Harem Daily Life

Chapter 1020 I Must Say a Fair Word Today

Chen Bin looked at the Third Princess, who was completely dry, and was so angry that his teeth were chattering.

"I'm not old and blind yet. The Third Princess and I hit it off immediately. We were admiring a collection of poems by the pond when, without warning, we both fell into the water. I lifted the princess ashore, and then her maid took her away." As he spoke, he took out a waterlogged collection of poems from his wet sleeve and showed it to everyone.

“I am a witness, and this collection of poems is physical evidence. Why does the Third Princess deny it? Don’t worry, now that I have seen your body, I will ask for your hand in marriage. I hope the princess will stop making trouble and admit it quickly.”

"How dare you! My clothes are dry, there is not a trace of water on them. In order to cover up the truth, you are trying to frame and attack unrelated people. What exactly do you want?" He Min's questioning voice puzzled everyone. Before anyone could ask, He Min said to Qing'er beside her, "Go and invite someone out."

Amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Qing'er went inside for a while, then returned with Xiao Nan, who was soaking wet.

Xiao Nan's hair and clothes were wet. He looked around at everyone and said calmly, "I was the one who fell into the water, not the Third Princess. It was the Third Princess who helped me and her maid who pulled me ashore. I thank the Third Princess for saving my life."

He Yue and He Yanran exchanged glances, and they all saw an unusual light in each other's eyes.

"Lord Xiao, there's no need to be so polite. Saving you was just a small favor. You were tricked into this mess by Young Master Chen. If I didn't save you, wouldn't you be going to be engaged to him? He's fond of poetry and literature and admires your talent. He's probably been eyeing you for a long time. You'd better be careful!"

He Min's words shocked everyone present, and Xiao Nan stared at her in a daze.

Her eyes questioned: "I didn't mention that Young Master Chen was also thinking about me... Wait, you can make up a story about two men? Aren't you afraid of making something so outrageous that you can't explain it back?"

Xiao Nan was stunned, and his mind raced as he tried to come up with a solution.

"What...what is this all about? Could the Third Princess explain it more clearly?" someone asked, clearly confused by what the Third Princess had said.

He Min sighed, "Gentlemen, I shouldn't have said this, but Young Master Chen insisted, so I had to. I just came here with my maid and saw Lord Xiao being stopped by Young Master Chen, who claimed to be discussing poetry, but instead pulled Lord Xiao into the water when he wasn't looking. This Young Master Chen... I can't even bring myself to say it. He's been eyeing Lord Xiao for a long time, just waiting for him to fall into his trap!"

Xiao Nan closed his eyes, looking utterly dejected. To everyone else, he looked like a victim of manipulation, soaking wet and pitiful.

Chen Bin panicked. He hadn't expected the Third Princess to say such things about him. If she ruined his reputation and said he liked men, what right would he have to ask for her hand in marriage? He angrily retorted, "Third Princess, don't slander me! I've always liked women, how could I like men?"

Behind the crowd, Young Master Cheng lowered his eyes silently upon hearing Chen Bin's words. He Yinuo, who had been standing beside him unnoticed, was now looking up at him: "How can he say he doesn't like men? Where does he place you?"

Young Master Cheng was frightened and tried to run away, but He Yinuo grabbed his clothes and said, "Are you willing to accept this? You've been hidden in the shadows all this time. Are you really willing to accept this? If you were to confirm your relationship with him today, maybe you could live happily ever after."

Young Master Cheng tugged at his sleeve, and He Yinuo threatened, "Dare to run? I have plenty of men."

Her servants stood in a row, blocking her way.

Young Master Cheng lowered his voice: "I don't know what the princess is talking about. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

Despite struggling to break free, Young Master Cheng still tried to escape.

"You two are clearly in love, why don't you dare to say it?" He Yinuo shouted out loud, and everyone heard her and turned around to look.

Young Master Cheng stood there stunned. His path was blocked by the Fifth Princess's servants, and behind him were pairs of probing eyes.

"Everyone, I must say something fair today!" He Yinuo waved her hand, and the crowd made way for her to step forward.

"This young master Chen is such a womanizer, always wanting more than he has, and he's playing these two handsome young men like puppets."

Young Master Cheng was forcibly pulled in front of everyone and stood next to Xiao Nan.

"Young Master Chen, you and Young Master Cheng are clearly in love, yet you drag Young Master Xiao into this mess, trying to have both of them. Doesn't your conscience hurt at all?" He Yinuo's questions caused a brief chaos in the scene.

"What? Young Master Chen and Young Master Cheng... is this the kind of relationship I'm thinking of?"

"No wonder they were always together. I thought they were just friends, but it turns out... they were that kind of friends."

"But both families are arranging marriages separately. Aren't they trying to deceive someone's daughter?"

"Do Lord Chen and Lord Cheng know? Oh my, this is simply the perfect handle for our political enemies!" The sons of Lord Chen and Lord Cheng's political enemies were overjoyed.

Chen Bin's face turned red and then pale: "Fifth Princess, you, you, you, don't talk nonsense! I've always liked women, not men, no!"

“But you were hugging Young Master Cheng.” He Yinuo said innocently.

"Does being a princess give you the right to slander others? I am not!"

"But you wiped his tears and kept calling him 'darling'." He Yinuo's eyes were innocent.

"No, Princess, this is slander and defamation! I'm going to be your third sister's husband, why are you slandering me?"

“But you promised him that you would only love him for the rest of your life.” He Yinuo was not guilty at all.

"You...you..." Chen Bin was furious.

"You clearly like him, yet you still have designs on Lord Xiao? Is Lord Xiao someone you can even think about? You even want to be my third sister's husband? I think you want to die!" He Yinuo was the most beloved little princess of the Great Zhou Emperor, and her words truly held the power of life and death.

At this moment, He Jin'an and Fan Changgeng had already heard the news and rushed over. They only heard He Yinuo's last words. Without asking why, He Jin'an raised his hand, and Yin Jiu and several guards stepped forward and kicked Chen Bin to his knees.

“Provoking Yu Nuo is indeed a capital offense.” He Jin’an glanced at everyone, and no one dared to breathe loudly, all lowering their heads.

He Yue recounted the events in a few words, and He Jin'an looked at Chen Bin as if he were looking at a dead object.

"You falsely accused the Third Princess of wrongdoing, plotted against court officials, and acted with despicable conduct and malicious intent. You ruined the Second Princess's banquet, allowing the Little Princess to hear and see your sordid deeds. Guards, take you to the Prefectural Governor's Office and subject you to severe torture. Inform the Chen family and order Lord Chen to come see me!"

Chen Bin looked ashamed and exclaimed, "I'm innocent! The Third Princess really did fall into the water!"

Yin Jiu stepped forward and knocked the man unconscious with a chop to the neck.

The guards dragged the person away like a dead dog, and no one dared to stay any longer, so they all left the garden.

Once only his family remained in the garden, He Jin'an looked at Xiao Nan and He Min and said, "You two come with me."