Clearly, this Princess Yu holds extraordinary prestige within the Da Yue Empire!

...

Regardless of the actions of the Demon Clan or any other forces, the students of the Royal Academy were completely oblivious.

At this time, Yunkai City was not merely gathering an innumerable number of students preparing to enter the Sacred Temple.

Simultaneously, the Emperor of Great Tang had also dispatched numerous soldiers for its protection.

After everyone returned to the villa in Yun Liancheng, they prepared individually. Many others, however, decided to explore Yunkai City thoroughly.

Take Ye Luo, for example!

Of course, Ye Luo was primarily accompanying Princess Ling Xue.

Over these past days, Princess Ling Xue’s attitude toward Ye Luo had shifted dramatically—one might even describe it as overly attached!

No matter where Ling Xue went, she habitually hid her face behind a white veil, naturally because her appearance was far too captivating—she disliked those peculiar stares.

The veil was made from a special material, a gift painstakingly prepared for Ling Xue by her father, Xiaoyao King.

With the veil, her features were hidden from view, sparing her from unnecessary troubles.

But Ling Xue would only remove this veil in front of Ye Luo!

When Xiaoyao King had given this veil to Ling Xue, he explained its origins to her.

The material used to craft the veil came from the forehead of a peculiar kind of Demon Beast found deep within the Nine Nether Cold Pool.

These Demon Beasts weren’t particularly formidable but possessed a trait revered even by the Human Race—fidelity.

These creatures, no larger than a palm, had no special abilities apart from their incredible speed in water. Once coupled, they remained monogamous for life. If one were to die, the other would invariably commit suicide without hesitation!

This bizarre behavior left everyone baffled, but it was precisely because of this that the white veil became highly coveted by noblewomen of the Human Race.

However, such Demon Beasts were very small in size and extremely rare, making it incredibly arduous to gather enough material for a single veil.

The veil Xiaoyao King crafted for Ling Xue took an immense amount of time, let alone anyone else attempting the same.

Ling Xue was elated today, not just because she received the veil from Xiaoyao King, but also because she learned some news—that her marriage to Ye Luo had been arranged. The Emperor of Great Tang and Xiaoyao King had already settled the engagement!

However, evidently, Ye Luo was completely unaware of this news.

As Ling Xue followed alongside Ye Luo, the guards of Yun Liancheng kept a respectful distance, intuitively understanding the mood.

Ye Luo’s instincts told him that Ling Xue’s insistence on him accompanying her today probably carried some ulterior motives.

The two casually strolled along the bustling streets of Yunkai City.

Or more precisely, it was Ling Xue walking ahead, with Ye Luo and the others merely following behind.

Suddenly, Ling Xue stopped in her tracks.

"Ye Luo, do you know?"

Ye Luo blinked in surprise, know what?

What was he supposed to know?

"What do you want to say?"

Ye Luo was utterly puzzled; Ling Xue’s behavior seemed peculiar today.

"Hmph, you’re bullying me!"

At those words, Ling Xue’s expression shifted to one of embarrassment, and she bolted away!

What did that even mean?

Ye Luo was stunned for a moment, but seeing Ling Xue dashing forward, he quickly gave chase.

"Slow down, there are too many people here!"

Ye Luo instinctively called out to the Princess Ling Xue.

Initially, Ye Luo thought Ling Xue wouldn’t respond to him, but to his surprise, upon hearing his shout, Ling Xue immediately slowed her pace.

When Ye Luo finally caught up to Ling Xue, she whispered shyly, "Father said the Emperor has approved our marriage. The engagement ceremony will be held soon!"

What!

Ling Xue’s face was flushed red with embarrassment.

As for Ye Luo, his expression was one of sheer shock.

Ling Xue’s words had revealed a great deal of information to Ye Luo.

Why would the Emperor of Great Tang arrange for Xiaoyao King’s favorite daughter to marry him?

He was nothing more than a fake prince—a mere pawn! Why would the Emperor make such a move?

There had to be reasons behind it!

First, by tying Ye Luo and Xiaoyao King together, Ye Luo would undoubtedly gain Xiaoyao King’s full support for his actions in the future.

Second, by arranging the marriage, Ye Luo would inevitably develop emotional ties. The Emperor of Great Tang would surely never allow Ling Xue to accompany Ye Luo to the Demon Clan, so this arrangement would compel Ye Luo to work earnestly during his mission, knowing he would have to return to the Great Tang Empire afterward.

Third, and most critically, the Emperor of Great Tang had ceased treating Ye Luo as an expendable pawn. In fact, Ye Luo’s significant task likely loomed ahead.

Xiaoyao King wielded substantial influence within the Great Tang Empire, commanding vast resources and connections while remaining a member of the Royal Family himself!

Thus, once the engagement was finalized, even the Emperor of Great Tang could no longer easily eliminate Ye Luo with a mere utterance.

Why had the Emperor of Great Tang undergone such a change?

Why arrange such a marriage for him?

Ye Luo couldn’t help but brood over these questions in his heart.

Ling Xue was, in truth, excellent, and in these past days, they had even established a decent rapport. If Ling Xue were to marry him, Ye Luo wouldn’t refuse.

Yet, the sense of being a pawn in someone else’s game continued to gnaw at Ye Luo’s heart. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Noticing Ye Luo’s silence for an extended period, Ling Xue’s expression changed subtly.

"You... you don’t want to, do you!"

Faced with Ling Xue’s watery eyes, Ye Luo wouldn’t dare to refuse—he quickly replied, "No, I just didn’t know about this matter!"

Hearing this, Ling Xue’s face instantly turned bright red.

Originally, Ling Xue believed Ye Luo knew about it and only then directly mentioned the topic. But if Ye Luo was unaware and yet Ling Xue proactively brought it up, how could she, a young woman, not feel embarrassed?

Ye Luo, focused on ruminating over the Emperor of Great Tang’s and the Border Guard’s possible ulterior motives, paid little attention to Ling Xue.

Meanwhile, Ling Xue was too flustered to utter another word, leading the pair to aimlessly wander the streets together.

Normally, that wouldn’t mean much. But at times, the unfolding of events ignores your readiness or the setting entirely.

...

"Xue’er! It really is you—I didn’t expect to see you here as well!"

A voice suddenly rang out, and a young man clad in luxurious attire stood in their path, blocking Ye Luo and Ling Xue.

The richly dressed youth’s eyes were fixed solely on Ling Xue, while completely disregarding Ye Luo standing nearby.

At that moment, Ye Luo snapped out of his deep thoughts.

He glanced up at the young man, uncertain of his intentions, and refrained from intervening.

Ling Xue’s expression slightly shifted as she looked at the luxurious youth, "Why are you here again? I’ve already told you—it’s impossible between us. Besides, I already have a fiancé!"