Nine out of ten gamblers lose; I've run into a jerk!

Chapter 39 An Unexpected Joy

As the moon rose above the willow branches, Princess Fukang continued to ramble on about how handsome and talented Zhao Zheng was, praising him as unparalleled in heaven and earth.

Jingchuan looked at her holding her face and swooning over her, raised his hand to press his temples, and tried to soften his tone as he said, "Alright, alright~ Even if the fourth prince of Jing Kingdom is truly an unparalleled figure, Jing Kingdom is now welcoming a crown princess. The probability of Zhao Zheng becoming the crown prince is only one in nine. You might not be able to marry him if you go there."

Fukang looked at him strangely, his bright eyes full of self-righteousness, "Since he is unparalleled in the world, what reason is there for him not to become the crown prince?"

"..."

Jingchuan slapped his own mouth, realizing he shouldn't have said such things. He took a deep breath and said, "What I was saying just now was... just going along with what you said, after all, I've never met him."

“I’ve met him,” Fukang blinked his bright, watery eyes. “He’s just as good as I described.”

"..." Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the eyes of a young girl just beginning to experience love, her sweetheart is the best person in the world. She couldn't help but feel a little jealous. They've only known each other for a few days, and she already doesn't want her brother anymore.

If I speak ill of Zhao Zheng again, my sister might get angry. After thinking for a moment, Jingchuan said, "What Jingguo wants is a legitimate princess, so you'd better stop causing trouble."

Fukang disagreed, "But Fucheng doesn't want to marry. She cries in front of the Empress Dowager all day long, saying that if she is forced into a marriage alliance, she will hang herself with a rope."

"That's a normal person's reaction!" Jing Chuan said earnestly, "Miao Miao, think back carefully. From childhood to adulthood, have we ever had a chance to get anything good? Fu Cheng is so smart. How could something she would rather die than accept be a good thing?"

“But Fucheng would never eat the rats we ate when we were kids, even if it meant death, but we would really die if we didn’t eat them.”

Upon hearing this, Jingchuan's heart skipped a beat. He grasped Fukang's hand and asked nervously, "Did the Empress force you to do this?"

The more I think about it, the more likely it seems. The political landscape of the various countries can change in an instant. If Jing and Qi go to war one day, the princesses who are to be married off might be sacrificed to the flag. The empress would naturally be reluctant to let Fucheng go to another country for a marriage alliance. Currently, the only eligible princess is Miaomiao, who can go to the marriage alliance in place of Fucheng.

Jingchuan was furious. This was simply outrageous! They enjoyed wealth and luxury on their high thrones, but when it came time to fulfill their royal duties, they dragged the siblings out to take the blame!

Seeing that Jingchuan's face was pale and he looked like he was about to faint, Fukang quickly patted his back with his chubby little hands to help him catch his breath.

“Brother, the Empress didn’t force me. It’s just that, as you know, we siblings have to fight tooth and nail for whatever we want. A one in nine chance of winning is already quite high, isn’t it?”

“As for the legitimate princess, I am now being raised by the Empress. As long as she asks the Emperor to register me under her name in the imperial genealogy, then I will be the legitimate princess,” Fukang lowered his eyelids. “It’s just that my mother will probably be heartbroken in the afterlife.”

Jingchuan held Fukang's hand and said, "Your mother only cares about whether you are doing well or not. Even if you marry Zhao Zheng as you wish, have you thought about the consequences of war between the Jing and Qi kingdoms in the future?"

“I have thought about it,” Fu Cheng looked up at Jing Chuan with determination, “If the princess dies for the country, I will hang myself to die for my country!”

Jingchuan was shocked by the conviction in Fukang's eyes. His sister couldn't possibly be blinded by love; she must have something to do with this.

"Miaomiao, tell me, what are you after? Let me help you figure something out, okay?"

Fukang shook his head. "I've lived cautiously since I was a child, afraid to make even the slightest mistake. I don't want to live like this anymore. I don't want to be casually given away as a gift to some nobleman. I don't want to live a life of humiliation. So I want to take this gamble!"

Jingchuan's gaze was deep and unfathomable, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts, as if he were struggling with something.

The next morning—

Shen Che went through the formalities and submitted the documents to the Qi State Attendant's Platform. Not long after, he received an imperial edict from the eunuch, summoning him to the Qi Emperor's presence.

Shen Qing thought that Emperor Qi was not pretentious at all, and did not leave them hanging for a long time like in a melodramatic drama. If Shen Che knew what he was thinking, he would be speechless. The negotiations were over long ago. They were just passing by and paying a courtesy visit. Qi Kingdom made things difficult for them, not only because they were petty, but also because they were stupid.

Shen Qing, a private guard without official rank, was not qualified to enter the palace to meet the emperor and could only stay at the post station like other soldiers.

Before leaving, Shen Che repeatedly told Shen Qing to stay at the inn and not to wander off or cause any trouble.

Shen Qing was speechless. When had someone as cautious as him ever caused trouble?

Seeing that Shen Qing clearly lacked self-awareness, Shen Che sighed softly and turned to Du Zhong, instructing him, "Keep an eye on Sanlang."

"promise."

Shen Che finally felt a little relieved and boarded the carriage to enter Qi Palace.

Shen Qing, bored out of his mind, wandered aimlessly along the corridor in the inn, with Du Zhong following closely behind him.

"Creak—" A door to a side room was opened, and a handsome young man in black robes walked out.

Holy crap! This handsome face is just as good as his past life's!

Some people, you don't need to ask, you can guess their identity the moment you see them in a crowd.

This person must be Zhao Zheng, the fourth prince of Jingguo, whom Princess Fukang was pursuing so madly. Looking at it this way, it's not hard to understand Princess Fukang. A super handsome man with the potential to inherit the throne would make any normal woman swoon.

Feeling being watched, Zhao Zheng glanced at Shen Qing, then walked past without looking to the side.

It's no wonder Zhao Zheng was rude. After all, Shen Qing's current attire resembled that of a domesticated guard, and he might even have thought Shen Qing was impolite for not bowing to a prince.

Shen Qing wasn't dazed by the handsome man; she just felt it wasn't worth it for a Xuan citizen to bow down to a Jing nobleman on Qi territory.

With nothing else to do, Shen Qing chatted with the innkeeper to gather information, not forgetting that Qi Kingdom had a skilled craftsman who could create Rubik's Cubes and "flying boats".

"Oh, you mean Master Liang? His fame has even spread to your Xuan Kingdom?"

"Yes, when the Qi Kingdom delegation visited Xuan Kingdom last time, they presented some of Master Liang's works as gifts. My husband saw the Third Prince playing with them and liked them very much. Now that we're in Qi Kingdom, we naturally want to purchase them."

The minor official was proud and said, "Master Liang always has ingenious ideas and his skills are superb. The nobles and nobles of Baifeng City all love the things he makes."

"Master Liang lives in Baifeng City?"

"That's right. Master Liang is the best carpenter in our Qi Kingdom. It's a pity that ever since he made a set of mechanical dressing boxes for Princess Fucheng two years ago, he has become the royal craftsman and no longer takes on private work."

Shen Qing also said it was a pity, "I also have some basic carpentry skills. I wonder if I could pay you a visit?"

“That’s fine. Master Liang lives in Guangming Lane, Sanshui Street. There are always artisans who come to visit him because of his reputation.”

"It's true!" Shen Qing was surprised. He had just asked casually, "Shouldn't craftsmen of this caliber be isolated and protected?"

Or perhaps Emperor Qi hadn't realized his value yet, thinking he was only good for making amusement toys, when he was actually a technically skilled person!

Hehe~ Maybe we can poach someone from the wall!