Chapter 500: Chapter 370: Women Consumed by the Flames of Jealousy
"Ye Lingyue, how dare you come to the Dan Palace with Prince Feng. Prince Feng and the Dan Palace’s Heavenly Maiden Xue Pianran are fiancés. Could it be that climbing up the ranks using men has always been your usual trick?" Hong Mingyue leisurely began to speak.
Her voice was neither high nor low, but clear enough for all the common folk attending the selection event, as well as the alchemists in the Dan Palace, to hear her loud and clear.
Especially those from the Dan Palace, they all recognized Prince Feng. Normally, Prince Feng’s visits would surely be accompanied by Heavenly Maiden Xue Pianran, yet this time, he came alongside a woman, showing great affection.
In an instant, many hostile glances were thrown their way, as sharp as daggers, all aiming at Ye Lingyue’s face.
"Some women just have no shame. Lacking the qualifications to join the delegation, you still stubbornly cling on to Brother Prince Feng to bring you along," said Princess Qing Bi as she walked over with Xiahou Qi.
Xiahou Qi, upon seeing Ye Lingyue and noticing the change in her appearance, was momentarily startled. Then, seeing Feng Xun standing beside Ye Lingyue with furrowed brows and a flicker of cold light in his eyes, he became irritated.
What annoyed him was that Feng Xun, fully aware that Ye Lingyue would be unwelcomed at the Dan Palace, still insisted on bringing her along.
"Heh, the two of you are really like idle dogs meddling in others’ business. Whether I’ve stolen someone’s fiancé or not, the official fiancée hasn’t even spoken yet, and here you two are fussier than the Emperor, acting as anxious as a dying eunuch. Am I right, Heavenly Maiden?" Ye Lingyue retorted with sarcasm, her beautiful eyes unwavering, staring straight ahead.
In the Dan Palace, a woman gracefully approached.
Her figure was charming and her beauty unparalleled, her eyes clear as lake water, wearing a Heavenly Maiden Feather Robe that flowed like moonlight, truly captivating like a Heavenly Immortal descending from the nine heavens.
The Dan Palace’s Heavenly Maiden Xue Pianran smiled tenderly, with one less layer of her veil, she seemed to lack the sharpness of that night.
"Qing Bi, Miss Ming Yue, please do not misunderstand. I think Xun and Lady Ye are just good friends. Today, we all have come to participate in the civilian selection, and the time is almost upon us. The gates of the Dan Palace are already open, please, let’s all enter together."
As she spoke, Xue Pianran walked up to Feng Xun’s side, appearing as affectionate as a little bird relying on a person.
"Xun, Lady Ye will participate in the selection, join me in the VIP seats to watch the event, Cong Lv is also there."
Standing together with Feng Xun, they indeed appeared to be a perfectly matched couple.
Feng Xun turned his head, seeing the sweet smile on Xue Pianran’s face, he raised an eyebrow. This was the Xue Pianran he knew.
Feng Xun cast a glance at Ye Lingyue, who averted her eyes, chatting with Lan Cai’er and Little Wuya about something.
"Xun, if you choose that woman, at least make me convinced in my heart. Otherwise, I will not relent when it comes to Emperor Qing," said Xue Pianran, lowering her voice, yet her face still bore a cheerful expression.
The fact that Feng Xun had entered the palace to ask Emperor Qing to cancel the engagement was something Xue Pianran was already aware of.
She had even prepared to accept Emperor Qing’s suggestion for dual wives and one husband, but Feng Xun flatly refused, stating, "I will not let her be wronged."
"I will not let ’her’ be wronged," huh, what a phrase. Feng Xun, for this woman, it seems you are willing to discard our many years of friendship.
Upon seeing Ye Lingyue’s true face, Xue Pianran managed to keep the most dignified smile on her face, but internally, her heart was riddled with holes.
Feng Xun said no more and joined Xue Pianran, Xiahou Qi, Qing Bi, and others in the VIP seats.
The Dan Palace’s civilian selection event was no small affair.
Just the number of various forces that registered for participation reached over a hundred.
Only the top six winners of the civilian selection would be allowed to enter the Star Cave.
To ensure a more open competition, the Dan Palace temporarily transformed the outer hall into a spacious courtyard.
In the square, one hundred and twenty cauldrons were placed.
More than a hundred participants would spend three days and nights here, refining Seventh Grade Reincarnation Elixirs. Each alchemist competing was allowed one assistant.
Ye Lingyue brought Little Wuya with her.
"Pfft, that little wench really dares to refine Reincarnation Elixirs? Vice Director Chou, has she ever refined one before?"
Upon seeing Ye Lingyue entering the square with a little one, Hong Yuying scoffed while seated in the guests’ area.
"The Reincarnation Elixir was refined by Alchemist Mei. Ye Lingyue had been her assistant for several months; she herself probably has never refined one, otherwise, she would have reported it to the court long ago. But it’s not excluded that she learned some refining methods from Alchemist Mei, although those are futile efforts; Reincarnation Elixirs are not so easy to refine."
Vice Director Chou muttered resentfully.
Vice Director Chou, as the leader of this adventure into the Beiqing Star Cave, was also quite surprised to see Ye Lingyue.
When Ye Lingyue went to Dan City, he couldn’t wait for her to die there.
Who would have thought not only did Ye Lingyue not die, she also managed to get his junior brother killed, and Dan City was thriving under her management.
For this adventure to the Beiqing Star Cave, Vice Director Chou had mustered all his energy, planning to search for treasures in the cave, to achieve a great feat. When he returned to Daxia, he also intended to reclaim the position of Chief of the Imperial Hospital. Yet, this eyesore, Ye Lingyue, appeared again.
He had been fervently hoping that Ye Lingyue would be utterly defeated in the civilian selection.
"Ling Yue’s alchemy skills have always been exceptional," Xiahou Qi couldn’t stand it any longer, frowning as he spoke.
Vice Director Chou and the others immediately fell silent.
Princess Qing Bi listened by the side, her brows knitted tightly, casting an unwilling glance at Xiahou Qi.
A few days ago at the palace banquet, Emperor Beiqing had also met Xiahou Qi and was very satisfied with him. Emperor Qing even tentatively asked Xiahou Qi if he was interested in a marriage alliance with Beiqing, but Xiahou Qi politely declined.
As for the reason behind his refusal, Princess Qing Bi knew that it was Ye Lingyue.
Princess Qing Bi made an excuse to stand up and found several alchemists from Dan Palace who were transporting charcoal for alchemy.
After giving a few words of instruction, the alchemists nodded obediently.
"Princess Qing Bi, if you do this, His Majesty will not be pleased if he learns of it,"
behind her stood Heavenly Maiden Xue Pianran.
"Dear sister, if you don’t tell, I don’t tell, and these servants don’t tell, who else would know? Besides, it’s just some damp charcoal; even if I don’t interfere, she wouldn’t be able to refine a Reincarnation Elixir. I just don’t believe that you don’t detest Ye Lingyue at all," Qing Bi thought of Ye Lingyue’s increasingly beautiful face.
She truly felt Ye Lingyue was a demon; that face, which didn’t seem much at first glance, somehow becomes more captivating the more one looks.
Xue Pianran did not reply. It wasn’t that she didn’t detest Ye Lingyue; she hated her.
With Princess Qing Bi taking action, it couldn’t be better; it would save her from dirtying her own hands. Even if someone asked about it afterward, it had nothing to do with her, and she would still be the Dan Palace Heavenly Maiden high above.
So Xue Pianran plainly watched the alchemists walk away, without uttering another word.
In the selection arena, Ye Lingyue and Little Wuya were still checking the materials for refining the Reincarnation Elixirs.