Chapter 39: He is the Fifth Prince of the Heavenly Phoenix Nation, Xue Chen

After getting ready, Ning Shengsheng went to the Cold Jade Hall. She curtsied.

“Greetings, Older Brother.”

“An’an, why are you…”

Ning Xuan swallowed the rest of his words. She usually dressed so flamboyantly, but today, when he had specifically asked her to dress up, she had come looking like a plain scallion.

That’s right. Ning Shengsheng was wearing a scallion-green, chest-high ruqun with a white, thin gauze scarf wrapped around her arms, making her look like a scallion tied with a string.

“An’an, this is the eldest senior brother of the Qingling Sect, Ling Hegui. Say hello.”

Ning Xuan pointed to the man on his left. The man had a cold and handsome face, his eyes filled with a righteous aura. He was dressed in the black and white sect uniform, with a long sword on his back. His sword was a little wider than a normal sword.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Ling.”

She curtsied while secretly sizing him up.

Ling Hegui nodded. “I have heard that Princess Ning An was doted on by His Majesty since she was little. Seeing you today, you are indeed charming and lovely, with a noble air.”

Tsk. He had a face that didn’t look like it could socialize, yet he was so good with words. As expected of the future sect leader of the Qingling Sect.

Hearing someone praise his dear sister, Ning Xuan was naturally pleased. He waved his hand and ordered Shuangxi to bring out some rare treasures.

“Hegui, take a look and see what you like.”

Ling Hegui declined several times, but he could not refuse his warm hospitality. The two men hit it off immediately, as if they were ready to become sworn brothers on the spot.

Ning Shengsheng sat in the corner, eating melon seeds. Thinking that these two would be love rivals in the future, she found it incredibly exciting. One was the future sect leader of the Qingling Sect, a proud sword cultivator who knew the ways of the world but was not of the world. The other was the ruler of the Great Ning Dynasty, charming, arrogant, and unrestrained by the world. And they were both entangled in an ambiguous relationship with the original female lead, breaking up and getting back together. A love-struck love triangle, plus the original female lead’s white-moonlight senior brother. The clichés were maxed out!

The more Ning Shengsheng thought about it, the more excited she became. She wished Yun Huaiyue would appear right now.

“Hegui, you choose first.”

After giving his instructions, Ning Xuan strode over to Ning Shengsheng’s side and bumped her shoulder, whispering, “Is it necessary? You like that boy’s face so much? Tsk, you’re drooling.”

“Quick, wipe it!”

Ning Shengsheng: …

She quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her mouth. Songgao and Zaoni were covering their mouths to stifle their laughter.

“Older Brother, I don’t like his face.”

“Then what was with that dazed look you had just now?” Ning Xuan was anxious.

“Oh, you’re mistaken.” Ning Shengsheng said offhandedly, “I was just thinking of Xue Chen then.”

“…”

Alright, so his efforts were in vain.

What kind of love potion had Xue Chen given his little sister? The dignified, chosen one of the Qingling Sect couldn’t compare to a hostage prince from a nearly fallen nation. Was that right?!

“If Ling Hegui isn’t enough to impress you, in a few days, I’ll personally take you to the Qingling Sect to see that Hua Qingxue.”

“No need!”

Ning Xuan, acting like a matchmaker instead of an emperor.

Over there, Ling Hegui had casually chosen a magical artifact. He walked over to discuss business.

“Your Majesty, the mirror demon escaped yesterday. I chased it all the way, but it disappeared in Qionglin Garden.”

“May I have your permission to search?”

“Of course.” Ning Xuan’s narrow eyes blinked. “You’re not familiar with this place. Have An’an show you around.”

The emperor, his matchmaking heart not dead, had Ning Shengsheng reluctantly accept the assignment. “Senior Brother Ling, I’ll take you to the Moon-Embracing Pavilion first.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Ning Xuan stroked his chin and looked at the two of them, asking Shuangxi, “Don’t they look good together?”

Shuangxi thought to himself, The princess likes Hostage Prince Xue more. But he didn’t dare to say the truth, for fear of losing his head.

“They do! They’re a perfect match! Our princess is as beautiful as a flower, with a graceful bearing. Ling Hegui is the one who is lacking.”

Shuangxi beamed, his small eyes squinting into slits as he spouted compliments without a second thought.

Ning Xuan thought seriously. “You’re right. Even the most outstanding man in the world is not worthy of An’an.”

Shuangxi kept his mouth shut. Having served this young emperor for many years, he knew what to say and what not to say.

…

Ning Shengsheng and Ling Hegui walked in silence. As they neared the entrance of the Moon-Embracing Pavilion, Ling Hegui glanced around. “Princess, did you see any black smoke yesterday, or anything unusual?”

“No. I had roasted lamb with Older Brother yesterday and went to bed early.”

Ning Shengsheng was not at all flustered. She had had the mirror demon hide far away long ago.

Ling Hegui’s peripheral vision was fixed on Ning Shengsheng’s expression. Seeing she didn’t seem to be lying, but… the Demon-Slaying Sword on his back was clearly sensing demonic energy. Could it be that Princess Ning An didn’t even know that a demon had been in her courtyard?

“This is the Moon-Embracing Pavilion. I’m going to have some tea. Senior Immortal Ling, please take your time to investigate. I’ll take you to the Qinfang Garden later.”

“Alright.”

Ning Shengsheng sat down in the pavilion and fanned herself with a cattail fan. Ling Hegui held a compass and walked through every part of the courtyard. He finally stopped in front of Ning Shengsheng’s room.

The compass didn’t move, but the Demon-Slaying Sword on his back flew out of its sheath.

“What’s going on?” Ning Shengsheng feigned fear, inwardly praying that it wasn’t that mirror demon fellow.

“Princess, I need to go inside and have a look.”

After speaking, Ling Hegui pushed open the door and entered without giving her a chance to refuse.

Ning Shengsheng followed him in. The room was empty. She let out a sigh of relief. “Senior Brother Ling, your sword is so powerful. Did it sense something?”

“The Demon-Slaying Sword can smell demonic energy.”

“However, there is no demon in the princess’s room. For safety’s sake, it would be best to move to another place to live.”

Ling Hegui was suspicious. It was impossible for the Demon-Slaying Sword to be wrong. Unless… a demon had been in the room, and a very powerful one at that, to have been able to escape the compass’s detection. His sword could smell it, but it couldn’t track it.

Knowing that continuing to stay here would be fruitless, Ling Hegui sheathed his Demon-Slaying Sword. “Your Highness, let’s go to the next place.”

“Alright!”

Ning Shengsheng started her interrogation.

“Senior Brother Ling, you sword cultivators are so amazing. I hear that sword cultivators of the same realm are stronger than other cultivators.”

“How did the mirror demon manage to escape?”

In a large sect, there were always people who formed cliques and engaged in internal struggles. These were not things that could be told to outsiders.

“The disciple on duty was careless for a moment.”

“I thought so. The demon must have used some sinister trick. If I were to encounter the mirror demon, I would be eaten, wouldn’t I?”

She patted her chest in mock fear.

Ling Hegui, seeing she had no cultivation whatsoever, agreed. “The princess is a person of great fortune. It is fortunate that you have not encountered a demon.”

“I’m so grateful to Senior Brother Ling today. Now that you’ve investigated, I feel much more at ease!”

Just as she was stepping out, she ran into Xue Chen, who was returning.

Xue Chen saw her talking and laughing with the man with the sword, and his pupils instantly turned cold.

“Your Highness, where are you going?”

“You’re back! Older Brother has asked me to accompany this disciple from the Qingling Sect on a tour of the courtyard.”

Xue Chen’s gaze swept over the sword on Ling Hegui’s back. He immediately knew that this was the eldest senior brother of the Qingling Sect.

At the same time, Ling Hegui was also looking at Xue Chen, and the Demon-Slaying Sword on his back was stirring again. He asked politely, “And who might this be?”

“His name is Xue Chen. He is the Fifth Prince of the Heavenly Phoenix Nation!”

Ning Shengsheng answered for Xue Chen.

She said “Fifth Prince,” not “hostage prince.”

The displeasure that had just risen in Xue Chen’s heart instantly vanished when she subconsciously protected him.

“I am Xue Chen.”