Ling Xiao’s voice was quiet, but it was just loud enough that the few people closest to him heard everything.
The rims of Chunlan and Qiuyue’s eyes grew even redder. They bit their lips hard, their hands balled into tight fists inside their sleeves. They stood there, staring at Ling Xiao without blinking. They had never seen, much less heard of, anyone who would dare to openly defy a mber of the Royal Family for the sake of two low-status maids! And he wasn’t just defying any royal—it was the most favored princess in the entire Royal Family... the Crown Prince’s youngest daughter, Princess Tianqi!
In the upper circles of the Lanyue Empire, the custom of gifting maids had been passed down for many years. It was even considered a virtue!
And yet, today, the highest-ranking nobles of the Empire present were witnessing a scene they would never forget. Although they couldn’t clearly hear what the handso youth had said to the princess, their proximity and their intimate posture were enough to make anyone watching blush. This... this was already an outrageous breach of etiquette!
And when they saw Princess Tianqi’s flushed face turn livid, the nobles imdiately guessed what had happened. ’That ignorant boy... he... he actually defied Her Highness the Princess!’
’Heavens, could anything be more exciting than this?’ Those who recognized Ling Xiao as the third young master of the Ling Mansion couldn’t help but think, ’Even if your father is the great general commanding a massive army on the border, you can’t just brazenly defy the princess, can you? This kid truly has the gall of a dragon!’
Those who saw this imdiately put their heads together and began whispering. The most common question, of course, was: what had that young man said to the princess?
"You... you dare speak to like that? I... I’ll kill you!" Having never been so wronged in her life, Princess Tianqi was so furious she burst into tears. "Guards!" she shrieked. "Seize him for this princess!"
Ling Xiao took two steps back, not sparing the princess in yellow another glance. Instead, he turned his indifferent gaze to Prince Li Tianlie, who had overheard his exchange with the princess. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he said, "Is this your sister? Do us all a favor and take her ho to be properly disciplined. Let her out again once she learns how to be a decent person."
"Ling Xiao! You’re too insolent!" Li Tianlie exploded in rage, and his fury was genuine. He had always treated his sister as the apple of his eye; how could he tolerate soone belittling her like this?
Although he was arguably using his sister today, Li Tianlie’s original intention had been to make Ling Xiao ask him for help. That way, Ling Xiao would naturally owe him a favor.
Despite Ling Xiao killing Hai Tian in the street, Li Tianlie, in all honesty, didn’t hate him for it. He was just annoyed that Ling Xiao had made him lose face. After all, the grudge between Ling Xiao and Hai Tian ran deep, so killing him wasn’t a huge deal. Furthermore, after witnessing Ling Xiao’s abilities, Li Tianlie had begun to take note of his masterful sword skills.
Now, it probably wasn’t just him; all the major powers in the Imperial Capital had likely taken notice. What allowed a Celestial Vein Master, a near-cripple on the path of the Martial Dao, to have such a breakthrough in such a short ti? No one would believe that Ling Xiao didn’t have a powerful expert supporting him from the shadows. Because if the Ling Family itself possessed such an ability... why had they done nothing for all those years?
So, although it seed no one was making a move against him, it was because the insiders all knew that Ling Xiao was good friends with Li Tianluo—and had also offended the Crown Prince!
Li Tianluo’s identity at the Imperial Academy was a secret to the general public, but to the mbers of the truly great families, it was hardly a secret at all. On top of that, Ling Xiao’s own status was unique. While the Ling Family’s influence as a clan wasn’t vast, Ling Tianxiao’s position was far too sensitive. Though many were dissatisfied with Ling Tianxiao’s standing, one thing was certain: as long as Ling Tianxiao was alive, the Ling Family’s status was unshakeable!
Thus, Li Tianlie had instructed one of his attendants to ntion two maids of peerless beauty, though he didn’t know whose they were. Hearing this, Princess Tianqi, who was suprely confident in her own looks, was naturally curious. Maids who could be described as "absolutely stunning"? There were likely few of those even in the Imperial Palace. Besides, wasn’t praising another’s beauty right in front of her a deliberate provocation? Competitive to her very core, Princess Tianqi had them point out which maids they were talking about.
Upon seeing them, she was truly stunned by their otherworldly beauty, and a thought imdiately took root. It wasn’t only n who appreciated beautiful won; won did too! Imagine, what would it feel like to have two such peerless beauties serving you every day? Moreover, Princess Tianqi possessed a deep-seated, intense sense of superiority. ’What’s the use of being pretty?’ she thought. ’If I, a princess, say I want you, won’t your master have to bow and scrape and hand you over? He might even think it’s a trendous honor for his maids to be noticed by a mber of the Royal Family!’
Who could have thought she would first be rebuffed by the maids themselves? Though they were respectful to her as a princess, Princess Tianqi could sense a hint of disdain behind their deference. Then there was Wulan Tuo, fanning the flas from the sidelines. She disliked that sowhat effeminate man, but his words still affected her mood. Seeing the pair of peerless beauties hem and haw, refusing to co with her, only made her more and more furious.
She never expected that when the maids’ master arrived, he would be even more outrageous, daring to say such shockingly defiant things to her!
That was why even Li Tianlie found it all a bit incredible. The third young master of the Ling Family had a reputation for being a bit of a hedonistic brat in his childhood, but that was nothing more than typical aristocratic mischief. As he got older, after learning he was a Celestial Vein Master and being ostracized by his peers, he had beco much more withdrawn. How could he have changed so drastically after being unceremoniously dumped by that wealthy rchant’s daughter?
Li Tianlie glared at Ling Xiao’s tranquil eyes, unable to find even a spark of anger within them. Instead, they were as placid and deep as an autumn pool.
"Ling Xiao, apologize at once! Otherwise, your offense will be a grave one!" Li Tianlie said in a low voice.
GASP... A collective intake of breath went through the surrounding nobles. The way they looked at Ling Xiao suddenly changed. Li Tianlie’s identity was that of the Grand Imperial Prince! The future Emperor of the Empire! From the looks of it, was he... actively trying to help Ling Xiao avoid punishnt?
Many people couldn’t help but rub their eyes, wondering if they were dreaming to be witnessing such a scene.
Even Wulan Tuo stared at Li Tianlie in confusion and couldn’t help but take a few steps back. On the surface, Ling Xiao seed indifferent and harmless, but the mory of his ruthless thods was enough to give Wulan Tuo nightmares. He had only been so arrogant today because he was relying on Prince Li Tianlie’s authority, but he never imagined it would turn out like this. Wulan Tuo shot a venomous glare at Ling Xiao, his thoughts unreadable.
Ling Xiao gave a faint smile and continued his shocking tirade. "Tell , what is my offense? Defying a princess? I don’t think so." He scoffed lightly. "Anyone who dares to touch my people should be prepared for the consequences. Don’t think that just because you’re royals, you can do whatever you please!"
As soon as Ling Xiao spoke, the eyes of the surrounding nobles nearly popped out of their sockets. They held their breath, not daring to even exhale.
’A madman! He has to be a madman!’ This thought was shared by more than a few of the assembled nobles.
’This fellow must have a death wish. Heavens, such a handso young man... why is he trying to get himself killed?’ so of the noblewon thought with pity, noting Ling Xiao’s handso features.
’The Ling Family has brought a great disaster upon themselves... This boy is done for!’ A few of the older, more prudent nobles shook their heads and sighed to themselves. They turned to leave, apparently unwilling to witness the third young master of the Ling Family get cut down on the spot.
"You... Ling Xiao..." Li Tianlie never expected Ling Xiao to be so utterly obstinate. He pointed a finger at Ling Xiao, so furious he was at a loss for words.
At that mont, the humiliated and enraged Princess Tianqi finally snapped. She summoned a large group of guards with a shrill cry, pointing a finger at Ling Xiao. "Seize him for !"
Just then, a hearty laugh rang out. "Tianqi, who has provoked you this ti? Don’t tell you’re being willful again." Following the voice, His Majesty the King strode forward, full of vigor. He wore a gentle smile and didn’t even glance at Ling Xiao. With the King’s arrival, the surrounding nobles all assud solemn expressions and greeted him with the utmost respect.
His Majesty the King waved a hand. "Today is a joyous banquet; there is no need for such ceremony!" he declared. Walking over to Princess Tianqi, he smiled and asked, "Tell Grandpa, what happened?"
Li Tianlie, however, watched the old man’s back with a sense of unease. ’Grandfather’s behavior... it seems a bit off! Is he, whether intentionally or not, shielding Ling Xiao?’
Princess Tianqi, however, noticed none of this. The mont she saw her doting grandfather, her tears began to flow anew. Pointing a finger at Ling Xiao, she choked out between sobs, her face a tear-stained ss, "Grandpa, he... he bullied !"
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