Inside the carriage, the atmosphere instantly froze.
Lu Ning felt completely numb.
How could this little ancestor, Ji Linglong, make such a deadly request at a time like this?
And right in front of Gu Qinghuan!
[Calm down! I must stay calm!]
Lu Ning forced her brain to settle.
She knew she had to find a way to appease both of them at the same time.
“Sister?”
Seeing that Lu Ning had not moved for a long time, a hint of grievance began to surface in Ji Linglong’s pure golden eyes.
Her small mouth pouted slightly, making her look like a child who had been denied candy.
“Do you not like Linglong anymore?”
As soon as she spoke, the coldness and killing intent radiating from Gu Qinghuan beside Lu Ning intensified by several degrees.
It was over.
This little ancestor was about to start a scene.
Lu Ning knew she couldn’t hesitate any longer.
In a flash of inspiration, a bold idea surfaced in her mind.
Lu Ning suddenly turned around and, under Gu Qinghuan’s bewildered gaze, grabbed her face with both hands.
Gu Qinghuan was stunned.
She hadn’t expected her Master to act so suddenly.
What was Master doing?
Before she could react, a soft sensation pressed against her vermillion lips.
It carried a slight coolness and that familiar scent she had dreamed of.
Time seemed to stand still.
Gu Qinghuan’s cold eyes, which had been filled with jealousy and killing intent, were now wide with disbelief, shock, and wild joy.
‘Master… Master actively… kissed me?’
The lunar power that had been surging wildly within her body vanished instantly.
In its place was a sweetness and happiness that made her feel as though she were melting.
It turned out that in Master’s heart, she was the most important one.
Gu Qinghuan’s cheeks turned crimson at a visible rate, the flush spreading from her ears down to her neck.
She felt her heart thumping uncontrollably.
She stared blankly at Lu Ning, allowing her to leave that gentle yet overbearing mark, completely forgetting how to think.
Meanwhile, Lu Ning’s inner state was far from calm.
She was putting everything on the line!
She was only doing this to stabilize this rebellious disciple who could go on a rampage at any moment!
There was absolutely no other meaning behind it!
After confirming that Gu Qinghuan had been thoroughly dazed by the sudden kiss and had temporarily lost her aggression, Lu Ning slowly let go.
She looked at Gu Qinghuan’s blurred eyes and flushed cheeks, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
‘That’s one down.’
She quickly turned back to look at Ji Linglong, who was also staring in shock.
Ji Linglong’s golden phoenix eyes were wide, and her mouth was slightly agape.
Her little head was filled with questions.
‘Why did Sister kiss that bad woman? Shouldn’t Sister be kissing me?’
Lu Ning saw her expression shifting from shock to grievance and felt her heart tighten.
She knew she had to finish this quickly.
She leaned down and gently left a kiss on Ji Linglong’s equally exquisite cheek.
The soft, warm sensation on her cheek instantly smoothed over Ji Linglong’s impending emotional explosion.
She blankly touched her cheek, her dazed golden eyes blinking as if she still hadn’t processed what happened.
“Sister…”
“Be good.”
Seeing her dazed and cute appearance, Lu Ning felt lucky and decided to strike while the iron was hot.
She stroked Ji Linglong’s smooth, golden hair and coaxed her in the gentlest voice possible, “This is a reward for Linglong, because Linglong is the most obedient.”
“A reward?”
Ji Linglong’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, a reward.”
Lu Ning nodded firmly.
“Now, Sister needs Linglong to help with something. If you do it well, there will be an even bigger reward later.”
“Really?”
Upon hearing about a bigger reward, Ji Linglong’s interest was instantly piqued.
Her golden eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Of course it’s true.”
Lu Ning wore an incredibly sincere smile.
“When has Sister ever lied to you?”
“Okay! What does Sister want Linglong to do?”
Lu Ning secretly rejoiced at her innocent reaction.
She leaned into Ji Linglong’s ear and began to whisper instructions.
“Linglong, you will step out of the carriage in a moment. Remember, you must be proud and overbearing. Act as if you don’t care about anyone, do you understand?”
Ji Linglong nodded, half-understanding.
“If those bad men in armor try to stop you, tell them you are leaving the city and order them to get lost. If they dare to be disobedient, scold them — the fiercer, the better. In short, let them know that you are the master here and no one can defy your orders.”
Lu Ning explained every detail she could think of, fearing this intellectually challenged Princess might drop the ball.
“Mm-hmm! Linglong understands!”
Ji Linglong nodded repeatedly, looking like an eager student.
“Go on.”
Lu Ning patted her shoulder, giving her an encouraging look.
Ji Linglong took a deep breath as if to psych herself up.
Then, she stood up abruptly and threw aside the carriage curtain.
To the shock of the city guards outside, she slowly stepped down from the unremarkable, green-cloth carriage.
The moment she stepped down, her entire temperament shifted.
The innate nobility and dominance of the Eldest Princess of the Great Desolate Kingdom erupted like a waking phoenix.
Her golden phoenix eyes swept coldly over the city guards surrounding the carriage, her gaze treating them like lowly ants.
“Gre… Greetings, Your Highness!”
The leading general, upon seeing who it was, felt his soul nearly leave his body.
He hurriedly knelt on one knee, his voice trembling.
He never would have guessed that the dilapidated carriage he was ordered to search was occupied by the current Princess!
“Greetings, Your Highness!”
The surrounding city guards also realized what was happening.
They knelt on the ground one after another, not daring to lift their heads.
Ji Linglong ignored the people on the ground.
She simply stared coldly at the general and opened her lips, her voice icy and majestic.
“You have quite the nerve. You dare to block the Princess’s carriage?”
The general shuddered under her cold gaze, cold sweat pouring down his back instantly.
“Your… Your Highness, please appease your anger!”
He hurriedly kowtowed and explained, “I did not know Your Highness was inside. Please forgive my offense!”
“Forgive you?”
Ji Linglong let out a disdainful sneer.
“I think you all are tired of living! I wish to leave the city, and you dare to stop me?”
“It… It is Her Majesty’s order,” the general said, biting the bullet.
“Her Majesty has ordered the entire city to be under martial law. No one is allowed to enter or leave at will…”
“Presumptuous!”
Ji Linglong swept her sleeve, and an invisible gust of wind sent the general flying.
“In my presence, my word is the law!”
Her words were overbearing to the extreme.
The royal majesty she radiated made everyone present feel as though they couldn’t breathe.
“Now, get out of the way immediately! If you dare to delay me for another breath, you will all answer for it with your heads!”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
The general scrambled back, no longer daring to hesitate for a second.
“Quick! Move! Make way for Her Highness the Princess!”
He shouted frantically at his subordinates.
As if receiving a great pardon, the city guards scrambled to both sides, clearing a wide path for the carriage.
Ji Linglong let out a cold snort, turned around in satisfaction, and returned to the carriage.
The moment she stepped back into the cabin, her proud and overbearing expression vanished, replaced by an expression that begged for praise.
She leaned toward Lu Ning and tilted her small face up, her golden eyes shining.
“Sister, did I do well?”
Lu Ning felt a wave of emotion seeing her change faces so quickly.
She reached out and pampered her by pinching her cheek.
“Yes, Linglong is the best.”
Having received her praise, Ji Linglong smiled contentedly and once again stuck to Lu Ning like a small cat.
Outside the carriage, Su Yuexi saw the opportunity and lightly flicked the whip.
“Hyah!”
The carriage began to move again.
Under the reverent gazes of the two rows of city guards, it passed through the city gate without any further obstacles.