“I am Chu Yunlan. May I ask who you might be?”
As his question finished, Ji Xuanyuan gave a slight wave of her jade-like hand, and the window was immediately pushed open.
Sunlight poured in from the window, and a phantom-like figure appeared.
Her long hair was tied high, and a White Jade Phoenix Head Hairpin glowed brilliantly amidst her red tresses. A breeze blew in through the window, lifting a stray lock of hair near her temple.
She stood there by the window with her eyes lowered, like a goddess standing upon the clouds, looking down at the mortal realm.
The moment her features became clear, the entire street fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop, as if all sound had been drained away. Even Chu Yunlan was filled with stunned speechlessness.
He looked at her as a collector would a rare treasure. His gaze swept over her high-tied hair, her world-toppling beauty, and finally landed on her graceful, curvaceous figure.
Chu Yunlan’s throat bobbed as he watched her lips part slightly.
“Ji Xuanyuan, Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty, greets Young Master Yunlan!”
Ji Xuanyuan nodded slightly. Her voice was as cold and clear as ice beads falling onto a jade plate; every word was distinct. It was merely a polite gesture, yet to those watching, it seemed as if a goddess were bowing her head.
Chu Yunlan felt his heart skip a beat.
He had, of course, heard of Ji Xuanyuan’s name. She was the most dazzling genius of the Immortal Dynasty and its most noble Crown Prince. It was said that she was born with the omen of a phoenix’s cry. She had read the entirety of the Taoist scriptures by the age of 3, achieved Qi Refinement by the age of 7, and had already stepped into the Tongming Realm by the age of 18.
In the younger generation of the Realm of True Emotions, her name was one that could stand as an equal to his own.
Chu Yunlan had not expected her to be here. He certainly hadn’t expected her to take the initiative to speak to him from the window.
Chu Yunlan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging emotions, and cupped his hands in return.
“So it is Your Highness Xuanyuan. I have long heard of your name. To meet you today is truly the fortune of three lifetimes. Whatever brings Your Highness to Xuanji City? If there is any way I may be of assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.”
As he spoke, his gaze never left her face. Those eyes, those slightly pursed lips, and her graceful figure outlined by her form-fitting, luxurious attire…
An unprecedented stir of emotion surged within Chu Yunlan’s heart.
In contrast, Ji Xuanyuan’s expression remained calm and indifferent.
“Young Master Yunlan is too kind! Xuanji City is not only a thriving hub of trade; its scenery also holds a unique charm. Since you have come here, you are likely here for the Divine Grade Auction. There are still many days before the auction begins, so you might as well walk around. If you have the leisure, you should visit the Ice Lake outside the city. It is currently the season of melting ice, and the scenery is quite fair.”
Her tone was extremely cold, yet to Chu Yunlan’s ears, it sounded like divine music.
The Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty was actively engaging him in small talk. She was actively inviting him to enjoy the scenery.
‘What does this mean?’ he wondered. ‘It means she values me. It means she wants to establish a connection.’
An indescribable sense of pride welled up in the depths of Chu Yunlan’s heart.
“Your Highness is most gracious; it would be rude of me to decline. We were just about to head out for a spring outing. If Your Highness does not mind, why don’t we travel together?”
As he spoke, he even forgot about Gu Qingwan beside him. His mind was entirely occupied with how to perform well in front of the future Empress.
Upon hearing his suggestion, the whispers on the street rose once more.
“No way… are the heirs of the two future superpowers going to have a private meeting? What kind of signal is this? A joint effort? An alliance? A marriage?”
“If it’s truly a marriage — or even just an alliance — the future landscape of the Realm of True Emotions is going to change drastically!”
“A marriage is impossible, right? What about Fairy Gu who’s right there next to him?”
Inside the Imperial Carriage, Gu Qingwan did not show even a hint of embarrassment. After all, her relationship with Chu Yunlan was merely an act. Furthermore, the trial she was about to undergo was exceptionally dangerous. Even if the two of them were to get together, there was a high probability that she wouldn’t live to see the day they married.
Chu Yunlan, hearing the discussions, felt the corners of his mouth curl deeper.
‘A marriage?’ he thought. ‘I wouldn’t dare dream of it. After all, our statuses are far too noble. Even if we had feelings for each other, the powers behind us would have to consider it carefully. But if we can become “closely linked allies,” that is highly likely. If there is truly a chance to develop such a relationship…’
The mere thought of it made Chu Yunlan’s throat feel dry.
Faced with his invitation, Ji Xuanyuan’s previously indifferent expression suddenly blossomed into a charming smile.
Chu Yunlan truly grasped the meaning of “a single smile that could topple a city.” He became even more certain of his thoughts regarding an alliance.
But in the next moment, Ji Xuanyuan smiled and said, “Heh. Young Master Yunlan, you’ve misunderstood. That sentence just now… wasn’t meant for you. Rather…”
Her gaze shifted from his face, looking past the crowd of onlookers, and landed on a youth standing at the edge of the street.
“Young Master Chu Yuan, regarding that business deal you mentioned… would you care to come upstairs for a private discussion?”
Chu Yunlan’s smile froze instantly. His gaze moved away from Ji Xuanyuan’s face and fell back onto Chu Yuan.
‘Why would the dignified Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty take the initiative to invite a waste like him?’ he raged internally. ‘Why him? An orphan with meager resources and a low-grade Spirit Root???’
“…”
In an instant, the entire street fell into a deathly stillness once again. It was even quieter than when the Crown Prince first appeared.
—
Inside the Luan Carriage, the Dragon’s Saliva Incense in the censer had already burned out, leaving only a faint, lingering trail of smoke that slowly dispersed in the small space.
Gu Qingwan unconsciously widened her eyes. Her hands were folded over her knees, and her fingertips were mindlessly twisting the fabric of her sleeves. The force was so great that she had crumpled the silk into deep folds.
The silence outside allowed her to clearly hear the sound of her own heart.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It was too loud. It was so loud it felt like someone was beating a drum in her ear. She could hardly hear anything else.
‘The Crown Prince invited Ah Yuan upstairs for a chat? To talk about business? Why?’
Gu Qingwan’s mind went blank. And then —
“Huh???”
The entire street erupted in an uproar.
“Chu Yuan? Which Chu Yuan?”
“That waste who was just dumped by Fairy Gu?”
“That’s impossible, right? The Crown Prince wants to talk business with him? What qualifications does he have?”
“I must have heard wrong. I definitely heard wrong…”
The crowd’s whispers were like the countless thoughts rising in her heart. Gu Qingwan instinctively lifted the curtain, staring blankly at the figure at the edge of the crowd.
Under the gaze of the multitude, Chu Yuan looked up. His eyes bypassed everyone else and landed on the window on the third floor.
Chu Yuan was also surprised by Ji Xuanyuan’s invitation. Thinking of his plan to make money, he suppressed the confusion in his heart and cupped his hands toward her.
“I appreciate Your Highness’s consideration. I shall come up immediately!”
Chu Yuan’s response caused the crowd to explode once again.
Chu Yunlan’s nails dug into his palms. He took a deep breath, pushing down his surging emotions, and replaced the gentle smile on his face. However, that smile was slightly more strained than before, and the curve of his lips didn’t look right no matter how one viewed it.
It was as if he had been slapped in the face but had to keep smiling and pretend nothing was wrong.
“So that was it,” Chu Yunlan’s voice remained gentle and polite, betraying no sign of anything unusual. “Brother Yuan and Her Highness are acquainted? I had no idea… Brother Yuan certainly has good fortune.”
As he spoke, he turned to look at Chu Yuan. In his gaze, a flash of unmistakable murderous intent flickered.
But Chu Yuan saw it and met that gaze without hesitation. As their eyes met, it was like two swords — one of envy and one of righteousness — clashing in an instant.