The Beautiful CEO's Dragon Blood Bodyguard-Chapter 2007 - 2006: Luxury and Waste Behind Closed Doors
The Empress Dowager was persuaded by the Prime Minister’s nephew and issued a decree to abandon court affairs, instructing people not to bother her further.
She secluded herself in the inner palace, giving the Prime Minister’s son only one directive, "As long as Celestial Realms City can be preserved, all other areas can be sacrificed!"
Yao Chong bowed in acceptance.
From then on, Celestial Realms City entirely fell under the control of the Nine Clans.
Whether it’s military, fiscal, or civil affairs, all resources and policies poured toward the Nine Clans.
In a short time, thousands of restaurants in the city were divided among the Nine Clans.
Millions of acres of land were forcibly seized by the Nine Clans.
Any land and industries not belonging to the Nine Clans would all face heavy taxation to enrich the national treasury and resist the demonic beasts.
Previously, some believed it had nothing to do with them, that they wouldn’t need to stand up and confront them.
Now, with one fell swoop, no one could escape.
The city’s populace was rife with complaints, but the court turned a deaf ear.
The Eighth Prince even held a Mid-Autumn Festival moon appreciation gathering, inviting talented individuals, elite sect leaders, and Saint Heirs and Saintesses to admire flowers and the moon at his mansion.
He acted like a newly rich man, fearing others wouldn’t know that he ruled Celestial Realms City.
For a time, the invitees were numerous.
There was no choice; to stay in Celestial Realms City, one had to give face.
The Eighth Prince’s mansion was lavishly decorated.
In the large garden, various delicacies and fine wines were spread out.
Over ten thousand young talents arrived, and carriages lined up at the entrance.
After nightfall, some were still outside and hadn’t entered.
The status of the Nine Clans’ genius was significantly elevated, seated closest to the Eighth Prince.
Their cultivation levels all broke through by a tier, reaching the peak of the Divinity Transformation Realm. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
Almost three months had passed since Immortal King Mountain, and everyone was progressing without exception.
The Yaochi Saintess was represented by Ye Qingcheng instead of Wang Xiaoya, while the Holy Maiden of the Lunar Palace remained Chang Xi.
Their seats were also near the front.
Then came the Heaven-Piercing Palace’s foreign talents, extraterritorial cultivators, disciples of major sects, and various loose cultivators.
When the Eighth Prince arrived, someone sycophantically announced, "The Eighth Prince is here!"
Everyone stood up, except for a few who did not stand, bowing towards the Eighth Prince.
The Eighth Prince presented himself as a superior, smiling and waving at everyone, then sat in the center seat.
His gaze landed on the Yaochi Saintess and Holy Maiden of the Lunar Palace, raising his cup with a smile and drinking a toast.
Someone praised him, saying, "The Eighth Prince is extraordinary, possessing more of the Emperor’s demeanor than ever."
"Indeed, if he weren’t, how could the Eighth Prince bear the great responsibility, acting as the Emperor’s proxy?"
"The Eighth Prince works tirelessly for the nation, taking the world as his duty without regard for life and death. Truly a model for cultivators like us, we should honor the Eighth Prince with another toast!"
"..."
The cultivators chimed in, raising their cups to toast and flatter the Eighth Prince.
The Eighth Prince, feeling slightly embarrassed, waved his hand and said, "Everyone, it’s merely my duty and not worth discussing. We are born into the Royal Family and enjoy offerings from all; naturally, we must work for the world. Even if the days are tough, that’s what we should contribute!"
"The Eighth Prince is too modest!"
"This is the demeanor of a wise ruler!"
"We are truly ashamed!"
"..."
The crowd nodded, enthusiastically flattering.
The Eighth Prince eyed the Holy Maiden of the Lunar Palace, his eyes flickering, "It is lamentable! The last time we gathered together was before the Enlightenment at Immortal King Mountain. At that time, the two Saintesses from Yaochi and Lunar Palace shone radiantly. Unfortunately, the Lunar Palace’s Holy Maiden was insensible, staying with a Demon Chief. You see, now she left nothing behind, dying young and tragically. What a pity!"
Chang Xi stared sharply at him, "Eighth Prince, the Yaochi Saintess has passed, I hope you speak with kindly restraint."
Ye Qingcheng also glared angrily at the Eighth Prince, feeling sickened inside, hardly wanting to stay.
The Eighth Prince laughed, "The Saintess is overreacting; I was merely lamenting the fate of fair maidens and said nothing else! I have heard of the Saintess’s extraordinary dancing skills, why not perform a dance to add a festive touch to today’s moon appreciation gathering?"
The group of cultivators joined in, egging him on, "Saintess, give us a dance!"
"Saintess, please dance!"
"We invite the Saintess to perform!"
"..."
Chang Xi, with a sullen face, stood up and said, "I have an itch, yet to heal; it is inconvenient to accompany you today, farewell!"
She felt nauseated, millions of refugees beneath Celestial Realms City were freezing and starving in the autumn wind, while these wealthy gentlemen comfortably admired the breeze and the moon, boasting and flattering, truly sickening.
She turned around to leave when the Eighth Prince urgently shouted from behind, "Holy Maiden of the Lunar Palace, don’t you know I have already written, intending to unite with your Broad Cold Palace in resisting the Demon Calamity? Soon you’ll be my Princess Consort, maybe even the Empire’s Empress!"
"You wish!"
Chang Xi replied coldly, "I’d rather die than marry a shameless coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong!"
Her sharp rebuke led those flatterers to rise angrily and rebuke, "Saintess, speak cautiously!"
"Saintess, the Eighth Prince showed you respect, don’t disrespect him!"
"Holy Maiden of the Lunar Palace, your words and deeds represent Yaochi’s interests. Such rebelliousness, aren’t you afraid your sect will punish you?"
"..."
The crowd was outraged, chastising Chang Xi.
Chang Xi swept her cold gaze over everyone, "Enough, what are you to be here criticizing me? The Demon Beast Army ravages the Immortal King Star, and you, the elite youth, do not think of fighting to defend the nation and save the people from disaster, but rather flatter here; truly sickening. If the Consort Prince were present, he’d surely draw his sword and behead you all!"
The crowd sneered, "And what are you? As the Holy Maiden of the Lunar Palace, high above, why don’t you go kill the demon beasts and serve the country?"
"Indeed, who doesn’t know how to speak pretty words? You look down on us, why stay here?"
"What Consort Prince, he’s long turned to ashes, gone forever. I’m here, daring him to come and behead me! Will he come? If I call him, will he respond?"
"Regardless of how superior he was in the past, dead is dead, only the living have the right to speak."
"Currently, the Eighth Prince is our ruler. That impostor Consort Prince is but a fart!"
"..."
The crowd jeered and laughed, not remembering Long Fei once risked all to help them cross the Heart-Refining Bridge.
Chang Xi clenched her hand, the longsword hummed as it appeared in her hand.
The sword’s sharpness instantly shattered glasses on the tables with a bang, bang, bang.
Seeing her anger, everyone immediately shut their mouths.
If a fight broke out, few could say they could overpower the Saintess.
As the atmosphere was tense, someone covered in blood suddenly burst in from outside, rushing to the main seat where the Eighth Prince was watching the spectacle and shouted, "Prince, it’s bad. The demonic beasts are attacking, they are headed for Celestial Realms City!"
