Chapter 347: Crown Princess

Chapter 347: The Crown Prince's Bride

"What, is the Crown Prince feeling sorry for Second Miss Ji?"

Luo Jingshen clenched his fists, glaring at her coldly. This vile woman actually dared to speak to him in such a tone.

He'd planned to watch first, to see if anyone would be willing to stand up for Ji Qingqing, and then he could come to her defense naturally. That way, he could protect her without looking too obvious.

But what Luo Jingshen never expected was that he waited a long time without seeing anyone step up to speak for Ji Qingqing.

Even when they saw Ji Yuntang yanking hard on her hair, no one said a word, as if they'd all gone mute at once!

He fumed inwardly, were these people blind or what? Didn't they see Ji Yuntang yanking the hair of such a delicate little beauty? How could they all just stand there like that?

Were their hearts really made of stone?

But what Luo Jingshen didn't know was that among the judges present, aside from himself, no one actually cared about Ji Qingqing's fate.

Besides, defending Ji Qingqing would inevitably offend Ji Yuntang.

Ji Yuntang's value was clearly far greater than Ji Qingqing's, and they knew which side their bread was buttered on.

Naturally, they were unwilling to get mixed up in this mess.

With no other choice, Luo Jingshen had no choice but to step up and defend Ji Qingqing himself.

He knew Ji Qingqing had signed Ji Yuntang up for the Canglang Poetry Talk, and he'd had a hand in pushing it along.

Luo Jingshen thought of the Marquis of Yongning's household, and after mulling it over, he finally decided to take the fall for Ji Qingqing himself.

He was the Crown Prince, so no matter how furious Ji Yuntang was, she wouldn't dare touch him.

Luo Jingshen stepped forward and snapped, "Princess Ye, I'm the one who signed you up. Second Miss Ji had nothing to do with it. Let her go now."

At that, everyone stared at Luo Jingshen in shock.

Even Mei Zhuyu and Cheng Rushan looked on with disapproval in their eyes.

Mei Zhuyu said gravely, "Your Highness, the Canglang Poetry Talk hosted by Qingyun Hall has always encouraged students to sign up of their own free will, without forcing anyone."

"You know damn well how serious the consequences are for signing up and not showing up—it could even affect three generations of the entire household. How could you sign her up without Princess Ye's permission?"

"As the Crown Prince, you should set an example and be a good role model for the students. You're completely disregarding other people's feelings. You've really disappointed me as the Director!"

Luo Jingshen stared back at him coldly and aloofly, his eyes churning with unreadable emotions.

"Director Mei, I know what I did was wrong, and I'm willing to accept your criticism. But I did all this with the future of the Dongchen Kingdom in mind."

"I've known for a while that my third sister-in-law is extremely capable, with skills that are every bit as good as any man's in Dongchen."

"The reason I signed her up without telling her first was to give her the chance to seize this opportunity, so more people could see what she's capable of and show them that women can hold their own too."

"If I hadn't signed her up, how would you all be seeing Princess Ye's brilliance today?"

Ji Yuntang was speechless.

Luo Jingshen made her sick!

Signing her up under the pretense of doing it for her own good—where does he get the nerve?

If she hadn't been so well-read and good at those questions, she'd have been the one left looking foolish.

Did he really think she couldn't see through his scheme?

Seeing Luo Jingshen defend her, Ji Qingqing was so moved her eyes reddened.

She said, her voice choked with emotion, "Sister, the Crown Prince already said he was the one who signed you up. Can you let me go now?"

Ji Yuntang let out a cold snort. "Let you go? Sure!"

With that, she sent Ji Qingqing flying with a kick.

As fate would have it, Ji Qingqing landed right at Luo Jingshen's feet.

She clutched her chest, wincing in pain, and a flash of concern crossed Luo Jingshen's eyes as he quickly helped her up.

He snapped, "Princess Ye, how can you be so cruel? I already told you, this was all my doing. Second Miss Ji had nothing to do with it. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Ji Yuntang shrugged and blew him off.

She knew damn well Luo Jingshen was covering for Ji Qingqing.

Counting on his status as the Crown Prince, he was sure she wouldn't dare touch him, so he did whatever he wanted.

But anyone with half a brain would realize something was off if they thought about it.

Registration required the candidate's birth date and hour. Ji Yuntang didn't buy that Luo Jingshen could know her birth details without coordinating with the Yongning Marquis's household.

As for why she was so sure Ji Qingqing was the one who signed her up, Ji Yuntang had actually just been trying to trick her into confessing.

Ji Zihang and Ji Huaiche were out of the question. Ji Qingfeng had apparently fallen for some young lady recently, putting all his time and energy into that girl, so there's no way he'd have signed her up.

So that only leaves Ji Nanchuan, Lady Meng, and Ji Qingqing!

These three were cut from the same cloth. Ji Nanchuan, being a high-ranking court official, naturally wouldn't risk his own neck.

Lady Meng was simple-minded and had no backbone—she didn't dare talk back to Madam Ji or defy Ji Nanchuan.

So the only one who could've done it was Ji Qingqing!

Of course, Luo Jingshen definitely had a hand in it behind the scenes.

So it made perfect sense for Luo Jingshen to step up.

Prince Qi, Luo Feizhou, loved stirring the pot and said in a snide, mocking tone:

"Your Highness, this is your fault to begin with. Third sister-in-law never wanted to sign up in the first place, yet you went ahead and signed her up on your own."

"Instead of trying to make it up to her, you're blaming her for beating up Second Miss Ji. They're real sisters, and it's only right for the older sister to discipline the younger one."

"As for you, you're just a busybody sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. What's Second Miss Ji's business got to do with you? Or have you, Your Highness, lost all sense of right and wrong?"

Luo Jingshen was speechless.

Luo Jingshen: "!!!"

Did Luo Feizhou just call him a dog?!

Does he think he's doing me a favor by giving him face?!

"Fifth Brother jests. Second Miss Ji and I are deeply in love; her affairs are my affairs. Why shouldn't I help?"

Luo Jingshen's words startled everyone there.

Among them, the most shocked was none other than Ji Qingqing!

She looked up at Luo Jingshen, her eyes soft as water, "Your Highness, you..."

Luo Jingshen grabbed her hand, his face full of affection, "Qing Qing, I love you. Would you be willing to be my Crown Princess?"

"If you are willing, I'll have Father issue a decree for our marriage soon."

This surprise came so suddenly that it caught Ji Qingqing completely off guard.

She couldn't believe her ears.

Once she came to her senses, Ji Qingqing pinched her thigh hard, and the pain confirmed she wasn't dreaming.

It was real—Luo Jingshen truly wanted to make her his Crown Princess.

Heaven knows how long she had waited for this day—so long that she dared not even hope for it anymore.

Her face flushed slightly with nervousness, and she was both excited and thrilled.

"Honored by Your Highness's affection, this subject's daughter is willing to marry Your Highness and remain by your side for life, never to part."

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