"Oh my god, is that the Imperial Concubine?"
"The Imperial Concubine is sitting right next to me? Is this for real?"
A huge commotion broke out among the spectators, and Qian Renxue caught the words "Imperial Concubine."
Qian Renxue muttered inwardly, Don't tell me she snuck into the stands.
Suppressing her urge to fly into a rage, she looked toward the stands. A stunningly beautiful woman was chatting cheerfully with the spectators.
"Just watch the match. I'm simply enjoying it with everyone else."
Ye Yunxi chatted animatedly with the people around her, while Qian Renxue ground her teeth in anger.
"Qinghe, is this what you meant when you said you were resting? Why did the Imperial Concubine go to the stands alone? Did the two of you have a falling-out?"
Xue Ye said meaningfully.
To Xue Ye's right sat Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yuanzhen, and Huyan Zhen of the Elephant Armor Sect.
They all looked at Qian Renxue, each with a different expression. They couldn't help thinking she had kept Ye Yunxi from coming along because she didn't want them to enjoy her company. And now that Ye Yunxi had appeared in the stands, it only proved that she had snuck out on her own.
This woman really knows how to cause me trouble.
Qian Renxue cursed inwardly, but kept up a calm appearance as she explained:
"Honored Sect Masters, Father, the Imperial Concubine and I haven't quarreled. I'm just as surprised as you are that she suddenly appeared in the stands."
"Why don't I bring her over now?"
Xue Ye raised a hand.
"No need. It's good for the Imperial Concubine to spend time with her subjects."
Qian Renxue could only let the matter drop.
"Your Highness, as the most beautiful young woman in the Heaven Dou Empire, why not place a bet? Take a guess: who will win, Elephant Armored Academy or Shrek Academy?"
A well-dressed man walked over. As the person in charge of the betting each time, he was eager to invite Ye Yunxi.
"Oh? You want me to place a bet? But I don't have any money. His Highness the Crown Prince confiscated all of mine."
Ye Yunxi blinked her enchanting eyes and put on a pitiful expression.
"You don't know how His Highness the Crown Prince never gives me any money. He confiscated every Gold Soul Coin I'd earned elsewhere."
Everyone who heard her felt sorry for her.
The man was taken aback. He hadn't expected the Crown Prince, who was so considerate of his subjects, to be so strict with someone close to him.
"Your Highness, don't worry. You can place whatever bet you like. Whether you win or lose, you'll receive a handsome reward. It would be my honor to accept a bet from you."
The man bowed.
"No need to go to all that trouble. If the Crown Prince finds out, he'll punish me again. But if I'm going to place a bet, I choose Shrek Academy."
Ye Yunxi glanced around at the spectators and said calmly:
"Let me tell you all a little secret. If you want to make some money, you can place a modest bet on Shrek Academy in each match. But whether you win is another matter."
When she finished, she gave the spectators a wink with her sparkling, enchanting eyes. Quite a few hearts began to flutter.
After that, many people chose to bet on Shrek, though some still put their faith in Elephant Armored Academy.
Ye Yunxi secretly laughed to herself. Qian Renxue, Qian Renxue, you wouldn't let me out, so don't blame me.
As Ye Yunxi's words were passed from one person to another, the entire stands erupted in discussion.
The waves of chatter drifted toward the VIP seats. Every word pierced Qian Renxue's heart like a needle.
"The Crown Prince is going too far! He even confiscated the Imperial Concubine's pocket money!"
"The Imperial Concubine is so beautiful and so pitiful. How could the Crown Prince be so heartless?"
"Exactly! She can't even afford to place a bet when she comes to watch a match. What a miserable life!"
The voices defending Ye Yunxi turned Qian Renxue's face so dark it seemed ink might drip from it. Her hands, clenched tightly on her knees, had gone white at the knuckles.
When had she ever failed to give her money?!
Gold Soul Coins were piled up like a small mountain in the residence. What treasure had that little vixen wanted that she hadn't given her? And now this girl had the nerve to slander her in front of everyone!
Xue Ye stroked his beard and looked at Qian Renxue with a hint of reproach.
"Qinghe, you're in the wrong here. The Imperial Concubine is young, and it's only natural for her to enjoy playing around. Why are you even restricting her pocket money? If word gets out, people will think the Heaven Dou Imperial Family mistreats its daughter-in-law."
Ning Fengzhi chuckled softly beside him, shaking his folding fan as he chimed in:
"Your Highness, I'm afraid you're mistaken. Someone as lively as the Imperial Concubine should be allowed a little more freedom. Besides, they're only Gold Soul Coins. What could be more important than winning a beauty's smile?"
Yu Yuanzhen nodded slightly and said in a deep voice:
"The Crown Prince has indeed been a little too strict."
Huyan Zhen was even more direct, speaking in a rumbling voice:
"Your Highness, why not give the Imperial Concubine some more money, so she doesn't feel wronged?"
The four influential men took turns speaking, every word a reproach aimed at Qian Renxue. Their remarks left her speechless, her grievance and anger threatening to burst from her chest.
She was clearly the one being wronged!
That little vixen was always thinking about running away. She'd only confiscated her money because she was afraid the girl would use it to sneak out of Heaven Dou City! And now she'd become the villain who mistreated the Imperial Concubine!
Ye Yunxi got to play the good person, while she had to play the villain. How utterly infuriating.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her anger as she squeezed out a smile more painful than tears.
"Father, Honored Sect Masters, you've misunderstood. I've given her plenty of money. She's the one who—"
Before she could finish, Ye Yunxi's voice interrupted her.
Ye Yunxi rose onto her tiptoes and waved toward the VIP seats. Her enchanting eyes curved into crescents, and her voice rang out, bright with a hint of grievance:
"Your Highness, I know you only want what's best for me, but I really do want some pocket money!"
At once, everyone's eyes turned toward Qian Renxue. The looks of sympathy, reproach, and amusement nearly set her face on fire.
Qian Renxue felt as if her lungs were about to explode with anger. Yet she still had to maintain the Crown Prince's dignity, so she could only grit her teeth and curse Ye Yunxi's name a thousand times in her heart.
That damned Ye Yunxi!
When they got back, she was going to lock her in her room and teach her a proper lesson!
In another private box, Yue Guan and Hu Liena watched everything unfolding inside the Soul Fighting Arena.
"Elder Yue, aren't we going back now?"
"No rush. We've completed the task His Holiness the Pope assigned us. Let's watch this Shrek Academy for a while."
Yue Guan was quite curious about Shrek Academy. With strength like that, they might be a dark horse.
"But this Imperial Concubine certainly has a bold personality. Isn't she afraid the Crown Prince will punish her when she gets back?"
Yue Guan rather admired Ye Yunxi.
"If the Imperial Concubine goes to the finals, do you think Teacher will take an interest in her?"
"That's not something you or I can guess. His Holiness the Pope is cold and unpredictable. We'll know when the finals come."