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

Chapter 123: There was no doubt that its next target- Was Chu Shao

The Empress Qi also smiled and nodded, "Qing'er, you may dispense with the formalities. It's been a long time since we last saw you. You've grown into a young lady. Come forward and let His Majesty and I take a look."

Hearing the words of the Emperor Qi and the Empress, Xiao Jin fell silent.

If she didn't remember incorrectly, the Empress had seen Xiao Qing just a few days ago at her birthday banquet. It was truly astonishing how time seemed to fly for the Empress. In just a few days, a little girl had grown into a young lady.

If she hadn't been certain that she had transmigrated into an ordinary ancient novel, Xiao Jin would have almost believed the Empress's nonsense, thinking she possessed some incredible power to manipulate the flow of time. Xiao Jin couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated.

Meanwhile, in Xiao Qing's eyes, the Empress was the epitome of grace and kindness, always treating her well. So, naturally, whatever the Empress said was right.

With a big bunch of flowers in her hands, Xiao Qing happily took a few steps forward and coquettishly said to the Empress, "Empress Mother, Qing'er discovered these flowers in a forest, but it was quite muddy there, and they look dirty."

Xiao Jin lowered her gaze and looked at the mud stains on Xiao Qing's shoes, confirming that she was indeed a troublesome little brat.

"These flowers grew in the muddy marsh?" Emperor Qi looked at the flowers that Xiao Qing held in her hands, his eyebrows slightly furrowing in thought.

Xiao Qing smiled and said, "Yes, Qing'er saw these flowers growing in the muddy marsh. Initially, I didn't want to pick them, but when I saw many sisters trying to tiptoe and pick them, I wanted to pick a few to show you and the Empress Mother, so I went ahead."

"These flowers are quite beautiful," the Empress said as she looked at the blood-red bouquet in Xiao Qing's hands. Though she didn't find them particularly appealing, she offered a symbolic compliment.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jin looked at the flowers in Princess Qing's hands and couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something off about the petals.

Flowers growing in a muddy marsh? That was unheard of.

Emperor Qi also found it strange that two unusual incidents had occurred on the same day, making the situation slightly eerie. He said to Xiao Qing, "The grasslands are home to various types of flowers. These flowers are brightly colored and red, but I am unaware of their toxicity. Qing'er, it might be better to discard the flowers."

"No!" Xiao Qing looked at Emperor Qi with a pitiful expression, tightly hugging the flowers in her hands. "Imperial Uncle, I worked hard to pick these flowers. How can I just throw them away?"

It turned out that Xiao Jin's guess was completely correct.

Xiao Qing was indeed a troublesome little brat.

And she belonged to the type that wouldn't shed tears until she saw the coffin, the most suffocating kind.

Chu Shao listened to Xiao Qing's words, her smile undiminished. However, her gaze shifted to Princess Roujia, who had already moved away from this side without anyone noticing.

Recalling that she had whispered to Chu Shao before, warning her about the muddy path that would dirty her shoes, Xiao Qing now claimed that she had picked the flowers from the muddy marsh.

In that case, it meant that these flowers were probably not simple.

The thoughts of everyone present were varied, and the sudden turn of events occurred in an instant.

The white tiger's back was pierced by several arrows, and the wounds were soaked in a pool of blood. Originally, it had been panting and lying low in the iron cage, vigilant and weakly growling.

But in the next moment, triggered by an unknown stimulus, it suddenly let out a furious roar.

Using its body to ram the iron cage and violently shaking the entire structure, it gnashed its teeth fiercely against the cage bars.

"Bang!"

Hearing the resounding collision, everyone at the banquet was frightened, and they stood up from their seats.

The more timid ones had already panicked and fled to the other side.

The guards, feeling as if facing a formidable enemy, drew their swords and shouted, "The beast has gone mad! Quickly, protect His Majesty and the Empress!"

Chaos ensued in the venue.

Xiao Jin observed the situation and wasn't particularly surprised.

Amidst the chaos and people scrambling in all directions, she simply grabbed Ye Juege's sleeve and stared at her with her dark, shiny eyes. "Go find the Princess."

"Your Highness, I'm afraid I can't comply with your command. What if this is a trap..." Ye Juege whispered hesitantly.

Xiao Jin's voice remained calm. "It's a trap."

Ye Juege looked at Xiao Jin in astonishment and hurriedly said, "If you know it's a trap, then why..."

"Somebody set the trap, but they don't intend to harm me," Xiao Jin explained, lifting her hand and pointing to the broken cage. "Look, it only goes after those who carry a fragrant scent."

Following Xiao Jin's indication, Ye Juege looked in the direction she pointed.

On the other side of the venue, Xiao Qing stood stunned, holding the flowers in her hands. As she turned around, she suddenly noticed the white tiger with its round, crimson eyes, angrily pouncing towards her.

She was just an underage girl who had never encountered such a fierce beast.

In an instant, she screamed and let go of the flowers in her hands, running in panic in random directions.

Seeing this scene, Prince Shen became frantic, shouting loudly to the guards beside him, "Why are you still standing here? Hurry and save my daughter! If anything happens to the princess, I will execute all of your families!"

Faced with such a massive beast, the guards felt a sense of fear, but upon hearing Prince Shen's words, they could only reluctantly raise their bows and arrows and shoot at the white tiger.

"Swoosh—"

Perhaps due to the fear in their hearts, several feathered arrows were shot simultaneously, barely hitting one of them.

The arrow struck the white tiger's front paw, causing it pain. However, instead of slowing down, it let out a fiercer roar.

With powerful legs and bared fangs, it pounced towards the screaming Xiao Qing who was running in terror.

At this moment, it wasn't only Prince Shen who was almost on the verge of spitting blood out of anger.

Xiao Jin saw Xiao Qing spreading her legs and running towards Chu Shao. With her vision already turning black, she cursed the other person countless times in her heart.

On one side was the massive and terrifying beast, while on the other side stood Chu Shao, with a delicate and fragile figure like paper.

Chu Shao's features still carried a faint smile, serene as a lake's reflection.

But the white tiger, with its blood-stained claws, swiftly approached, as if it wanted to tear apart this perfect painting.

First, it knocked down the screaming Xiao Qing to the ground, lifting its front paw and leaving a ferocious bloodstain on her back.

Then it opened its sharp fangs, revealing a vicious gleam in its blood-red eyes.

It straightened its body, assuming an attacking posture.

There was no doubt that its next target—

Was Chu Shao.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Translator's note: A yandere vs. a white tiger? Who wins?! It's just... RIP, White Tiger-kun. 😌

TO BE CONTINUE...