Princess

After staying at the hotel for three days, it was time for His Majesty the Emperor to receive the Douluo delegation.

That evening, after meeting Star Luo Empire's Emperor Dai Tianling at the palace, there would be a banquet for the guests. Formal attire was required.

Tang Wulin had no time to buy new clothes, so he wore the outfit Gu Yue had given him as usual. The others were much the same.

To show the importance Star Luo placed on the Douluo delegation, they received them with state honors and specifically held a grand welcoming ceremony.

Tang Wulin and the others stood near the back, watching quietly.

Tang Wulin glanced over the few people on the platform. Old Cai was among them, along with Emperor Dai Tianling and his trusted ministers, the Federation's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and an old acquaintance—the princess, Dai Yuner.

Tang Wulin found the whole process unbearably dull, but with Wu Changkong standing beside him, he could not simply slip away. He could only close his eyes and meditate, fully displaying the strength of his ability to enter a meditative state.

A voice suddenly rang beside his ear—"Murder!"

Tang Wulin did not move at all, but the corner of his lips curled slightly. His formidable spiritual power surged back, and he slowly opened his eyes, locking directly onto Dai Yuner on the platform, whose face had suddenly gone pale. A faint golden glint flashed through his eyes.

This princess really did love making trouble, just as always. He felt rather helpless.

Gu Yue seemed to sense the fluctuation in his spiritual power and gave him an inquiring look.

Tang Wulin gently shook his head, glanced at Dai Yuner as she lowered her head, then closed his eyes again and resumed meditating.

On the platform, Dai Tianling and Cai Yue'er both briefly turned their gazes toward Dai Yuner. Dai Tianling looked slightly worried, while Cai Yue'er wore an expression of eager amusement.

Of all people, who had she chosen to provoke?

A wave of lingering fear rose in Dai Yuner's heart. That vast, surging power had nearly swallowed her whole. Fortunately, he had pulled back in time. Otherwise, she might have dropped dead right there on the platform and become Star Luo's greatest scandal.

She secretly looked at the handsome youth who had closed his eyes again and gritted her teeth.

After the ceremony ended, during the intermission, Dai Tianling summoned Dai Yuner to the palace.

"What happened?" he asked.

Dai Yuner said indignantly, "Someone from Shrek was sleeping during the ceremony. He obviously doesn't take Star Luo seriously, so I wanted to teach him a lesson."

At that point, how could Dai Tianling not understand? He shot her a glance. "And then you ended up being taught a lesson instead?"

Dai Yuner huffed. "Father! I was bullied, and you're not even comforting me!"

Dai Tianling looked helplessly at the daughter he had doted on since childhood. "He's a student of Shrek Academy. You have no idea what methods he possesses, yet you still dared to mess with him... Were you hurt?"

Dai Yuner shook his hand and muttered softly, "My young heart was hurt."

Dai Tianling patted her head. "Enough. Stay away from him. Though tonight's banquet is meant to welcome the Douluo delegation, it is also for your marriage prospects. You're already fifteen. It's time to start considering such matters."

Dai Yuner immediately objected. "I don't want to get married! Why should my happiness be sacrificed as a bargaining chip?!"

Dai Tianling said sternly, "This is the duty and responsibility that comes with being royalty and enjoying so many resources."

Dai Yuner shouted, "But that isn't the only way! Just because the royal family did this in the past, does that mean we have to do it too?! Do the daughters of great families in the Douluo Federation also have to marry men they don't love?"

Her eyes reddened slightly as she turned and ran away.

Dai Tianling watched her retreating figure and sighed.

A woman in palace attire entered behind him and asked gently, "Arguing again?"

Dai Tianling rubbed his brow. "Look at the fine daughter you raised."

The woman in palace attire rolled her eyes. "Who do you think she takes after?"

Dai Tianling had argued with Dai Yuner over this issue countless times, but she refused to yield, and he could not bear to force her. All he could do was keep delaying it.

Yet the reason the royal family could hold its position, keep the nation running steadily, and barely withstand the pressure from Douluo was the result of compromises between the imperial family and the various political powers.

If he could, he naturally wanted Yuner to live happily and carefree. But she had been born into the royal family. There was joy in it, but also sorrow. It was something they had no choice but to do.

Dai Tianling let out a long sigh. "I'll try to mediate a little longer, but if we ultimately still have to follow the old path..."

A trace of sorrow passed through the palace-dressed woman's eyes. "I know. I'll put the bigger picture first."

Dai Tianling wrapped an arm around her. "I've wronged both of you."

The banquet.

According to Star Luo etiquette, the first dance was for the emperor to invite one of the female guests present.

Only after the dance ended did the ball and banquet officially begin.

Tang Wulin sat before a dazzling array of dishes and ate to his heart's content.

A voice sounded beside him. "Handsome."

Tang Wulin raised his head.

Dai Yuner looked at him with a charming smile. "May I invite you to dance?"

Gu Yue, seated beside him, cast a sidelong glance.

"No time, not dancing, thanks." Tang Wulin refused at lightning speed.

Dai Yuner's expression stiffened.

She tried to take his hand, but Tang Wulin immediately stepped back to avoid her. "Princess, I already refused you."

Dai Yuner narrowed her beautiful eyes. "As a member of the delegation, are you expressing dissatisfaction with Star Luo by acting like this?"

Tang Wulin remained neither servile nor overbearing. "There is no rule saying I must accept anyone's invitation to dance. Besides, I have a dance partner. Is Star Luo in the habit of forcing transactions now?"

Dai Yuner raised a brow. "Where is your dance partner?"

"Me." A hand looped around Tang Wulin's arm as Gu Yue stood at his side. She looked coldly at Dai Yuner, and it seemed as though two whirlpools swirled in her eyes. Dai Yuner only met her gaze with her Spirit Eyes for an instant before feeling as if her sea of spirit were on the verge of collapse.

Her eyes widened, and she staggered back several steps.

Tang Wulin patted Gu Yue's hand. "Don't be nervous. She's just a child."

After suffering blow after blow, then hearing Tang Wulin say that, Dai Yuner's fury flared.

Steeling herself, she shouted, "This princess likes you very much! If you win the individual competition championship, this princess will choose you as her consort!"

Everyone looked over.

Tang Wulin frowned. He knew her nature was not bad, but she had yet to experience the trials of life, so some willfulness was inevitable.

He spoke calmly, but there was no room for argument. "The individual competition championship will be mine, but I can never be yours. I choose my own partner. It isn't your place to make that decision for me."

He did not deliberately raise his voice, but the resolve and authority in his words made his stance crystal clear to everyone present.

Dai Tianling had already approached and stood beside Dai Yuner, whose expression was extremely unpleasant.

Tang Wulin looked at Dai Tianling and said in a low voice, "We have other matters to attend to. Please excuse us."

He took Gu Yue's hand and walked straight through the crowd, leaving the banquet hall.