CHAPTER 100 — WHEN HIS HIGHNESS LIED WITH A STRAIGHT FACE
Ye Lan Chen, though startled, had long prepared himself for such a scene. The Third Prince before him was nothing like the aloof, untouchable elder brother he had known for years. Yet if all this uncharacteristic tenderness was for Tang Ke Xin's sake, he could not bring himself to object.
The more the Third Prince changed for her, the more certain Ye Lan Chen became aware that Tang Ke Xin was… special.
"Oh."
Tang Ke Xin responded listlessly, yet she still obeyed and placed the chess piece where she pleased.
After doing so, she glanced toward Feng Qingyan, who still stood rigidly beneath the pavilion's eaves. A faint sympathy stirred within her. Feng Qingyan had done nothing wrong—she had simply fallen in love with a man she should never have loved.
If the Third Prince truly preferred men, if his heart truly belonged to Nangong Yi, then Feng Qingyan's devotion would never be returned. No matter how much she gave, it would all be in vain.
Realising this, Tang Ke Xin relaxed a little.
If Ye Lan Jue truly liked men, then he would never harbour designs on her. She need not be so tense around him.
She had been so nervous earlier that she had forgotten this entirely.
Still, the Third Prince would never reciprocate Feng Qingyan's feelings. If today's display could make Feng Qingyan finally give up, then perhaps it was a kindness in disguise.
Women like Feng Qingyan—fierce in love, fierce in hate—were rare in this era.
"Focus. Do not look elsewhere."
Ye Lan Jue's voice cut through her thoughts, laced with unmistakable displeasure.
He had not lowered his voice.
Feng Qingyan heard every word.
Her heart twisted painfully.
He and Tang Ke Xin stood so close, spoke so intimately, as though she were invisible. As though she were an annoyance.
Your Highness… what is your heart made of?
How could he be so cold to her, yet so gentle to Tang Ke Xin?
"Here."
The Third Prince resumed his instruction, guiding Tang Ke Xin's hand with a patience no one had ever witnessed from him.
Not far away, the Crown Prince halted mid‑step.
His gaze darkened, his expression turning glacial.
The Third Prince had begun by merely pointing out moves.
But gradually, his hand had closed over Tang Ke Xin's, guiding her fingers, holding her hand as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Tang Ke Xin felt it too—the subtle shift, the creeping intimacy.
But with Feng Qingyan watching, and the Crown Prince lurking nearby, she forced herself to remain composed.
Still, discomfort prickled beneath her skin.
Why did it feel as though he were taking advantage of her?
If she did not believe he liked men—if she did not believe he had no interest in women, not even one as beautiful and accomplished as Feng Qingyan—she would never have agreed to this absurd performance.
When Ye Lan Jue once again tried to guide her hand, Tang Ke Xin abruptly shifted her position and placed the chess piece down herself.
"I'll put it here," she said firmly.
Ye Lan Jue understood her defiance instantly.
His lips curved faintly.
He liked her like this—unfiltered, genuine—not meekly yielding for the sake of appearances.
"Not bad," he murmured. "This king did not realise your moves were so good."
Tang Ke Xin stared at the board.
Good?
Her move was utterly useless—practically a gift to Ye Lan Chen.
Was he blind?
This move alone could cost him the entire match.
"Continue," he said.
Tang Ke Xin picked up another piece.
This time, she deliberately chose the most disastrous move possible.
Ye Lan Jue's eyes glinted with amusement.
Feng Qingyan, watching from the side, let out a soft, derisive breath.
Tang Ke Xin clearly knew nothing of chess.
Yet even after mocking her, Feng Qingyan's heart twisted further.
She excelled in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Tang Ke Xin excelled in none of these.
So why… why was he so gentle with her?
"But Xin xin, that move is wrong."
Even Ye Lan Chen could not bear it. His voice was earnest, not mocking.
"Wrong?" Tang Ke Xin blinked innocently at Ye Lan Jue.
"No," Ye Lan Jue replied smoothly. "It was very well done."
Ye Lan Chen's mouth twitched.
If his royal brother insisted on such nonsense, he could hardly contradict him.
Feng Qingyan's nails dug into her palms.
Since when had the Third Prince ever been so patient?
So indulgent?
So… gentle?
Never.
Not once.
Not with anyone.
"Oh? Then should I continue?" Tang Ke Xin asked sweetly.
If her atrocious move was "very good," then she wanted to see how far he would take this lie.
"Of course," Ye Lan Jue said without hesitation.
Tang Ke Xin placed another piece—quickly, decisively, disastrously.
"But—my heart—" Ye Lan Chen cried, too late.
Feng Qingyan nearly laughed aloud.
Tang Ke Xin was hopeless.
"Did I make another mistake?" Tang Ke Xin asked, eyes wide.
"No," Ye Lan Jue said calmly. "Very good."
His expression did not waver.
His tone did not falter.
He lied with the ease of breathing.
"Truly? Not a mistake? Very good?" she pressed, wanting to see how deep his shamelessness ran.
"Yes," he said. "Very good. Very clever."
Ye Lan Chen had nothing left to say.
This was no longer chess.
This was… something else entirely.
Feng Qingyan's composure finally cracked.
Hatred flickered openly in her eyes.
She wanted nothing more than to shove Tang Ke Xin aside and take her place.
Not far away, the Crown Prince's gaze grew venomous.
That woman fled from him as though he were a plague—yet now she stood willingly in Ye Lan Jue's arms, letting him hold her hand.
"Third Brother," Ye Lan Chen said at last, "shall we continue this game?"
Ye Lan Jue did not answer immediately.
Instead, he turned to Tang Ke Xin.
"What do you think?"
Feng Qingyan's hands clenched beneath her sleeves, nails biting into her skin.
Tang Ke Xin blinked innocently.
"Well… although Your Highness says I've played very well, I feel a little guilty. Perhaps the Third Prince should continue from here."
She smiled sweetly.
If he insisted she had made no mistakes, then let him prove it.
Let him win from this impossible position.
Ye Lan Chen stared, stunned.
What?
Did she expect the Third Prince to salvage this mess?
Even a deity would struggle to revive this board.
Feng Qingyan glared daggers at Tang Ke Xin.
Was she trying to humiliate the Third Prince?
Ye Lan Jue's eyebrow lifted.
Guilty?
She was enjoying herself far too much.
This woman was becoming bolder by the day.
"Your Highness," Tang Ke Xin said, blinking up at him, "shall we continue? Did I make a mistake?"
She wanted to see if he would still lie with a straight face.