"You!"
Qian Renxue slowly steadied her breathing. She absolutely couldn't get angry with this little vixen. If she failed to appease her, there was no way she'd agree to go with her tomorrow night.
So she finally released her hand.
"This Crown Prince was at fault. Stop making a fuss!"
Ye Yunxi quickly pulled her jade foot back and looked at Qian Renxue's sincere expression.
"You're apologizing? Has the sun risen in the west?"
Qian Renxue lowered her head and admitted her mistake. If she stopped pretending the next second and sprang something big on her, Qian Renxue wouldn't be able to handle it.
"This Crown Prince won't lie to you. Just be ready to come to the banquet with me tomorrow night."
She couldn't be bothered to keep arguing with the little vixen.
She knew perfectly well what it meant to settle accounts after the harvest.
Once the banquet was over, she'd make the little vixen pay.
Then Qian Renxue turned and left.
"She really left?"
Ye Yunxi felt that none of this was real. After all, she'd been dazzling lately.
That woman would definitely settle accounts later. What she'd just said had surely only been a delaying tactic, so Ye Yunxi needed to find a way to get leverage over Qian Renxue after the banquet.
The next evening, the banquet was held at Moonlight Pavilion in Heaven Dou City.
A carriage stopped at the entrance, and the handsome Crown Prince and beautiful Imperial Concubine stepped down.
"Couldn't I wear a different kind of shoe? I'm not used to these."
Ye Yunxi complained as she got out of the carriage. She just couldn't get used to women's shoes with heels.
"There's no helping it. You have to dress this way for a banquet. Before, you could wear flats or go barefoot in the Crown Prince's Mansion, but tonight's a grand banquet, and you represent my reputation."
Qian Renxue patiently explained. She'd had to coax and cajole the Imperial Concubine just to get her to put them on at the Crown Prince's Mansion.
"Tch. It's not like I wanted to come." Ye Yunxi had no interest in this sort of banquet.
"Enough complaining."
Qian Renxue took Ye Yunxi by the arm, and the two entered the banquet hall, where plenty of familiar faces had gathered.
As soon as they stepped inside, everyone's eyes turned toward them—or, more accurately, toward Ye Yunxi.
"So many people."
Ye Yunxi suppressed her discomfort, hoping to find somewhere to sit and collect herself. Instead, Qian Renxue led her over to pay their respects to Emperor Xue Ye.
"Very well, Qinghe and Imperial Concubine, you may go elsewhere. Sect Master Ning and Clan Leader Yu have matters to discuss with me."
"Yes, Father!"
The two took their seats, but the surrounding gazes still prickled against them, all fixed on Ye Yunxi.
Just then, a mechanical voice suddenly rang out in her mind, its playful lilt announcing an enticing new task.
[ Ding! Special banquet quest triggered: Charm Bone Bewitching Heart, Stunning the Moonlight Pavilion ]
[ Quest requirements: Without deliberately using Soul Power, captivate more than half of those present with nothing but a faint smile and a glance, leaving them forever branded by your peerless beauty. ]
[ Quest rewards: Soul Power seal fully lifted; ten-thousand-year Soul Ring increased to seventy thousand years; unlock Nine-Tailed Sky Fox passive skill · Ten Thousand Charms Submission (ignores mental resistance below Soul Douluo); outfit points +20,000! ]
[ Failure penalty: None. The host's beauty is justice. ]
A faint smile flickered in Ye Yunxi's eyes. Her peach-blossom eyes curved gently as she lightly turned the cup between her fingers, a shallow dimple appearing at the corner of her lips.
She didn't deliberately tease anyone or put on a seductive air.
She merely smiled, and the coolness in her features softened with a hint of allure.
The curve of her rosy lips was just right, like winter plum blossoms against the snow or peach blossoms beside a stream. That extreme contrast instantly shattered everyone's defenses.
The hall fell silent for a moment. Then everyone's hearts began pounding uncontrollably, their blood rushing to their heads.
Among the Shrek Seven Devils, Dai Mubai's golden eyes widened as he swallowed hard.
Ma Hongjun nearly drooled.
Oscar stared, completely dumbstruck.
Tang San's Purple Demon Eye lost focus, and he struggled to keep his composure. He'd been able to hold steady before, so why had he found it so difficult ever since meeting this woman?
Yu Xiaogang's gaze was unfocused too. He could only think that she looked like a goddess descended from heaven—more beautiful even than Bibi Dong.
Every guest in the hall, man or woman, was captivated by that smile. Their eyes held only the breathtaking figure in the smoky-pink gauze dress.
Qian Renxue glanced at Ye Yunxi's smiling face beside her. Her fingers tightened abruptly as she suddenly put an arm around Ye Yunxi's waist.
"What are you doing now? Tone down your charm."
"Is Your Highness jealous?" Ye Yunxi blinked.
"Shut up. Just rein in that power of yours."
Qian Renxue scolded her, not wanting to say anything more.
This woman drew attention wherever she went. It was impossible to focus on anything else around her.
Qian Renxue had planned to use this banquet to win over the last prince and eliminate any lingering threat.
But now, whenever Ye Yunxi was out of her sight for even a moment, people kept swarming over to her.
"You know I'm like this when I don't wear a veil. I told you before, but Your Highness wouldn't listen to my advice. Regretting it now? Too late!" Ye Yunxi smiled faintly.
Qian Renxue couldn't be bothered to bicker with her. She had no idea how many people were watching them.
"Your Highness, His Majesty is summoning you," a maid said, approaching and bowing.
"Now?"
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth. When else could that old man have called for her? Why did it have to be now?
"Stay here and don't go wandering off. I'll be right back," Qian Renxue instructed, then followed the maid toward Emperor Xue Ye.
Ye Yunxi sat down in the lounge. The very next moment, plenty of people came over.
"Imperial Concubine, may I have this dance?"
"Imperial Concubine, might I make your acquaintance?"
"..."
Ye Yunxi swept her icy gaze over the crowd. "Do you have any idea who you're dealing with? I'm the Imperial Concubine. Come any closer, and your lives may be forfeit!"
The men took the hint and left.
"Miss Ye."
A blue-haired girl walked over.
Recognizing her, Ye Yunxi smiled. "Miss Bing'er, what a coincidence. We met just yesterday, and here we are again today."
"Y-Yes. And, Imperial Concubine, you really are beautiful." Shui Bing'er's face flushed.
"Am I?"
Ye Yunxi reached out and pulled Shui Bing'er into her arms.
"Miss Ye..."
Shui Bing'er stayed nestled in Ye Yunxi's embrace. She remembered how curious she'd been about the woman's appearance the day before; seeing her now was even more unbelievable.
So the young lady she'd met that day was the Crown Prince's Imperial Concubine—and she was bold enough to pull Shui Bing'er into her arms.
Everyone else had only asked her to dance, but the Imperial Concubine was so kind to her.
"Miss Bing'er, it seems we're quite fated to keep running into each other."
"Mm."
Shui Bing'er's cheeks burned. She didn't know what to say, so she could only quietly nod as her heart raced faster and faster.
As the two chatted, Ye Yunxi quickly noticed people approaching nearby.
Before long, she spotted several familiar faces.
"Shrek Academy again? And Yu Xiaogang?"
She smiled to herself. Since you've come, don't blame me for stirring up trouble between you.