The group gathered at the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion before heading to Yongle Town. Fearing that these imperial relatives might get hurt, the emperor had specifically instructed Pei Yuan and two Void Aperture cultivators to accompany them.

Xue Chen followed behind Ning Shengsheng’s carriage procession. Compared to the others’ tense, battle-ready postures, she appeared quite relaxed, nibbling on pastries and occasionally poking her head out of the carriage to admire the scenery. This was the confidence that came with being favored.

Xue Chen turned his head to look at the bustling crowd. Even outside the palace, the malice directed at him did not diminish.

“Zaoni, where is the Eight Treasures Mirror that Older Brother gave me? Quick, fasten it on me!”

“Yes, Princess.”

Songgao wiped the pastry crumbs from the corner of Ning Shengsheng’s mouth while Zaoni knelt and rummaged through the luggage they had brought. The Eight Treasures Mirror was a high-grade magical artifact, capable of withstanding a full-force blow from an early-stage Profound Aperture cultivator.

Before they left, Ning Xuan had sent someone to give Ning Shengsheng several storage pouches. Inside, besides the Eight Treasures Mirror, were the Dream Illusion Pearl, the Dragon Bone Soul, and more. The messenger had repeatedly warned her that the practical experience and the mission were not important; all that mattered was her safe return.

Ning Xuan had not wanted her to participate in the first place. It was only through Ning Shengsheng’s coquetry and charm that she had won this opportunity, all for the sake of helping Xue Chen induce spiritual energy into his aperture again.

The Eight Treasures Mirror was securely fastened to her chest. With a press of the central ruby, the protective armor would spread over her entire body, and not a single hair on her head could be touched by an enemy. This cheap older brother of hers, Ning Xuan, was really quite good. It was a pity that he would become a love-struck, neurotic mess in the later stages of the novel.

She counted on her fingers. Next year, Yun Huaiyue would be mistakenly brought into the imperial palace and become a favored consort. When that time came, the atmosphere in the palace would truly change!

Just as she was lost in thought, a commotion came from behind. She yawned, her sleepy eyes asking, “Songgao, go see what’s happening.”

“Princess, someone is having an argument with Hostage Prince Xue.” Songgao put down the curtain and sat back down, choosing her words carefully. “The one leading them is the second son of the Jiang family, from the Marquis of Ping’an’s residence.”

“Hmph, who doesn’t know that the Jiang family’s second son is related to the Third Princess? It must be the Third Princess who instigated him to bully Hostage Prince Xue!” Zaoni’s chubby face puffed up.

“Zaoni, watch your words!” Songgao scolded. She’s still young, after all. A couple of good days from Her Highness and she’s let her guard down. No matter how at odds the princess and Ning Jin were, it was not for servants like them to comment on.

Frightened by her own outburst, she knelt down. “Princess, I misspoke! Please punish me!” Zaoni fell to her knees with a thump, trembling as she begged for forgiveness. She had blurted out her thoughts without thinking. She really didn’t want to lose her life.

Ning Shengsheng resisted the urge to help her up, and instead shot her a cold glance, saying emotionlessly, “It’s fine. This princess is in a good mood.”

“Th-thank you, Your Highness…”

Songgao helped the pale-faced Zaoni to her feet. Then she heard the princess say playfully, “Bring Xue Chen in. I’m bored, I need someone to amuse me.”

“This servant will go at once.”

Songgao bowed and exited the carriage, walking towards the back.

“I hear that everyone in your Heavenly Phoenix Nation has the ability to tame beasts. There’s no time like the present. Why don’t you give us a little performance?”

A young man in a purple robe looked at Xue Chen with a frivolous air, as if he were looking at a street performer.

The others chimed in. “Yeah, we’ve never seen someone with the ability to communicate with animals.”

“Haha, you’re not an animal yourself, so of course you can’t understand what those animals are saying.”

The people around them burst into laughter.

Xue Chen, surrounded in the center, had a cold expression. The mockery and disdain could not harm him in the slightest. He opened his mouth and said calmly, “I can’t.”

The laughter abruptly stopped. These dandies hadn’t expected Xue Chen to actually dare to speak! And to refuse them, no less?!

Jiang Feng’s face turned ugly. “You can’t?”

“Hostage Prince Xue must have been in our Great Ning for too long, to have forgotten how to speak to those animals of yours.”

“Someone!”

“Take Hostage Prince Xue to the last carriage!”

The guards hesitated, exchanging glances. The last carriage was for the nobles’ demonic beasts.

The others’ mocking expressions thoroughly enraged Jiang Feng. He roared, “Anyone who disobeys will be killed without mercy!”

The guards had no choice but to obey. Jiang Feng couldn’t do anything to Xue Chen, but crushing them was as easy as stepping on an ant.

Xue Chen’s dark eyes held a towering rage, and his snake-like gaze was fixed on Jiang Feng.

A chill ran down Jiang Feng’s spine. “Quick, quick, take him away.” His first reaction was to avoid those terrifying eyes.

The guards dragged Xue Chen towards the back. Jiang Feng, regaining his composure, felt he had lost face in front of everyone. His anger flared, and he chased after them, raising his sword to stab at Xue Chen’s right leg.

Swoosh!

Faster than the long sword was an ice-blue soft whip.

“Who dares to stop me?” Jiang Feng, his eyes bloodshot, turned to curse, but upon seeing it was Ning Shengsheng, a look of astonishment flashed across his face. “Princess Ning An?”

Anger and surprise mingled on his face, making him look like a clown. Zaoni, in the back, covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Songgao had just returned to say that Jiang Feng was furious and probably wouldn’t listen to her, so she had summoned the princess.

“It is indeed this princess.”

Ning Shengsheng lifted her chin and looked at Jiang Feng with mockery. When it came to being a dandy and a bully, no one in all of Great Ning dared to compare with Princess Ning An.

Jiang Feng swallowed his anger, and with a roll of his eyes, he bowed and said obsequiously, “The princess must be bored on the road. How about letting this discarded son from the Heavenly Phoenix Nation entertain you?”

Ning Shengsheng smiled and met Jiang Feng’s gaze, her fingertips toying with the soft whip in her hand. “Young Master Jiang is so thoughtful.”

“To alleviate the princess’s worries is my—”

Smack—

A loud slap echoed.

“Princess Ning An, you… what is the meaning of this?” Jiang Feng clutched his face, his eyes filled with shame and anger. The noble sons who had been watching the spectacle dared not make a sound.

Smack—

Ning Shengsheng slapped him again.

“I hit you, so I hit you. What meaning is needed?”

The corners of her lips curved up, but there was no warmth in her eyes. The way she looked at Jiang Feng and the others was like watching a group of ants putting on a show.

Jiang Feng’s face quickly swelled up. He ground his back teeth, but in the end, he swallowed his anger and asked, “Princess, may I ask what I have done wrong?”

It couldn’t be that she was standing up for Xue Chen, could it?

According to the rumors, Princess Ning An was fond of Xue Chen’s handsome face. Everyone in the palace knew that she changed her fancy from day to day. She had once been fond of Master Pei, and also of Scholar Liu. All of them had been exceptionally good-looking. Hadn’t she just toyed with them for a few days before losing interest and casting them aside?

She’s not tired of this good-for-nothing from the Heavenly Phoenix Nation yet?

“Since you’ve asked so insistently, and this princess is in a good mood, I’ll be kind enough to tell you…”

She gave Jiang Feng a meaningful smile. “This princess was bored in the carriage and was thinking of finding Xue Chen to amuse me. But then I found a better source of entertainment in you, so I thought I’d just play around a bit!”

“!!!”

Cold sweat trickled down Jiang Feng’s temples. Princess Ning An isn’t interested in me, is she?

I was wrong. I was so wrong.

I shouldn’t have listened to the Third Princess’s instigation and come to make fun of Xue Chen.