Chapter 75

Seeing that Feng Yi remained motionless, Xiao Minghuang's lips curled up slightly, and she asked:

"Feng Zhenchuan, perhaps you don't have enough spirit stones? Here's a hint: you can exchange them with pills, or you can use your sword as collateral!"

Xiao Minghuang had long noticed that the sword Feng Yi was carrying was at least a Top-grade Yellow Tier Magic Treasure, worth far more than 150,000 spirit stones.

"You!"

Feng Yi was furious and wanted to turn around and leave.

However, this was, after all, the Xia Kingdom, and the leaders of the Spirit Sword Sect did not follow.

Just as the Eighth Prince said, even if he made a big fuss, he wouldn't gain anything.

Thinking of this, Feng Yi said in a low voice:

"Junior Brother Xiao, I'm entrusting this matter to you. If you handle it well, I will recommend you as an inner disciple upon returning to the sect, and you can move to Xuanjian Peak to cultivate with me!"

The Eighth Prince originally intended to stay out of it, since all his valuable possessions combined amounted to only ten thousand spirit stones, which wouldn't be of any help to Feng Yi.

But upon hearing the words "inner disciple," he became excited and answered without careful thought:

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Feng, I will definitely handle this matter properly!"

He regretted saying it as soon as he said it, but there was no way to take it back, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and go ahead with it.

The Eighth Prince looked at Xiao Minghuang, forced a smile, and said:

"Ninth Sister, today's events were all a misunderstanding. Why don't we call it quits and make peace? I'm willing to personally give Ninth Sister three thousand spirit stones as compensation. What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang curled the corners of her lips into a mocking smile, but remained silent.

Seeing this, the Eighth Prince knew that a soft approach wouldn't work and he had to resort to a harder one.

"Ninth Sister, do you know that Senior Brother Feng Yi is the closed-door disciple of Elder Xuanjian the Spirit Sword Sect? If you humiliate him today, it will bring endless trouble to Great Xia. If it really provokes the wrath of the Spirit Sword Sect, billions of lives in Great Xia will be buried for your momentary anger!"

The Eighth Prince's tone was filled with sorrow, as if the billions of lives in the Great Xia had suffered annihilation because of Xiao Minghuang alone. This made the people around him shudder and even their breathing became rapid.

Xiao Minghuang said coldly:

Do you think I'll be scared just because you say that?

As she spoke, Xiao Minghuang took a step closer to the Eighth Prince, her gaze sharp as lightning as she fixed it on him.

Under such gazes, the Eighth Prince felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, as if his entire body had been frozen.

"The Eighth Prince is speaking up for the Spirit Sword Sect much, it seems he has long since pledged allegiance to them. Is his return to the capital this time an attempt to use the Spirit Sword Sect to seize the position of Crown Prince, inherit the throne one day, and then sell the entire Great Xia Dynasty to the Spirit Sword Sect?"

Xiao Minghuang's words hit the nail on the head, directly exposing the Eighth Prince's thoughts.

100. Will you be my wife?

"I'm not!"

"I don't!"

"Don't talk nonsense!"

"I'm just learning martial arts at the Spirit Sword Sect, how could I possibly think of betraying my motherland!"

The Eighth Prince repeatedly denied it.

"If you are not that kind of person, then why do you help the Spirit Sword Sect and oppress the Great Xia?"

Xiao Minghuang's tone was laced with sarcasm.

"I..."

Upon hearing Xiao Minghuang's words, the Eighth Prince was speechless with bitterness, unable to express his grievances.

At this moment, everyone present also saw the true colors of the Eighth Prince.

"So the Eighth Prince had already sided with the Spirit Sword Sect. No wonder he was so siding with outsiders."

"A prince of such high standing, betraying his own people! What a hypocrite!"

At this moment, everyone looked at the Eighth Prince with eyes filled with contempt, disdain, and anger.

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, the Eighth Prince felt completely at a loss.

Feng Yi also frowned, feeling that this Eighth Prince was completely unreliable. Taking advantage of the Eighth Prince attracting everyone's attention, he concealed himself and slipped away.

When the Eighth Prince turned around and saw Feng Yi's figure disappear, he panicked.

His eyes darted around before finally settling on Lin Wanqiu.

He had heard the Emperor Xia mention that Xiao Minghuang and Lin Wanqiu were originally engaged, and the Emperor Xia wanted to bestow a marriage upon them, but Xiao Minghuang refused.

But at this time, Lin Wanqiu was still by Xiao Minghuang's side, and there must have been some underlying discord between the two of them.

In his panic, the Eighth Prince pointed at Lin Wanqiu and shouted:

"Miss Lin, I know you and Ninth Sister are engaged, and Father Emperor once issued an imperial decree to grant the marriage, but do you know?"

"Ninth Sister personally refused the arranged marriage. She doesn't like you at all, but she's insisting on keeping you here. Staying by her side will only lead to a bad outcome!"

Upon hearing this statement...

Everyone present was taken aback.

They had no idea that Princess Ziwei was engaged to the eldest daughter of Beiyang City.

And it seems Princess Ziwei rejected the marriage proposal?

If what the Eighth Prince said is true, then Princess Ziwei's attitude is truly intriguing.

Sensing the change in atmosphere, Lin Wanqiu's expression also darkened. Although she had spent so much time with His Highness, she still didn't know what His Highness's attitude towards her was.

Xiao Minghuang's face immediately turned cold. She hadn't taken those words to heart at all.

But when the Eighth Prince mentioned Lin Wanqiu, she could no longer remain calm.

Xiao Minghuang took a step forward and instantly appeared in front of the Eighth Prince. Her palm flashed with golden light, like starlight, and she grabbed the Eighth Prince by the throat, lifting him up forcefully.

She was so fast that she couldn't even see herself.

"Eighth Prince, if you utter another half word, don't blame me for killing you!"

Her tone was cold, like a sharp dagger piercing the Eighth Prince's chest.

The Eighth Prince was terrified out of his wits.

The force from Xiao Minghuang's hand made it hard for him to breathe; he felt suffocated and knew his life was about to be taken.

He felt like he was about to die, and he suddenly realized that the person he had truly offended was not Xiao Minghuang, but Lin Wanqiu.

He quickly begged for mercy:

"Ninth Sister, I was wrong, I take back what I just said!"

"I apologize to you, I apologize to Miss Lin, please let me go, please, Ninth Sister, please!"

After he finished speaking, he patted Xiao Minghuang's arm around his neck, hoping she would let go of him.

Xiao Minghuang looked at him, snorted coldly, and tightened her grip even more, almost suffocating the Eighth Prince.

She slowly released the Eighth Prince's neck, and the Eighth Prince immediately collapsed to the ground, coughing violently a few times.

He was panting heavily, his body seemingly boneless, looking like he had just escaped death.

Xiao Minghuang ignored the Eighth Prince, who was like a dead dog. She looked around at everyone, then slowly walked towards Lin Wanqiu. Under the gaze of Lin Wanqiu's beautiful eyes, she took Lin Wanqiu's hand.

Their fingers were intertwined.

She raised her clenched hands, looked at the crowd, and said loudly:

"Today, I hereby declare that Lin Wanqiu is my future wife, Xiao Minghuang. Anyone who dares to make a move on her will be killed without mercy!"

Her voice was loud and resolute.

Upon hearing Xiao Minghuang's words, the scene erupted in excitement.

"Princess Ziwei is to marry the eldest daughter of Beiyang City! Spread the word quickly!"

However, some people hold different opinions.

"How can all same-sex relationships lead to marriage..."

Someone scoffed:

"Same-sex marriage is perfectly normal among martial artists. Ordinary people are ignorant and foolish; this statement is not worth refuting!"

Ignoring everyone's reactions, Xiao Minghuang turned to look at Lin Wanqiu, whose pretty face was slightly flushed, and said gently:

"Wanqiu, will you be my wife?"

Lin Wanqiu looked at Xiao Minghuang and was stunned by the sincere smile on her face.

Although Xiao Minghuang was gentle in the past, she knew that it wasn't the kind of gentleness that belonged to lovers.

But at this moment, things changed.

She didn't even know when the change began.

Was it from the time I left Beiyang City?

Or should we start from the first period of seclusion?

She didn't know.

Perhaps this is what it means for love to arise without warning and deepen over time.

"I do!"

Lin Wanqiu's face was full of smiles.

She felt a stinging sensation in her eyes, as if something wet was about to fall.

Xiao Minghuang raised her hand and gently wiped Lin Wanqiu's eyes, saying softly:

"You won't look good with your face all smudged from crying!"

In an instant, Lin Wanqiu burst into laughter through her tears, wiped them away, and revealed a radiant smile, as bright as a lily.

"Your Highness!"

Lin Wanqiu said coquettishly.

Her heart was filled with sweetness.

Xiao Minghuang looked at her and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

Everyone who witnessed this was shocked.

Looking at the Eighth Prince again, he felt even more that this person was a shameless scoundrel who spread rumors and stirred up trouble.

"Princess Ziwei and the young lady of Beiyang City have such a good relationship, why should you, an ugly monster, have the audacity to interfere!"

"Princess Ziwei and Miss Lin are truly a perfect match, a match made in heaven!"

"I think it's just that the Eighth Prince is jealous of how well-matched they are!"

"The Eighth Prince is probably a toad trying to eat swan meat!"

"Ha ha..."

Everyone burst into laughter, filling the shop with a joyful atmosphere.

The Eighth Prince's face was extremely pale, but he dared not show it in the slightest.

Lin Wanqiu looked around at the people, a faint smile appearing on her face.

"The Eighth Prince is, after all, His Highness's elder brother. Please, everyone, be mindful of your words."

Upon hearing this, the crowd gradually fell silent, but some people still whispered among themselves.

"Look at Miss Lin's level of thinking; even if the Eighth Prince cultivated for eight lifetimes, he still couldn't catch up."

"Miss Lin is magnanimous; she doesn't stoop to their level or bother with people like that."

"How can such a person exist in this world? They've completely disgraced us men!"

[|}

101. Old woman and old wife