The tiger didn’t give Jun Chenxi any chance to react, leaving her no choice but to keep dodging.

From that moment on, aside from the first time she injured the tiger, she couldn’t find another opportunity to attack it.

Instead, she was forced into an embarrassing struggle, narrowly avoiding injury several times.

【Hahaha, this crazy woman looks so pathetic! This is hilarious!】

Why was the tiger acting so crazed today? Jun Chenxi gritted her teeth, cold sweat forming on her back. Her stamina was beginning to wane.

She clenched her teeth and reached into her robes, pulling out a packet of medicinal powder.

This powder could cause hallucinations, gradually weakening the victim until they succumbed to death.

Jun Chenxi’s eyes flashed with ruthless determination. Killing intent surged within her.

Beast, today you die!

Moving swiftly, she scattered the powder toward the tiger while dodging.

Lin Yuxin noticed the murderous intent in the princess’s eyes and saw the powder being thrown. Her heart sank.

【Not good! This crazy woman actually wants to kill the tiger? If it dies, how will this competition proceed? She can’t ruin my plans!】

Thinking quickly, Lin Yuxin reached into her robes and retrieved a bamboo flute—though in reality, she took it from her personal space.

She brought it to her lips.

A gentle melody echoed throughout the plaza, soothing all who heard it.

“What’s going on? Why is Lin Yuxin playing music at a time like this?”

“Is the princess trying to kill the tiger? Wouldn’t that be against the rules?”

“The people of Qi Kingdom are always so shameless!”

The officials began whispering among themselves, some showing concern.

This competition was about national honor—if Lin Yuxin lost, not only would the Xia Kingdom lose face, but they would also forfeit ten cities!

Although, truth be told, most of them didn’t believe Lin Yuxin could win.

Even the emperor’s expression darkened as he watched the scene unfold.

Meanwhile, Li Xiaocheng had already stood up.

He stepped outside the grand hall, standing behind the soldiers, his gaze fixed on the arena.

No matter what, he couldn’t let Lin Yuxin die.

As the tiger heard the melody, it gradually calmed down. However, the effects of the poison soon kicked in, and after a brief pause, the tiger became restless again.

“Awwooo!”

It paced anxiously, leaping about, but no longer attacked Jun Chenxi. Instead, it turned its gaze toward Lin Yuxin.

Moments later, it started running toward her.

Lin Yuxin did not stop playing nor did she move.

She remained seated on the ground, her expression serene, like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal realm.

The spectators in the grand hall were on edge, certain the tiger would devour her.

Zhao Hanya’s eyes reddened with worry.

Yuxin, you have to be okay!

But as the tiger reached Lin Yuxin, it stopped in front of her. It didn’t attack.

Instead, it simply stared at her. Then, as if tired from standing, it lay down at her feet, listening to the music.

Lin Yuxin played until the song ended.

Once she stopped, the drug’s effects caused the tiger to become restless again.

“Woo… woo…”

But instead of attacking her, it lay on the ground, whimpering.

“All right, I know you’re uncomfortable. Here, eat this. You’ll feel better.”

Lin Yuxin reached out and stroked its head before pulling out a pill from her robes.

She placed it in the tiger’s mouth.

Within moments, the tiger settled down, remaining at her feet, enjoying her touch.

It looked so docile that one might mistake it for a cat instead of a tiger.

“Did… did she just tame it?”

“I think so? That tiger is acting like a pet now!”

“Since when did the Lin family’s daughter have this kind of ability? That’s incredible!”

The ministers were dumbfounded.

They had expected a bloody fight, yet she had won without shedding a single drop of blood. This reversal was unbelievable!

The Third Prince of Qi Kingdom observed Lin Yuxin with growing interest.

This woman… is intriguing.

Jun Chenxi’s eyes flickered with unease. A sense of foreboding crept over her.

Had this woman really tamed the tiger?

No!

No matter what, she couldn’t let Lin Yuxin win!

Jun Chenxi suddenly raised her whip and lashed out at the tiger.

Lin Yuxin frowned.

This woman really is crazy!

Well then, let’s see who’s crazier!

She swiftly lifted her bamboo flute and began playing again.

But this time, the melody changed—it was no longer gentle, but intense and commanding.

As the whip was about to strike the tiger, it suddenly leaped aside, dodging the attack.

Then, in an instant, it lunged at Jun Chenxi, knocking her to the ground.

“Bang!”

Jun Chenxi crashed into the ground.

She struggled to get up, her eyes filled with murderous rage.

She, a dignified princess, was utterly humiliated today!

Lin Yuxin, you deserve to die!

Jun Chenxi glared at Lin Yuxin with unbridled hatred.

She lifted her whip once more—but this time, she didn’t aim at the tiger.

She aimed at Lin Yuxin.

If Lin Yuxin died, the tiger would die soon after anyway.

Lin Yuxin’s expression changed.

【Shit! This crazy woman’s lost it! Now she’s trying to kill me? Did the plot change? Is this an assassination now?】

Narrowing her eyes, Lin Yuxin stopped playing and leaped onto the tiger’s back. The tiger remained calm.

“Smack!”

Jun Chenxi’s whip landed where Lin Yuxin had just been, missing her entirely.

Sitting atop the tiger, Lin Yuxin looked down at Jun Chenxi with an amused smile.

“Princess, are you refusing to admit defeat? Are you planning to silence me to cover it up?”

“Lin Yuxin! I will kill you!”

Jun Chenxi gritted her teeth, her voice filled with hatred.

Lin Yuxin sighed dramatically.

“Princess, I’m honestly curious—before today, we had never even met. Why are you targeting me? What did I ever do to you?”

Since the princess had challenged her to this duel, she had sensed nothing but hostility.

But she had never wronged this woman before.

So why did she act as if Lin Yuxin was her mortal enemy?

“Hah! Don’t you deserve to die? Any woman that Li Xiaocheng so much as glances at should die!”

Jun Chenxi’s eyes burned with jealousy, as if Lin Yuxin had stolen her beloved.

Lin Yuxin was speechless.

【Is this woman insane? Seriously! If being looked at by Li Xiaocheng is a crime, then every woman in the world should be dead by now. If you’re so obsessed, why don’t you just kidnap him and make him your prince consort? Why take it out on me?】

“Princess Chenxi, do you really think you can kill me today? Look around you. You’re in Xia Kingdom, standing before its emperor. If you kill me here, do you think you’ll walk out of here alive?”

Lin Yuxin was done entertaining this madness.

She shrugged, kindly reminding the princess of her current predicament.

Jun Chenxi stiffened.

She glanced around and finally realized—this was Xia Kingdom, and the emperor himself was watching.

Because of the tiger’s earlier rampage, the imperial guards had surrounded the entire plaza in layers upon layers of security.

She was trapped.