Everyone's jaw dropped.
What did she say?
She really dared to fight that Golden Python?
She's not being bold; she must be crazy!
Even a stage-three martial artist could not subdue a third-grade Golden Python on their own, much less her. She must be courting her own death.
"Yue'er!" Chu Ning was also taken aback, and he tugged at Chu Liuyue's sleeve. "This Golden Python is fierce and much more powerful than any ordinary third-grade fiend. You…"
Chu Liuyue merely looked at him and smiled. "Father, don't worry."
Miraculously, these words soothed Chu Ning's troubled and worried heart. It was as if she had a magical power within her. Subconsciously, it made people believe in her. If she said not to worry, then all would be fine.
Chu Ning moved his lips. He had already guessed that her Yuan meridian was fully repaired, and she had most likely started cultivating. However, how could she be a match for a third-grade fiend within such a short period of time?
After repeatedly struggling with himself, Chu Ning finally swallowed his words and nodded gravely. "I believe in you."
This warmed Chu Liuyue's heart. This feeling of being trusted unconditionally was most reassuring.
Rong Zhen naturally wouldn't let go of this opportunity. She immediately declared, "You agreed on your own accord. I have nothing to do with this, regardless of the outcome."
Chu Liuyue mocked Rong Zhen in her heart. No ordinary person can display such shameless behavior in public.
Emperor Jiawen hesitated as he exchanged a look with his empress.
The Empress nodded her head and whispered, "Your Majesty, this concerns the royal family after all. Wouldn't it be enough to teach her a lesson in person and have her protected?"
Emperor Jiawen was deeply impressed, so he specially sent a few guards to rescue Chu Liuyue immediately if something did go wrong.
Nevertheless, the crowd wasn't as optimistic.
They all thought Chu Liuyue was courting death.
Rong Zhen smiled proudly as she turned to reclaim her seat. However, Chu Liuyue stopped her.
"Fourth Princess, please wait."
Rong Zhen turned back impatiently. "What else?"
"The Fourth Princess has given me such a great gift. I am deeply touched, so I have also prepared a gift in return for your kindness. It will be sent to you later. Please kindly accept it."
Rong Zhen sneered contemptuously. "You're only a… Fine. Just deliver it later." A loser who has been disregarded by her waning aristocratic family. What good can she do? It's ridiculous!
She walked over to Rong Jin and winked complacently.
The corners of Rong Jin's lips curled ever so slightly. He gave her an affirmative look and quickly restrained himself.
In the center of the palace, there was only Chu Liuyue and the Golden Python that was trapped in the huge black cage.
Chu Liuyue slowly walked toward the Golden Python until she was in front of it.
A woman and a beast faced off.
"Audacious fool." Chu Xianmin was relieved by what she saw.
There were plenty of people that would deal with Chu Liuyue without her having to do anything!
Everyone quieted down unconsciously.
…
The Golden Python was inherently fierce. On top of that, Rong Zhen hadn't subdued the beast on her own. Instead, she rounded it up and used every trick in her sleeve to capture it. Moreover, Rong Zhen had deliberately starved it for the past few days. The python was on the verge of extreme violence, waiting to explode. This was even more dangerous than an ordinary python!
Initially, Rong Zhen wanted to tame this Golden Python and have some fun with it. However, today she heard about what happened with Rong Jin, and she knew Chu Liuyue would be present. Thus, she ordered the python to be brought here specifically for this occasion to teach Chu Liuyue a lesson.
Chu Liuyue took one glance and surmised that they were trying to give her a hard time.
Hiss!
The Golden Python, with its hostile eyes, turned more manic once it sensed Chu Liuyue's scent.
She headed straight for the guard beside her and cupped her hands together. "May I borrow your sword?"
The stunned guard subconsciously looked towards Emperor Jiawen.
Emperor Jiawen nodded. "Give it to her."
Only then did the guard remove the sword at his waist and hand it to Chu Liuyue.
"Thank you." She took the sword and waved it around with fluid motions. The blade is too heavy and not sharp enough; the materials used for forging the sword are also not good enough. Nevertheless, the sword is sufficient.
"Seems like she has some skills."
"It's just a charade! Her Yuan meridian is crippled, and she can't even absorb force. What can she do?"
"True. Maybe she asked for a sword to give herself some courage."
Chu Liuyue ignored them. She took half a step back with one foot, gripped the hilt of her sword with both hands, and raised it over her head.
She whirled it and struck down hard.
Clang!
A spark ignited. The chain to the cage actually snapped in response!
Everyone was horrified!
What… is she trying to do?
Without waiting for anyone to understand, Chu Liuyue had already tipped the sword. The cage opened wide instantly.
The Golden Python realized that the cage imprisoning it had been unlocked. It dashed out immediately.
Its gigantic head lunged at Chu Liuyue without hesitation. It opened its mouth, revealing the sharp fangs.
A mouth like that could kill, if not inflict some serious damage.
In contrast to its huge size, Chu Liuyue looked extraordinarily small and delicate, as if the python could swallow her whole in a second.
Right at this moment, Chu Liuyue advanced instead of retreating. She pointed her toes and leaped forward using that momentum.
At the same time, the sword stabbed quickly. It went straight at the python's belly.
The python's scales were extremely tough and couldn't be pierced by an ordinary sword. The only entry point of attack would be its abdomen, a softer area.
The Golden Python also sensed Chu Liuyue's intentions; it immediately flicked its tail and slapped Chu Liuyue hard!
It was too strong physically. If it smacked Chu Liuyue, she would die on the spot. However, Chu Liuyue was so swift on her feet that she somehow narrowly avoided the blow and circled to the side of the Golden Python.
She stabbed at it without hesitation.
Zing…
The longsword sliced along the hard scales, making a piercing sound. Yet, there was only a light, white scratch. There wasn't even a trace of blood!
Rong Zhen sneered. "Brother, Chu Liuyue is really stupid to think… What?"
Before she had even finished her taunting words, the situation changed dramatically.
That attack from Chu Liuyue had completely enraged the Golden Python. It flicked its tail frantically in an attempt to entangle Chu Liuyue.
But she suddenly released the sword's hilt and leaped onto it. By using this leverage, Chu Liuyue actually went straight for the python's head!
She wrapped one arm around the python's neck and swiftly removed the hairpin in her hair with the other and thrust it into the snake's eye.
Its eyes were its greatest weakness!
Fizz!
Blood splattered everywhere.
The Golden Python let out an angry and painful shriek, but Chu Liuyue plucked out its eyeball without hesitation.
The python shifted its body violently. There was nothing it could do to Chu Liuyue.
In the blink of an eye, the second eyeball was picked out too!
The python gradually went limp.
Finally, Chu Liuyue jumped down, picked up her sword, and thrust it straight into the bloody hole.
One harsh stroke!
Just like that, she cut the snake open and beheaded it.
"Ah!" Some of the dainty noble ladies screamed at this bloody scene.
Chu Liuyue, however, didn't even flinch. She reached in and probed with her hand before pulling out a turquoise pearl—the Golden Python's essence! Chu Liuyue then walked towards Rong Zhen—who had already stiffened—stretched out her bloodied hand, and presented the pearl.
"Fourth Princess, this is my gift in return. Take a look. Do you like it?
Rong Zhen stiffened her neck and looked up at Chu Liuyue.
Chu Liuyue's face and hands were covered in blood, but she looked calm and relaxed with the Golden Python's corpse right behind her. She could actually smile! She looked like a demon from hell.
Rong Zhen suddenly felt a chill. At this moment, a thought occurred to her: Chu Liuyue is not an easy target to bully like she appears to be.
Chu Liuyue held something out. "Fourth Princess, the Golden Python's essence is very nourishing to the body. Please…"
It was still sticky and stained with blood. The fishy smell made one nauseous.
Rong Zhen's face went pale. Nevertheless, so many pairs of eyes were looking at them, so she had to accept the 'gift in return.'
Just when she was in a dilemma, Rong Jin—who was sitting beside her—suddenly spoke. "Someone come and take this gift from Miss Chu."
As soon as he finished speaking, a guard beside him immediately stepped forward with the intention of receiving the pearl on behalf of the princess. However, Chu Liuyue avoided the guard's hand and continued to stare intently at Rong Zhen.
"Initially, I thought it belonged to me because my name was on it, and I could do whatever I pleased with it since it was my belonging. However, I didn't expect my actions would provoke the Fourth Princess, enraging her. If so, please allow me to apologize to Your Majesty and Your Highness. It's a pity that the Fourth Princess doesn't seem to care for my gift, or is it not good enough for you?"
Rong Zhen's heart skipped a beat. She might be wilful and petulant, but she wasn't a fool. Chu Liuyue was asking her to accept the gift personally. If she didn't, her earlier demands on Chu Liuyue would seem mean.
So many people, including her father and mother, were watching her every move.
It was no big deal if she tarnished her own reputation. After all, she had always had such a temper. However, she couldn't afford to have the royal family be criticized because of her. She was able to please the Empress in large part because she knew the limits, even though she always messed around.
"Of course, your Princess is satisfied with your gift." Rong Zhen gritted her teeth, stood up, and got the guard to stand down while she accepted the Golden Python's essence.
It was so sticky and disgusting that she almost threw it away!
Rong Zhen thought she would be able to teach Chu Liuyue a well-deserved lesson, but in the end, the latter managed to turn the table around.
She stared at Chu Liuyue with a deadly glare and said through gritted teeth, "Chu. Liu. Yue. You are good! Your Princess will remember you!"
Chu Liuyue smiled faintly and bowed. "Thank you for remembering me, Princess."
Rong Zhen was so choked up with anger that she almost exploded.
"Okay," reminded Rong Jin.
Rong Zhen could only suppress her anger.
Rong Jin gave her a look as if he was unhappy. "Shouldn't you go and clean up? You look so dirty. What impression are you trying to make?"
The moment he finished, there was silence in the palace.
The Crown Prince seemed to be talking about the Fourth Princess, but in reality, he was indirectly targeting Chu Liuyue.
The Fourth Princess merely had a little blood staining her hands. Chu Liuyue, on the other hand, was covered in blood from her earlier fight with the Golden Python.
'Dirty' was the exact description for the current Chu Liuyue.
Soft snickering could be heard throughout the palace.
All eyes, filled with mockery and ridicule, were on her.
Everyone was well-dressed and clean in the brightly lit Ming Cui Palace.
She was the only one covered in blood. Her hair was down and scattered because she had removed her hairpin. She was a mess.
This was the sight that greeted Rong Xiu when he entered the palace.
A skinny young girl stood in the center of the palace. Beside her were a huge, broken black cage and the Golden Python's bloodied corpse.
The floor was covered in bloodstains.
The girl's side profile and hands were also covered in blood. She might be thin, but her back was straight like the cypress tree on a mountain cliff. It never bent, no matter how hard the wind blew.
His warm, clear eyes instantly turned dark and cold. He regained his usual gentle look in the next second.
"Prince Li has arrived!" The announcement broke the atmosphere in the palace. Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
Prince Li?
The Seventh Prince?
What is he doing here?
He returned to the Imperial City a month ago but had not attended any banquets because he had been sick. Why today…
Chu Liuyue felt her heart stir, and she looked back unconsciously.
A familiar silhouette appeared at the palace door.
The octagonal glazed palace lamp hanging outside the palace door cast a soft, warm light, reflecting his tall and long figure.
Chu Liuyue was stunned. He was actually wearing a white fox cloak in the middle of summer.
His features became clearer as he walked into the palace.
Although this wasn't her first time seeing his face, she couldn't stop herself from falling into a daze.
Rong Xiu had eyebrows that slanted towards his temples—which resembled two swords—profound phoenix eyes that were like the brilliant stars in the Milky Way, and a high nose.
One look from him was enough to make a person melt willingly.
Within the cloak, he was dressed in a snow-white brocade coat with dark-gold patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem. He seemed to be gliding on the moonlight.
Only one thought occurred in everyone's mind with his appearance: like a well-cut and polished rogue gentleman.
He looked really noble, regal, and as warm as a piece of jade.
Some noble ladies were flushing and stared at him with adoring eyes.
"So… this is Prince Li. I never thought he was so handsome!"
"The last time he returned to the Imperial City was three years ago. I didn't expect to see him back again with such a demeanor. Nobody in the city can compare to him in terms of looks."
"Humph! What is there to see? He's just a sick kid. At the end of the day, he's nothing more than an idle prince."
There were whispers in the palace.
Chu Liuyue looked closer, and her eyebrows rose.
It wasn't surprising that those people had said all this. Rong Xiu's lips were pale, and he did look weak.
At this moment, Rong Xiu's attention shifted, and he looked at Chu Liuyue.
Their eyes met.
Chu Liuyue squinted her eyes.
In the next moment, Rong Xiu was actually making his way toward her until he stood before her.
Everyone was looking at her strangely.
Chu Liuyue froze. What is he planning to do? Is he here to settle the score because I trespassed into Bibo Lake last time?
While she was thinking about this, she saw Rong Xiu suddenly extend his hand and hand her a handkerchief that was white as snow.
Chu Liuyue immediately understood his intentions.
He wanted her to wipe the bloodstains on her face.
The circumstances of when she first met him resurfaced in her mind.
That time, he had reached out, wiped the bloodstains on her face with his fingertip, and said, "Lady Chu, you can't go home in such a mess with blood on your face."
The situation this time was so similar.
Chu Liuyue accepted his handkerchief and bowed with gratitude. "Thank you, Your Highness."
Rong Xiu looked at the young girl's curls of hair and her well-mannered demeanor that was a stark difference from her earlier wariness. His mood improved instantly.
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT