"Who is this?"
At the street corner, Mei Zhixuan saw what was happening before his eyes and asked the guard next to him.
The guard looked at Yi Junhao, whose face was as crestfallen as a defeated fighting rooster, and replied, "This man is called Yi Junhao, also known as the Third Young Master Yi. On the surface, he is a medicinal herb merchant, owning two major businesses, Baicaotang and Baicaogu, both of which are top brands in the Western Qin Kingdom. But His Highness would never guess his true identity."
Mei Zhixuan asked with interest, "Oh? What's their background?"
The guard stepped forward and whispered in his ear. Upon hearing this, Mei Zhixuan exclaimed in surprise, "Oh?! So, the Nan'an Kingdom can't hold back either? It seems that a bloody war is about to break out on the Lingkong Continent."
Suddenly, Mei Zhixuan said meaningfully to the guard beside him, "However, judging from how the King of Western Qin and the Crown Prince of Nan'an were fighting over that girl, could it be that the King of Western Qin and the Crown Prince of Nan'an both have their eyes on her? And if that girl is truly the long-lost legitimate princess of my Dongning Kingdom, then..."
At this moment, it seemed that a conspiracy was quietly rising in Mei Zhixuan's heart.
Although he tried hard to restrain himself from thinking this way, telling himself that he could not use anyone but the only bloodline left in the world by his stepmother, he still could not resist the huge temptation and had this idea.
However, he would never risk using her unless absolutely necessary.
Perhaps, only by winning the entire world and becoming its sole master can a man with a desire for power achieve the greatest success, while everything else is merely fleeting smoke.
However, upon hearing this, the guard beside him suddenly became suspicious and said, "Your Highness, if you want to unify the Lingkong Continent, I'm afraid Western Qin is the most difficult one to deal with?"
"Are you wary of this Spirit Void War God, Qin King Xuanyuan Han of Western Qin?" Mei Zhixuan's words were tinged with contempt.
"That's not it. What I'm afraid of is something else. Has Your Highness heard any rumors about the Western Qin royal family?" The guard's words were extremely mysterious.
"The Western Qin royal family, what rumors are you talking about?" Mei Zhixuan asked with great interest.
The guard said, "It is said throughout the land that every emperor of the Western Qin royal family has a mysterious guardian. These guardians, passed down through a single lineage for generations, possess the most magical and precious bloodline in the world, and are sworn to protect the Western Qin emperor to the death. It is also rumored that as long as their guardians have descendants, the Western Qin kingdom will live forever, immortal and indestructible. Some even say that whoever obtains this descendant will obtain the world..."
At this moment, Mei Zhixuan spoke up, "I have also heard of this. It is said that they were the most loyal clan who followed the ancestors of Western Qin in expanding their territory, and for generations they swore to protect the emperor of Western Qin to the death. However, 18 years ago, due to an internal strife in Western Qin, the entire clan was wiped out, leaving only a 15-year-old orphan girl. It is said that she grew up to be as beautiful as a fairy, and the emperor of Western Qin was particularly fond of her, so he wanted to take her into the harem as a concubine, but she mysteriously disappeared on the way to the palace."
At this point, Mei Zhixuan paused, pondered for a moment, and then said slowly, "Didn't everyone say that the orphan girl fell off a cliff and died without a complete body? What is there to be afraid of? So many years have passed, and there is still no news of her. Look at the Western Qin Kingdom now. Without Xuanyuan Han, what is left? However, even if Xuanyuan Han were here, we don't need to worry anymore. That day will come soon."
Mei Zhixuan spoke with an air of confidence.
"Your Highness is mighty, and our Dongning Kingdom is prosperous. I believe that one day Your Highness will surely conquer Xiqin, and then the King will definitely look at Your Highness with new eyes." At this moment, the guard flattered.
"But no matter what, the most important thing right now is to find the legitimate princess first," Mei Zhixuan said, taking a deep breath and looking at the carriage in front of him with a long, thoughtful expression.
In the blink of an eye, the magnificent carriage, showcasing the noble status of the Prince of Qin's mansion, arrived at the market near the Yi residence.
Wherever it went, pedestrians stopped and looked up at it, making way for a wide road in the middle.
Inside the carriage, Yi Shangyun's heart was still in shock, and now that the Yi family mansion was right in front of her, her anxiety grew even stronger.
Finally, she couldn't help but bite her lip, steeled her resolve, and said, "Your Highness, we're quite close to the Yi residence now. Yun'er can walk back by herself. Why don't you leave Yun'er here? Your Highness must be very busy. Shall we part ways here?"
This sounds like a casual remark.
Although Xuan Yuanhan kept his handsome eyes tightly closed on the road, he was fully aware of every little movement that Yi Shangyun made in the carriage, such as scratching his ears and cheeks and glaring at him.
At this moment, he was truly baffled. He couldn't understand why she, who usually seemed quite generous and poised, was so restless and awkward today. And now, she was even saying such rude things to him.
Suddenly, he remained seated with his eyes closed, seemingly teasing her, and asked with a hint of amusement, "What's this? I condescended to act as your coachman today, taking you from the Qin Prince's Mansion in the east of the city back to the Yi Mansion in the west. I deserve some credit, but you're so ungrateful that you won't even offer me a cup of tea?"
Yi Shangyun waved her hands and said hurriedly, "No, no, Your Highness, that's not what I meant. It's just... Your Highness is as revered as a deity, while I am of humble status. If Your Highness and I were to appear at the Yi residence at the same time, the neighbors would surely gossip everywhere."
She paused for a moment, a pang of sadness rising in her heart, and continued, "Yun'er is a woman who has been jilted, her reputation is already ruined, so it doesn't matter to her. But we absolutely cannot tarnish Your Highness's reputation! Your Highness is the pride of all the people of Western Qin, a god they worship!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xuan Yuanhan suddenly opened his eyes and quickly moved in front of Yi Shangyun. The two locked eyes.
Yi Shangyun, who had been sitting in a slightly crooked and lazy posture, suddenly straightened up in shock, her body as if frozen. She opened her beautiful phoenix eyes wide in fear, and the two of them were so close that they could hear each other's strong heartbeats.
After a moment of eye contact, Xuanyuan Han revealed a hint of surprise and said dreamily, "So, you're worried about me?"
Yi Shangyun was stunned by the man before her, who now seemed utterly unfamiliar, and dared not move. She feared that if she moved, this domineering man might do something to her.
Unconsciously, she suddenly recalled that passionate kiss, and a blush quickly spread across her face.
Half a day later, her eyes darted away as she whispered in his ear, "That's the truth, Yun'er... we can't repay kindness with enmity."
Xuanyuan Han noticed her shyness and embarrassment, and as if he had thought of something, he said in a flash, "From now on, I will not allow you to mention the words 'annuated engagement' again. I don't mind."
Yi Shangyun, naturally unaware of the profound meaning in Xuan Yuanhan's words, said somewhat disheartenedly, "How could Your Highness not care about something that everyone in the world cares about? I know Your Highness is kind-hearted, but... the spittle of the world can drown a person. In this life, I only ask for a peaceful place to live and a quiet life."
Yi Shangyun kept his eyes down, fidgeting with the hem of his clothes as he spoke, completely unaware of the tenderness and infatuation in Xuan Yuanhan's eyes as he looked at him.
Seeing that Xuan Yuanhan remained silent for a long time, she continued to plead, "Your Highness, Yun'er really begs you, please?"
Xuanyuan Han then came to his senses, gradually pulled himself back to his seat, and said coldly with a hint of helplessness, "I agree to your request."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Yi Shangyun said with a sigh of relief and joy.
As they were talking, the carriage stopped in front of the Yi residence.
Cheng Liang quickly dismounted and helped Yi Shangyun down from the tall carriage.
At this moment, Yi Shangxue and Yi Shangjun passed by the corridor inside the door. Seeing the two people behaving intimately at the door, they angrily stepped out of the door.
As soon as Yi Shangxue came out, she walked straight up to Yi Shangyun without even looking and shouted, "Shameless slut! You often stay out all night and do other improper things. On New Year's Eve, you made excuses not to stay up and pray for your parents, and now on the first day of the new year, you're seen arguing with a man in front of your own door. Is all of this because of him?"
After saying that, she glared at Cheng Liang, who was standing to the side. Cheng Liang was stunned for a moment by the fact that such a slender and gentle girl could utter such sharp words.
Yi Shangyun was quite embarrassed upon hearing this, and fearing that the neighbors would hear and come out to see what was going on, she stepped forward and covered Yi Shangxue's mouth. Yi Shangxue was immediately startled and began to struggle, stammering.
Upon seeing this, Yi Shangjun hurriedly went past Yi Shangxue and grabbed Yi Shangyun's wrist tightly. Yi Shangxue was immediately able to speak again. "Fine, you dare to use this filthy, vile hand to shut me up. Today, I'll make you wake up properly."
As Yi Shangxue spoke with an extremely ferocious expression, she raised one hand high, preparing to slap Yi Shangyun across the face.
Just as Cheng Liang was recovering from the shocking words and actions of the woman before him and was about to step forward to stop her, a cold voice suddenly came from inside the carriage: "Stop."
In an instant, everyone's eyes turned toward the carriage from which the sound had come.
The carriage curtain was slowly lifted by a pair of large, well-defined hands, and a seven-foot-tall man stepped out.
Dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, with his dark hair tied up, he leaped down from the imposing carriage with a majestic and upright figure. Like a deity, he stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from the crowd.
At this moment, Yi Shangkun and his two wives hurriedly came out of the mansion courtyard upon hearing the noise.
Upon seeing the man's back from afar, Yi Shangkun ran towards him in a panic and knelt down with a thud, bowing his head in worship, "Your humble servant greets Your Highness the Prince of Qin, may you live a thousand years!"
"Your Highness Prince Qin?!" Upon hearing the voice, Yi Shangxue was shocked. She exchanged a glance with Yi Shangyun in front of her, and then looked at Yi Shangjun beside her.
In an instant, everyone present, including the perpetrator, hurriedly followed Yi Shangkun in bowing and kneeling, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qin, may you live a thousand years!"
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