Qian Renxue watched Ye Yunxi sway unsteadily, possessiveness nearly overflowing from her heart. This was her Imperial Concubine, after all.
She stepped forward and drew Ye Yunxi into her arms once more.
"Honored seniors, although Yunxi's Martial Soul is unusual, she is still a woman and cannot bear to be stared at like this."
Her voice held a hint of coldness, and her gaze toward Chen Xin and the others was full of warning. Even Titled Douluo had no right to covet her woman.
Only then did Chen Xin finally come to his senses. He cleared his throat and resumed his usual impassive expression, though his hand still hadn't let go of his sword hilt.
Gu Rong chuckled and rubbed the back of his head, trying to hide his lapse in composure.
Yu Yuanzhen gave a heavy snort, forcibly suppressing the stirring in his heart, but his gaze toward Ye Yunxi still held a complicated look.
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi hurriedly smoothed things over. "Your Highness is joking. It's just that Miss Ye's Martial Soul is so astonishing that we lost our composure."
His gaze toward Ye Yunxi was full of scrutiny. "A Beast Martial Soul—the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox—is a legendary top-tier spiritual-type Martial Soul. For Miss Ye to cultivate it to the Soul Ancestor level at such a young age, and to fully control its bewitching power, is truly astonishing talent."
Xue Ye had also come around from his daze. He'd even forgotten to wipe the tea from his dragon robe, which had been splashed moments ago, and hurriedly spoke.
"Indeed, indeed! Such talent, such beauty—no wonder Qinghe chose her. Yunxi, what other abilities do you have? Feel free to show them off and open the eyes of our honored seniors!"
By now, he was completely captivated by Ye Yunxi's charm. He only wanted her to show off more so he could keep looking at her.
Ye Yunxi cursed Xue Ye's greed to herself. But she couldn't reveal her Second Martial Soul; she had to play it safe, at least.
What a senile old bastard. She's his son's Imperial Concubine, and he still wants to keep looking.
"Your Majesty, Yunxi has no other abilities. I'm just an ordinary, frail woman. I can't possibly be as strong as the Titled Douluo present."
Ye Yunxi spoke with tears in her eyes, looking utterly pitiful.
Qian Renxue sighed inwardly. She's really good at acting. Why doesn't she act like this when she's with me?
Joking aside, she was still her woman. She couldn't let anyone bully her.
"Father, Yunxi is indeed as she says. I ask you to forgive her."
Xue Ye was still reluctant to let the moment end, but there was nothing he could do.
"Since Qinghe has spoken, I'd best not say more."
Holding Ye Yunxi's small hand, she returned to her seat. As soon as they sat down, she felt a resentful gaze.
"Your Highness, you'd better let me go. And don't you know I'm socially anxious? So many people are staring at me!" Ye Yunxi looked indignant, her peach-blossom eyes brimming with grievance.
Qian Renxue pressed a hand to her pounding heart. What a troublesome little enchantress.
"Imperial Concubine, you're mine now. You'd better behave. Once this is over, I'll reward you properly!" Qian Renxue's lips curled up.
Just wait till we're back at the Crown Prince's Mansion. I'll make sure to tame you and show you who's in charge.
At that moment, Chen Xin still stood with his hands behind his back. In his usually placid eyes, a furtive glance flickered now and then, falling on the hem of Ye Yunxi's Glazed Ru Skirt. He no longer had the mind to listen to the others discuss arrangements for the younger generation's tournament.
Gu Rong was even worse. Taking advantage of his ability to turn incorporeal, he repeatedly poked his head out to sneak another look at the owner of the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Martial Soul. Ning Fengzhi stopped him, and he reluctantly restrained himself, though he still looked unsatisfied.
Ning Fengzhi himself was distracted, lazily waving the fan in his hand and murmuring agreement with Xue Ye, while inwardly turning over Ye Yunxi's origins in his mind.
A Nine-Tailed Sky Fox Martial Soul this heaven-defying could never belong to an unknown nobody. This woman was sure to be hiding a tremendous secret.
Everyone in the hall had let their thoughts drift to Ye Yunxi. The empire's affairs and the Soul Master Tournament arrangements they discussed went in one ear and out the other. Even Xue Ye himself lost focus time and again.
His gaze clung to Ye Yunxi's reddened ears. In the end, he lost all interest in presiding over the meeting and hastily gave a few instructions for the sects to prepare well for the tournament and protect the empire's younger generation. Then he waved a hand and said wearily, "That's all for today. You may all withdraw."
At his words, everyone in the hall felt as if a great burden had been lifted. As they rose to pay their respects, they still couldn't help glancing at Ye Yunxi. Only after stepping out of the hall did they finally compose themselves, though the stirring in their hearts lingered.
Qian Renxue rose first and took Ye Yunxi by the wrist, ready to lead her out. When they reached the palace gates, she stopped.
She turned her head toward the unwilling expression beside her and lowered her voice, her tone allowing no refusal. "Link your arm through mine."
Ye Yunxi's brows instantly knitted together, and her peach-blossom eyes filled with resistance. She instinctively shrank back, forcefully pulling her fingers free of Qian Renxue's hand. "No."
She had already felt utterly uncomfortable under the gazes of everyone in the hall. Now she was expected to cling so intimately to her, being stared at like some exhibit? Just thinking about it made her skin crawl.
Besides, everyone in the hall had already left. Why should she keep pretending to be a well-behaved Crown Princess?
Watching her bristle, Qian Renxue felt the stirring in her heart grow even stronger. A cunning glint flashed in her eyes as she leaned close to Ye Yunxi's ear. Her warm breath brushed against it, and her voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear.
"Be good and link your arm through mine. Once we're back at the Crown Prince's Mansion, I'll release your Soul Power."
Ye Yunxi's pupils suddenly shrank, and the resistance in her peach-blossom eyes was instantly replaced with delight. She stared into Qian Renxue's eyes, her voice urgent with disbelief. "Really?"
Having her Soul Power sealed was unbearable. It felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She had the cultivation of a Soul Ancestor and a heaven-defying Martial Soul, yet couldn't summon even the slightest strength. That was the main reason she'd kept enduring everything.
Once her Soul Power was released, with her Lingbo Microsteps and the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox's speed, she might not be able to defeat Qian Renxue, but she'd still have a chance to run.
"Of course." Qian Renxue curled her lips, unable to hide her smile. Seeing the urgency in Ye Yunxi's eyes, she felt that this little wild fox had finally been brought to heel.
"This palace never lies. As long as you behave, I'll lift the restriction as soon as we get back."
Ye Yunxi bit her lip. Though she was unwilling in a thousand ways, the temptation of having her Soul Power restored was simply too great.
After weighing it over and over, she finally suppressed her resentment. Moving slowly and with extreme reluctance, she extended her hand, fingers stiff as a board, and awkwardly linked her arm through Qian Renxue's.
The moment their skin touched, Qian Renxue felt a warm softness against her arm. Her heart began to pound faster, and even her breathing slowed for a beat.
Ye Yunxi's hand was slender, her fingertips cool against Qian Renxue's arm. It made her feel as if she didn't want to let go.
Ye Yunxi, meanwhile, felt thoroughly uncomfortable. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she kept her eyes fixed on the ground, refusing to lift her head. She cursed Qian Renxue a thousand times over in her heart, hoping only to leave the palace and get her Soul Power back as soon as possible.
The two walked side by side from the council hall to the palace's Vermilion Bird Gate. All along the way, the palace attendants and imperial guards kept their gazes fixed on Ye Yunxi.