for long. She simply lowered her eyes and said calmly, "All men in this world are corrupt. I live a simple life amidst green mountains and white clouds. I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I don't want to marry either of them."

"Huh? You..." Li Jun stared at her, his eyes filled with embarrassed anger.

"This girl has character," Li Yuan chuckled.

He thought Xu Shuying would reject him, so he decided to take the opportunity to back down and not choose her.

Unexpectedly, Xu Shuying rejected Li Jun as well.

That's intriguing.

"You brat, this is tantamount to refusing His Majesty's bestowed marriage! Do you want to die?"

Xu Rui was startled and whispered menacingly in her ear.

Xu Shuying bit her lips until they turned blue and white, and a flash of sorrow and determination crossed her eyes.

"Since I have to choose, I'll choose him!" Xu Shuying pointed her slender finger directly at Li Yuan.

Time stood still, everything froze!

"Could this be the legendary two-way journey?" Li Yuan was dumbfounded.

"You, you bitch!"

Xu Rui cursed through gritted teeth.

Xu Shuying remained silent, lowering her eyelids and refusing to look at him.

Why did you betray me... but not him...?

Li Jun stared intently at Xu Shuying, his face contorted like a ghost under the lights!

"Are you sure?" Li Yuan asked, staring at her.

"I'm sure!" Xu Shuying nodded, then looked at Emperor Jinglong, "Your Majesty, I've made my choice. Please grant me the marriage."

"Very well, I hereby bestow marriage upon Prince Li Yuan of Qin and Xu Shuying, daughter of the Duke of Qi. May you two never part and be forever united in heart."

With all of you as witnesses, this is the wedding celebration; let the music continue, let the dancing begin!

Emperor Jinglong waved his hand, swiftly cutting through the mess and quickly resolving this troublesome matter.