Inside a pavilion in the back garden of the Heaven Dou Empire's Crown Prince's Residence.
The agarwood-carved stone pillars gave off a faint, secluded fragrance, while schools of koi in the pond occasionally slapped the water's surface.
The current princess, Xue Ke, had her chin raised. Her exquisite little face, as delicate as if carved from jade, was slightly tense, and her cherry-pink lips were pursed high.
She reached out and grabbed the sleeve of her elder brother's luxurious robe, embroidered with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's insignia in gold thread, shaking it stubbornly.
"Crown Prince Brother, I want to cultivate with Little Brother She Xian too!"
But her next words exposed what she really wanted. "Little Brother She Xian plays the flute so nicely, and his stories are fun too. Crown Prince Brother, just say yes!"
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, stood at the edge of the pavilion.
Behind that mask of gentle refinement, her golden phoenix eyes darkened slightly.
She appeared to gently press down Xue Ke's small hand, but there was a chill in her heart.
"Xue Ke, don't make trouble."
"That child Xian'er is mischievous by nature, as rambunctious as a monkey."
"You'll only distract him if you stay nearby, keeping him from cultivating wholeheartedly."
Qian Renxue's voice was soft and unhurried.
Standing nearby, She Xian was laughing wildly to himself as he secretly winked at Qian Renxue.
This refusal from his teacher suited him perfectly.
Recently, he had not merely been farming points at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.
He had also been studying Profound Ice Dragon Soaring.
How could such a powerful trump-card killing move be casually revealed to the little princess of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family?
He took half a step forward. "Your Highness, my cultivation is extremely noisy. One