Xue Qinghe's Arrival

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the window and fell across the hotel bed.

Ye Xi sat cross-legged on the bed, engaged in Meditative Cultivation. Her eyes gradually opened.

"My Soul Power has broken through another level. Level twenty-five Soul Grandmaster."

Ye Xi sensed the Soul Power within her and nodded in satisfaction.

After getting out of bed and washing up briefly, Ye Xi opened her door and saw Ling Yuan standing outside.

"Second Young Lady, breakfast is ready."

Ling Yuan gave Ye Xi a faint smile.

"Thank you for your trouble, Ling Yuan Elder."

After saying this, Ye Xi followed Ling Yuan toward another room.

Upon entering, she saw that breakfast had been laid out on the table, while Fourth Prince Xue Beng lay on the floor.

Tian Yao sat at the table, quietly waiting for Ye Xi and Ling Yuan to arrive.

"Um, could you give me something to eat too?"

Xue Beng looked at the breakfast on the table and rubbed his growling stomach.

"You should wait a little longer."

"Barring any surprises, someone will come to take you back soon."

Ye Xi glanced indifferently at Xue Beng, then sat down at the table and began sampling the breakfast before her.

Ling Yuan and Tian Yao, meanwhile, completely ignored Xue Beng's presence.

Soon, the simple breakfast was finished. Ye Xi sat by the room's window and closed her eyes to rest.

Tian Yao sat cross-legged on the bed and began Meditative Cultivation.

Ling Yuan waited quietly by the door.

About an hour later, there was a knock on the door.

Ling Yuan opened it, revealing Xue Qinghe standing outside with a smile, dressed in Crown Prince attire.

"Big Brother."

"Big Brother, are you here to save me?"

Xue Beng looked at Xue Qinghe in the doorway, his eyes filled with excitement and fear hidden deep within them.

"Mm."

Xue Qinghe glanced at Xue Beng on the floor and merely gave a quiet acknowledgment without saying anything else.

"Crown Prince."

"Please sit down so we can talk."

Ye Xi gestured invitingly, indicating that Xue Qinghe should sit before her.

"Xue Beng has caused you trouble. Allow me to apologize on his behalf first."

Xue Qinghe sat down across from Ye Xi with a gentle smile on his face.

"Prince Xue Xing has told you the conditions I proposed, correct?"

"Can the Crown Prince make the decision?"

Ye Xi nodded slightly and went straight to the point.

"Of course."

"Father has agreed to the conditions you proposed."

"Here are two million Gold Soul Coins as compensation, along with the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. They may both be handed over to the young lady now."

Xue Qinghe took a Gold Soul Card and the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud from his Soul Tool, placed them on the table, and pushed them toward Ye Xi.

Ye Xi looked at the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It was an extraordinarily peculiar object, entirely translucent blue and shaped like a three-dimensional triangle.

It seemed to have been carved from sapphire, only palm-sized. Treasure light swirled within its crystalline blue glow, while strange energy fluctuations continuously emanated from it.

"So this is the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?"

Ye Xi examined the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, a smile appearing on her delicate face.

"In that case, Crown Prince, you may take the Fourth Prince back."

Ye Xi stored the Gold Soul Card and the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud in her Storage Bracelet, then looked at Ling Yuan with sapphire blue eyes, signaling for her to release Xue Beng from his restraints.

After receiving Ye Xi's signal, Ling Yuan lightly snapped her fingers, and Xue Beng's restraints were released.

The moment he was freed, Xue Beng sprang up from the floor and silently stood behind Xue Qinghe, like a child who had done something wrong.

"Father has issued an imperial decree."

"After Xue Beng returns to the Prince's Residence, he is to be confined for three months."

"Do you need me to escort you back to the Prince's Residence?"

Xue Qinghe glanced at Xue Beng from the corner of his eye, his tone neither warm nor cold.

"No, no need."

"Big Brother, go ahead and attend to your business. I can return to the Prince's Residence on my own."

"I know Heaven Dou City like the back of my hand. There's no need for Big Brother to personally see me back."

Xue Beng hurriedly waved his hands and headed out of the room.

Watching Xue Beng leave, Xue Qinghe turned his gaze back to Ye Xi.

"Father has had a banquet prepared in the palace as an apology for Xue Beng."

"I wonder if the young lady will be free then?"

As he spoke, Xue Qinghe winked at Ye Xi.

After receiving Xue Qinghe's cue, Ye Xi winked as well.

"Of course I'll be free."

Ye Xi agreed immediately.

"Good."

"I'll have someone notify you when the time comes."

"I still have matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer."

Xue Qinghe rose to his feet, adjusted his robes, and walked out of the room.

"Crown Prince, I'll see you out."

Ye Xi also stood and walked beside Xue Qinghe.

Ling Yuan and Tian Yao followed behind Ye Xi.

Xue Qinghe and Ye Xi talked as they walked, faint smiles on both their faces.

Only when they reached the entrance of the hotel did Xue Qinghe stop.

"This is far enough. No need to see me any farther."

"If there's anything you need help with, feel free to come find me."

"Of course, if you can, you may call me Xue Dage. There's no need to keep calling me Crown Prince."

Xue Qinghe looked at Ye Xi, his voice brimming with amusement.

"Alright, Xue Dage."

"If anything comes up in the future, Xue Dage, please don't find me troublesome."

Ye Xi gave him a radiant smile.

"How could I?"

"As long as it's something I can help with, I certainly will."

As Xue Qinghe spoke, he waved at Ye Xi before heading toward the Tiandou Imperial Palace.

Watching Xue Qinghe leave, Ye Xi turned and walked back into the hotel.

"It's much as I suspected. Xue Ye has made his move."

Ye Xi spoke softly as she headed toward her room.

"Made his move?"

"What move?"

Tian Yao asked in confusion.

Although she had listened the entire time, she had not picked up on any other meaning in their conversation.

"The banquet Xue Ye prepared is both a test of us and an attempt to win us over."

Ye Xi looked at Tian Yao and gave her a simple explanation.

Hearing this, Tian Yao looked at Ling Yuan, then at Ye Xi, her face showing a half-understanding expression.

Seeing this, Ye Xi did not explain further. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Ling Yuan.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Dugu Bo will come over shortly."

"When he arrives, please notify me, Ling Yuan Elder."

After giving this instruction, Ye Xi entered her room, intending to properly study the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

"Yes, Second Young Lady."

After receiving Ye Xi's instructions, Ling Yuan immediately agreed.