Xue Qinghe's Invitation

Morning sunlight streamed through the window lattice, bathing Moonlight Pavilion's inner chamber in a warm golden glow.

Tang Yin was having breakfast with Tang Yuehua when a servant arrived at the door with a message: someone had come from the Crown Prince's Mansion.

"His Highness invites Young Master Lan Yin to his residence for a visit."

"The Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, invited me?" Tang Yin's heart tightened. Had yesterday's events really caught her attention after all?

That made sense. He wasn't even ten yet, and he was already a twenty-third-level Soul Grandmaster. Talent like that was bound to shine anywhere.

Just as he was mulling it over, the servant added, "The visitor also said that Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is at the residence."

"Oh, then there's no problem!"

Tang Yin gave a light cough. He'd been overthinking it just now. Clearly, the Crown Prince had been influenced by Ning Rongrong.

Why couldn't that little girl just settle down?

"Yesterday, you clashed with Xue Beng in the front hall. The Crown Prince witnessed it, so perhaps he's taken an interest in you, or perhaps... he has another motive."

Seeing the worry in his eyes, Tang Yuehua thought he feared the Crown Prince would retaliate over yesterday's incident. She gently pressed his hand to reassure him. "Though Xue Qinghe is a shrewd man, he's well regarded among the people. And the messenger specifically mentioned Miss Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so I doubt this has anything to do with yesterday."

"Aunt, I understand all that." Tang Yin nodded, then told her about his dealings with Ning Rongrong. He even made a point of mentioning how Tang Hao had been caught stealing her money and left him to take the blame.

"Hao really is something. A dignified..." Tang Yuehua trailed off, remembering how Tang Hao had visited her three years ago and specifically asked her not to seek him or the child out. Even if they met, she wasn't to reveal their true identities.

"By the way, from what you've said, that Ning Rongrong seems very close to you." Tang Yuehua changed the subject rather awkwardly, though it was indeed something she was especially curious about.

After all, gossip was a woman's nature, especially when it involved her own nephew's romantic entanglements.

"I'm not sure why Ning Rongrong treats me differently, either." Tang Yin ignored the sudden interruption and spoke of Ning Rongrong with a puzzled expression.

Their first meeting hadn't gone well, but ever since he'd used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon on her, Ning Rongrong's attitude toward him had changed completely.

Could Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon really have such a heaven-defying effect?

Or was Ning Rongrong simply a beauty addict who'd fallen for his looks?

That didn't seem likely. Though this was the Love Continent, women Soul Masters still generally chose partners based on strength.

Not everyone was Liu Erlong or Bibi Dong...

After breakfast, Tang Yin finally decided to accept the invitation to the Crown Prince's Mansion.

Refuse?

The Crown Prince had sent someone personally to "invite" him, and had even named Ning Rongrong. If he flatly refused, it would only seem suspicious and invite even more scrutiny from Xue Qinghe.

Tang Yuehua gave him a long, concerned look. "Be careful. The Crown Prince is a man of unfathomable depths. Think carefully about every word you say."

"Don't worry, Aunt."

Tang Yuehua called a maid and instructed her to prepare a carriage to take Tang Yin to the Crown Prince's Mansion.

The Crown Prince's Mansion, East Flower Hall.

Ning Rongrong idly fiddled with her teacup, not quite paying attention as Xue Qinghe warmly regaled her with recent stories from Heaven Dou City.

The steward's announcement came from outside the hall. "Your Highness, Young Master Lan Yin has arrived."

Ning Rongrong's head snapped up. A burst of delight lit her jade-green eyes.

A deeper smile touched Xue Qinghe's eyes. "Please, bring him in."

Led by a servant, Tang Yin entered the flower hall. The first person he saw was Xue Qinghe, seated in the middle; next was Chen Xin, sitting to the side with a cold expression; and finally, Ning Rongrong, who was walking toward him.

"Lan Yin, you're finally here!"

"This commoner, Lan Yin, pays his respects to Your Highness." Tang Yin first bowed to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, then turned to Ning Rongrong with a smile and a nod.

"Brother Lan, there's no need for formalities. Please, sit."

Xue Qinghe smiled warmly and pointed to the seat beside Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong has been talking about you these past couple of days. I happened to hear you were staying at Moonlight Pavilion, so I invited you over for a chat."

"Thank you for thinking of me, Your Highness." As soon as Tang Yin finished speaking, Ning Rongrong pulled him down into the seat to Xue Qinghe's left.

"Brother Lan Yin!" Ning Rongrong could hardly contain herself. The moment she sat down, she turned toward him.

"I actually went to Moonlight Pavilion yesterday to find Crown Prince Brother, too, but it was already closed. Otherwise, we could've seen each other yesterday. By the way, what were you doing at Moonlight Pavilion? Crown Prince Brother said you got into a fight with Xue Beng there and beat up that annoying guy!"

Ning Rongrong's clear voice rang through the hall like an oriole's song. Tang Yin kept smiling as he chatted with her, occasionally teasing her until she laughed so hard she clutched her stomach, forgetting all decorum.

Xue Qinghe cradled her teacup and occasionally chimed in with a few inconsequential remarks. Chen Xin sat with his eyes closed, meditating as if he wanted nothing to do with what he saw, but the clenched fist hidden in his sleeve betrayed his anger.

The little princess Rongrong was about to be swept away by Little Blondie.

"By the way, Brother Lan, what's your relationship with Pavilion Master Tang Yuehua? As you know, she rarely lets anyone stay overnight at Moonlight Pavilion." Xue Qinghe's question brought Ning Rongrong's chatter to an abrupt halt.

She'd asked him about it herself at the start, but Lan Yin had seemed to avoid the subject. Cleverly, she hadn't brought up anything related to it again.

Now that Crown Prince Brother had asked, she was curious, too.

Tang Yin's heart stirred. As expected, he couldn't dodge the question. But he'd prepared an answer in advance, so he gave them the identity he and Tang Yuehua had settled on the night before.

"It's nothing much. My mother once worked under Aunt Yuehua at Moonlight Pavilion, and they became like sisters. Later, she married and left Heaven Dou City. Before I set out on my travels, she told me to visit Aunt Yuehua if I ever had the chance." As he spoke, Tang Yin looked at Ning Rongrong beside him.

"Since Rongrong invited me to Heaven Dou City this time, I thought I might as well accept and fulfill my mother's request while I was here."

This was the new identity Tang Yuehua had arranged for him the previous night. She truly did have a former subordinate who had married years ago. The two had kept in touch by letter over the past few years, sharing tales of the wild things they'd done when they were young, including how she now regretted being unable to have children.

Tang Yin's new identity was that of an orphan from Nuoding City who'd been lucky enough to awaken a Martial Soul. Three years ago, he'd been adopted and given financial support for his cultivation.

Once today was over and all the paperwork had been arranged, it would be difficult for anyone to find fault with the story.

"I see." Xue Qinghe nodded without comment, then fell into the familiar habit of trying to recruit him.

"Brother Lan, you're already a twenty-third-level Soul Grandmaster at such a young age, with exceptional talent. Would you be interested in studying at Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"Thank you for your kind offer, Your Highness, but Aunt Yuehua has already told me a little about enrolling at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I don't need to trouble you over it."

Tang Yin wasn't lying. Tang Yuehua had indeed spoken to him about attending Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Given her status, securing him a place wouldn't be difficult.

After weighing his options, he'd decided to enroll there.

Cultivation was secondary. The main reason was that it would make it easier to approach Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, and add a layer of insurance to his future trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

After all, he couldn't be sure whether his arrival, and the changes to Tang Sanmei herself, would affect the original story.

"Then I suppose I was being a little presumptuous. It seems Pavilion Master Tang thinks highly of you, Brother Lan." Xue Qinghe's expression didn't change, but she had already labeled him as part of Moonlight Pavilion's sphere of influence.

In her eyes, Lan Yin had to be someone Tang Yuehua had secretly ordered a subordinate to raise and train.

Tang Yin had made a good impression on her, but that was all. Talented young people were as plentiful as carp crossing a river, and she was herself a prodigy among prodigies.

A Soul Grandmaster under ten was certainly impressive, but not enough to make her lower herself to recruit him personally. So she'd only made a token attempt.

Naturally, it would be best if she succeeded, but there was no harm if he refused.

Besides, he hadn't really refused. He simply already had a way into Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and she was happy to see it.

After all, Heaven Dou Royal Academy was part of her sphere of influence. Even if Lan Yin rose rapidly in the future, she had more than enough schemes and methods to bring him under her control.