At this very moment, within the Imperial Palace, the midday sun reached its zenith.
As the bells chimed, Yao Ye's coming-of-age ceremony was officially announced to begin.
As the First Princess of the Jia Ma Empire, her ceremony was no small affair. Representatives from every major power in the capital were present—Mitel Tengshan, Nalan Su, and all the others. Even influential families from across the empire had sent their delegates. The newly prominent Mo Clan from the northwest, for instance, had dispatched their Great Elder, Mo Cheng.
Mo Cheng, however, seemed utterly bored by the ceremony. His attention was fixed on the delegation from the Misty Cloud Sect seated nearby. It was obvious that in his eyes, the royal family's prestige no longer measured up to the sect's.
Ironically, while he looked down on the royals, the very Misty Cloud Sect he sought to curry favor with had treated the event with the utmost gravity. Not only was their Great Elder, Yun Leng, present, but Sect Master Yun Yun herself had come in person—a gesture of immense respect.
In addition to the empire's internal powers, two figures in the VIP section stood out, drawing cold, hostile glances from all around.
The Ninth Prince of the Izumo Empire and his Three-Star Dou Ling guard.
Yun Yun's presence today was partly to glean information from them. Though tensions between the royal family and the Misty Cloud Sect were rising, those were internal matters. When faced with a threat from beyond the empire's borders, both sides still formed a united front.
For now, at least.
On the grand stage, after a long and droning opening speech, the Emperor of the Jia Ma Empire—a man with little presence—finally made his appearance to personally present a gift to his daughter.
Today, Yao Ye had shed her heroic military armor for a luxurious, flowing gown that perfectly accentuated her exquisite figure. Her brilliance outshone everyone present.
Today, she was the one and only protagonist.
Looking at the queen-like Yao Ye, it wasn't just the guests who were stunned. Even Jia Xingtian, her sister Yaoyue, and the perpetually overlooked Emperor felt a sense of dazed pride.
This is how she is meant to be.
But because of that...
Many gazes drifted unconsciously toward the Emperor. No words were spoken, yet everything was said. The unspoken judgment made the Emperor's face burn with shame.
The formal part of the ceremony concluded. What followed were the entertainment programs—a time for polite conversation and idle chatter while watching performances.
It was during this interlude that an incident occurred.
The Ninth Prince of the Izumo Empire rose, wine glass in hand, and strode before the Emperor of Jia Ma, instantly capturing the attention of the entire court.
Though he was being watched by several Dou Wangs and even two Dou Huangs—one in the open, one hidden—the Ninth Prince showed no trace of nervousness. This was precisely the effect he wanted.
"Your Majesty," he began, "I have come uninvited on behalf of the Izumo Empire to present a gift to the First Princess. In addition, there is another matter for which I must ask your permission."
Though he used the word "ask," there was no plea in his voice. Even his greeting felt perfunctory and dismissive.
The Emperor's face darkened. "Explain," he responded, his voice cold as ice.
If he could, he would have dragged this insolent whelp out and had him chopped to pieces. But the Ninth Prince's status was special. Any rash action could lead to immeasurable consequences, perhaps even war.
The royal family's pillar of support, Jia Xingtian, was old. If he couldn't break through to the Dou Zong realm, his life would end in a few short years. Their guardian beast, the Deep Sea Flood Dragon, was also in poor health.
Within their own borders, the Misty Cloud Sect watched them like a hawk. Among the three great families, only the Mu Clan could be considered truly loyal. The Nalan Clan was fickle, and the Mitel Clan would be more eager than anyone to profit from a war.
Considering all these factors, the royal family's precarious situation was clear. They could not withstand the ravages of war.
The Ninth Prince was keenly aware of this. It was why he dared to be so brazen, acting without even informing his own father, already dreaming of the credit he would receive upon his return. As long as he played his cards right, the Jia Ma royal family wouldn't dare to touch him.
"Your Majesty," he said with a smug smile, "to be honest, I have admired Princess Yao Ye for a long time. I refrained from proposing due to our ages, but now that the princess has come of age, I wish to delay no longer. I have come today to ask for her hand in marriage. I hope Your Majesty will grant this request, for the good of both our nations. I offer one million gold coins and ten Rank 5 pills as a betrothal gift."
Proposals were common and usually ended in failure. But when the gift list was announced, the hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
One million gold coins sounded like a lot, but a single low-level storage ring cost at least one hundred thousand. Compared to the status of the First Princess, this gift list wasn't just cheap—it was a naked, deliberate humiliation.
The atmosphere in the hall turned solemn and murderous. If looks could kill, the Ninth Prince would have been flayed alive.
The Emperor's chest heaved with rage. He was a coward, yes—a coward for failing to produce a son to carry the banner, a coward for lacking the strength to command respect.
But even a coward has his pride.
Just as the Emperor was about to teach the prince a profound lesson, even at the risk of war, today's protagonist, Yao Ye, stood up and stopped him.
As the target of the insult, she should have been furious. But Yao Ye's reaction was completely abnormal. Not only was she not angry, but an undisguised joy bloomed on her face.
It wasn't that she enjoyed being humiliated. It was that she had just received a wonderful surprise, and with it, a much simpler way to resolve this.
Walking until she stood before the Ninth Prince, Yao Ye looked down at the toad who was a full head shorter than her.
"You want to marry me?"
"Isn't it obvious?" the Ninth Prince replied, his eyes raking over her figure with a frivolous gaze. He had only intended to humiliate the Jia Ma royals, but seeing Yao Ye out of her armor, he was genuinely captivated by her beauty.
Yao Ye suppressed a wave of nausea. "Very well," she said coolly. "But you should know my temperament. Show me your strength. Impress me."
"Oh? And what do you mean by that?"
"This is my Jia Ma Empire. I won't make things difficult for you. I will find you an opponent who is sixteen years old. If you can defeat him, I will agree to the marriage. If you cannot, then go crawl back to your mother's womb for a few more years. My empire despises paper tigers." Yao Ye deliberately emphasized the age.
Hearing this, the Ninth Prince didn't agree immediately.
Though unfavored, he was still considered talented among the Izumo princes. At twenty-four, relying on royal resources, he was already a Six-Star Dou Shi. He was confident, but Yao Ye's proactive proposal felt like a trap. The opponent she had in mind had to be a genius.
But he was still just sixteen. To even become a Dou Shi at that age was an incredible feat.
Thinking of the Rank 4 Beast Power Pill and the Rank 3 Wind-Walking Pill he had on him, both capable of boosting his combat power, the Ninth Prince shamelessly added a condition.
"Then I must add a rule: I am allowed to use pills and any other items I have on my person."
Everything for the sake of safety. His principle was that you could spend money recklessly, but you had to do it with confidence. Acting with confidence was enjoying the game; acting without it was courting death.
Yao Ye turned her head, her gaze finding the young man who had just stepped onto the edge of the grand square. Seeing him nod, she immediately turned back. "Agreed."
Seeing the youth's face, the Ninth Prince's confidence soared. "And the terms? Life and death decided by fate? Or do we stop when the outcome is clear? I am not accustomed to simple exchanges; I find it hard to hold back."
"As you wish," Yao Ye said coldly. "I'll have it written down as proof."
"Hahaha, excellent! Then let us begin!"
The Ninth Prince had no idea where Yao Ye's confidence came from. The boy looked sixteen or seventeen, but people on the Dou Qi Continent grew fast. From his perspective, the boy couldn't possibly be a true sixteen-year-old.
In this battle, he thought with a triumphant smirk, the advantage is mine, and I will win!
***
(End of Chapter)
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