Chapter 314: Chapter 284: Joining the Princess’s Mansion, Pretty Boy Chu Yi!
When gently blown upon, Ji Xuexin’s delicately sculpted ears blushed a tender pink, causing her to instinctively step back. As she touched her ear, she found her earlobe already burning like fire. Chu Yi laughed heartily, ignoring Princess Bai Mao’s watery eyes. He mischievously rubbed her cheek, even slipping his fingertips into her cherry lips to form a smile.
The persona of an aloof goddess collapsed in an instant.
Ji Xuexin retreated and floated into the air like a falling petal, her toes landing on a lotus leaf. She puffed her cheeks, contemplating several times about hitting him, but knew she couldn’t win.
This time, upon arriving at Taiping City, Jiang Feng had left, allowing Ji Xuexin and Chu Yi to handle the forces behind the Rebel Army by themselves. In this matter, Jiang Feng was not suited to appearing. Within Taiping City, the variety of Spells collected by the major Noble Families were too numerous to count. Although not as formidable as the Ancestral Dragon’s nine techniques, they were still some of the most profound Spells in the world.
Of course, Jiang Feng also harbored the quiet hope that the two would grow closer; if something were to happen between them during this time, all the better.
Thus, the two traveled by boat, arriving in the territory of Taiping City, and spent their time leisurely exploring the mountains and waters, free and unrestrained.
Besides, Chu Yi was not some reserved protagonist, nor did he put on airs. He often whispered suggestive jokes in Princess Bai Mao’s ear, and his unrestrained, carefree demeanor frequently left Ji Xuexin blushing, her heart racing.
"Hey, you thief!"
At this moment, a stern shout exploded. The previously calm river suddenly surged with menacing waves, as if the Dragon King had been angered and unleashed a flood. Several black-awninged boats, bamboo rafts, and painted pleasure barges on the river were startled by this scene. Many capsized, and people splashed into the water, their calls for help echoing in all directions.
From the river, a white figure emerged, transforming into a White Dragon wreathed in clouds and mist, exuding abundant water vapor. Its eyes lit up like torches, locking onto a young man in dark clothes standing on the winding bridge.
"Stirring the Rivers and Seas, Overturn the Ocean’s True Might—the White Dragon Technique!"
Ji Xuexin’s toes touched the lotus leaves, her fairy-like dress fluttering. Amidst a shower of countless lotuses, she raised a Gang Qi Shield. She recognized it as the Xue Family’s exclusive Spell, originating from a White Dragon named the Overturning Sea Demon Saint. As a student of Qilin Academy, she naturally recognized the attacker as someone familiar.
"Xue Yan, stop!" she cried out anxiously, not out of fear that Chu Yi would be harmed, but rather that Xue Yan would be beaten to death.
The Xue Family, one of the seven great Noble Families of Nanjiang, had connections with overseas Dragon Races and were rumored to be descendants of a Demon King. If Xue Yan were killed, it would undoubtedly stir up the forces behind him, leading to considerable trouble.
The White Dragon spiraled and danced, extraordinarily majestic. It landed and transformed into a graceful young master holding a feather fan, who then arrogantly cast a glance at Chu Yi.
"I am the eldest son of the Xue Family! Who are you, daring to disrespect your superiors and show contempt for an Imperial Princess? I must convict you of grave disrespect!"
Having said that, he bowed to Ji Xuexin and said warmly, "Your Highness, please forgive Xue Yan for this tardy welcome."
However, Ji Xuexin paid him no mind. Her toes stepped across the blooming lotuses, carrying a faint fragrance, as she approached Chu Yi’s side. Noticing his indifferent expression, she said cautiously, "Young Master Chu, the seven major Noble Families of Nanjiang have deep roots in Taiping City and are united as one. Their mansions are filled with powerful warriors, they command enfeoffed Water Gods as they please, and they even possess the Luoshen Killing Array."
As a Princess, she indeed possessed considerable insight. With the State Preceptor’s usurpation of power, the south had long ago formed separatist forces, only nominally obeying the Imperial Court.
Chu Yi was surprised. These Noble Families were truly formidable; they’d become powers unto themselves!
But on second thought, the collection of Spells amassed by these thousand-year-old Noble Families must be astronomical.
At this moment, Xue Yan spoke. "Your Highness, with your esteemed status, it is best not to associate with someone of unknown origin."
"A banquet has been prepared in the mansion. Master Han Yuan awaits Your Highness’s esteemed presence."
Xue Yan’s usually gentle and handsome face turned somewhat unsightly. Who was this young man, daring to be so close to the Ninth Princess? Wasn’t he afraid of death?
What annoyed him most was his dislike for anyone more handsome than himself; it made him slightly uncomfortable.
Even so, he maintained the demeanor of a Noble Family scion, his presence as calming as a spring breeze. One hand was subtly held behind his back, a sinister current of Demon Power condensing in his hidden palm.
He considered himself aloof and superior. He had first seen Ji Xuexin on a balmy spring day, on a lake. At dawn, a small boat had drifted through the lotus blossoms. The maiden crossed the river, her attire fluttering, her black hair dancing, as if a celestial Fairy had descended from the nine heavens.
At that moment, Xue Yan had fallen for her, determined that no other man should have her.
"This is Young Master Chu Yi. He once saved me on the battlefield, so I brought him along to meet everyone," Ji Xuexin smiled gently, linking her arm with Chu Yi’s. Their manner was intimate. In the moonlit lotus pond on the bridge, they appeared like a perfectly matched couple.
Chu Yi also smiled slightly. Nanjiang had too many arrangements in place; if they alerted the enemy, it would indeed be quite troublesome. Then they would attend the banquet. With the higher-ups present, it would be the perfect opportunity to capture them all in one fell swoop.
Upon hearing her words, Xue Yan was stunned. He gazed deeply at Chu Yi, a fleeting shadow of a White Dragon glimmering in his eyes, as if selecting its prey to devour.
This fellow, at most, only has mid-tier cultivation...
In my presence.
How dare he? How dare he!
"This warrior," Xue Yan began, jealously glancing at their linked hands, "since you serve the Princess, you should know the distinction between master and servant. The warrior has rendered great service in saving the Princess. As it happens, there is an open position outside the mansion. What does Your Highness think?"
In a few words, he had classified Chu Yi as a mere Guard, to be dispatched to watch the gates outside the mansion.
"Oh, that sounds good," Chu Yi said, surprised. Sensing more than a dozen gazes watching him secretly, he couldn’t help but smile. "But, I am quite a delicate person. I haven’t been able to endure hardships since childhood."
"The Sages say, ’A true man stands between heaven and earth; how can he remain idle?’" Xue Yan closed his fan, frowned, and said, "Is the warrior not satisfied? The position of Sword-carrying Captain in the City Lord’s Mansion is a proper sixth-rank official post."
Chu Yi shook his head. Under Xue Yan’s nearly fiery gaze, he wrapped his arm around Ji Xuexin’s slender waist.
"But I’d much rather marry into the Princess’s Mansion and become a pampered Prince Consort. A life without worrying about food or drink, sparing me thirty years of struggle—wouldn’t that be wonderful?"
Ji Xuexin turned her delicate head slightly, her cheeks warming. Though she was used to Young Master Chu Yi’s astonishing words, weren’t there outsiders present? Shouldn’t he pay some mind to the occasion?
However, if Chu Yi really married into her family, she... she could support him.
"You, you..." Xue Yan was momentarily choked, a lump in his throat. He couldn’t help clenching his fists, his heart filled with rage.
What further inflamed his fury was Ji Xuexin’s silent consent; evidently, the two were already a couple.
How, in the blink of an eye, had the Ninth Princess become infatuated with someone else? At Qilin Academy, she was the ice goddess, indifferent to everyone!
The Fairy he had yearned for but could not attain had fallen into another’s embrace!
Pain. So painful.
Xue Yan stared coldly at the two, calming the flames of anger within him. He said coolly, "Xue Xin, don’t forget who is supporting you."
Born of a Noble Family and the head of the ten prodigies at Qilin Academy, he had his own pride, which he merely restrained in front of the one he loved. He had believed that true affection would be reciprocated, but sadly, his hopes came to nothing. This made Xue Yan, despite having more than ten favored concubines and beautiful maids in his mansion, taste the bitterness of heartbreak.