"You!..." The man tried to speak again, but Kai Erqi grabbed him and pulled Kai Erqi back. Kelch glanced at Qi Ling with disdain and said, "Forget it, no need to lower yourself to his level. He's not from our world."
The others seemed to agree with Kai Erqi's point, so they gathered around Kai Erqi, boasting as they left, all seemingly starting to plan their own bright futures.
Looking at them, Qi Ling couldn't help but feel helpless. If the future of the empire was really filled with people like this, then it would truly be doomed.
As time went by, the banquet was about to officially begin, and the most crucial figure at the banquet, Empress Xue Ke of the Heaven Dou Empire, would make a grand entrance at this moment.
So, amidst everyone's expectant gazes, Xue Ke, accompanied by Prince Xue Xing, finally appeared before the crowd. Her appearance immediately made her the center of attention, overshadowing all the female guests present.
Through these years of growth, Xue Ke has completely shed her girlish naiveté and become a peerless empress. Moreover, perhaps due to the influence of Bibi Dong, Qi Ling always felt that the two had some similar temperaments.
After Xue Ke appeared, everyone present watched eagerly, hoping to attract Xue Ke attention, since that was their main purpose for coming to the banquet.
Kai Erqi was no exception. He tried his best to strike what he considered his most handsome pose, striving to exude his masculine charm. However, his posture always made people feel as if he had some kind of spinal problem.
To Kai Erqi's utter surprise, Xue Ke suddenly smiled with delight and walked quickly toward him, ignoring even the people who greeted him along the way.
Kai Erqi was stunned. Was he really that lucky today? He had actually attracted Xue Ke's attention. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
So Kai Erqi suppressed his pounding heart, maintained his unique posture, and as Xue Ke approached, he revealed his most confident smile and said, "Your Highness Xue Ke, you are still as beautiful as a rose today..."
But Kai Erqi couldn't finish his sentence because Xue Ke didn't linger in front of him for even half a second, completely ignoring him and continuing to walk forward.
Kai Erqi was utterly bewildered. What was going on? Empress Xue Ke had walked right past him! Hadn't he seen him? If she wasn't looking for him, then who was she looking for?
Soon after, Xue Ke's delighted voice came from not far behind Kai Erqi: "Teacher! You really came! I was worried you might leave again!"
Qi Ling swore that she absolutely did not intentionally stand behind Kai Erqi; it was just that she happened to be in that position when Xue Ke arrived, which led to the current awkward situation.
Looking at Xue Ke, who was dressed in her finest attire, Qi Ling couldn't help but smile and say, "How could that be? I promised you, of course I wouldn't go back on my word. Besides, if I left, I wouldn't be able to see you all dressed up today, wouldn't that be a shame?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Ke immediately blushed and asked, "Really? Teacher, do you think I look good today?"
"Of course it's beautiful, I was stunned!" Qi Ling laughed. " Xue Ke has really grown up, she's become so womanly now."
Kai Erqi was stunned. He never expected that the country bumpkin he had looked down on would be so close to Xue Ke, as if they had known each other for years.
This won't do. Doesn't it make me look useless? And what if that kid beat me to it? What will happen to my bright future?
So Kai Erqi mustered his courage, stepped forward, and said with a smile, "Your Highness Xue Ke, do you remember me? I am Kai Erqi from the Changyun Chamber of Commerce. This morning, I even gave you an expensive ruby ring! I wonder why you aren't wearing it?"
Xue Ke was immersed in the joy of spending time with Qi Ling when she was suddenly disturbed. She was annoyed and looked at Kai Erqi, saying, "You said your name is Kai Erqi? Sorry, we don't seem to know each other before?"
Upon hearing Xue Ke's words, Kai Erqi was stunned, as if struck by lightning. She didn't recognize him? He was just about to propose to her, and Xue Ke told him she didn't know him?
Fortunately, Xue Ke suddenly realized and said, "Oh! I remember now, Kai Erqi, you're the one who gave me the ring today, right? I vaguely remember that name."
"Then, Your Highness Xue Ke, why aren't you wearing that ring? It's the most expensive ruby ring, a treasure I acquired after countless efforts!" Kai Erqi said, clinging to his last hope.
"Oh? Is that so?" Xue Ke said helplessly, "I'm so sorry, I've already had someone send that ring back. It should be at your residence by now."
"I will not wear any other rings. This is the only ring I will wear."
As she spoke, Xue Ke proudly held up the ring, which was the gift Qi Ling had given Xue Ke before—the Storage Soul Tool. Inside was the Gundam that Qi Ling had given Xue Ke for self-defense.
Although the ring was priceless, it looked utterly ordinary. Kai Erqi exclaimed, "No! How can such a ring compare to my ruby ring!? Princess Xue Ke, are you mistaken?"
"You're not mistaken, Mr. Kai Erqi! Even if this ring were nothing special, it would still be my most precious treasure!" Xue Ke laughed. "Because it's a gift from the most important person in my life!"
"Alright, teacher, let's go. It's too noisy here. Let's find somewhere else." Xue Ke said, intending to pull Qi Ling away. For her, after seeing Qi Ling, all thoughts of her responsibilities as an empress had been thrown to the back of her mind.
Seeing the two of them, even if Kai Erqi was stupid, he should have realized Xue Ke's feelings. He couldn't believe that he, the young master of the third Great Shang in the Heaven Dou Empire, was inferior to such a country bumpkin.
So Kai Erqi angrily chased after her, grabbed Qi Ling's arm, and said, "Wait! I don't believe it! Why should I lose to a country bumpkin like you! What do I lack compared to you...?"
"He's no country bumpkin," Prince Xue Xing's voice rang out, brimming with undisguised joy. "His status is far more noble than yours! Even if your entire merchant guild were combined, it wouldn't equal a single finger of his!"