"Mu Xue greets the Eldest Prince."
Qi Muxue gave Lu Changfeng a slight bow, her face holding a polite smile. Her attitude toward this Prince—the one whose position in the Imperial Court was a hot topic of debate and who was the most likely to inherit the throne—remained lukewarm.
Lu Changfeng smiled gracefully at Qi Muxue and said, "Miss Mu Xue, you are a descendant of the Confucian Saint and a scholar at the Imperial College. Your knowledge is profound and your studies extensive. I have many questions I'd like to ask you. Would you do me the honor of joining me at my residence for a cup of tea?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Muxue frowned inwardly. 'I really don't like these pleasantries, especially when they revolve around my appearance. I hate it when people place my beauty above my intellect. It's as if they think I'm just a pretty vase.'
'And then there's the part about me being a descendant of the Confucian Saint, a halo they place before all my achievements.'
'It's as if everything I've accomplished was a gift from my grandfather, completely ignoring my own efforts.'
'My poetry is good? It must be because I'm a descendant of the Confucian Saint.'
'My memorials to the throne are well-written? It must be because I'm the Prime Minister's daughter.'
'Such praise is so hollow, completely devoid of substance. I'm sick of hearing it, and I don't want to hear it anymore.'
'But that's how the world is. I can't be bothered to argue anymore.'
Qi Muxue knew full well that she couldn't be rude to the Eldest Prince.
She understood that her father was still aligned with the Eldest Prince's faction, serving his cause.
Angering him would clearly do her no good.
The immediate task was to find a way to refuse the Eldest Prince and get away.
At that moment, the Eldest Prince, Lu Changfeng, was completely unaware that he had already made several major faux pas. He also didn't know that a certain someone in Qingzhu Hall had slapped him with the label "greasy." He simply stood there, a smile on his face, awaiting the beauty's reply.
"Well... Your Highness."
"I just remembered that my father is not feeling well. I must return home to prepare some medicinal herbs and look after him."
"I see."
Lu Changfeng seemed very understanding. He said softly, "In that case, how about I accompany you to visit him? Elder Mr. Qi is, after all, my respected teacher. It is only right and proper that I go pay my respects."
"This..."
Witnessing this, even Lu Mingyuan couldn't bear to watch anymore. His little Paperman, hidden in a nearby bush, was hopping about frantically, looking as if it were constipated.
'She's rejecting you, can't you see?'
'This Eldest Prince is so shameless!'
Having witnessed their conversation, Lu Mingyuan had a pretty good idea of what the Eldest Prince was thinking.
The moment he heard the two words "Mu Xue," he had already guessed the Female Scholar's identity: the most talented woman in the Imperial Capital, Qi Muxue.
Gifted from a young age, she had read hundreds of scrolls. At the age of eight, she composed a poem that triggered a celestial phenomenon, allowing her to step into the First Realm of the Confucian Dao: Qi Cultivation. After that, her progress was unstoppable. She disguised herself as a man, participated in the imperial examinations, and passed with top marks to become an Advanced Scholar, her name announced at the Wenqu Sect.
When the Emperor of Great Yan learned of this, he was greatly impressed and bestowed upon her the official post of National Academy Doctor, allowing her to teach at the various academies. At a young age, she had already reached the Sixth Realm of the Confucian Dao, Confucian Scholar.
In truth, Lu Mingyuan felt that his elder brother's intentions weren't so simple.
In his view, Qi Muxue held a high status and was well-known throughout the Imperial Capital and its major academies. Marrying her would be equivalent to gaining the full backing of a Great Scholar and the strong support of Shengjing Academy—an entirely logical move.
And that was indeed what Lu Changfeng was thinking.
Although his teacher was constantly advising him and was always available for consultation, he believed that only by marrying Qi Muxue could he truly tie down the Great Scholar Qi Xingyan and secure the support of the academies' faction.
His plan was wonderful, but Qi Muxue clearly had no intention of giving him the chance.
"Eldest Prince, I currently have no mind for other matters. I wish only to devote myself to studying the Saint's Scriptures. I apologize."
Qi Muxue's gaze was completely serious. After speaking, she clutched her books, gathered her skirts, and hurried away.
She left the Eldest Prince standing there, dumbfounded in the wind.
Lu Mingyuan smiled at the sight. Even the Paperman hiding behind him couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.
'For some reason, that line sounds strangely familiar.'
'Sorry, I don't want a relationship right now. I just want to focus on my studies.'
'Yep, that's the one.'
"Wait, Miss Mu Xue, you've misunderstood!"
Lu Changfeng looked astonished and started to chase after her, wanting to explain something.
But something hit him on the head.
"Ouch!"
"Who hit me?!"
Lu Changfeng was furious. He whipped his head around, scanning his surroundings, only to find a pinecone on the ground.
Looking up, he saw several squirrels chittering as they nibbled on pinecones.
"Damn it! This is outrageous!"
Lu Changfeng slammed a fist into the tree trunk. With a BOOM, the trunk caved in and spiderweb cracks spread across its surface. Moments later, the entire tree came crashing down.
This drew the attention of many people in the Imperial College. Pairs of eyes watched him, but no one dared to speak, unsure of who had angered the Eldest Prince.
Meanwhile, the little Paperman in the bushes was completely unharmed. It held a pinecone, tossing it up and down in its palm. A few crooked lines were drawn on its face, giving it a smirking expression.
"Your Highness!"
Just then, a Guard's voice came from the gate of the Imperial College. He moved like a blur, arriving before the Eldest Prince in an instant and kneeling to report:
"Your subordinate has learned that Qi Xingyan was seen meeting privately with the Second Prince, Lu Guangjing, at a tavern in the Inner City."
Hearing this, Lu Changfeng's eyes narrowed. He thought for a moment before asking again, just to be sure:
"Are you certain?"
"There's no mistake. It was only half an incense stick's time ago. Your subordinate returned immediately to report."
"Let's go. Accompany me to Shengjing Academy."
Lu Changfeng flicked his sleeve and strode away with the gait of a dragon and the prowl of a tiger. Clad in a purple Python Robe, his presence was so domineering and untamed that nearly all who saw him bowed.
Lu Mingyuan heard this and thought to himself, 'Father has only just left the capital, and the two of them are already starting their struggle? This whole "brothers turning against each other" drama is happening a bit too quickly.'
'Let's see what this is all about.'
Lu Mingyuan controlled the Paperman, making it hop and skip along. It slipped through a crack in the gate, hugged a corner, and took a shortcut.
It found the carriage at the entrance—a magnificent one with a glazed tile roof drawn by five horses—and hid in the folds of the window curtain ahead of time.
「And at this very moment.」
A white-haired woman in a green Daoist Robe had already found a secret hiding place within the Imperial City.
Her aura locked onto Lu Mingkong, who was inside his residence, whipping and verbally abusing a Maid. He sat in his wheelchair, his face ashen, completely oblivious to the approaching danger.
The White-haired Daoist Nun's gaze was cold and detached. The Fifth Realm Martial Artist Guards at the gate all had their throats slit by a single sword strike. All they saw was a flash of green light before they collapsed to the ground.
Beyond the triple-arched main gate, a slender figure appeared at the entrance, yet no one could sense her presence.
The White-haired Daoist Nun held a slender, crystal-clear Treasure Sword. The blade's edge emanated a terrifying, faint glow of green Taoist Qi.
It wasn't until Lu Mingkong looked up that death's dirge began to play in his ears.
"Do you remember the eighteen lives lost at the orphanage in Mud Alley, Nanyu Prefecture?"
...