Little Sister Only Feels Sorry for Big Brother

"Junior Brother Shi, since the lady has invited us, we won't disturb you any longer."

One of the princes spoke first upon seeing the newcomer.

"I apologize for any shortcomings in my hospitality, esteemed guests."

Shi Xuan made a polite remark.

The crown prince exchanged a glance with the other princes and their disciples, then left.

After Shi Xuan and the others had walked a distance, he turned his gaze to Zhao Zhiruo, his expression unusually indifferent. "What do you want with me?"

Zhao Zhiruo looked aggrieved and said with a resentful expression, "Brother Xuan, I'm almost your wife, can't you treat me a little better?"

Shi Xuan's lips curled into a slight smile, "Wife, are you really willing to marry me?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhiruo's eyes flashed with surprise, and she said sweetly, "Brother Xuan, how can you think of your sister like that? I, Zhiruo, am marrying you willingly, unlike those other sisters who flirted with other men right in front of you."

As she spoke, her eyes glanced, intentionally or unintentionally, towards the corner.

Shi Xuan followed her gaze and saw three beautiful women, each with their own unique Spring and Autumn Annals, drinking and making merry with a dashing young man.

Zhao Zhiruo kept her eyes fixed on Shi Xuan's expression. To her surprise, Shi Xuan didn't look angry at all. Instead, he revealed a mysterious smile.

"Brother Xuan, there are more over there."

She tentatively pointed to another corner of the banquet hall.

Shi Xuan said, "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

???

Zhao Zhiruo was completely dumbfounded. How come Shi Xuan was different from the rumors? Wasn't he supposed to be very concerned about his image and unpredictable?

How come he wasn't angry when he saw his fiancée joking around with another man, but instead asked him if it was intentional?

"No, absolutely not. My sister is just feeling sorry for her brother."

Shi Xuan chuckled and said with a smile, "You little rascal, you're quite interesting. But what kind of woman haven't I seen? You'd better keep your shallow tricks to yourself and not cause me any trouble."

"Zhiruo only wants to marry Your Highness and will never cause you any trouble."

Zhao Zhiruo was no innocent Little White; with just a gentle nudge from Shi Xuan, she understood the implied meaning in his words.

"Really? Are you sure your ex-fiancé won't show up at your door on your wedding day?"

Shi Xuan asked a question in return, quite intrigued.

Thump.

Zhao Zhiruo knelt down directly in front of Shi Xuan and explained, "Your Highness, Zhiruo and that guy really have nothing to do with each other. I have already broken off our engagement."

Shi Xuan casually helped him up. "Alright, I don't want to delve into the details of this matter. Everything will be clear on the day of the engagement banquet. You may leave now."

"Promise."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhiruo finally felt relieved. She had originally planned to make a good impression on this prince before the engagement banquet.

Even though rumors are circulating that His Highness the Thief is not valued at the Dao-Seeking Academy and may very well perish.

But even a starved camel is bigger than a horse; no matter how impoverished the Shi Clan is, they are still no match for the Golden River Kingdom.

After watching Zhao Zhiruo leave, Shi Xuan glanced at the group of fiancées present.

These girls certainly didn't disappoint him; they were flirting with other men right under his nose. It seems they really didn't take him seriously.

What kind of tricks will you pull next?

Runaway bride?

Or is it a forced marriage?

That really makes me look forward to it!

Shi Xuan's every move was being watched by the Northern Abyss Imperial Clan.

"Brother Chengjie, is Shi Xuan blind? Can't he see his fiancée frolicking with other men?"

Xu Chengjie was the leading figure among the royal family this time. He had interacted with Shi Xuan a lot before and knew Shi Xuan's temper well. This guy was never good-tempered and was very arrogant. He couldn't tolerate the slightest bit of nonsense.

Now he's choosing to ignore it; what exactly does he want to do?

Xu Chengjie shook his head. "I can't figure out what Shi Xuan is trying to do either."

"Should we add fuel to the fire?"

A princess said this with a wicked smile on her face.

Their attendance at Shi Xuan 'Shi Xuan engagement party this time was not simply to bring him gifts.

Most importantly, they wanted to see the Shi Clan's hidden dragon's fortune weaken, ideally even to the point of its demise.

The Shi Clan has already produced one Saint, Northern Abyss Holy Dynasty does not want the Shi Clan to produce a second Saint. Any sign of Saint emerging from the Shi Clan will be nipped in the bud by the Great Abyss Holy Dynasty.

Xu Chengjie laughed and said, "Wanshun, you little girl, you really have a lot of clever ideas. Let's do it your way."

I also want to see just how far this hidden dragon of the Shi Clan can endure.

One of the princes standing nearby said, "Do you think it's possible that Shi Xuan still has some trump cards up his sleeve?"

"Snort!"

Xu Wanshun scoffed, "What trump cards could he possibly have? Do you really think the people from the Dao-Seeking Academy would lend a hand to him? Someone who has been a student at the Dao-Seeking Academy for three years without achieving anything has probably already been abandoned by the powerful Dao-Seeking Academy."

"Sister Wanshun, you seem to harbor a great deal of resentment. Could it be that you still hold a grudge against Shi Xuan for refusing to be engaged to you back then, causing you to lose face?"

A beautiful and charming girl said in an inappropriate, sarcastic tone.

"Wanling, if you can't speak properly, then shut up. Don't think I don't know you used to like Shi Xuan too. Now that you're not among his fiancées, you must be quite unhappy, right?"

Xu Wanshun directly retorted, and the originally harmonious atmosphere among the royal family members instantly turned tense.

Xu Chengjie hadn't expected these two girls to start bickering at a time like this, and he really wanted to yell at them.

But he decided against it. Although he was the leader this time, he didn't have the same status as Shi Xuan in the Shi Clan. Even if he reprimanded him, it wouldn't have any effect.

He forced a smile and said, "My two cousins, let's get down to business first."

"Snort."

Xu Wanshun snorted coldly at Xu Wanling with dissatisfaction, "For the sake of my cousin Chengjie, I won't stoop to your level."

Xu Wanling didn't speak, but just looked at her with a smile, instantly becoming aloof.

The banquet lasted until after nightfall.

Shi Xuan did not linger. He left the Imperial Garden accompanied by the head guard. A moment later, as soon as he got into the carriage, he froze on the spot and subconsciously wanted to kneel down.

The person sitting inside the carriage simply shook his head slightly, gesturing with his eyes for him to get into the carriage.

Shi Xuan nodded slightly, then sat down beside the other person and said respectfully, "Grandson greets Ancestor. May I ask why Ancestor has appeared here?"

The man before us is one of the most Great Sage of the Shi Clan, who usually resides at the ancestral temple.

Shi Xuan was somewhat taken aback by the unusual way he was being greeted today.

"Those members of the royal family were accompanied by a Great Sage. I didn't want him to notice my movements, so I left the palace in this way."

The patriarch of the Shi Clan said unhurriedly.

Shi Xuan wasn't stupid; upon hearing this, he sensed something unusual. He narrowed his eyes and said:

"Ancestor, are you saying that the situation we are in now is due to the Northern Abyss Holy Dynasty's deliberate indulgence, or even that they have some ulterior motives?"

"Good."

The Shi Clan patriarch said in a somewhat solemn tone, "Who else but the Great Abyss Holy Dynasty could pull off so many underhanded maneuvers right under our noses?"

Shi Xuan didn't speak, but chose to remain silent, a thoughtful expression on his face.

If the Great Abyss Holy Dynasty were to intervene, would I implicate my master?

The two remained silent the entire way, and after a while, the carriage entered the Zhangsun Residence.

Before the Shi Clan patriarch could even get out of the carriage, he heard a commotion coming from inside the mansion.

He subconsciously turned his gaze to Shi Xuan standing to the side. "Xuan'er, what's this?"