But those words sounded very different to Qian Renxue. What did he mean, "not bad"? Was there anyone prettier than her?
She might not claim absolute superiority in other areas, but she was extremely confident in her looks.
In a rare display of girlish petulance, Qian Renxue pursed her lips, walked over to sit opposite Sunday, and said indignantly.
"What do you mean, 'not bad'? Who do you think is prettier than me, sir?"
"My younger sister."
"..."
"..."
Sunday naturally answered Qian Renxue's question without the slightest hesitation, but a stretch of silence followed.
"Your sweetheart?"
"My actual sister."
Qian Renxue's mouth twitched speechlessly at that. What the heck? So he's obsessed with his sister.
Sunday had no intention of dwelling on this topic. He looked at Qian Renxue and asked casually.
"Miss Xue Qinghe, aren't you going to explain what's going on?"
Qian Renxue gave him an assertive smile. Rather than answering immediately, she asked another question.
"There's no hurry. You've already discovered my greatest secret, sir. How about answering a question as compensation?"
"What question?"
Qian Renxue smiled, resting her chin on one hand, her tone curious.
"How did you discover my secret, sir?"
Sunday thought for a moment when he heard her question.
"My martial soul is rather special. It can peer into the essence of things, and it also has the ability to create spaces.
On the night before the Strength Clan incident, I created a special space called the Dream of the Great Unity.
It can draw everyone into a special place akin to a dream. That was when I saw your true appearance within the dream."
Sunday cobbled together one fabrication after another to give her a rough explanation. He could hardly say that he was an Aeon and could see straight through her.
Qian Renxue nodded after hearing him out. She did not think Sunday would lie to her; doing so would do her no good.
While inwardly chiding herself for her carelessness, she grew even more interested in Sunday's martial soul.
Sunday rarely made a move, but every time he did, he left people wide-eyed and tongue-tied. This time was even more startling: dragging an entire city into a dream was terrifying.
Sunday had no idea what Qian Renxue was thinking. Otherwise, he would certainly have scoffed. A city? Even an entire planet would be a drop in the bucket.
In the Honkai: Star Rail universe, if that bunch of loafers had not elbowed him at the crucial moment, he would have dragged the entire universe into the Dream of the Great Unity.
Speaking of which, he really was puzzled. He had clearly concealed everything with the Emperor's Scepter, so how had they discovered it?
Someone must have leaked it!!!
"Hmm... gods really shouldn't have too much time on their hands."
"All right, now that Your Highness's question has been answered, isn't it time to answer mine?"
At his words, the smile faded from Qian Renxue's face, replaced by a trace of sorrow.
"Alas, it's only because it's you, sir. I would never tell anyone else.
This goes back to my childhood. When I was just born, my own mother rejected me because I was a girl.
Unwilling to give up, my mother used her connections to obtain a set of disguise equipment for me, making me appear before others as a boy."
As she spoke, Qian Renxue even squeezed out two tears and sobbed softly, looking pitiful enough to tug at anyone's heart.
Watching her performance and listening to her outrageous account of her origins, Sunday's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Does she think I'm an idiot? Or has she somehow misunderstood what telling the truth means?
Qian Renxue stole a glance at Sunday. Seeing that he remained unmoved, she gave a little huff and continued.
"After that, I became Xue Qinghe and always appeared before others as Xue Ye's son.
Later, because several of my brothers died young for unknown reasons, I naturally became the crown prince.
And precisely because I became the crown prince, I could only remain Xue Qinghe. I never dared show my true face, which is why I concealed it from you, sir. I hope you won't hold it against me."
Sunday's mouth twitched after hearing that.
"Is that so? Then it really has been... difficult for Miss... Qinghe."
Qian Renxue covered her mouth and let out a light, melodious laugh.
"There's no need to struggle, sir. Just call me Qinghe. Of course, you may also call me by my real name, Xue Ren."
"Hmm, no wonder Your Highness is like this. So you're a woman. It must have been hard on you. I thought the rumors were true."
Sunday looked at Qian Renxue as he spoke. If you're going to disgust me, I'll disgust you right back.
"What rumors?"
Qian Renxue's delicate willow-leaf brows furrowed. Rumors? Why haven't I heard of them?
Could that old bastard Xue Xing be up to his tricks again? Even under confinement, he won't behave.
The corners of Sunday's lips lifted.
"You don't know, Your Highness? I've heard rumors circulating among the common folk that, since you've gone so many years without taking a principal consort, you might be impotent or have a penchant for the cut sleeve."
Qian Renxue's face turned livid. Who spread that? How could I possibly like men?
Hmm... wait, I suppose I do like men, but that still doesn't make me a cut sleeve!
"Who spread that!"
Qian Renxue slammed a hand onto the table, her gaze sharp and imperious, all trace of her earlier gentle grace gone.
Even as anger rose within her, Qian Renxue was startled. She really had never paid attention to this issue before.
Now that she looked back and considered it carefully, a chill ran down her spine.
On the Douluo Continent, people could marry and have children at twelve or thirteen. Being in one's twenties was already considered rather old.
As the crown prince of a nation, her failure to take a consort at this age looked suspicious no matter how one considered it.
If someone with ulterior motives used this as a pretext to stir up trouble, or uncovered something, she would be in trouble.
In the past, she could use affairs of state as an excuse. Now, it seemed she really needed to take a consort.
"Thank you for your guidance, sir. I've learned my lesson."
With that thought, Qian Renxue rose and cupped her hands toward Sunday. She felt certain that he was reminding her.
Sunday stood and waved a hand at Qian Renxue.
"You're being too courteous, Your Highness. It's getting late, and I still have matters to handle at the school, so I'll take my leave.
Don't forget our agreement, Your Highness. My martial soul can see through to the essence of things. Lies cannot deceive me.
I don't want these things falling into the hands of other factions. Otherwise, I'll let Your Highness experience what the Sound of Unison truly means."
With that, Sunday headed out of the Crown Prince's Manor.
Qian Renxue watched Sunday leave, knowing that her words today had not fooled him.
"Young mistress, isn't this too risky?"
Pufferfish and Snake Lance stood behind Qian Renxue, both wearing worried expressions.
Qian Renxue shook her head.
"Recruiting someone like him won't be easy. Revealing some of our bargaining chips at the right moment is a viable approach.
Take these blueprints, gather our people in Heaven Dou City, and begin manufacturing the equipment.
As for Spirit Hall, don't tell that woman or the others. Just inform Grandfather and his people to give them a heads-up."
As she spoke, Qian Renxue handed the stack of blueprints to Snake Lance.
"Young mistress, aren't we sending the blueprints back to Spirit Hall? These things could change the balance of power across the continent."
At those words, Qian Renxue's gaze instantly turned icy.
"Send them back? Didn't you hear what he said? Or do you want to thoroughly offend a Level 98 expert, perhaps even a peerless powerhouse on par with Grandfather?
That woman has been growing increasingly restless lately. Should I give her these so she can rebel?
Snake Lance, remember this: you belong to my Worship Hall first, and Spirit Hall second. Spirit Hall belongs to the Qian Family. Its name is Qian! Know where you stand."
Before you continue