“Please, join me for tea.” Xiao Ruoling’s deep, mesmerizing eyes sparkled like a secluded pool under the sunlight.
“Eldest sister, you should refuse,” Xiao Ruoyu said. “The Ninth Princess of Da Meng is definitely up to no good.”
“What could she be plotting?” Xiao Ruoling asked.
Xiao Ruoyu scoffed, “Isn’t she trying to outshine you? These past few days, it’s been quite a spectacle outside, constantly comparing you to her.”
Xiao Ruoling looked at him curiously.
She had been focusing on her cultivation these past few days and paid little attention to external affairs, only attending one palace banquet before burying herself in training.
Xiao Ruoyu said, “Some say you’re the number one beauty, others say it’s her. There are all sorts of opinions.”
He curled his lip. “Although that Li Hongzhao is beautiful, she’s still far from matching you, eldest sister!”
Xiao Ruoling laughed. “Little Hu, you know how to flatter people.”
“I’m telling the truth, not lying!” Xiao Ruoyu retorted. “She looks like a vixen, not a good woman!”
They had attended the palace banquet a few days prior, where the Emperor welcomed the Da Meng delegation in much the same way as he had welcomed the Da Zhen delegation.
However, this time there were no contests between the young masters, no Heavenly Dragon Horses, just eating, drinking, and watching song and dance.
There was no tension in the air, only harmony, as if they were closer to forming an alliance with Da Meng than with Da Zhen.
Xiao Ruoyu had seen the Ninth Princess of Da Meng, Li Hongzhao.
She was indeed an exceptional beauty, stunning and unparalleled, with every smile and glance capable of bewitching people, making them unable to control their hearts.
Not only was she beautiful and charming, but she also held a high position and great power, being the most respected figure in the Da Meng delegation, capable of making decisions. This made her not only beautiful and noble, but also imposing.
For a moment, even Xiao Ruoling couldn't overshadow her. “Whether she’s a good woman or not can’t be determined by appearances,” Xiao Ruoling said softly, shaking her head. “Li Hongzhao has a good reputation, and this is Yujing.”
“Anyway, I feel like she’s up to no good. Isn’t she trying to deliberately steal your limelight, eldest sister?” Xiao Ruoyu pondered. “Competing for the title of the number one beauty?”
“She’s not that naive!” Xiao Ruoling rolled her eyes at him. “I’m afraid she has other intentions. Since she’s invited me, I’ll accept.”
“Really accept?” Xiao Ruoyu hesitated.
Xiao Ruoling said, “Even if she’s bold, she wouldn’t dare harm me, and besides, there’s no need for her to harm me.”
No matter how audacious Li Hongzhao was, she wouldn't dare to act against her in Yujing City.
Moreover, she was just a daughter of a Duke's mansion, and Duke Anguo was merely a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, with no significant conflicts of interest. “That’s true,” Xiao Ruoyu muttered. “Why hasn’t the Heir apparent emerged from seclusion yet?”
Xiao Ruoling looked in the direction of the Qing Prince’s mansion.
The two families were separated by three streets. The Anguo Duke's mansion was slightly further from the Imperial Palace than the Qing Prince's mansion. Although the small pavilion facing south was high, it was still separated by three streets, and the Qing Prince's mansion could not be seen.
Xiao Ruoyu said, “If the Heir apparent were here, it would be best to ask him.”
Xiao Ruoling smiled. “Alright, I can handle this little matter. He needs to focus on his cultivation and has no time to deal with these things.”
“Hmph…”
Xiao Ruoyu was always worried.
Firstly, it was because he cared too much, and secondly, the Ninth Princess had a great reputation, being known for her shrewdness and skill, which made him even more concerned.
Xiao Ruoling smiled and said, “Hurry up and practice your skills, don’t be lazy.”
“Alright then.” Xiao Ruoyu could only put aside his worries.
He decided to go to the Qing Prince’s mansion.
He quickly summoned Guo Chi and the others and told them to temporarily act as the Heir Apparent’s Consort’s guards.
Guo Chi and the others readily agreed.
Chu Zhiyuan had instructed before going into seclusion that if there was anything happening on the Anguo Duke’s mansion’s side, they should go directly to help without delay.
The next morning, when Xiao Ruoling left the Anguo Duke’s mansion, she immediately noticed something different.
Guo Chi and the four of them were dressed in brocade robes, standing solemnly under the steps outside the mansion. When they saw her, they bowed and saluted. “Greetings, Heir Apparent’s Consort.”
“Commander Guo, thank you for your trouble.”
Xiao Ruoling was dressed in a light purple palace dress, with a jade hairpin inserted into her dark, shiny temples, which was given by Chu Zhiyuan.
This jade hairpin looked ordinary, but it was actually carved from cold jade and had the effect of clearing the mind and calming the spirit.
Guo Chi solemnly clasped his fists. “We are duty-bound to serve.”
Xiao Ruoling smiled lightly, nodded slightly, and entered the sandalwood carriage with the two little maids.
Guo Chi and the four surrounded the carriage, each standing in one direction, and moved forward with the carriage, naturally forming the Four Spirits Formation.
They had been practicing the Four Spirits Formation diligently, and with Chu Zhiyuan’s occasional guidance, they had made rapid progress. Now they were already at the second level, and they could form the Four Spirits Formation at any time without having to stand in specific positions.
The Anguo Duke’s mansion’s guards were on the periphery.
Among Xiao Ruoling’s guards, there was one Grandmaster, and the others were all Innate experts.
There were many guards in the Anguo Duke’s mansion, but there were not many with high cultivation levels. There were a total of four Grandmasters. Duke Anguo, Xiao Ruoyu, and Xiao Ruoling each had one, plus one guarding the Duke’s mansion.
The sandalwood carriage slowly drove towards a teahouse on Phoenix Avenue - Biling Pavilion.
Biling Pavilion was located on the western section of Phoenix Avenue, close to the wealthy area, and also within the area of the Western Second Hall.
When Xiao Ruoling arrived at Biling Pavilion and got out of the carriage, she saw a group of knights standing outside Biling Pavilion, wearing dark green armor.
The dark green armor shone with a dim, somber luster in the sunlight.
Her bright eyes flashed.
She thought that if these armors were on the grassland, they would probably blend in with the grass, making it difficult to distinguish them from a distance.
Cloud Treading Iron Cavalry!
Guo Chi and the four surrounded Xiao Ruoling who got off the carriage, and their aura immediately enveloped her, dispelling the stern momentum formed by more than thirty Cloud Treading Iron Cavalry.
The two little maids beside Xiao Ruoling looked around curiously, followed Xiao Ruoling inside, and came to the empty teahouse.
Obviously, the teahouse had been cleared.
When she came to the second floor, she saw a large group of maids and guards standing outside a room. When they saw Xiao Ruoling coming, they all made way.
Xiao Ruoling came to the outside of the room and saw that Li Hongzhao, who was dignified and beautiful, was already sitting by the window in the open room.
Wearing a peach-red palace dress, she held a scroll leisurely.
Her skin was as white as jade, like a beauty carved from suet jade.
Red lips, straight nose, phoenix eyes and slender eyebrows, she was stunning.
Putting down the scroll, Li Hongzhao got up to greet her, clasped her fists and smiled charmingly. “Sister Xiao, I haven’t welcomed you properly, please come in quickly.”
“Your Highness.” Xiao Ruoling smiled slightly. “Your Highness’s invitation is an honor to Ruoling.”
“Sister Xiao, you don’t look like you’re honored and surprised. Let’s sit down and talk.”
“Yes.”
The maids quickly served tea.
Sitting by this window, you could see the surging crowd on Phoenix Avenue below, as dense as ants.
It was lively and extraordinary.
“Ah…” Li Hongzhao looked out of the city and sighed. “Our Tianjing is not as lively as this, it lacks too much prosperity compared to here.”
Xiao Ruoling smiled. “It is said that Da Meng is also very prosperous.”
Li Hongzhao shook her head. “The people of Tianjing don’t have this leisure, they are all busy, working hard every day, how can they enjoy like the people of Yujing?”
Xiao Ruoling smiled without saying a word.
“I heard that Heir Apparent Yuan is in seclusion?” Li Hongzhao suddenly asked with a smile.
