Chapter 3

“Who’s there!?” At this moment, a dignified male voice shouted towards Ye Qianli’s hiding place.

Standing in the darkness, Ye Qianli looked up and met with the eyes of the person who had spoken. Those were a pair of phoenix eyes filled with pride. Even though time had left wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, it did not diminish the pride in his bones.

He was the son of the Vermilion Bird Dynasty’s Northern Territory King, Ye Fengtian—Ye Qianli’s biological father and a man who controlled an army of millions in the Northern Territory.

Ye Fengtian’s cultivation level was ‘Mystic King’, and he was one of the top cultivators in the Vermilion Bird Dynasty. With his divine sense, being able to detect Ye Qianli was an extremely normal thing.

“Father.” Ye Qianli walked out of the darkness and bowed to her imposing father.

Whoosh!

However, because of Ye Qianli’s appearance, the crowd erupted into an incredulous uproar.

“Who is this dirty person? How dare she call the prince father?!”

“That’s not the point. The voice sounds like Eldest Young Lady?”

“F*ck, no way? Why is Eldest Young Lady in such a sorry state? How did she…”

No one was able to believe that. The person in front of them was dressed in shabby clothes, covered with filth from head to toe, had messy hair, and a face filled with blood and dirt. She looked even worse than a beggar on the street. How could she be the noble and beautiful Young Lady Ye in their memories?

But…

When Ye Qianli walked out of the shadows step by step and as her steady and upright posture slowly appeared in front of everyone’s eyes, the noble aura revealed under her dirty appearance made everyone present shut up.

This was the Eldest Young Lady.

Even though she was covered in filth, the noble aura of a goddess could not be concealed.

When Ye Fengtian saw his ‘dirty’ daughter, he immediately frowned in displeasure, and his tone became very stern. “What happened?”

At the same time, Su Qin reprimanded her even more severely. “You’re a dignified eldest daughter of the family! A lady who’s about to get engaged to the crown prince! How did you get yourself into this state? How improper!

“What about the etiquette, supposed dignity, and ceremonial manners that you’ve learned? Have you forgotten them all?”

Although she was reprimanded, Ye Qianli still looked at her parents calmly. She did not stop walking towards them because of their ‘cold feelings’.

Perhaps the Ye Qianli of the past would still be hurt by their cold treatment after suffering a huge grievance, but the Ye Qianli now would not.

Seeing Ye Qianli like this, Su Qin’s beautiful brows furrowed tightly. A hint of viciousness emerged from the bottom of her eyes. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to continue reprimanding her.

However, at this moment, Su Lianhua hugged Su Qin’s arm and sobbed softly, “Aunt, please stop scolding Elder Sister. Hurry up and see what’s wrong with her.”

Then, Su Lianhua pounced on Ye Qianli and hugged her tightly. “Eldest Sister! Sister, what happened to you?

“How did you end up like this? Your clothes are all torn. Boohoo… Did someone bully you? Elder Sister, quickly tell Uncle. He will definitely kill that bastard!”

Hearing that, everyone at the scene gasped in shock.

Su Qin’s and Ye Fengtian’s expressions changed at the same time.

It should be obvious that Ye Qianli’s image could easily make people think negatively in the first place. Now, accompanied by Su Lianhua’s ‘caring words’, it naturally reinforced their negative thoughts.

Furthermore…!

Many of the guards present were also cultivators. They were shocked to discover that there were no traces of profound energy fluctuations coming from this Young Lady Ye.

Her cultivation…

Was her cultivation gone?!

If that was the case, then had she really been sullied? Her goddess body was damaged?! This… This… Heavens!

The guards who realized this point all turned pale. If this was true, then they, who didn’t protect Eldest Young Lady Ye well, would be severely punished—spanning three generations of their clans!

The eldest daughter of the Ye Clan was definitely going to become the crown princess consort of the dynasty! In addition to her extremely noble status, she was the only descendant of the Ye Clan in the Northern Territory! The beloved daughter of the Northern Territory King’s heir. Oh, God…

At the thought of this, the guards all broke out in a cold sweat. At the same time, the sky was just as cold as the falling rain.

“What did Younger Sister Hua say?”

However, Ye Qianli’s puzzled voice rang out clearly at this moment.

“Aren’t we in the same boat? You told me to eat the Tian Yu Night Queen Flower. You said that, although eating it will cause me temporary pain, my cultivation base will increase by 30 percent after a day?

“I was rolling around on the floor in pain after eating it. I didn’t see you after I woke up. How could you come back without waiting for me to wake up?”

Ye Qianli sounded puzzled, and she looked at Su Lianhua in utmost confusion.

“Tian Yu Night Queen Flower?!”

When the entire crowd heard that, they all exclaimed in unison!

The Tian Yu Night Queen was a divine flower of the Vermilion Bird Dynasty. It was extremely poisonous, and ordinary people would die instantly if they consumed it. However, it was rumored that strong cultivators could control the poison of the flower and could even refine it to strengthen their cultivation. It was one of the rare treasures in the Sky Harmony Palace.

“Didn’t you eat it?”

Ye Qianli lightly blinked her glass-like eyes and asked Su Lianhua with an innocent gaze.

Hence, everyone’s gazes were all fixed on Su Lianhua!

“Young Lady actually let Eldest Young Lady consume Tian Yu Night Queen?”

“Why would she do that?”

“Does she not know…?”

Everyone started discussing in disbelief.

“All of you, shut up! Li’er, what nonsense are you talking about?” Su Qin’s voice reprimanded sternly.

As the princess consort of the Northern Territory King’s heir, Su Qin’s words were naturally very imposing. After being shouted at by her, everyone was silent like cicadas in the winter and did not dare to make any other comments.

“I’m not spouting nonsense. Younger Sister Hua invited me to watch the Tian Yu Night Queen Flower tonight from seven to nine.”

“Oh, right, before I left, Younger Sister Hua even gave me a cup of tea to drink. I was too anxious at that time and even scalded my mouth after drinking it. Younger Sister Hua even used her handkerchief to wipe my mouth. The servants were also present at that time! I didn’t forget that.”

After Ye Qianli finished speaking solemnly, a pink handkerchief had already appeared in her hand, and she shook it.

Su Lianhua’s face instantly turned deathly pale because what Ye Qianli said was the truth. Su Lianhua had yet to take care of the handkerchief.

Ye Qianli smiled as she admired the change in Su Lianhua’s expression. Her clear, shimmering eyes conveyed a message: ‘Younger Cousin, your time of death is here.’

What she, Ye Qianli, was best at—besides saving lives—was also killing without spilling blood!

However, at the same time…!

“His Highness, the Crown Prince, has arrived!”

Outside the Southern Palace, a loud and clear voice suddenly sounded.

Ye Qianli’s eyelids twitched. Her sensitive nerves allowed her to faintly sense a wave of killing intent rushing towards her!?

As a result, her gaze landed on the Southern Palace’s main entrance. Then, she saw a familiar face, one she had only seen once before actually. It was the face of that peerless beauty!

It was him?!