Tang Yuehua

"Presumptuous! What kind of thing are you to dare criticize my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?!" The young man's soul power surged, two bright yellow soul rings rose beneath his feet, and the aura of a Grandmaster-level soul master pressed down fiercely toward Ye Yang.

"We are direct disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, beings that a commoner like you should only look up to. You dare block my path? Kneel down, kowtow, and beg for mercy immediately. If this young sect master is in a good mood, I might just spare your lowly life!"

[Ding! Soul power pressure detected, Majesty automatically counterattacks!]

The moment Ning Yuanfeng's soul power pressure touched him, an invisible, terrifying pressure erupted from Ye Yang's body.

"Urgh!" Ning Yuanfeng bore the brunt of it. He felt an indescribable, heavy weight slam into his chest, and his face turned deathly pale in an instant.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze.

Everyone could feel that heart-palpitating sense of oppression. Though they didn't understand why, their gazes shifted as they looked at the young man in plain clothes standing in the center of the field, still wearing a calm, lighthearted smile.

"Kneel? Beg for mercy?" Ye Yang acted as if he hadn't seen the other party's disheveled state, repeating the words in a gentle voice that carried a bone-chilling coldness, the curve of his lips holding a trace of icy mockery.

"By your own merit? Or by the merit of those... motley crew behind you?"

"Audacious! To dare insult us—you clearly have no regard for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

"Insult?" Ye Yang chuckled, the sound ringing out with startling clarity in the silent street, carrying a playfulness that made one's heart run cold.

"If dregs like you can represent the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then the sect has truly lost all its face because of you."

"You bastard! You're courting death!" Ning Yuanfeng and the others were instantly consumed by rage, and his companions summoned their martial souls to attack Ye Yang.

Just at this critical juncture, a clear, melodious female voice, carrying a unique power to soothe the heart, pierced through the murderous atmosphere like a mountain spring:

"Stop!"

The voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears with unquestionable authority.

Everyone looked toward the source of the sound.

On the other side of the street, a carriage decorated with elegance and pulled by two magnificent white horses had stopped quietly at some point. The curtain lifted, and a woman in palace attire stepped down slowly.

She wore a moon-white gown with delicate silver cloud patterns embroidered on the hem, her temperament graceful and noble, her bearing elegant.

Her face was beautiful, her brows carrying the tranquility and wisdom of time, her eyes clear and deep, as if they could reflect the human heart.

She possessed no powerful soul power fluctuations, yet she carried an aura of high nobility that made people feel compelled to admire her and afraid to show disrespect.

The person who had arrived was none other than the mistress of the Moon Pavilion, Tang Yuehua.

She had been passing by and was drawn in by the commotion and the sudden clash of soul power. When her gaze swept across the center of the conflict and landed on the face of the plain-clothed youth surrounded by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples, those calm eyes instantly contracted violently!

That face... that gentle, smiling face, now carrying a hint of playful coldness... she could never mistake it!

Despite wearing casual clothes, the contours of those brows and eyes, the noble temperament emanating from his very bones... it was clearly the Crown Prince of the current dynasty, His Highness Xue Qinghe!

A storm raged in Tang Yuehua's heart. Why was the Crown Prince here? And why was he in conflict with disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? If this got out, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"Lady Yuehua? Could it be that you are a member of the Clear Sky Sect?"

Seeing that the person who had come to resolve the situation for Ye Yang was Tang Yuehua, the mistress of the Moon Pavilion, Ning Yuanfeng subconsciously assumed Ye Yang was from the Clear Sky Sect, and his expression shifted.

Ye Yang did not reply, merely watching with a calm expression as Tang Yuehua walked before him, bent her knees slightly, and performed an impeccable courtly bow, her voice carrying clearly across the silent street corner:

"I did not know Your Highness was traveling incognito. Yuehua failed to welcome you in time; I beg Your Highness to forgive my offense."

"Your Highness?!"

These two words exploded in the dead-silent street like a thunderclap on flat ground!

The expressions on the faces of Ning Yuanfeng and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples behind him froze instantly.

Their eyes went wide, their pupils contracting sharply from extreme terror as they stared fixedly at the plain-clothed youth they had just called a "commoner" and a "thing."

Your Highness? The only person in the Heaven Dou Empire who could be greeted so respectfully by the mistress of the Moon Pavilion and addressed as "Your Highness" was... one person!

"Crown... Crown... Crown Prince?!" Ning Yuanfeng's voice sounded as if it had been scraped by sandpaper—dry, hoarse, and trembling with disbelief and uncontrollable fear.

He felt a chill rush from the soles of his feet to his crown; his limbs turned cold and stiff, and his mind went blank.

What had he just said? What had he done? He told the Crown Prince to kneel and kowtow? He called him a commoner? And he wanted to attack him?! This... this...

"Thump!"

"Thump! Thump!"

Several dull sounds followed one after another. Under the impact of immense terror, the companions behind Ning Yuanfeng collapsed to the ground in a pathetic heap, their bodies shaking like chaff, their faces devoid of color, not even daring to raise their heads.

Ning Yuanfeng himself felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His face turned from white to green, then from green to purple. His lips quivered, and a "hissing" sound escaped his throat, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He felt his heart about to burst from his chest; the immense fear gripped his soul like a cold, giant hand.

He wanted to kneel, he wanted to beg for mercy, but his body was as stiff as a stone statue; he couldn't even bend his knees.

The surrounding commoners were also completely stunned. After a brief, deathly silence, a wave of suppressed gasps and intakes of breath erupted.

Countless gazes focused on Ye Yang, filled with awe, curiosity, and disbelief. This young man, who looked so gentle and peaceful, was actually the Crown Prince of the current dynasty?!

The smile on Ye Yang's face did not change in the slightest; he remained as gentle and harmless as before.

He watched the dramatic scene before him with great interest, finally looking at Tang Yuehua.

"So it is Lady Yuehua. I was merely on a whim, out to observe the lives of the people. I did not expect to meet you here; it is quite a coincidence."

Tang Yuehua felt even more suspicious and uneasy. The Crown Prince's reaction... was far too calm!

She forced herself to remain calm, maintaining a respectful posture. "Your Highness's concern for the common people is truly a blessing for the Empire."

"However, this place is noisy, and I fear it may disturb your peace. I wonder if Your Highness might be willing to move to the Moon Pavilion? I have recently acquired a new tea and would boldly invite Your Highness to sample it."

Ye Yang naturally understood Tang Yuehua's intentions.

He glanced at the petrified Ning Yuanfeng, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint arc that made Ning Yuanfeng feel as if he had plunged into an ice cellar.

"That works well. I also have some matters I would like to hear your opinion on, Madam."

He paused with a pointed tone, his gaze sweeping over Ning Yuanfeng once more. The look was calm and rippleless, yet it made Ning Yuanfeng feel as though he were being scraped by a cold blade.

"As for these few..." Ye Yang's voice dragged on.