Chapter 111: The Strange Eldest Princess
Chapter 111: The Strange Eldest Princess
Brother, do you have to push yourself so hard?
Luo Xue really wanted to ask him that.
Thinking back to the miraculous scene from last night, she kept her mouth shut.
She looked at Ling Yi and said, “Then, you must be extra careful.”
Ling Yi nodded.
The little fox spirit was a bit slow on the uptake. “What’s wrong again?”
Ling Yi looked at her and said, “Tonight, you stay with Luo Xue. Remember, you must not use any charm spells on anyone. You are from the Yaozu. People who are truly powerful can tell at a glance.”
“Ah, could there be danger?” Hu Xiaoxian was stunned for a moment, a flicker of fear showing in her eyes as she looked at Ling Yi. “Should I not have come?”
“…”
Ling Yi looked at her somewhat helplessly. “Don’t worry. As long as you stick with Luo Xue and the Diplomatic Mission members, nothing will happen to you.”
Hu Xiaoxian still seemed uneasy. “But what if… what if someone tries to bully us? Can I run away first?”
Even Luo Xue was left speechless by this. She comforted her, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.”
Ling Yi couldn’t help but roll his eyes. A Golden Body, entry-level, protecting a Dao Enlightenment Master? What was she thinking?
Unexpectedly, Hu Xiaoxian immediately nodded vigorously. “Mhm, then you must protect me well.”
“…”
The carriage traveled along a quiet, winding mountain road, heading in the direction of the grand banquet hall at Lu Qingming’s mansion.
Ling Yi glanced at the road and realized it wasn’t the same direction as yesterday.
“This place is so beautiful.” As a member of the Yaozu, Hu Xiaoxian was very sensitive to the natural environment. She exclaimed with admiration, “It feels like everything here is full of spirit!”
Ling Yi glanced at her. A Dao-Entry Grade Yaozu being was indeed different. The aura of the Herb Garden was probably something ordinary human Daoists couldn’t sense.
But Hu Xiaoxian, born of the Yaozu, could clearly feel it.
A place that possessed a Miniature World, filled with large amounts of top-tier spiritual herbs—how could it not be full of spirit?
The carriage soon arrived at the venue for tonight’s banquet. When they got out, Hu Xiaoxian and Luo Xue instantly captivated the eyes of countless people.
From afar, the old man with the goatee was also momentarily stunned when he saw Luo Xue. Although he knew what she looked like, seeing such a breathtaking side of her was a first.
So beautiful, yet not put on display for him.
The Young Master of the Qingshan Sect couldn’t help feeling a bit sour.
Even if she was just a furnace, she was still his!
And now, she was smiling and holding onto someone else’s arm… And that woman in red was also very… Hmm? Yaozu?
The Young Master of the Qingshan Sect instinctively stroked the goatee on his chin, a strange gleam flashing in his eyes.
He never expected that Ling Yi had Yaozu around him. So beautiful, with captivating eyes in her gaze—probably from the Fox Clan, right?
If not for wanting to avoid conflict with the Yaozu, he might have savored the taste of this Fox Spirit… It must be delicious, right?
He swallowed his saliva, then followed the invitation of a group of Lu mansion servants and entered the banquet hall.
Only after the old man with the goatee went in did Ling Yi glance over there. He asked Luo Xue softly beside him, “Is it that group of people?”
Luo Xue frowned slightly. “I haven’t seen many of their people, but judging by that look… probably yes.”
At this moment, neither Ling Yi nor Luo Xue expected that the small, fifty-something-year-old old man with the goatee was actually the Young Master of the Qingshan Sect.
Generally, Young Masters were supposed to be very young.
Actually, there was still some habitual thinking. After all, there were even Crown Princes in their seventies or eighties, so a fifty-something-year-old Young Master wasn’t a big deal, right?
The ones who came out to welcome the Qin State Diplomatic Mission members were two stewards from the Lu mansion.
Yes, not only did Lu Qingming himself not come to greet them personally, but even his important right-hand men were busy welcoming others.
In the eyes of many, Qin State was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. This Diplomatic Mission was just a group of pitiful souls watching their country about to perish.
No one took them seriously.
If Qin State wasn’t pitiful, where would they get their meat from?
Walking all the way into the banquet hall, Ling Yi could clearly feel many people secretly watching him, sizing him up.
There were all kinds of looks—kind, malicious, mocking, disdainful, sympathetic and pitying…
Naturally, many men who considered themselves handsome also turned their eyes to Luo Xue and Hu Xiaoxian beside him.
Their gazes were very hot!
Two young, beautiful women easily stole the spotlight of the entire hall.
However, when another red figure appeared, the original duel of beauties directly turned into a three-way standoff.
Diwu Qianqian wore a red dress that fell past her knees. Her beautiful hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her face bore no makeup, and she wore no ornaments on her person, like an elf walking in the Mortal World.
Her appearance immediately caused a slight stir.
The little fox spirit’s expression remained calm. When it came to comparing beauty, she never feared anyone.
Let alone a little girl who had confided countless heartfelt thoughts to her before.
“Ling Yi, you’re here!” When Diwu Qianqian saw Ling Yi, her eyes instantly brightened.
She showed no hostility towards the two beautiful women. Smiling, she walked over and stood charmingly in front of Ling Yi.
Everyone: “…”
This was too much!
Was this the kind of attention a member of a Diplomatic Mission from a nearly destroyed state could have?
Throughout the entire banquet, there were only these three beautiful girls, and they were all gathered around him!
Could it get any more excessive?
As it turned out, it could.
After everyone was ushered into the banquet hall, not long after, someone announced—
“The Monarch has arrived!”
The Monarch of Chu State was actually coming!
Although it was said earlier that he would come, what was the status and position of the Chu State Monarch?
For him to come here, to attend the banquet for various Diplomatic Missions organized by Lu Qingming, was absolutely condescending.
Everyone from the six states present, along with those from Chu State itself, immediately stood up to greet the Monarch of the continent’s most powerful state.
The Chu State Monarch looked very old, but he moved with powerful, vigorous strides. His eyes shone with a sharp light as he strode in.
Beside him, half a step behind, followed an exquisitely beautiful woman!
The woman’s attire couldn’t be called particularly splendid, but her aura was extremely noble!
She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six. When she looked around, there was actually a hint of a commanding, superior air about her.
“Chu State’s Eldest Princess, Chu Yanyu. A Cabinet member. Rumor has it she’s a very formidable person. As for her style… it’s said to be a bit… you know.”
Gu Tong appeared beside Ling Yi, quietly introducing her to him.
Ling Yi looked over there. Coincidentally, Eldest Princess Chu Yanyu, following behind the Monarch, also happened to glance towards Ling Yi’s direction.
The moment their eyes met, Chu Yanyu actually gave Ling Yi a slight smile.
Although it lasted only an instant before Chu Yanyu turned her head to greet other people she knew, and almost no one noticed her smiling at Ling Yi, Gu Tong beside Ling Yi saw it clearly
He wore a look like he had seen a ghost.
What was going on?
Why was Chu Yanyu smiling at Ling Yi?
Was she trying to seduce the guy from my family?
How outrageous!
At that moment, Diwu Qianqian took Luo Xue’s hand without any reservation and said warmly, “Sister Luo Xue, shall we chat over there?”
Luo Xue: “…”
Are we that close?
We only met briefly yesterday, and today we’re already friends?
Diwu Qianqian then looked at Ling Yi and Hu Xiaoxian: “Come with us, too! What’s the fun in hanging around with a bunch of old men? Let’s go, let’s go! I’ll take you somewhere nice!”
As she spoke, she tugged Luo Xue to leave.
As for the Monarch of Chu State, Diwu Qianqian didn’t even consider him.
At that time, the Monarch of Chu State casually waved to the crowd, appearing as though he had no intention of giving a speech. He directly took a seat at the head table at the far end.
At that table sat Lu Qingming and the chief envoys from the other six states’ diplomatic missions.
The chief envoy of Qin State, Qi Gaofeng, calmly paid his respects to the Monarch of Chu State along with the others.
Ling Yi saw the Monarch of Chu State greeting each of them one by one; the scene seemed quite harmonious.
Damn, how fake!
He cursed in his mind and prepared to leave with Diwu Qianqian.
He had been wondering how to slip away from this place, and now this perfect opportunity had come—he didn’t want to miss it.
In just that short while, he had already felt several hostile gazes directed his way.
He guessed the next act would be an on-the-spot challenge performance, right?
Otherwise, how else would there be a chance to kill him?
Ling Yi had no interest in letting such a thing happen to him.
At that moment, however, the Eldest Princess of Chu State, Chu Yanyu, did not stay by her father’s side after helping him sit down. Instead, she took steps and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, walked toward Ling Yi.
People were utterly speechless.
How charming was he?
Even the Eldest Princess of Chu State couldn’t resist?
When she reached Ling Yi, Chu Yanyu first gave a slight nod, then looked at Diwu Qianqian and chided gently, “Planning to run off as soon as you arrive? Do you have no eyes for your sister anymore?”
Diwu Qianqian chuckled. “Who said I was running off? I just felt a bit stifled and wanted to get some fresh air!”
Chu Yanyu gave her a look that said “as if I don’t know you,” then turned to Ling Yi and said, “Young Master Ling, do you have time for a chat?”
Ling Yi was somewhat puzzled but nodded. “Of course.”
“Then, follow me.” Chu Yanyu smiled and walked out.
Diwu Qianqian: “…”
What do you mean, sister? My cultivation target, and you just whisk him away right in front of me?
You won’t let me go out, but you’re leaving?
How unfair!
Chu Yanyu glanced back at Diwu Qianqian and said, “Qianqian, help me take care of these two lovely sisters for now. I’ll return him to you in a bit.”
She even winked at Diwu Qianqian as she spoke.
Diwu Qianqian looked exasperated.
Chu Yanyu then led Ling Yi out of the banquet hall.
Once outside, some people who saw Chu Yanyu came over to pay their respects and then curiously sized up Ling Yi beside her.
Those who knew Ling Yi’s identity were even more astonished.
They couldn’t understand why the Eldest Princess of Chu State would be with this man from Qin State.
Chu Yanyu remained silent and led Ling Yi straight into a small building nearby.
Inside, Ling Yi saw that there were already some people in the room, along with a prepared dining table set with some pastries.
“I didn’t know your taste, so I just had some things prepared casually. If there’s anything you’d like to eat, you can tell me, and I’ll have it made for you,” Chu Yanyu said softly.
Ling Yi shook his head. “Thank you, but I’m not hungry yet.”
Chu Yanyu smiled slightly and waved her hand; the people in the room quickly withdrew.
She looked at Ling Yi. “They all want to kill you, yet you’re quite bold—not only daring to come to Chu State but also daring to come to Grand Tutor Lu’s place?”
So direct?
A bit too straightforward, wasn’t it?
Ling Yi looked at the radiant woman before him and remained silent, not responding.
A familiar voice echoed in his mind: “Oh? Another delivery to your doorstep? Sleep with her! This kind you don’t even have to take responsibility for afterward!”
Ling Yi: “…”
The familiar enchantress was back.
Ling Yi suddenly felt both reassured and happy.
“Young Master Ling, don’t worry. Although this place belongs to Grand Tutor Lu, my people have rearranged it. Today, our conversation will stay between you and me—no third person will know,” Chu Yanyu explained with a smile, thinking Ling Yi was worried about something when he didn’t speak.
Ling Yi glanced at her and said, “Eldest Princess, Your Highness…”
“Call me Sister Yu. No need to be so formal,” Chu Yanyu interrupted with a smile.