30th Princess

Ever since entering Yanling County, the princess had received none of the treatment due a princess. Instead, she had been escorted to Anyang City by a squad of soldiers like a prisoner.

"Princess, we have arrived in Anyang City. Once this general delivers you to the post station, my duty will be complete. Please do not wander about freely and wait for the Young Master's summons."

After passing through the city gates, a Black Armor Commander escorting the princess spoke to her.

The Yanling County army recognized only the Chen Family's orders. They had no reason to be courteous toward a princess of the Izumo Empire. Had she not been the subject of this marriage alliance, the Black Armored Soldiers' attitude would have been even worse.

"Thank you, General, for escorting me." A gentle female voice came from within the carriage. She thanked him, not daring to put on any airs before these soldiers.

A few days ago, the hundred Izumo soldiers who had escorted her were still imprisoned in the dungeon, their fates unknown.

The Yanling Army did not even need to fabricate a charge to arrest soldiers of the Izumo Empire. They acted with such blatant impunity.

After arriving at the post station and delivering the princess inside, the escort party rested briefly before preparing to return.

Once the post station staff had arranged the princess's quarters, one of the attendants said to her:

"Hehe, little princess, you'll have to put up with things here for a few days. I've already sent someone to report to the Young Master. Once he has time, he will naturally summon you."

"Oh, Princess, please do not leave the post station these next few days. Your identity is not welcome here. If you get hurt, it will be difficult for this lowly one to explain it to the Young Master."

"Thank you for the reminder. This is your reward." A faint smile hung on the princess's face as she took out five Gold Coins from her Storage Ring and handed them to the attendant.

The attendant accepted the Gold Coins and weighed them in his hand. He was immediately overjoyed.

To an ordinary person, five Gold Coins was no small sum.

"Thank you for your reward, Princess. If you need anything else, simply instruct this lowly one." Having received a benefit, the attendant's attitude immediately became much better.

"Alright, there is nothing else. You may leave," the princess said.

At her words, the attendant withdrew. He clutched the five Gold Coins tightly, feeling delighted.

"As expected of a princess—so generous with her money. She casually gave out five Gold Coins, enough to match a month of my wages. Haha, this is wonderful. I can visit my Cui Hua at Three Spring Courtyard tonight."

After the attendant left, the maid accompanying the princess shut the door. The smile vanished from the seated princess's face, and her expression dimmed.

Everything she had seen and heard along the way showed Yanling County in a state of peace and prosperity.

All the commoners had homes to live in, could afford food, and had new clothes to wear. It was a scene of peaceful, contented living.

Martial culture also flourished. Shops related to cultivation were packed with people everywhere.

The princess had seen all of these sights clearly from her carriage. It was as though she had entered a flourishing golden age.

Compared with the cities of the Izumo Empire, the cities within Yanling County were far more developed.

Even among the cities they had passed between the border and Anyang City, several were more prosperous than the Izumo Imperial Capital.

"No wonder Father has always feared the Chen Family. With such power, how could he not worry?" The princess felt a deep sense of helplessness in her heart.

"Princess, these people have gone too far. With your status, how dare they behave so rudely? The princess may be able to endure it, but Hong Luan cannot swallow this anger." After shutting the door, the maid complained indignantly.

She was merely a maid, and her horizons were not so broad. She had no thoughts of worrying over the nation and its people. She only felt that the princess had been pampered and respected in the imperial palace, yet here, she had suffered nothing but mistreatment. Even some insignificant common soldier dared order the princess around. She felt wronged on the princess's behalf.

"And that so-called Young Master of the Chen Family is no good either. The princess came all this way, and it would have been one thing if he did not welcome her. But he even left her here to wait. It's truly despicable."

"And that soldier even said we had to wait for his Young Master's summons. What right does he have to summon you?" the maid complained furiously.

Even Chen Cheng, whom she had never met, was included in her complaints.

"Alright, Hong Luan, stop complaining. We are on their territory, so it is better to be cautious. I'm tired. Go fetch me a basin of water," the princess advised, unwilling to argue further on the matter.

Half a day later, Chen Cheng received news of the princess's arrival.

"Tell her to go to Jade Boat House at noon tomorrow. I'll be waiting for her there," Chen Cheng told a Steward who had come to deliver the message.

"Yes." After receiving Chen Cheng's instructions, the Steward left Linjiang Courtyard and passed down Chen Cheng's order.

At noon the next day, at Jade Boat House.

This was a very famous restaurant in Anyang City, combining leisure, entertainment, and dining. The minimum charge started at a hundred Gold Coins, and ordering just a few extra services could easily bring the bill to ten thousand Gold Coins.

Only wealthy clans and nobles could afford such a place.

Inside an elegant private room, Chen Cheng sat on a comfortable cushioned couch, holding a book as he read quietly.

In one corner of the room, a fairly pretty young girl played a guqin. Its melodious notes flowed like a babbling stream, gentle and pleasing to the ear.

Music and books—this too was a very relaxing way to live.

Chen Cheng had not brought Yan Lingji or Red Serpent with him this time. Huang Yaoshi and several Chen Family Guards were responsible for his safety during the outing.

After a while, a Guards commander at the Great Dou Shi level approached Chen Cheng and quietly asked, "Young Master, Princess Ruoxue has arrived. She is waiting outside. Shall we let her in?"

This Guards commander was even stronger than Huang Yaoshi, possessing the cultivation of a Seven Star Great Dou Shi. However, his role differed from Huang Yaoshi's. The Guards commander belonged to the Chen Family, while Huang Yaoshi was Chen Cheng's personal force.

"Let her in," Chen Cheng said with a casual nod.

"Yes." The Guards commander replied, then backed out of the room.

After a while, the Guards commander entered the room again, now accompanied by two girls.

"Princess, this is my family's Young Master," the Guards commander introduced Chen Cheng to the princess with great courtesy.

Chen Cheng gently set down the book in his hands and studied the princess.

Name: Feng Ruoxue

Cultivation: Dou Zhi Li Rank 8

The princess stood about 1.65 meters tall, dressed in a perfectly fitted light-blue palace gown. Her hair had been meticulously arranged as well, lending her an air of noble elegance. A faint smile rested on her face, giving her a gentle and gracious impression.

Her looks were far from ordinary—she was even more beautiful than in the portrait. If Yan Lingji's beauty were a perfect score, then she could be rated at ninety.

Chen Cheng had a very favorable first impression of Feng Ruoxue. He raised a hand and made an inviting gesture, indicating that she should find a seat.

Chen Cheng appeared entirely at ease, showing no restraint simply because Feng Ruoxue was the princess of the Izumo Empire.

"How bold! Before the princess, how dare you behave so rudely? Kneel at once!"

Feng Ruoxue said nothing, but the maid beside her could not tolerate Chen Cheng's disrespect.

In her eyes, the princess's status was incomparably noble. Back in the imperial capital, even court ministers had to bow in greeting when they saw the princess. Yet Chen Cheng, merely the son of a local power, behaved with such contempt.

"Hong Luan, do not be rude."

Hearing her maid's words, the princess's expression changed slightly, and she hurriedly reprimanded her.

After all, she had seen the world. She was not as ignorant as her maid, believing that the imperial family still truly possessed the ability to control the empire.

Within the empire, whether it was the Myriad Scorpion Gate, the Hundred Poisons Sect, or the Chen Family, their influence had already surpassed that of the imperial house.

The Hundred Poisons Sect could still be considered an ally of the imperial family, while the Myriad Scorpion Gate had no intention of vying for the realm. The imperial family therefore did not need to fear those two forces.

But the Chen Family was different. Not only did the Chen Family possess two Dou Emperor experts, but it also held an extremely high position within the military. Many generals serving in the army were former students or old associates of the Chen Family.

If the Myriad Scorpion Gate rebelled, the Izumo Empire could still use its army and superior numbers to hold them back, at least ensuring that the nation would not fall.

But if the Chen Family rose in rebellion, the Izumo Empire would not even know how many people in the realm would turn into enemies.

The more the princess thought about it, the more alarmed she became. Looking at the handsome young man seated before her, wearing that faint smile, her heart was already filled with deep wariness.

Feng Ruoxue reprimanded her maid because she feared that the maid would anger Chen Cheng and lose her life as a result.

As Chen Cheng listened to the maid's rebuke, his gaze shifted toward her. The faint smile never left his face, creating the illusion that he was refined and courteous.

"Is this your maid? She doesn't seem to understand manners very well."

Chen Cheng's voice was soft, but when Feng Ruoxue heard his words, her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and an ominous feeling surged within her.

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