Chapter 23: You Go! No, You Go First

He was dressed in a luxurious embroidered robe, wearing a high hat and a belt. His aura was cold and lofty! Just like the wintry moon, he stood there in such a grand and clear manner. As such, it was an exceptionally heavenly appearance that was unmatched by anyone else.

Looking at him, Ye Qianli wanted to squeeze into the crowd quietly, but alas! The pretty crown prince refused to let her hide even if she wanted to. More so, he even lowered his honorable and elegant neck to look towards her.

That's great!

At this moment, everyone was paying attention to the pretty crown prince; they were all attracted by his heavenly charms. When he suddenly looked over, everyone subconsciously followed his line of vision.

Ye Qianli: "..."

"Who is this? She's so pretty."

"Pui! Are you blind? This is that shameless, useless Eldest Young Lady of the Ye family! Pretty, my *ss! Her character is really inferior, and she has no class."

Shaa, shaa...

The crowd erupted in an instant. Many people, who were standing beside Ye Qianli, seemed to be afraid of her tainting them as they retreated in all directions.

"Elder Sister!"

At the same time, a surprised voice—that sounded very different from the others—rang out from that vast crowd of carriages. Following that, a young girl wearing a splendid white embroidered dress walked out of a carriage.

"Elder Sister, it's really you. Come over quickly. Aunt and Uncle have been very worried about you." Su Lianhua's expression was filled with surprise and concern. She acted really well.

Inwardly, Ye Qianli wanted to say that this drama queen really popped out everywhere...

"Oh! So this is the granddaughter of the Northern Territory King. It's said that she's the most talented noble lady in the dynasty and that she's born with the body of a goddess. Oh, apparently, she said that she's going to make a big move today and blind us."

"Pfft..."

"Hehe..."

After a peculiar female voice drifted out, reserved laughter was released mockingly from many carriages belonging to the nobility and high-ranking officials in the dynasty.

Acting in concert with them, the onlookers in front of the Vermilion Bird Platform even jeered and looked down on her... How many eye rolls, how much contempt... All of these were displayed at this moment.

"So, am I going to be the first to go on stage?" Even facing all of this, Ye Qianli still asked in a clear voice. Her voice was not loud, but it was not soft either. At least, everyone who should have heard her could hear her.

"..."

These words—which showed her 'overestimating herself'—made the ridicule, abusive language, and noisy chatter stop for a moment. Many people even looked at her in distinct shock, thinking that perhaps, this person was a fool.

"Do you want me to be the first to go on stage?" Once again, Ye Qianli asked calmly in this silence. "If that's the case, then I'm going up."

"Ha!"

"Ha! Ha! Ha, ha..."

Ye Qianli had just finished speaking when exaggerated mocking laughter traveled out from a certain carriage. This carriage came from the Su Residence, and that person who walked out laughing heartily was someone Ye Qianli knew.

His name was Su Sheng, and he was Su Lianhua's biological elder brother and Ye Qianli's own older cousin. As of this moment, he was standing in front of his coach and pointing at Ye Qianli as he guffawed. "Younger Cousin Qianli, you're truly becoming more and more brainless. Don't you understand that they're mocking you? Are you making an ironic remark? Hahaha..."

"Elder Brother...!" When Su Lianhua—who was not far away—heard this, she hurriedly shouted.

"Compared to your Su family, my Ye family truly does not have any brains. Otherwise, why would my Ye family's most precious Innate Talent Pill be eaten by an outsider from your Su family?" Ye Qianli mocked.

At the same time...!

"Ye Clan's Ye Qianli, of the Northern Territory King, pays her respects to Your Majesty. May I ask Your Majesty if this commoner girl can be the first to go on stage and display her talent?" Ye Qianli, who was unwilling to speak any more nonsense, had already walked towards the carriage where Holy Emperor Rong Feng was at and asked with a bow on one knee.

"Insolence!" Ye Fengtian, who was still pretending to be dead inside the carriage, had no choice but to walk out of his carriage when he heard this. He shouted angrily, "We can let you behave atrociously within the family, but how can you be allowed to do as you please on the Vermilion Bird Platform? Back off now!"

After this lecture, Ye Fengtian quickly bowed in shame towards the front as well and said, "Your Majesty, I, Ye Fengtian, am ashamed for not teaching my daughter properly."

"Eh, Prince Ye, since your daughter is interested in going on stage, how can we stop her? In our dynasty's Prodigy Convention, those who are confident can go on stage. Moreover, your daughter is going to be the Arena Lord and challenge all the geniuses in the world. She really has the conduct of the Northern Territory King. She should be encouraged. What does His Majesty think?"

However, just as Ye Fengtian finished speaking, a voice rebutted him lazily. After that, an elderly man walked out from a carriage in front of Ye Fengtian's.

As soon as this person appeared, the high-ranking officials and aristocrats—who were listening to the commotion—knew that there was going to be a big show because this old man was the Northern Territory King's sworn enemy, the Eastern Sea King.

"Your Majesty, this old man is willing to request for Old Brother Ye's granddaughter to ascend the stage and become the Arena Lord. Let's see who can defeat my Old Brother Ye's biological granddaughter." The Eastern Sea King bowed as he requested.

"As a minister, I second that."

"As a minister, I second that..."

One by one, several bureaucrats from the Eastern Sea King's faction also agreed.

"Eastern Sea King, as part of the older generation, how can you pretend to be ignorant to trick a junior? Isn't your character somewhat lacking?" At this time, another leisurely elderly voice sounded from beside the Eastern Sea King's carriage.

Subsequently, the Western Wilderness King—who had the same status as the Eastern Sea King and was also Su Lianhua's biological grandfather—stepped out of the carriage and spoke up for the Ye family. After all, the Su family and the Ye family were in-laws so they would definitely extend mutual help to each other on the surface.

"Your Majesty, this old official has a suggestion. Since Brother Eastern Sea King wants to watch a group challenge, why don't you let that lacking granddaughter of mine go on stage? I believe that she will live up to everyone's expectations," Western Wilderness King suggested.

"I second that motion," Ye Fengtian immediately agreed when he heard that.

"I second that..."

The bureaucrats of the Western Wilderness King's faction naturally agreed.

"..."

Due to the fact that the two pillars of the imperial court had spoken beforehand, most people stopped talking. They knew that the two sides were taking advantage of the situation to attack each other. They didn't want to be implicated.

"This commoner girl, Su Lianhua, requests for permission. I am willing to represent Elder Sister Ye Qianli to ascend the stage and become the Arena Lord of this tournament to challenge all the heroes of the realm. May the Emperor make a wise judgment?" However, at this quiet and solemn moment, Su Lianhua spoke with an especially soft yet firm voice.

"Now, I don't agree with you saying that. What do you mean by representing me on the stage? You should be saying that you're throwing a brick to attract jade, okay? If you want to be the first to go on stage, I won't fight with you, but please use your words properly," Ye Qianli retorted after hearing that. She was in a bad mood.

"Tch..."

Ye Qianli's words immediately caused a commotion once more.

Ye Fengtian even wanted to strangle this evil girl to death. His trusted subordinate, who was signaled by his meaningful gaze, squeezed into the crowd at lightning speed. He wanted to drag this brainless Ye Qianli away quickly to prevent her stirring up trouble again.

However—

"Elder Sister is right to lecture me. Hua'er is throwing a brick to attract jade now. Please appear on stage to give guidance after Hua'er, Elder Sister," However, Su Lianhua replied gently.

"Permission granted."

As soon as Su Lianhua finished speaking, Rong Feng made his decision. In other words, he had permitted Su Lianhua to be the first to enter the stage, and Ye Qianli would be the second?!

What was going on?

He clearly knew that Ye Qianli was a cripple, and yet he still allowed her to ascend the stage? He even allowed her to ascend the stage after Su Lianhua. Could it be that the emperor also felt that Ye Qianli was not a piece of trash and could really guide that talent cultivator, Su Lianhua?

It was impossible. Doctor Jiang's judgment could not be wrong! Then, there was only one possibility. The current emperor was dissatisfied with the Ye family and wanted to use this to teach the Northern Territory King a lesson.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read