Chapter 174 - The Princess Requests a Marriage!
Chapter 174 The Princess Requests a Marriage!
Just as her voice faded, two men leaped down to the front of the hall. One was carrying a person.
The Changlong Emperor saw the man and his heart skipped a beat. Wasn’t this man the sixth Senior Brother, Zhou Zheng, who was sent by Heaven Sect to protect Princess Qianyang?
Why was he in Caiqing’s hands?
Fifth Venerable Master and Princess Qianyang saw the situation and their countenances changed. Fifth Venerable Master was knowledgeable and experienced. She soon regained her composure. But Princess Qianyang was more of a greenhorn. She stared guiltily at the Emperor, gazing into his profound eyes.
Caining threw Zhou Zheng coldly to the ground. Hua Qiyue pointed at the man. “He is our witness!”
Fifth Venerable Master gave a cold snort. “Princess Jinghua is fond of jokes, surely. Zhou Zheng has been missing since yesterday. So, he’s been captured by your men!”
Princess Qianyang felt somewhat guilty and did not say anything.
Yun Shimo was indifferent. Who was Hua Qiyue? A greenhorn like Princess Qianyang, trying to trip her?
“Fifth Venerable Master, this man is adept in the art of Hallucination. He is from Heaven Sect. I’m sure you know him?” Hua Qiyue gave a light laugh, her eyes full of chilling sarcasm.
Fifth Venerable Master started to deny. “Zhou Zheng’s from our sect, but he has never mastered any Hallucination Art. I’m not sure where you heard about this, Princess Jinghua.”
“Although you deny it, I have a way to make all of you admit!” Hua Qiyue cast her a derisive glance, then riveted her eyes on Zhou Zheng.
“Zhou Zheng, one hour ago, did you use your Hallucination Art on my son, misleading him into thinking that I was back? You wanted to lure him out?”
The moment Hua Qiyue’s voice faded, her left fingers flicked out an invisible stream of energy, aiming at Zhou Zheng’s head.
Zhou Zheng widened his eyes in great shock. His lips started to shiver uncontrollably. “Yes, yes… it was I who had lured Tianci out of the mansion.”
“Who gave you the orders?”
“Fifth Venerable Master and Princess Qianyang… ”
Seeing Zhou Zheng confess so easily, Fifth Venerable Master was shocked. This sixth disciple was in love with Princess Qianyang, which was why he had come here against the sect’s orders. Fifth Venerable Master was now making use of him to teach Hua Qiyue a lesson.
Zhou Zheng was usually a loyal person. He couldn’t have confessed so easily!
“No… that’s not true!”
Fifth Venerable Master yelled out. Hua Qiyue snorted. “Were you the one who set up the illusion? To trick Tianci into believing I’d been abducted by the Princess?”
“Yes!”
“Fifth Venerable Master said you don’t know the Hallucination Art. Perform one for her!”
Hua Qiyue laughed lightly, her eyes full of sarcasm. Zhou Zheng heard her and waved his big arms. Five streaks of white light dissipated instantly into a mist, hurling toward Fifth Venerable Master forcefully.
Fifth Venerable Master was shocked and tried to dodge, but it was too late. Her body froze. She seemed to see Princess Qianyang throw herself into Yun Shimo’s arms, tearing off all his clothes!
“Princess, don’t! Men and women shouldn’t have body contacts. You mustn’t let Prince Nan take you… ”
Fifth Venerable Master’s words were not appropriate. Her speech sounded incredible to the company and Princess Qianyang’s face immediately flushed.
“Outrageous! How dare you insult the Princess!” Concubine Xian was enraged. She was about to get the men to drag Fifth Venerable Master away when Princess Qianyang quickly intervened on her behalf.
“Please don’t be angry, Mother. She’s been duped by a Hallucination… ”
The Emperor’s face turned crimson and white by turns. He certainly had guessed his daughter’s thoughts!
Zhou Zheng waved his big arms again and the illusion disappeared. Fifth Venerable Master saw Princess Qianyang and Yun Shimo standing there, perfectly at ease, and was thoroughly embarrassed. She took in a cold breath and glared hatefully at Zhou Zheng.
Hua Qiyue raised her brows. The higher the Spirit Summoning Art was, the more effective and the longer the illusion would be.
“Your Majesty… I was just blabbering nonsense… ”
“Enough. Leave us, all of you! Qianyang, I will confine you in your personal hall for one month!”
Princess Qianyang was about to speak when she saw Concubine Xian’s fierce gaze. She could only leave resentfully with Fifth Venerable Master.
Hua Qiyue gave a snicker in her heart. The Emperor was really protecting Princess Qianyang. Even though she had a witness, he still did not convict her and merely sentenced her to confinement.
Hua Qiyue was too lazy to care about this woman. If there was a next time, she would not let her off so lightly!
The Changlong Emperor massaged his temples wearily and said in extremely solemn. “Alright, Qianyang’s wrong this time. I apologize to Princess Jinghua on her behalf.”
Hua Qiyue shook her head quietly. “I dare not accept it.”
“Why isn’t the Crown Prince back?”
“The Crown Prince’s still at Rock Hillock Mountain. I felt a sense of unease, so I hurried back. Besides… the five leaders of the Magic Beasts Forest have already colluded with the Gnawing Devils Sect. They’ve given orders to their evil beasts to attack our lands. I hope Your Majesty will send reinforcements throughout our lands and reinforce the guards as well!”
Hua Qiyue quietly addressed the main topic.
The Changlong Emperor heard her and his expression changed. “The Gnawing Devils Sect! I didn’t expect them to be so rampant! If that is the case, I order Princess Jinghua and Prince Nan to join hands and exterminate the sect together!”
Yun Shimo shook his head quietly. “Your Majesty, the followers of the Gnawing Devils Sect come and go like shadows. They are well versed in the art of disguise too. It’ll be hard to locate their lair. The only way is to lure them out into the open!”
The Emperor heard him and his eyes brightened. “Prince Nan, do you have a way?”
In the eyes of the Changlong Emperor, the kingdom had always regarded Prince Nan as a god. Now was the time for him to act.
“Of course. If Your Majesty trusts me, give the task to Princess Jinghua and I.” Yun Shimo did not reject the order. He accepted the task without seeking Hua Qiyue’s agreement.
“Very well. Prince Nan is really Changjing Kingdom’s great hope! I shall leave the matter of the Gnawing Devils Sect in Prince Nan and Princess Jinghua’s hands!”
The Changlong Emperor heard him and immediately started to relax.
He was about to ask for court to be dismissed, when Princess Qianyang’s voice rang out. “Father, I have a matter to report!”
Yun Shimo halted his steps. He knew that trouble was brewing. Hua Qiyue gave her an indifferent look, pulling and leaving with Tianci to the side.
“What’s the matter?” When he saw Princess Qianyang return, the Changlong Emperor’s face did not look too pleased. Concubine Xian gave a light cough. Her expression was harsh. But Princess Qianyang pretended not to see.
Princess Qianyang walked over to Yun Shimo’s side and gazed at him bashfully. Then, she said coyly, “Father, yesterday… I was taking my bath in the temple when an assassin sneaked in. Prince Nan barged in anxiously. Although his eyes were covered with a black cloth, he accidentally… threw himself in the same tub as your daughter…. I beg Your Majesty to grant my marriage to Prince Nan!”
The Changlong Emperor suddenly had a big headache. So, this was the matter. Although he had long planned to marry Princess Qianyang to Yun Shimo, now’s not the time!
After all, he still needed to rely on Hua Qiyue and Yun Shimo to exterminate the Gnawing Devils Sect. If he broke them up by force…
“Let me consider this matter! Leave us now!” The Changlong Emperor stood up and waved his hand. He no longer paid Princess Qianyang any attention.
Princess Qianyang saw that her father did not grant them marriage and was angry and agitated. Concubine Xian walked down with a cold countenance. “Qianyang, go back with Mother. I want to talk with you!”
Princess Qianyang pouted, glaring at Hua Qiyue hatefully. “Hua Qiyue, Prince Nan had already been physically intimate with me. Don’t you dream about having him!”
After that, her charming face flushed like crimson clouds. She turned away and left slowly with Concubine Xian.
Hua Qiyue gave a gentle sigh and pulled Tianci out with her. Tianci cast Yun Shimo a displeased eye. “Father, you are such a lady-killer!”
Even the boy knew what a lady-killer was. Yun Shimo shook his head helplessly. It looked like he really lacked the means to deal with the bold and unrestrained Princess Qianyang.
Princess Qianyang had Heaven Sect as her backing. Her mother was the prospering Concubine Xian and she was the Emperor’s favorite. She was harder to deal with than any other girl.
But since Huangfu Shenglin was the Crown Prince, Consort Mei would soon be the Empress. Concubine Xian would only be in the limelight for a short time.
Hua Qiyue and Tianci returned to their mansion. Yun Shimo was thick-skinned enough to follow them. Ji Feng and the others had also heard the news and were here. When they saw Hua Qiyue and Tianci safe and sound, they heaved a sigh of relief.
Realizing that Hua Qiyue would be exhausted after her return, the company chatted only for a short while before parting ways.
However, Yun Shimo still did not wish to leave. He sat under the pavilion, watching Hua Qiyue and Tianci munch on the watermelon by the mouthful. No one bothered about him. The little hare crouched on the stone table, munching madly on a slice of watermelon, grabbed in its paws.
Tianci would caress its little head now and then. The little hare would chatter and resist him.
“Tianci, shall Dad take you to the streets of the capital tomorrow?” When he saw his woman and child ignoring him, Yun Shimo twitched the corner of the mouth. He tried his best to humor them, smiling.
Tianci eyed him from the corner of his eyes. “No, I need to practice Qi Art tomorrow. Otherwise, I will get abducted by that idiot who fell for you, Dad. Then, Mom will worry!”
Yun Shimo was immediately rendered speechless. Why should anyone who liked him be considered an idiot?
“I heard that someone’s opened a new roast goose shop in Chengdong Street. I wonder if the food’s good. Hmmm, Dad shall visit the place with Bingyi tomorrow.”
Tianci heard him and instantly in his eyes came a hopeful look.
But he gazed at the expressionless Hua Qiyue and finally resisted the urge to eat out.
“Tomorrow, Mom shall get the cooks to make you many tasty dishes. The weather’s too hot now. And the food outside isn’t hygienic.” After finishing a slice of watermelon, Hua Qiyue said with an expressionless face.
Well… Yun Shimo’s eyes which were like dark ink started to shimmer with pleasure. “Looks like I can enjoy the delicious food tomorrow!”
“Sorry, Prince, there’s none for you. I just got Youshui to tell the cooks to prepare just our share, not yours.”
Hua Qiyue said impolitely. Yun Shimo wetted his lips, his smile even evident. “I did not reject Princess Qianyang’s proposal in the hall. Someone seems to be angry.”
Tianci pouted his little mouth, his bright large eyes staring at Yun Shimo. They looked like stars or the bright moon, making Yun Shimo feel much tender affection for the boy.
“Dad, about that woman… do you really like her?”
“Tianci, don’t call him Dad. Soon, Prince Nan will be Princess Qianyang’s Prince Consort. You must change your manner of address,” Hua Qiyue said quietly.
Yun Shimo stopped for a while, his voice turning solemn. “Qiyue, tonight I would like to speak to you about the matter of trust.”
Tianci picked up another slice of watermelon unhappily. He felt that his Dad was deliberately avoiding his question.
Hua Qiyue picked up the scroll given to her by Tianpi and started to study it slowly. She was totally ignoring Yun Shimo.
Yun Shimo frowned and stood up. His figure whizzed and he streaked like lightning to the front of Hua Qiyue, snatching away the dark red scroll in her hands.