novelraw Chapter 534 - 178: What a Massive Self-Picked Peach!
Chapter 534 - 178: What a Massive Self-Picked Peach!
"She has me to take care of her, no need for any other woman!"
A domineering female voice came from outside the door, leaving the three people in the room stunned.
The head of the Hua Family immediately turned to look towards the door, and Mu Qingge and Feng Yufei also shifted their gaze outside.
Jiang Li swaggered in with her hands behind her back, joined Mu Qingge’s side, released her hands, and intimately wrapped her arm around Mu Qingge’s.
Mu Qingge looked at her in astonishment, only to be glared at fiercely.
That expression, to others, seemed like a jealous wife complaining about her flirtatious husband meddling outside.
The head of the Hua Family witnessed this scene, her facial expression became exceptionally colorful, hard to tell if it was surprise or anger.
Feng Yufei also looked shockingly at the two entwined people, blinking her eyes.
Previously, she didn’t perceive that the Ancient Witch Country’s Empress Jiang had such a relationship with Mu Qingge!
Why did she find them more like friends? Not lovers.
But if not, why would the Empress Jiang...
Suddenly, Feng Yufei understood that the Empress Jiang was here to help out the little lord.
Mu Qingge felt a little awkward after being stared at by Jiang Li. She laughed awkwardly and glanced back at the head of the Hua Family and said, "Head of the Hua Family, you’ve witnessed it yourself."
The head of the Hua Family sighed, shook her head and laughed, "Last night in the palace, I noticed there’s something unusual between you two. I told my daughter, but she’s also stubborn."
Then, she looked at Jiang Li with a more amiable smile on her face, "Empress Jiang, could I speak with you for a moment?"
Jiang Li blinked her enchanting golden eyes, seeming to wonder why the head of the Hua Family hadn’t given up. She looked at Mu Qingge, seemingly asking with her eyes.
Mu Qingge gave a barely noticeable nod, only then did Jiang Li let go of her arm and followed the head of the Hua Family to the doorway.
"Empress Jiang, surely you can guess my intention. My daughter Qinxin is deeply enamored with Mu Qingge at first sight, willing to serve alongside the Empress as wives, how does the Empress feel?" The head of the Hua Family spoke directly.
Jiang Li was taken aback, laughing uncontrollably in her heart.
Her gaze shifted lightly, landing on Mu Qingge, seemingly saying: ’Look at the trouble you’ve stirred! Now you can only rely on this Empress to rescue you from this predicament.’
"Serve alongside as wives? Head of the Hua Family, do you think this Empress would be willing to humble myself by sharing a husband with other women?" Jiang Li’s voice suddenly raised.
At the same time, both people in the room heard her words.
The phrase ’serve alongside as wives’, from Jiang Li’s mouth, nearly made Mu Qingge spit out blood.
"Mu Qingge what do you mean? You have me, yet still go around philandering? Today, you must give this Empress an explanation, is it me or the lady from the Hua Family?" Jiang Li turned angrily towards Mu Qingge.
Her display was superbly realistic and vivid.
Even Mu Qingge almost believed herself to be an unfeeling heartbreaker, fickle and disloyal.
Upon realizing, Mu Qingge hurried over, grabbed Jiang Li’s hand, pulled her whole into her embrace, holding her tightly, speaking in a voice that gave Jiang Li goosebumps: "What nonsense are you thinking? Just having you is enough, why would I consider anyone else? Be good, don’t overthink."
Jiang Li was stunned by Mu Qingge’s ’passionate’ performance.
The head of the Hua Family was also dumbfounded, frozen in place.
Feng Yufei was likewise stunned, having never seen such ’enthusiastically expressive’ Mu Qingge.
At this moment, Zhao Nanxing, who was hiding in the shadows, utterly aware of Mu Qingge’s identity, was already on the ground laughing with tears in his eyes.
After ’calming’ the Jiang Li in her arms, Mu Qingge finally raised her head, speaking to the head of the Hua Family: "Head of the Hua Family, I cannot accept the deep affection of your daughter. Please convey to Miss Hua that Mu Qingge is someone who devotes herself to one person for life. Once decided, it’s forever. I hope Miss Hua can find her own happiness soon."
Upon finishing, she gently lowered her eyes, meeting Jiang Li’s golden ones with a tender gaze, saying lovingly: "Li’er, don’t you agree?"
One call of ’Li’er’ sent chills down Jiang Li’s skin underneath her clothes.
She shivered, numbingly nodding her head.
The Family Head of Hua’s gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, then she sighed and nodded, saying, "Alright, I understand. Today, I’ve intruded on Little Lord Mu. Farewell."
"Family Head Hua, take care." Mu Qingge quickly released Jiang Li and smiled as she saw them off.
Only when the Family Head Hua’s figure disappeared into the Post House did the smile on Mu Qingge’s face gradually fade.
"Hahaha... you’re killing me with laughter..." Suddenly, a burst of laughter rang out.
The three turned to look, only to see Zhao Nanxing laughing so hard he staggered, wiping tears as he walked out.
"What’s so funny!" Jiang Li glared at him fiercely.
Mu Qingge raised her brow slightly and said casually, "Oh, I almost forgot. The Family Head Hua wants to choose a son-in-law, and there’s someone perfectly suitable right here."
Zhao Nanxing’s laughter came to an abrupt halt. He froze and hurriedly said seriously, "Qingge, you know my heart belongs to someone else, don’t joke like this!"
Mu Qingge grinned at him, but that smile made Zhao Nanxing feel a chill. "Seeing you laugh so heartily, I thought this joke was very fun."
"No! I was wrong. Qingge, your senior brother was wrong. Please be generous, don’t hold it against me." Zhao Nanxing immediately said with a bitter face.
"Just a few verbal apologies?" Mu Qingge squinted her eyes, smiling broadly.
"Of course not! After watching the show for so long, how can I not pay a price?" Jiang Li leaned over, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and rudely raised her chin at Zhao Nanxing.
Zhao Nanxing shrugged in resignation, "Then what must be done for this to be over?"
Jiang Li’s beautiful eyes shifted, and she said to Mu Qingge, "I heard there’s a restaurant in Tiandu whose dishes are very delicious, and it’s always fully booked. You have to wait for a long time to get in, and most importantly, it’s limited supply every day. Why don’t we have Prince Zhao treat us to try it?"
"Wow! You said it’s hard to wait, you have to queue, and it’s limited supply. Aren’t you afraid of waiting too long?" Zhao Nanxing looked bitter, pleadingly at Mu Qingge.
Unfortunately, Mu Qingge completely ignored him and instead nodded in agreement with Jiang Li’s suggestion.
"Of course we’re afraid! So you should wait, and when there’s a seat, reserve it, order the dishes, then send someone to the Post House to call for us." Jiang Li’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled, her gaze filled with slyness.
Zhao Nanxing opened his mouth but saw no one speaking for him, so he resigned himself. He turned dejectedly, gestured to his guard, seeming to prepare to have the guard queue up first.
However, Jiang Li saw through his plan at a glance and promptly called out, "Hey, when treating others to a meal, one must personally attend to it to show sincerity. We’ve already been generous not asking you to cook yourself, yet you don’t even have the sincerity to queue? Of course, given your cooking skills, what you make might not be edible anyway."
Ending with yet another jab, Zhao Nanxing took a deep breath, resigned to not argue with women like a good man, gave Jiang Li a thumbs up, and then swirled his sleeves and left.
Watching his ’the biting wind blows over the cold Yishui’ back, Jiang Li showed no sympathy, instead shaking her head dismissively at Mu Qingge and saying, "Do you think he’s bringing this upon himself?"
Mu Qingge nodded cooperatively, "Hmm, peeking always comes with a price, only then will one learn a lesson."
With that said, the two exchanged a glance, a tacit understanding seamlessly formed, and they laughed together.
Feng Yufei stood behind the two of them, watching their every move, and suddenly commented, "Little Lord, I think you’re truly a perfect match with the Empress, don’t miss out on this great opportunity!"
The smile on both their faces stiffened because of Feng Yufei’s words.
They both simultaneously turned to look at her, Feng Yufei felt a chill under their gaze, awkwardly laughed, "Uh, I’ll stop bothering you." Having said that, she hurriedly fled.
"Runs pretty fast." Jiang Li muttered.
Mu Qingge laughed, "Let’s go, Li’er, don’t miss out on your and my great opportunity!" Saying this, she started walking towards her room.
"Hey! Who has a great opportunity with you? We are clearly fated to clash!" Jiang Li said, while her feet pursued Mu Qingge.
"Does that Feng Crown Princess still not know you’re a daughter?" Leaning close to Mu Qingge, Jiang Li whispered.
Mu Qingge nodded.
She and Feng Yufei, though having known each other early and shared complex relations, haven’t interacted much. Feng Yufei is not one to meddle in others’ affairs, never caring about her personal life, and certainly not interested in her, so Mu Qingge has never mentioned this to Feng Yufei.
"By the way, when I last asked when you’d restore your identity, you said you wanted to meet someone first. Have you met them yet?" Jiang Li asked again.
Mu Qingge stopped, looking at the sky in silence for a moment.
Thinking of what Huangfu Huan told her that in the coming days, the Imperial Family will arrange for them to meet Si Mo at the Li Palace. Finally, to meet that man again, this time she is determined to clear up some issues standing between them.
"Hmm, soon." Mu Qingge casually answered Jiang Li’s question.
"Who is that person, really? Why do you place so much importance on them?" Jiang Li asked curiously.
Mu Qingge merely smiled at her, teasingly keeping her in suspense, "You’ll find out in due time."
Having said that, she continued walking forward.
Jiang Li stood in place for a while, pondering what Mu Qingge meant by ’in due time you’ll know’. Before she could make sense of it, she realized Mu Qingge had walked far ahead and hurried to catch up. "Hey, wait for me!"
Mu Qingge did not slow her pace and kept walking. She needed to return to her room to catch up on sleep.
...
After the Flower Family Head returned to the Flower Family, Hua Qinxin looked at her with eager anticipation.
Seeing her daughter’s hopeful expression, she sighed, "Qinxin, you should stop thinking about Young Lord Mu in the future, he doesn’t belong to you."
Hua Qinxin’s smile froze on her face, and a slight crack appeared in her delicate makeup.
The expectation in her eyes was replaced by panic, and she asked anxiously, "Why? Did he reject me?"
The Flower Family Head took a sip of tea before nodding. "He’s honest enough, saying he had married before but his wife passed away. Now, he and Empress Jiang have mutual affections and he doesn’t want to speculate further."
"I can share the same husband with Empress Jiang!" Hua Qinxin protested unwillingly.
She couldn’t understand; her looks were not inferior, and she was meticulously raised in the Flower Family. As a daughter of this generation, she was undoubtedly the one men most wanted to marry. Yet the person she had her eyes on had no interest in her, even though she was willing to lower herself and share a husband with another woman. He still rejected her.
"Mother, didn’t you clearly tell him my intentions?" Hua Qinxin pursued the inquiry.
The Flower Family Head glanced at her and replied, "How could I not be clear? I was willing to risk my dignity for you, yet he still rejected."
"All because of Empress Jiang?" The glow in Hua Qinxin’s eyes dimmed.
The Flower Family Head seemed more understanding; she said to her daughter, "Mutual feelings are hard to explain. No matter how outstanding Young Lord Mu is, if he’s uninterested in you, I certainly won’t force you to marry him. Besides, he has expressly refused you." Thinking it over, she advised Hua Qinxin, "Qinxin, remember what I’ve said, a husband for the daughters of the Flower Family must love you more than you love him to achieve happiness. Since Young Lord Mu doesn’t have those feelings for you, don’t waste any more time on him."
"No! Mother!" Hua Qinxin became obstinate. "We’ve only met once, it’s normal for him not to like me. If we know each other longer, he might not reject me."
’But even if Young Lord Mu accepts you, that domineering Empress Jiang may not allow you in! Sometimes, being late once means being late for a lifetime.’ The Flower Family Head wanted to say this but swallowed the words upon seeing her daughter’s determined expression.
"What will make you give up?" Ultimately, the Flower Family Head compromised.
Hua Qinxin bit her lip, looked at her mother, and said firmly, "Mother, give me some time. Young Lord Mu will stay in Tiandu City for a while, and during this time, I will demonstrate my qualities well. If by the time he leaves he still hasn’t struck a chord with me, I will listen to you and stop indulging in wishful thinking."
"Why must you do this? Since Young Lord Mu has made it clear he won’t marry you, if you continue to pursue him, wouldn’t you be degrading yourself? Besides, this endless pestering will only make him more repulsed." The Flower Family Head frowned in disagreement.
"I won’t resort to pester him!" Hua Qinxin exclaimed urgently. "I will only let him see me and know me in some situations. I definitely won’t entangle him like those trite and common women. Mother, you’ve always warned us to bravely express our feelings when encountering someone we like, not to lose good chances due to unwarranted modesty or shyness. That’s what I’m doing now, don’t you support me?"
The Flower Family Head listened in a daze.
It seems she had never realized her daughter could articulate reasoned arguments so well.
Under her daughter’s earnest and pleading gaze, she finally relented, "Ah, alright. Do as you wish but make sure not to lose the Flower family’s dignity. And promise me, if Young Lord Mu still hasn’t fallen for you by then, you won’t find excuses to deceive yourself. Let him go. There are men not inferior to him and they don’t need your undue efforts!"
"Thank you, mother!" Hua Qinxin said joyously.
...
Having queued from dawn till dusk, Zhao Nanxing finally stepped into the restaurant Jiang Li had mentioned.
Quickly seizing the last table, Zhao Nanxing breathed a sigh of relief and ordered accompanying guards to return to the post house and invite Mu Qingge, Jiang Li, and Feng Yufei over.
Soon, the three women arrived by carriage.
After eating and drinking their fill, Mu Qingge asked, "So, did you come looking for me for something today?"
Jiang Li gave her a sidelong glance, then, after dropping the veil she had pulled for dining, said, "After a whole day, now you think of asking me this?"
A slight embarrassment appeared on Mu Qingge’s face. She had returned to her room and told Jiang Li to do as she pleased before continuing her sleep. She only awakened when Zhao Nanxing sent someone to call them. Drowsiness had clouded her until she was fully awake after the meal.
"I came for two reasons: first, out of boredom, to play with you. Secondly, to inform you that Taishi Gao is awake. I don’t know how many spiritual elixirs the Myriad Beasts Sect bought from your Medicine Tower, but despite his severe injury, he’s healed so quickly. Third, the old guy from Refining Tower came to the post house of the Myriad Beasts Sect early today and stayed for quite a while. If you say he went to see if Taishi Gao had died, I wouldn’t believe it!" Jiang Li explained her visit.
Mu Qingge frowned slightly.
The information that Jiang Li brought hinted at one thing: the Refining Tower and the Myriad Beasts Sect seemed to have already reached an agreement in private, intending to deal with her together.
"What are you planning to do?" Jiang Li asked.
Her tone sounded casual, but the concern it revealed was genuine.
Mu Qingge smiled and said, "Nothing special, as the saying goes, ’When the soldier comes, you block it with generals; when the water rises, you cover it with earth.’"
"The alliance of the Refining Tower and the Myriad Beasts Sect is no joke," Jiang Li reminded.
Mu Qingge smirked.
She’d already experienced it, hadn’t she fled from Rong Country to the Ancient Witch Country all the same?
In their territory, she was alone but managed to leave safely. Not to mention, here is the Holy Yuan Empire where they can’t be too presumptuous; plus, she has the Dragon Tooth Guards and the Thousand Fierce Army by her side. This time, it won’t be easy for the Refining Tower and Myriad Beasts Sect to take her life.
Jiang Li looked at her for a while before helplessly saying, "Fine. Anyway, if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask me."
Just as she finished speaking, Feng Yufei and Zhao Nanxing, who had gone out earlier, pushed the door and walked in, one after the other.
"Have you finished eating?" Zhao Nanxing asked.
Jiang Li nodded and said, "It was quite good."
"Then shall we go back?" Zhao Nanxing asked again.
With that, the four of them got up, took their attendants, and left the restaurant.
Outside, it was bustling, even more than during the day. The group admired the night market of Tiandu as they strolled along.
After walking for a while, they felt the crowd starting to surge.
"Quick, look, the top beauty of the Lan Family is here!"
"Let’s go, let’s go, seeing Miss Feiyue even once would be a lifetime without regrets!"
"Miss Feiyue rarely comes out. If we miss this chance, once she enters the Li Palace, we may never see her again."
The conversations around them reached their ears.
People all around them were desperately squeezing towards the main street ahead.
Before long, only they were left standing on this street; the previously bustling street was now deserted, with everyone flooding into the main street ahead.
Zhao Nanxing looked around incredulously, saying, "Is this really necessary?"
Feng Yufei nodded in agreement.
Last night at the banquet in the palace, she had secretly glimpsed the lady from the Lan Family, indeed a rare beauty, but not to the exaggerated extent these citizens expressed.
If beauty were to be compared, Feng Yufei felt that the Lan family lady perhaps doesn’t even surpass this exotic and alluring Empress Jiang by her side.
Of course, disregarding gender, in terms of beauty, their little lord is undoubtedly the most beautiful in the world!
"Tch, always wearing a veil, who knows if it’s beauty or ugliness beneath? Such mystery," Jiang Li snorted disdainfully.
Mu Qingge glanced back, looking at the golden veil mask she wore, raising an eyebrow.
Jiang Li immediately straightened her posture, raised her chin confidently, and said, "Whether I’m beautiful or ugly, you’ve seen for yourself."
Mu Qingge tried to hold back laughter and nodded. She said to the group, "Let’s go."
She had no interest in what that Lan family woman was up to. It had been simply because she heard she admired Si Mo that she took a second look then.
A person’s appearance doesn’t represent anything.
No matter how beautiful Lan Feiyue might be, so what?
The group continued to stroll leisurely, uninterested in the excitement on the main street. However, to return to the post house, both Jiang Li and Mu Qingge needed to pass through the main street ahead.
After walking for a while, the sound of the crowd ahead reached them.
"Hey, don’t shove!"
"You in front, you’re blocking me, squat down a bit."
"I’m squatting already, what are you looking at? Can’t you see there’s a sea of people in front of me? If you’re short, don’t join the crowd!"
"Hey, why are you insulting people?"
"Who’s insulting who? Which ear of yours heard me insulting anyone? Keep it up and I’ll punch you!"
"Hmm! A gentleman does not stand under a wall!"
"Ouch, you’re stepping on my foot!"
"Make way, our young master needs to pass!"
"Who is your young master? Go play elsewhere~!"
"Ouch, who’s groping my butt?"
"Ah! Who took my handkerchief?"
The chaotic noises buzzed into the ears of Mu Qingge and the others. The crowd ahead made them hesitant to proceed.
Zhao Nanxing exclaimed, "The people of Tiandu are just too... crazy!" He wanted to say ’too boring’ but feared provoking the anger of Tiandu’s citizens, risking being surrounded and beaten, so he hastily changed his words to ’crazy’.
Jiang Li snorted disdainfully, "A bunch of bumpkins who’ve never seen the world." The real beauty is here! Her gaze flickered to Mu Qingge, giving her a fierce look.
Feeling her gaze, Mu Qingge turned her eyes to look at her and asked, "What’s wrong?" Saying this, she even raised her hand to touch her own cheek.
Jiang Li shook her head with a sigh, her eyes full of regret.
If Mu Qingge were willing to switch back to women’s clothing, she dared to guarantee with her personality, she would be a thousand times more beautiful than that Lan Feiyue. By then, the one being admired wouldn’t be that pretentious Lan Feiyue, but Mu Qingge.
"With such a crowd, how do we get back?" Feng Yufei frowned as she looked at the crowd so dense that not even a fly could pass through.
"Once Lan Feiyue passes, the crowd will naturally disperse." Mu Qingge raised her chin and said.
"The problem is, who knows when she’ll finish walking this street?" Jiang Li shrugged.
As they spoke, a carriage with a canopy covered by curtains slowly entered their view...
"Ah! Miss Lan is here!"
"It really is Miss Lan, so beautiful! How gorgeous!"
"Truly worthy of being Tiandu’s number one beauty!"
"What Tiandu’s number one beauty? Obviously, she’s Linchuan’s number one beauty!"
Words of praise flowed endlessly, each voice higher than the last.
Lan Feiyue sat in the carriage, in a blue long dress, her face covered with a veil of the same color, hiding two-thirds of her face. Her ink-black hair was smooth and sleek, styled into a grand and unique bun atop her head, adorned with a jade hairpin. There wasn’t a hint of gold or silver on her, indeed a bit of fresh elegance.
The praises outside the carriage continuously entered her ears, yet she remained unaffected, continuing to look ahead, her eyes carrying a touch of aloofness and indifference.
As if she were a fairy from the heavens, incompatible with the mortals around her.
"Miss Lan, you’re so beautiful!"
"Miss Lan, how are you so beautiful? Oh no, I’m about to suffocate!"
"Miss Lan, seeing you today, I have no more regrets in life!"
"Pfft!" Jiang Li couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She struggled to hold back her laughter, shaking her head, "I really can’t take it. How can these people say such insincere words with such sincerity? That Lan Feiyue is obviously veiled, her appearance unclear, yet they praise her as peerless. So, that’s how she got the title of Tiandu’s number one beauty!"
"You want to get beaten up? I’m not joining in." Mu Qingge casually commented.
Jiang Li glared at her, pouted, "Heartless!"
"I’m only concerned about when she’ll finish walking this path." Feng Yufei frowned more deeply.
Since the appearance of Lan Feiyue’s carriage, it had been about a quarter of an hour, yet it hadn’t moved much. This street should take only a few breaths to walk through, but now she was making it unmovable.
Jiang Li laughed, "Can’t you see she’s doing it on purpose? With the Lan Family guards’ ability, opening a path should be easy, right? It’s clear that this pretentious woman is enjoying being praised, deliberately pretending she can’t move forward."
Zhao Nanxing was puzzled, "Her eyes seemed very calm to me, not like someone enjoying themselves."
Jiang Li gave him a sidelong glance and said condescendingly, "That’s why I say you men are easily fooled by women. You don’t understand a woman’s heart. Although she shows no expression, I can guarantee she’s overjoyed inside."
Zhao Nanxing was left speechless by her words, and could only look at Mu Qingge with a grievance-filled gaze.
Yet Mu Qingge could only return him a helpless expression.
After waiting for quite a while, Lan Feiyue’s carriage finally moved a few more steps forward. With a few more steps, they would pass the intersection, allowing Mu Qingge and the others to leave easily.
However, she suddenly stopped again, slowly turning her aloof and indifferent gaze directly towards Mu Qingge and the others.
Her action was naturally caught by her supporters.
Almost without exception, everyone turned their heads, following her gaze.
Upon looking, they discovered that there were four exceptionally attractive people standing on the empty street behind them.
Without needing more description, just the sight of the man in red, with his stunningly beautiful appearance, left everyone stunned and momentarily silenced the bustling noises around.
’Whose young master is he? He’s just too...’ In their amazement, they found themselves at a loss for words.
Having searched through all the words in their minds to describe beauty, they were horrified to find they couldn’t find the right words to describe the appearance of the man in red.
Uh... were they discovered?
This was Mu Qingge’s first thought. Out of politeness, she smiled slightly, nodding a greeting to Lan Feiyue.
Her smile immediately induced a wave of gasps among the crowd. Many young women clutched their hearts, happily fainting.
"Let’s go." Unexpectedly, Lan Feiyue frowned, withdrew her gaze, and instructed the servant leading the horse.
The carriage began moving again, slowly squeezing out of the crowd.
It seemed that in her eyes, Mu Qingge was no different from an ant.
"What arrogance?" Jiang Li grumbled disdainfully.
"Let’s go." Mu Qingge smiled indifferently, addressing her companions.
But as soon as she took a step, she found that the path hadn’t cleared despite Lan Feiyue’s departure. Instead, the four of them were inexplicably surrounded by the crowd.
"Uh..." Mu Qingge was taken aback. What was going on?
Jiang Li cast a cold glance at her from the corner of her eye, "Naturally, Mu Little Lord’s charm is extraordinary! Please lend us your beauty to clear a path back to the post house."
The sarcasm was obvious.
Mu Qingge couldn’t help but look at her, a playful smile on her face, "I don’t mind helping you take off your veil."
Jiang Li glared, grinding her teeth, "You’re threatening me!"
"How could I?" Mu Qingge’s smile was as innocent as ever. "I’m just sharing all the beauty with everyone."
She could guarantee, Jiang Li’s face with its exotic charm would be no less effective than hers!
"Ahem, excuse us, could everyone make way? We’re leaving now."
As the two argued, Zhao Nanxing stepped forward, with his amiable smile, addressing the onlookers of Tiandu.
Hearing his request, the crowded throng took a step back, leaving a gap in the middle.
But...
Zhao Nanxing looked at the one-foot-wide gap with a wry smile, "Could you make a little more space?"
So, the crowd stepped back once more.
The passageway was widened a bit, but it was still not wide enough for one person to pass through.
"Can it be done again..."
Zhao Nanxing hadn’t finished speaking when Mu Qingge pulled him aside.
Mu Qingge wore a cold expression as she walked towards the crowd.
She strode forward with her head held high, her steps firm and without hesitation. An aura gathered around her, and wherever she passed, the crowd retreated, clearing a wide path for her to walk through.
This effect left Zhao Nanxing dumbfounded and filled with admiration.
Just as he was stunned by the effect of Mu Qingge’s personal intervention, Jiang Li kicked him and shouted, "Start moving!"
Zhao Nanxing suddenly came to his senses and quickly followed along.
Under the lead of Mu Qingge, the group quickly passed through the intersection and disappeared from the onlookers’ view in Tiandu.
"Amazing! I felt an invisible force pressing against me just now, forcing me to step back."
"Me too!"
"Me too!"
"Which family’s young master is this? When did Tiandu have such a figure?"
After Mu Qingge left, she was unaware that a heated discussion had already started around her.
And in the crowd, someone silently withdrew.
Not long after, this person appeared in front of Lan Feiyue’s carriage, reporting the events that had taken place.
After finishing, he looked up at Lan Feiyue and asked with confusion, "Miss, why are you suddenly interested in him?"
Lan Feiyue’s lofty and cool eyes narrowed slightly, and she said softly, "Word from the palace is that last night, the madman from the Shen Family barged into the palace and had a fight with him, ending in a draw."
What!
The reporter’s pupils shrank, and he looked at Lan Feiyue in shock.
He knew very well who Shen Bicheng was and how strong his cultivation was. At least, he couldn’t last ten moves against him. Could it be that the young lord from the Third-class Country is more formidable than Shen Bicheng?
"Let’s go back to the mansion," Lan Feiyue ordered.
She came out tonight especially after hearing that Mu Qingge and her companions were dining outside. If Mu Qingge showed potential, she wouldn’t mind bringing him into the Lan Family and recommending him to the Holy King.
Thinking of that man, a touch of softness emerged in Lan Feiyue’s lofty eyes.
In two days...
She finally waited, in two days, her father would propose to the Holy King to send her to the Li Palace. As long as she entered the Li Palace, she was confident she could earn that man’s affection.
For men around the world, being able to embrace the first beauty of Tiandu, even the first beauty of Linchuan, would be an immense honor, akin to defeating all the men in the world.
The Holy King is also a man; she didn’t believe he could resist this temptation. Even if he merely nodded and allowed her to stay in the Li Palace, as long as she took this step, she believed that with time, the Holy King would fall for her!
...
Resting in Tiandu for two days, during which Mu Qingge remained unaware of the three rumors circulating about her among the common folk.
The first was the incident where she hit the City Defense General upon entering the city.
The second was her duel with Shen Bicheng.
The third was the stunning appearance on the street that night.
These three events spread wildly, yet no commoner knew they were all about the same person.
They only knew that someone from a Third-class Country, a hereditary lord, had hit the City Defense General of Tiandu’s city gates but remained unharmed. Someone dueled with the Shen madman, reportedly ending in a draw. And on the night the first beauty of Tiandu, Lan Feiyue, appeared, there was a more stunning man in red, who captured the hearts of countless men and women in Tiandu.
"Crown Prince!" Seeing the visitor, Mu Qingge was slightly taken aback.
Huangfu Huan personally coming to find her surprised her.
"Young Lord Mu, Huan is deeply impressed by you," Huangfu Huan said with a wry smile as soon as he saw Mu Qingge.
Mu Qingge was at a loss.
Then, Huangfu Huan recounted the three rumors about her. After that, he sighed and said, "I have never seen anyone who, shortly after arriving in Tiandu, could stir up such a storm."
Mu Qingge twitched the corner of her mouth, "Crown Prince, you overpraise me. They’re just some exaggerated rumors."
"Exaggerated rumors, are they? At least I can guarantee the first two are true. As for the third..." Huangfu Huan deliberately scrutinized Mu Qingge a few times, nodding, "Young Lord Mu, if you were a woman, I fear I would spare no effort to marry you as my Crown Princess Consort."
Mu Qingge laughed nervously, "Crown Prince, such jokes shouldn’t be made. If they spread, it might harm your reputation."
"Hahaha... Just joking. If Young Lord Mu were a woman, I would feel more ashamed of myself," Huangfu Huan laughed.
After some polite exchanges, Mu Qingge asked, "Crown Prince, is there anything specific you came for today?"
Huangfu Huan nodded, "I came specifically to inform Young Lord Mu, along with Prince Zhao and Crown Princess Feng, that tomorrow morning, my father will lead everyone to the Li Palace to meet the Holy King."
Tomorrow!
The sudden news of seeing Si Mo made Mu Qingge’s heart skip a beat.
"Is it tomorrow?" In a daze, she asked again.
Huangfu Huan did not notice her strangeness, simply thinking she hadn’t heard clearly, so he repeated, "Yes, it’s tomorrow. Gather outside the palace gate at the third watch and depart together."
"Who will be going?" Mu Qingge asked, calming her emotions.
"Most of those who attended the palace banquet will go," Huangfu Huan answered truthfully. Then he added, "Shen Bicheng should also appear, but you don’t need to worry; he can’t cause trouble in the Li Palace, nor will he try to fight you there."
"Oh? Why is that?" Mu Qingge curiously asked.
In her eyes, someone like Shen Bicheng, a Martial Fool, would not care about time or place if he wanted to spar with someone.
Just like that night in the Holy Yuan Empire’s palace.
"Because that place belongs to the Holy King, and no one can act recklessly. Shen Bicheng is a renowned Martial Fool, wholeheartedly pursuing the peak of martial arts. He once knelt outside the Li Palace for a year, regardless of wind and rain, asking the Holy King to accept him as a disciple." Huangfu Huan spoke of this incident with an expression of admiration, but he shook his head, "Unfortunately, after a year, he didn’t even get to meet the Holy King. In the end, he fainted and was carried back by his family. After that, he obsessively cultivated and sought battles, earning himself the nickname Shen Madman."
"So there’s such a backstory!" Mu Qingge suddenly realized.
Shen Bicheng kneeling for Si Mo? Had they known each other earlier, Mu Qingge would advise him not to waste his time. Not just a year, even after kneeling for ten years, that old monster’s stone heart wouldn’t be easily moved.
She didn’t know why she drew such a conclusion, just felt that it was the true nature of Si Mo.
Cold-blooded, emotionless, he wouldn’t spare a thought for anything related to others.
His displayed nobility and purity were nothing but a façade!
"However, I must remind you of one thing," Huangfu Huan suddenly warned Mu Qingge. "Do not let Shen Bicheng know about the Holy King’s favor for you, or he will surely come after you, fighting to the death."
"..." Mu Qingge twitched the corners of her mouth.
Huangfu Huan sighed, "Being refused by the Holy King has become his heart’s knot. If he learns of your situation, he will desperately challenge you to find out why you earned the Holy King’s favor when he could not."
Does this have any necessary connection?
Mu Qingge felt so wronged that she wanted to curse! Si Mo had no intention of accepting her as a disciple at all, was it? He wanted... wanted...
"Huh? Young Lord Mu, why is your face red? Are you feeling unwell?" Suddenly, Huangfu Huan kindly asked.
"It’s nothing, just feeling a bit hot," Mu Qingge hurriedly shook her head, rejecting Huangfu Huan’s offer.
"Alright then, I’ll take my leave now. See you tomorrow."
Huangfu Huan did not linger long at the Post House. His understanding of decorum made Mu Qingge feel very comfortable around him.
After seeing Huangfu Huan off, Mu Qingge took a deep breath and murmured meaningfully, "Tomorrow!"