Chapter 338: Chapter 11: A Dragon, This Is the Sign of an Emperor
WHOOSH!
Realizing his sister might have been fooled, Ji Hao shot to his feet, gathered his men, and charged toward the Celestial Sea King’s courtyard.
He intended to intercept Ji Yao and prevent her from meeting Zhong Ming.
...
Ji Yao was completely unaware of her brother’s intentions. She had already arrived at the Celestial Sea King’s courtyard and barged right in.
Although Shen Wanshang’s subordinates were wary, none of them dared to stop her forcibly.
After all, Ji Yao was a Commandery Princess—and the daughter of a Prince who held real power. Unless Shen Wanshang gave a direct order, they wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her.
Of course, this was also because Ji Yao was a Commandery Princess and not a Prince’s son. If it had been Ji Hao trying to barge in, it wouldn’t have been so simple, and the matter certainly wouldn’t have ended so easily.
Leveraging the dual advantages of her status and gender, Ji Yao advanced unimpeded, storming straight into the inner courtyard where she found Shen Wanshang leaning against a railing.
The evening breeze swept by, rustling Shen Wanshang’s simple white dress and making her look like the legendary Fairy Yaochi.
Her expression was cool and aloof, her face as serene as still water.
’Hmph, what an act.’
Shen Wanshang’s calm demeanor made Ji Yao sneer internally. She refused to believe Shen Wanshang could be so nonchalant after hearing that Xiyue had not only deserted her but had done so for such an absurd reason.
Her smile deepened, especially when she noticed several faint cracks on the bluestone floor beneath the corridor.
"Little Sister, what brings you to my humble courtyard today? To what do I owe the honor?" Noticing Ji Yao’s arrival, Shen Wanshang slowly turned around. Her voice was cool and steady, showing not a hint of anger but rather the detached air of an older sister addressing a younger one.
However, this very composure—this subtly condescending tone and attitude that treated her like a little girl—was precisely why Ji Yao disliked her.
On any other day, faced with such a posture from Shen Wanshang, she would have shot back a sarcastic retort and started an argument on the spot.
But now, all that showed on Ji Yao’s face was a teasing smile. "Hee hee, Little Sister is indeed here on business. I’ve come to share some good news with you, Big Sister."
"Your subordinate, Xiyue, was smitten with Lord Zhong Ming at first sight. Such a romantic tale will surely become a legend, and if it’s told for a thousand years, you, as Xiyue’s superior, will surely share in the glory and become famous throughout the world. I’m just so envious," she said.
The moment the word "envious" left her lips, her tone shifted, the mockery in her eyes unconcealed. "Oh, by the way, Big Sister, you’ve always cared so much about rules and propriety. But I’m sure you wouldn’t play the villain and try to break up such a perfect couple, would you?"
Ji Yao was twisting the knife in Shen Wanshang’s back, and every word was designed to wound.
The story of Xiyue defecting to Zhong Ming’s side after just one look was so absurd that it really could be told for a thousand years.
But in this story, Shen Wanshang was cast as the clown, and that was a role she had no desire to play.
Ji Yao’s words were a blatant taunt, telling her she was destined to be a laughingstock for centuries to come.
What made it even more unbearable was that Xiyue’s betrayal had not only cost her all her dignity but had also severely damaged her prestige.
If she didn’t resolve this, she would become the laughingstock of all Immortal Martial City. Even those who might have wanted to align with her would now have second thoughts.
But she couldn’t just handle it however she pleased, either.
When Ji Yao said she hoped Shen Wanshang wouldn’t "play the villain" and break up the couple, she was basically handing her the knife—if Shen Wanshang dared to retaliate, Ji Yao would spread the story far and wide, branding her with the infamous reputation of being a jealous tyrant who crushes love.
Sensing the threat in Ji Yao’s words, Shen Wanshang’s gaze turned icy. The hand hidden in her sleeve quietly clenched into a fist as fury surged within her.
But she was a capable woman. Despite her anger and the precarious situation, she quickly calmed herself.
In the next moment, she turned the tables. A faint, meaningful smile touched her lips. "Little Sister, does seeing Zhong Ming like this make you happy?"
Shen Wanshang’s sudden shift in attitude made Ji Yao’s heart skip a beat, and a sense of unease put her on guard.
Yet, try as she might, she couldn’t see how Shen Wanshang could possibly make a comeback from this. Forcing a calm expression, she lifted her chin and said, "Of course I’m happy to witness such a timeless love story."
"Is that so?" Ji Yao’s response drew a soft laugh from Shen Wanshang, her voice laced with an intriguing chill. "I hope you can maintain that happiness for the next three days, Little Sister."
Before Ji Yao could ask what she meant, Shen Wanshang began to pace forward slowly. Her gaze swept across the sky as she spoke in a leisurely tone, "Speaking of which, the Silver Moon Royal Mansion and Prince Qinghe both belong to the same branch of the Royal Family. Here in Immortal Martial City, many noble houses have always depended on the Royal Family and followed your lead."
After a pause, Shen Wanshang turned to Ji Yao, the smile on her lips growing more distinct. "But, Little Sister, have you considered this? Now that Prince Qinghe has successfully recruited both Xiyue and Luo Zhiwei, his prestige is skyrocketing. Tell me, in the future, should those factions loyal to the Royal Family follow the orders of your Silver Moon Royal Mansion, or should they look to Prince Qinghe as their new leader?"
CRACK!
Her words struck Ji Yao’s mind like a clap of thunder.
The smile on her face instantly froze, the color draining away, leaving only a dark, somber expression.
Only now, with Shen Wanshang spelling it out for her, did Ji Yao finally realize—as if waking from a dream—that the rise of Prince Qinghe was not a good thing for the Silver Moon King’s faction.
In fact, because both the Silver Moon Royal Mansion and Prince Qinghe were part of the Royal Family, they were destined to clash. In the struggle for leadership over the Royal Family’s influence in the Four Continents and the fight to win over its dependent factions, the Silver Moon Royal Mansion would have to confront Zhong Ming and Prince Qinghe’s faction long before the Celestial Sea King’s faction ever would.
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