I'm competing with the male lead for a woman[GL]

Chapter 159: So... she wouldn't be treated as a substitute, right?

Upon hearing Xiao Jin utter the two words "I," the Crown Prince remained silent for a long time.

As the atmosphere in the hall became eerily quiet, he removed his fingers from the silver chopsticks and smiled, saying, "The affection between the Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law is truly enviable, like a harmonious melody that astounds others. It could be crafted into a legendary tale."

Xiao Jin didn't believe in the sincerity behind the Crown Prince's blessing and replied indifferently, "I appreciate the auspicious words, Your Highness."

The smile on the Crown Prince's face remained unchanged as he instructed a palace maid beside him, "Remove that chair and let the Prince Yan take a seat."

The palace maid quickly removed the chair and had Old Zhang, the steward, push Xiao Jin's wheelchair inside. While the palace maid was pushing the wheelchair, the Crown Prince casually glanced in Xiao Jin's direction and noticed that Old Zhang was holding a wooden tray with some clothes inside.

He asked, "What is it that the steward is holding?"

Startled by the sudden question from the Crown Prince, Old Zhang, feeling a bit nervous, bowed and replied, "In response to Your Highness, my lord considered that the Princess might have accumulated dust on her clothes during the journey, so she brought some garments for her to change into."

Upon hearing Old Zhang's words, Chu Shao looked at Xiao Jin, a faint smile forming on her lips, clearly in a very good mood.

However, the Crown Prince couldn't genuinely smile at the moment. He asked Xiao Jin, "Is the Third Brother blaming me for not being a good host?"

Xiao Jin glanced at Chu Shao, dressed in blood-red clothes, and thought to herself, Isn't this obvious? Not even allowing her to change her clothes and questioning her here, how is that considered thoughtful?

Of course, Xiao Jin had only overheard bits and pieces while eavesdropping outside the hall, completely unaware of the context and the fact that Chu Shao herself had no intention of changing clothes.

Thus, the words she spoke carried little goodwill, "Your younger brother doesn't dare. Your younger brother only knows that there are some stains on the Princess's clothes, so she should change."

The Crown Prince stared at Xiao Jin for a while, without intending to justify himself, and simply said, "I was negligent. Please, Third sister-in-law, enter the side hall and change."

Soon after, Chu Shao received the clothes presented by Old Zhang and before entering the side hall to change, she smiled and slightly bowed to the Crown Prince.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

A killing intent that strikes the heart, there is none more lethal.

Before Chu Shao came out after changing clothes, neither of the two men in the hall intended to speak first or utter a word.

The entire grand hall was deadly silent, with palace maids standing in their original positions, their heads lowered, focusing on their own shoes.

Old Zhang, standing by Xiao Jin's side, had cold sweat on his palms, desperately thinking of ways to ease the tension but finding none.

It wasn't until Chu Shao stepped into the hall that the Crown Prince took the initiative to break the deadlock, turning his head and smiling at Xiao Jin, "Third brother, it seems that I only need a single sentence to pronounce someone guilty."

However, this time, his tone lacked the sense of a warm spring breeze and faintly revealed a hint of threat.

Xiao Jin knew that Emperor Qi wouldn't live much longer, and it was only a matter of time before she and the male lead would have a falling out.