Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Dugu Yue! When Lin Tianfeng and the rest heard these two words, they were instantly taken aback! Why did her name appear on that list?!
The lady beside Chu Liuyue couldn’t control herself and directly spilled her wine on the floor.
Bam!
The crisp sound of the wine cup breaking was heard, and it instantly averted the crowd’s gazes.
The hall fell silent.
Rong Xiu looked over and raised his sharp brows slightly. “Master Lin, what’s the matter?”
Lin Tianfeng hurriedly stood up and said, “Your Highness, uhm… Ms. Dugu isn’t on the list that Grotto-Heaven Cliff submitted! This—”
“Oh?” Rong Xiu seemed shocked as his ending tone was slightly higher. He said to Yan Qing, “Show it to me.”
Yan Qing hurriedly presented the booklet with both hands.
Rong Xiu took it and examined it closely. Then, he looked up and lightly said, “Dugu Yue’s name is clearly written on it. Master Lin, you can see for yourself if you don’t believe me.”
Lin Tianfeng was stumped. How would I dare not to believe His Highness’s golden words? B-but this isn’t right! That name list was submitted before Dugu Yue even went to Grotto-Heaven Cliff. Besides, I clearly know that Dugu Yue brought a child along with her to look for her husband. How would I dare to add her name to the list?!
“Uhm… There must be a mistake here…” Lin Tianfeng gulped with much difficulty as his skin was tense, and he was extremely nervous. Even if he had seen all sorts of thunderstorms, he was dazed when he faced such a scene. The people present don’t know Dugu Yue’s background, but I know it clearly! If someone finds out about it, then—
“Master Lin, you’re saying that the Sky-Cloud Empire people read this booklet wrong?” Rong Xiu leaned against his chair and lazily asked.
Even though his tone was relaxed, Lin Tianfeng wouldn’t dare to admit it! I’m not tired of living, so why would I accuse the Sky-Cloud Empire people of being sloppy with their work?!
“I-I didn’t mean it that way…” Lin Tianfeng’s voice became much softer.
Rong Xiu laughed and threw the booklet back to Yan Qing. “Forget it. We can’t make this clear in such a short time; let’s leave it as it is first. It’s not too late to check after this is over.”
The crowd was confused. This is the name list to choose your princess consort. How could you say that in such a relaxed manner?!
But since Rong Xiu had already said it, the others naturally couldn’t say anything else. Besides, there were many people participating in the contest for the position of princess consort. There wouldn’t be too many with her and not too few without her.
This girl without any background wouldn’t pose much threat.
Yan Qing held the booklet and felt that his hands were burning. He looked down and glanced at the two words ‘Dugu Yue’ that was clearly just added.
He was in turmoil. It’s no wonder His Highness wasn’t anxious at all. It turned out that he was waiting here!
Rong Xiu knocked his long white fingers. “Continue.”
…
Yan Qing took a deep breath in and planned to continue reading. “Han—”
“Wait!” The moment Yan Qing spoke, someone suddenly interrupted him.
The crowd turned in the direction of the voice.
The person speaking wasn’t anyone else but Jiang Zhiyuan, who closely followed Rong Xiu previously. She gazed at Rong Xiu sitting above and slightly knitted her brows; disagreement could be clearly seen on her face. “Your Highness, your actions seem rather inappropriate.”
The crowd became increasingly silent.
“Zhiyuan.” At the side, Jiang Hetian knitted his brows and called her with much warning.
However, Jiang Zhiyuan ignored him. She pressed her lips against each other and continued, “Just now, Master Lin had already said that Ms. Dugu isn’t from Grotto-Heaven Cliff. Logically speaking, she has no right to be on the name list. Isn’t it inappropriate that you don’t really care about it, Your Highness?”
The crowd exchanged glances. Jiang Zhiyuan’s words make sense. All those who can come here are the most outstanding women of the respective clans. It’s indeed weird that this Dugu Yue suddenly jumped out and ridiculously got on the name list, becoming one of the candidates.
Rong Xiu glanced at her slightly. “Not everyone present are daughters from the main family. According to what you say, should they also be removed from the name list?”
Jiang Zhiyuan was stumped and bit her lips. “I… Your Highness, you clearly know that that’s not what I meant…”
“Only you know what you mean, Big Missy Jiang. How would I know?” Rong Xiu seemed to smile, but there was no smiling intent in his eyes and face.
Everyone could clearly tell that this was distance from inside to out.
Jiang Zhiyuan was dazed, and awkwardness appeared in her eyes.
After she saw Rong Xiu today, she was originally elated. But afterward, she realized that he didn’t seem to want to care about her.
She didn’t take it to heart because his personality was always this cold. But now, he didn’t leave any face for her at all in front of so many people.
Jiang Zhiyuan felt very aggrieved.
Just as she was about to say something, Jiang Hetian opened his mouth. “Your Highness, please forgive Zhiyuan for offending you.”
He chuckled. “Your Highness, you also know that this girl had been spoiled by the clan leader since she was young, so sometimes she’ll be rather unruly with what she says. Your Highness, please forgive her. When we go back, I’ll definitely teach her a lesson!”
When he mentioned ‘clan leader,’ Rong Xiu’s gaze darkened slightly, and his thin lips curled up. “Why would I? It’s a pity that the clan leader is still in seclusion. If not, he’d definitely be very happy to see Big Missy Jiang.”
Jiang Hetian’s smile froze.
For some reason, the clan leader hadn’t come out of seclusion after entering it a few years ago. During this period of time, Rong Xiu had held the power and completely controlled the Sky-Cloud Empire!
All these years, he had been avoiding Rong Xiu, but he didn’t expect the latter to be more unreasonable and powerful than he had expected.
Jiang Hetian awkwardly laughed and didn’t say anything else.
“Father, why didn’t you let me carry on?!” Jiang Zhiyuan couldn’t help but ask.
Jiang Hetian knitted his brows. “What else do you want to say?! Can’t you tell what His Highness wants?!”
“But why?! That Dugu Yue clearly doesn’t have any right! Even Master Lin said that he didn’t put her name on the list. One sentence can solve everything. Why would His Highness go through the trouble?”
Jiang Hetian became slightly frustrated. “Why do you keep harping on this problem? Isn’t it just a Dugu Yue? Even with her, will it change the eventual outcome? Let’s not talk about others. Just based on her appearance and figure alone, she can’t compete with you at all! Is it worth it to quarrel with His Highness over such an unimportant person?”
“I…” Jiang Zhiyuan was stumped for a moment.
“As long as you perform well later, won’t that princess consort position be yours? There’s nobody else who is more suitable than you for this position,” advised Jiang Hetian.
Jiang Zhiyuan could only nod. But for some reason, she just felt uneasy when she recalled how Rong Xiu talked to that woman.
Yan Qing continued, “Han—”
“Hold on.” Another voice was heard.
Hearing this, the person who spoke this time was actually Dugu Yue! They saw that her lips curled up, and she said with a smile, “I think Big Missy Jiang is right.. Your Grace, please delete my name.”
