Chu Yunfei had just stepped into the hall.
A dozen pairs of eyes immediately turned towards them.
He remained calm, walking side by side with Ling Xueyao.
Ling Xueyao whispered to him, introducing each person at the table to him.
Chu Yunfei's gaze swept over Yue Chenzhou and Wu Changge, and he already had a general idea of what was going on.
The former is cold and sinister, the latter sharp and ruthless; neither are ordinary people.
When he looked at Ling Chengxuan in the corner again, his gaze paused slightly.
I couldn't help but take another look.
The third prince was very quiet.
He was so quiet that he didn't seem like someone caught in the vortex of imperial power; he was more like someone sitting on the sidelines watching a game of chess.
In the main seat, the eldest prince, Ling Chengyuan, had already risen.
He smiled gently and said, "Your Highness has arrived. Please take a seat. There was some commotion in the palace last night, and I was worried that you might have been frightened. Now that I see you are unharmed, I am relieved."
That sounds like a caring older brother.
Ling Xueyao, however, sensed the probing in his words.
Last night, the Blood Baleful Intent Tower stormed the palace, damaging the place where the Emperor was in seclusion.
The eldest prince brought it up now clearly to see her reaction.
Ling Xueyao calmly replied, "With the clan elders in charge, a few petty villains can't cause any trouble. My eldest brother is hosting a banquet to welcome the prodigies of the three sects, so it's only right that I attend, lest I fail to observe the proper etiquette of the royal family."
Ling Chengyuan's smile remained unchanged, and his gaze immediately fell on Chu Yunfei.
"Is this the prince consort that my younger sister brought back?"
"Indeed, he exudes an imposing presence."
As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat heavy.
The eldest prince, seemingly oblivious, continued, "It's just that Father has been in seclusion for many years, and my sister's marriage has not yet received his personal approval. Now that my sister has accepted her husband, it has surprised me, her elder brother."
The words were spoken subtly, but the meaning was clear.
Chu Yunfei's status as a prince consort is neither legitimate nor justifiable.
Ling Xueyao's expression turned slightly cold, and she was about to speak when Chu Yunfei smiled first.
He cupped his hands in a slight bow, his tone casual. "Your Highness is right. If His Majesty deems me unworthy after His Majesty emerges from seclusion, we can discuss it further."
Ling Chengyuan's gaze shifted slightly.
This statement, though seemingly a concession, is actually watertight.
He neither denied Ling Zhantian's status as the imperial son-in-law, nor did he push the final decision back to Ling Zhantian.
But with Ling Zhantian unconscious, no one can publicly refute his claims.
Ling Chengyuan smiled and said, "Brother Chu is quite carefree."
Chu Yunfei didn't respond and sat down with Ling Xueyao.
The seat was arranged to be below the head seat.
Its position wasn't low, yet it was perfectly within the direct line of sight of the three holy sons.
Ling Chengyuan raised his wine glass and gestured to the others.
"Gentlemen, you have come from afar, and the royal family should extend the hospitality of hosts. During my father's seclusion, all matters concerning the capital have been taken care of by this palace. Today's banquet is both to welcome the three prodigies of the Three Sects and to celebrate the upcoming Seven Sects Grand Competition in a month."
Everyone raised their glasses.
Chu Yunfei also picked up his wine cup and took a small sip.
The wine is good.
But what he really wanted to know was when the eldest prince planned to light the fire.
After finishing his drink, Ling Chengyuan's gaze naturally turned towards him.
"Speaking of which, I must congratulate my younger sister on finding a good match."
"Although Brother Chu is not from a prestigious family, he has won the favor of the Imperial Sister through his own abilities, which is quite remarkable. The Imperial Sister has always been proud, so anyone who can earn her favor must have extraordinary qualities."
These words sound polite, but their sharp edge is already showing.
Although not born into a prestigious family
These few words, though light and airy, are jarring enough.
Qin Hao's lips curled into a cold smile.
He had already had someone investigate Chu Yunfei's background last night.
It doesn't take much effort.
You don't even need to look it up.
Early in the morning, news of him spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
A former disciple of the Azure Mystic Sect.
He came from a second-rate sect.
He was protected by Ling Xueyao in the name of becoming the emperor's son-in-law.
Such a status wouldn't even qualify someone for a seat of honor among the Seven Holy Sons.
Qin Hao felt a surge of disdain, then his gaze shifted from Chu Yunfei to Ling Xueyao's face, lingering for a moment on her veiled features, his eyes barely able to contain his desire.
Yue Chenzhou appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil.
A year ago, the Puppet Sect proposed a marriage alliance to the royal family, but Ling Xueyao rejected it outright.
Now she has chosen an unknown nobody.
This isn't just a slap in the face for him alone, it's a slap in the face for the Puppet Sect.
Wu Changge frowned.
Divine Martial Sect had also expressed his intentions to the imperial family.
He personally disliked these complicated matters, but Ling Xueyao was indeed one of the few women in the Eastern Continent who could pique his interest.
Now, sitting next to her is a man who doesn't look particularly strong.
Wu Changge had only one thought in his mind.
Let's fight.
Only those who win have the right to sit there.
Ling Xueyao naturally understood the meaning behind these words, and her expression turned slightly cold.
This eldest brother is clearly using words to gradually push Chu Yunfei to the opposite side of all the sect's prodigies.
Chu Yunfei seemed not to have noticed and casually poured himself another glass of wine.
Ling Chengyuan saw this and became increasingly satisfied.
He is not in a hurry.
The first fire has been lit.
Then he added another bundle of firewood.
"I have also heard that after Brother Chu entered the palace, my sister arranged for you to reside in her bedchamber."
"My imperial sister has always preferred quiet, and it's rare for outsiders to linger in her vicinity. To receive such treatment from her, Brother Chu, is truly a first."
The atmosphere in the hall changed immediately upon hearing this.
Qin Hao's face turned completely ugly.
Moving into the princess's palace?
Last night, when Chu Yunfei led Ling Xueyao away, he was already seething with anger. Now, hearing these words, his jealousy and resentment were almost impossible to suppress.
Yue Chenzhou narrowed his eyes.
Wu Changge was even more direct, his hostility practically written all over his face.
Wu Mingyue's eyes widened in surprise.
She truly hadn't expected the rumors to be true.
The dignified princess of the Great Qian Dynasty, aloof and self-possessed, barely even acknowledges the seven holy sons of the sects, yet now she has allowed a man to reside in her palace.
Of all the people in the hall, only Ling Chengxuan remained seated.
He lowered his head and took a sip of his drink, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Chu Yunfei put down his wine glass, his expression still calm and composed.
The eldest prince's actions were perfectly timed.
That's ruthless enough.
Conflicts between men often don't need to be too complicated.
An identity, a word, a woman—enough to make these so-called prodigies lose their composure.
Ling Xueyao glanced at Chu Yunfei, clearly understanding Ling Chengyuan's thoughts.
She was about to speak up and suppress the matter.
Chu Yunfei turned his head and gave her a look, indicating that she didn't need to say anything.
Ling Xueyao understood and didn't say anything more.
Ling Chengyuan quietly observed everyone's reactions, a slight smile playing on his lips.
The fact that Chu Yunfei was staying in the princess's palace was like a poisonous thorn, piercing the hearts of every sect's prodigy who harbored feelings for Ling Xueyao.
He didn't need to say anything more.
Someone will naturally step in for him.
As expected, Qin Hao quickly broke the silence.
Qin Hao raised his eyes, his icy gaze falling on Chu Yunfei.
"Since Brother Chu is the princess's chosen consort, his cultivation level must be quite high. Last night, I saw his remarkable courage at the entrance of the Pill Pavilion. It's quite fate that we meet again at the royal banquet today."
As he spoke, he raised his hand.
A young disciple from the Cangyun Sect immediately stepped forward.
This man was in his early twenties, with a long spear at his waist. His aura was calm and steady, and he made no attempt to conceal his Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer.
Qin Hao looked at Chu Yunfei, his tone indifferent.
"Although my junior brother is a true disciple of the Cangyun Sect, he is only at the Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer. Since today's banquet is a rare opportunity, why not have a friendly spar, so that everyone here can see just how capable the person Her Highness the Princess has chosen is?"
What are your thoughts, Brother Chu?
The hall fell silent immediately.
The Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer, facing off against Chu Yunfei, who was rumored to be only at the First Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm, didn't look like a friendly sparring match at all; it was more like a test of strength.
Everyone had different expressions, waiting for Chu Yunfei to make a statement.
However, a moment passed.
Chu Yunfei remained seated, his expression indifferent, not even glancing at the Cangyun Sect disciple.
He simply took a slow sip of his drink.
Upon seeing this, a hint of mockery surfaced in Qin Hao's eyes.
Waste is waste.
Are you scared already?
The Cangyun Sect disciple raised his chin, a hint of contempt on his face.
But the next moment.
Chu Yunfei put down his wine cup, not bothering to speak.
"You worthless chicken and dog, how dare you spar with me?"