FRGNM -Chapter 210 The Princess Chooses a Husband

As if no longer able to endure it, Luo Mingyu took a deep breath. To make the act more convincing, he swiftly pulled the person before him into his arms and gently patted her back.
“I will protect you well and keep my promise. When we enter the bridal chamber, you must give yourself to me without reservation, alright?”

“Mm…” Jiang Xue nodded happily, feeling the warmth of the man before her. Her heart overflowed with joy. She had managed to snatch this man’s heart before the princess—how wonderful… she felt so blissfully happy!

But the very next moment, her mind jolted, as if struck hard by something. Her expression went blank as she stood there stiffly, staring straight ahead.

Seeing this, Luo Mingyu immediately released her, looking at Jiang Xue with a hint of disgust. He reached out and tossed the bathrobe off his body onto the floor—the smell was truly unbearable.

“You could have used the needle the moment she came in, yet you waited until now. Are you deliberately messing with me?” Luo Mingyu raised his head and looked at the person sitting atop the beam, one eyebrow lifting slightly.

The person gnawing on an apple hunched lazily, looking down in boredom. “At least I got to watch a good show. She’s already immobilized anyway—why not take this chance and do that with her? Didn’t you say you wanted her right now?”

“Jealous?” Catching that sour note, Luo Mingyu burst into laughter. Of course he knew what he was saying—those words were meant for the person on the beam.

What a sulky little thing.

Glaring fiercely at Luo Mingyu, Ling Ruoxi leapt down swiftly, landing steadily on the ground. She raised her right hand slightly, light flashing as it shot toward Jiang Xue’s body. “Silver needles to seal the acupoints. I’ve sealed her memories from the past two days. When she goes back, she’ll put the list away properly, sleep it off, and forget everything that happened these days. If you think it’s inappropriate, I can let her return first to put the list back. And by the way—she really smells good!”

After finishing the acupuncture, Ling Ruoxi pinched her nose. That smell was exactly like the Six Gods Floral Water sprayed by aunties on buses in her past life—overwhelmingly fragrant, so strong it made one feel both alive and dead at the same time.

“Stop, I surrender! Look—my skin’s already breaking out!” Luo Mingyu said pitifully, pressing a hand to his waist and looking at Ling Ruoxi.

Jiang Xue, now awake, moved like a wooden puppet. She pushed the door open, closed it behind her, and drifted home like a ghost.

An allergy? Was his skin really that delicate? Ling Ruoxi frowned slightly and stepped closer, lifting her brows as she looked at his waist. There did indeed seem to be a few small red spots.

Not satisfied with just a glance, she moved even closer—only to have her wrist seized by the wicked man. Before she could cry out, she was already pressed onto the soft bed. Staring at the man so close to her, her heart gave a violent thump.

He was truly too bewitching!

Turning her head away quickly, Ling Ruoxi clenched her teeth and said, “What are you doing? Let go—I hate you…”

“Hate what? Still trying to dodge me, little thing? I’ve been cooperating with you all these days—now it’s your turn to cooperate with me, isn’t it?” Luo Mingyu smiled faintly.

So that’s how it was! Ling Ruoxi froze for a moment, then ground her teeth. No wonder he’d been so cooperative—he’d calculated everything from the start. Now—

Before she could think further, the domineering kiss suddenly fell, the hand at her waist tightening even more.

Her pupils shrank, but Ling Ruoxi gave a sly smile instead. She wrapped her arms around Luo Mingyu’s waist, pushed up, flipped him over, and pinned him beneath her. “You’re disgusting. Go wash yourself clean and then come back. I’ll be waiting.”

“Alright!” Light flared in Luo Mingyu’s eyes. He couldn’t stand the smell on himself either—but he wasn’t about to give this little thing a chance to escape. He wrapped an arm around her slender waist and, amid her startled cry, strode straight toward the bath.

“Y-you—what are you doing?!”

“Didn’t you say I smell like another woman? If I’m with you, you’ll carry her scent too. I don’t want any trace of her on my wife when I’m with her. Let’s wash together.”

“You—!”

Facts proved that Ling Ruoxi was utterly powerless in the end. In the bath, she was completely devoured by this man. Exhausted, she finally returned to the soft bed, silently thanking the heavens—but a long-starved man was like a ferocious tiger.

By the time the sun was high in the sky, she finally rose from the bed, eyes swollen red, her body covered in the man’s marks. Had she known, she would have handled everything herself—dressed as a man, no one would have recognized her as a woman anyway…

But a sharp glint flashed in her eyes. Except for one person—the princess, Qian Yi!

“Luo Mingyu?” she called softly, suddenly remembering that today was the third day. That meant Luo Mingyu had likely gone to the martial contest to choose a husband.

Thinking of what he’d done last night, Ling Ruoxi clenched her fists and raised her brows. Fine—she’d go tease him a bit and see what he’d do!

At the same time, inside the palace, Nangong Mo set down his wolf-hair brush and blew lightly on the fresh ink. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. “Mingyu and Ruoxi really helped me a great deal. I investigated for so long and only found some officials who defected to Lieyun—never expected there were also those pretending to be neutral while flattering Lieyun, yet secretly supporting me.”

“Your Highness, what should we do now?” the guard beside him asked with clasped fists.

A smile tugged at Nangong Mo’s lips as he placed the document into a secret chamber and turned around. “Leave the palace. I’m going to meet them personally to thank them—and also to see Ruoxi…”

What Nangong Mo didn’t know was that this trip out of the palace would bring him endless trouble—trouble he had no choice but to face, leaving him torn with regret. Had he known, he would have postponed going out. Why rush at this very moment?

The heated atmosphere further heightened the solemn presence of the imperial city. On the already-erected platform sat a woman, two bare-chested guards standing at her sides. Cold light flickered in her eyes as she sat calmly.

The banner reading Martial Contest to Choose a Husband fluttered in the wind. The surrounding crowd craned their necks, staring at the figure seated ahead.

“The princess is choosing a husband by martial contest! Heavens—did Lord Qian really agree to this?”

“Damn it! No matter what, I’m marrying that peerless beauty!”

“Don’t push—look! The princess is standing up—she’s coming over!”

Dressed in black fitted attire, Qian Yi stood before the arena, clasping her fists to the crowd with a strong martial air. She spoke coldly, “Today’s contest determines my husband. Only those who defeat my guards may challenge me. Whoever defeats me becomes my husband. Anyone who falls off the platform loses; anyone who surrenders loses. The use of Dou Qi is forbidden. Weapons—choose freely!”

With a sweep of her right hand, rows of sharp weapons appeared on the platform. The crowd collectively inhaled sharply—blades had no eyes. If someone were injured, what then?

“I’ll do it!” A burly man roared, leaping onto the platform. His lustful eyes locked onto Qian Yi as he reached for her shoulder.

But he was fast—those two guards were faster. The instant he moved, they seized his arms coldly. “Defeat us first before you’re qualified to fight the princess.”

“You two? Hah—then let me see what you’re made of!” the man roared, retreating swiftly and drawing the twin sabers laid out nearby. Like a tiger descending the mountain, he charged forward. Each blade weighed dozens of pounds, yet in his hands they seemed like toys.

With a ferocious swing, the blade struck down—the platform cracked with a sharp crack. One could imagine what would happen if such a blow landed on a person.

Yet the two guards merely watched indifferently, stepping back in unison before leaping forward with a sweeping kick. Bang! The man was sent flying off the platform, crashing to the ground. No announcement was needed—he had lost.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. How powerful must that kick have been to send a man flying like that?

“Next,” came the cold voice. Qian Yi set down her teacup, her sharp gaze sweeping the area before locking onto a figure in white.

He had come.

The man known as the Evil King—did he still seek other prey even after already having a woman? Since her father wanted to recruit him, even becoming his concubine would be acceptable.

At least this man—

Her heart trembled. She quickly pulled her gaze back and drained her teacup in one gulp.

The crowd looked around, none daring to step forward. Everyone knew the Qian family’s guards were monstrously strong. Without absolute confidence, no one would dare provoke them openly.

Otherwise, they’d end up like the man on the ground with three broken ribs.

Among the crowd, Luo Mingyu found it amusing. Just one exchange, and no one dared step up anymore? Everyone knew what marrying the princess meant—half the realm would belong to him. Yet at the crucial moment, if one lacked strength, whose fault was that?

Still, he didn’t intend to step up just yet. At the very least, he wanted to see something interesting. With a slight smile, Luo Mingyu stayed put—while the people on the platform grew impatient. A killing intent flashed in Qian Yi’s eyes as her gaze landed squarely on him.

“Princess, allow me to greet you.” Breaking the silence, a man in blue stepped forward amid the crowd. Holding a folding fan, he wore a faint smile. Unlike the others, he didn’t leap onto the platform, but ascended step by step via the stairs.

The moment he appeared, the crowd gasped again.

“Isn’t that Zhao Han, Young Master of the Zhao residence? Why is he here?!”

“Could it be he also intends to marry the princess? But General Zhao and General Qian are at odds—this marriage would be…”

“Enough talk—if he dares step up, we dare to watch!”

The man flicked his fan and smiled lightly, his gaze fixed on Qian Yi as he spoke casually,
“Princess, do you really think these two lowly guards are a match for me?”