r18novel Chapter 74 The Royal Princess's First Meeting
Chapter 74 The Royal Princess's First Meeting
Chapter 74 The Royal Princess's First Meeting
Dai Youheng traveled unimpeded to the depths of the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
The palace guards and maids were extremely familiar with his face. Back then, the infatuated illegitimate son of the Dai family would come here almost every day to win a smile from Princess Jiujiu, making him practically an unofficial member of the palace staff.
Holding the princess's handwritten invitation, he was led to the palace without any hindrance.
Upon entering the elegant and luxurious hall, one would find Xu Jiujiu already dressed in her finest attire, waiting for them.
As he approached, she smiled slightly, her fingertips gracefully brushing a strand of golden hair at her temple, her voice gentle, "Youheng, it's been a long time."
She was clearly dressed up carefully today; her pale gold palace dress accentuated her graceful figure, and her long, flowing golden hair seemed to sway gently in the breeze, adding to her noble and elegant air. She exuded a charm that blended royal grace with youthful brightness. In terms of looks and allure, she was indeed on par with Jiang Nannan, the beauty from another school at Shrek Academy, each with her own unique appeal.
No wonder its predecessor had fallen to such a state.
A beautiful appearance combined with a prestigious status is fatally attractive to ordinary teenagers.
Unfortunately, Dai Youheng, despite possessing a top-tier martial soul, made slow progress in his cultivation, and as an illegitimate son, he had no hope of inheriting the throne.
Such a person, who has neither strength nor power and is of no benefit to the royal family, naturally did not catch Xu Jiujiu's eye. In the past, he was always cold and distant to her, rejecting her decisively and never giving her any ambiguous hope.
To be fair, Dai Youheng doesn't think there was anything wrong with Xu Jiujiu's previous actions.
As a royal daughter, she rationally weighed the pros and cons, clearly refusing without leaving anyone hanging or giving them hope. Compared to many who toy with emotions, she was quite decisive.
However, she only had power and strength in her eyes, and no warmth whatsoever, which was somewhat similar to Dai Youheng now.
But now, the situation has suddenly changed. One of the two legitimate sons of the Dai family is physically disabled, and the other has suffered damage to his martial soul's origin, causing the scales of succession to tip in their favor.
A healthy illegitimate son with a top-tier martial spirit and considerable potential is far more valuable than two disabled legitimate sons.
Xu Jiujiu naturally sent people to investigate his performance at the academy and learned that he had actually defeated Xu Sanshi, a direct disciple of the Xuanming Sect with a cultivation level of three rings, in a head-on confrontation!
It seems that his strength has improved recently, and a promotion to a higher status is just around the corner, so Xu Jiujiu's attitude naturally changed accordingly.
"It's been a long time, Your Highness." Dai Youheng's expression was calm, and she nodded slightly, her manners impeccable but lacking any of her former eagerness or humility. "You summoned me here specifically; what important matter brings you here?"
After a long while, she smiled gently, not surprised by Dai Youheng's feigned ignorance.
She only wrote some innocuous greetings and nostalgic remarks in her letter; her true intentions, of course, had to be revealed face-to-face in order to control the pace of the conversation.
A sense of certainty even crossed her mind. After all, didn't Dai Youheng rush back immediately after receiving her letter? In the end, he couldn't let her go.
Little did she know that Dai Youheng's swift return was entirely due to the Soul-Devouring Carving Knife, and had nothing to do with her.
The two sat down at the tea table and savored the fragrant tea specially supplied by the royal family.
After a long while, she held the teapot with her bare hands, and the light golden tea soup drew a graceful arc before being precisely poured into the cup in front of Dai Youheng. The aroma of the tea immediately filled the air, its refreshing taste carrying a unique mellowness that was only available to royalty.
"This is the new tribute of Golden Dew from the Southern Cloud Mist City this year. Only ten catties are produced each year, and my imperial brother, who dotes on me, has shared a small portion with me. Try it and see if it suits your taste?" Xu Jiujiu's voice was soft and gentle, as if he were truly inviting an old friend to enjoy tea and conversation.
Dai Youheng picked up the teacup, feeling the slightly warm temperature emanating from the white porcelain at his fingertips.
He took a small sip as instructed. The tea was sweet and mellow, with a long aftertaste; it was indeed a top-quality tea. "Your Highness's appreciation is certainly due to the excellent quality of the tea."
His tone was flat, revealing little emotion; he was neither overly enthusiastic nor impolite.
Xu Jiu smiled slightly, picked up her own cup, took a small sip with graceful poise, but her gaze seemed to fall on Dai Youheng, observing his reaction.
Seeing his composure, while maintaining her certainty that "he is still under her control," she also became slightly wary. The Dai Youheng before her seemed to be different from the boy she used to be, who could be seen through at a glance.
She put down her teacup, her fingertips gently tracing the rim, as if carefully choosing her words. A brief silence fell over the room once more, broken only by the faint aroma of tea.
"Sigh," Xu Jiujiu suddenly sighed softly, a perfectly measured look of worry appearing in his eyes. "Recently, things have been rather unsettled both inside and outside the palace. Especially after hearing about the matter concerning the two sons of the White Tiger Duke from the Western Legion, it is truly heartbreaking."
"Brother Yueheng is a valiant warrior, and Huabin is also a young prodigy. Their suffering is a great loss to our Star Luo Empire."
Her words were full of regret, as if she was genuinely worried about the Dai family. "After hearing about this, the Duchess became even more worried and her health deteriorated. The huge Duchess's mansion and the position of commander of 500,000 soldiers of the Western Legion have become a problem. Even my brother has been worrying about this matter recently."
Dai Youheng listened quietly, his finger unconsciously tracing a circle on the rim of his glass, making no comment. He knew the show was about to begin.
Sure enough, after a long pause, she changed the subject, looking at him with a radiant smile, her tone becoming more earnest and carrying a subtle allure. "Youheng, I know you may have suffered some grievances in the manor in the past. But times have changed. The Dai family is in dire need of talent, both for national and family matters, and we need capable individuals to step forward. You possess a top-tier mutated martial soul, exceptional talent, and your strength has improved by leaps and bounds. You can even defeat elites from Shrek Academy. You are no longer what you used to be, and you are no less capable than the two eldest sons of the Dai family."
She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice to make her words carry more weight, "The royal family—or rather, I—have always had high hopes for you. Perhaps the past events were simply a matter of timing. But now, the opportunity is before us. Whether it's the stability within the Duke's mansion or the future allegiance of the Western Legion, both require a strong and trustworthy person to take charge."
She paused deliberately, observing Dai Youheng's expression. Seeing that he remained unmoved, she pressed on, her words almost becoming a direct statement: "If you're willing, the royal family will be your strongest support. Any obstacles in your path, whether it's the deep-seated prejudice within the palace or the doubts from the outside world about your status as an illegitimate son, I can clear them away for you. Resources, prestige..."
With legal recognition in hand, nothing else matters. We will do everything in our power to help you claim the position that rightfully belongs to you—not just the title of Duke of White Tiger, but the supreme authority to command the Western Army Group!
Her voice carried a seductive power, painting an incredibly alluring picture. In her eyes, for a son born out of wedlock who had been looked down upon since childhood and craved power and recognition, this was an almost irresistible offer.
She believed that the olive branch she had extended would be enough to make Dai Youheng grateful and firmly bound to the royal family's chariot.