[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens":3,"chapter-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-27":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 Billion Citizens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270902,4434,"Chapter 27: The Rainbow Cup","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-27",27,"\u003Cp>Under the shade of an oak tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Respected Dianxia , I am Karon Hughes, Viscount of Black Wolf Domain, honored beyond measure that Your Highness has graced my lands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon placed his right hand on his left shoulder, then bowed slightly, smiling warmly with humble deference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a noble, even if the other’s status were supreme, he need not kneel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, unless the other was his sovereign, the King, or the Eternal Divine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu raised his hand slightly, gesturing for the other to be seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your gracious seat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Karon thanked him and sat, he quietly observed the other’s appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pale skin, long slender fingers, unmistakable noble bearing (student-like demeanor), clothing made of obviously high-grade material though he couldn’t identify the style (modern attire).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From these details, Karon had already concluded that regardless of whether this Dianxia ’s identity was genuine, he must have come from an extremely wealthy family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond that, he stole a glance at the other’s obsidian-black flawless eyes and perfect profile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Dianxia  was just as handsome as he was!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Karon already trusted half of this Dianxia ’s identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, striking beauty was one of the universal traits among nobles across the entire continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the founder of the noble system, Duke Cameron, once said—“The noble must be beautiful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, may I ask your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon asked with a smile, his voice low and respectful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xia Mingyu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu picked up the wooden wine bottle and poured wine into Karon’s cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are far too kind!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This gesture startled Karon; he quickly took the bottle himself to pour, while also refilling the other’s cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia—Karon carefully combed through his memories but found no noble family bearing the surname Xia on the continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was certain no Xia family existed in the Western Continent; had one truly existed, such a unique noble surname would have been known to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he truly must be a prince from the super-kingdom ruling the entire Eastern Continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, still be cautious—conduct one final test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Mingyu, to express my gratitude for your arrival, I have prepared a gift for you—may I present it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon asked gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.” Xia Mingyu replied coolly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many words invite mistakes; better to speak little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I shall fetch the gift at once—please wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon rose from his chair, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several minutes later, he returned carrying an exquisite wooden box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, this is the gift I prepared for you.” Karon placed the box on the stone table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu carefully examined the wooden box, noticing a lifelike fox head carved on its lid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This was a blessing gift, specially given to me by my late mother-in-law, Countess Martha, when I married my wife, Danielle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon introduced it in a solemn tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xia Mingyu’s eyes flickered with quiet anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, in the medieval era, a noble count was undeniably powerful and influential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blessing gift she had carefully prepared for her only daughter’s wedding must surely be a priceless treasure, unmatched in value across this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such as a dragon egg, a magical potion, a magical artifact, or a spellbook—common wonders in fantasy novels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing Xia Mingyu’s anticipation, Karon smiled faintly and slowly opened the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beautiful wine cup emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crafted entirely of translucent crystal, its walls thin as cicada wings, its rim smooth and rounded, sunlight passing through it refracted into a dazzling spectrum of colors—as if the rainbow itself had been crushed and woven into its glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Truly magnificent!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he opened the box, Karon’s emerald-green eyes closely watched Xia Mingyu’s facial expression, missing not a single micro-change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This crystal cup, known as the “Rainbow Cup,” was a treasured heirloom of the Martha family; once, a noble marquis had offered over a hundred gold Sol to buy it, yet Countess Martha had refused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when his wife, Martha’s sole daughter Danielle, married did she bestow it as a wedding blessing—making his wedding the talk of southern nobility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, if this Prince Mingyu were truly a prince from the Eastern Continent’s super-kingdom, he might admire the Rainbow Cup—but he would not be astonished, let alone show greed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was his ultimate test of identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, unexpectedly, Xia Mingyu’s expression upon seeing this treasure was neither admiration nor awe—but\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s it!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at the glass cup inside the box, Xia Mingyu’s lip twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This thing looked exactly like those cheap nine-yuan shipping-free cups on Pinduoduo—the kind even old people hated as outdated trash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing his inner disappointment, Xia Mingyu forced a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was a gift from his host; acting too disappointed would be impolite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He completely dismisses the Rainbow Cup!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the forced smile on the young man’s face, Karon felt a shock deep within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of family could raise a noble who looked down on a treasure like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Viscount, does this cup possess any special ability?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu wondered if he simply failed to recognize its value, so he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This stumped Karon. Special ability? Wasn’t its beauty enough?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um—the Rainbow Cup enhances the sweetness of any liquid it holds,” Karon finally blurted out after a moment of thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Xia Mingyu eagerly picked up the wine bottle and filled the Rainbow Cup with deep red fruit wine, then drank it all at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu’s face inevitably betrayed a hint of disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a wonderful gift… heh.” He forced a compliment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was still on his host’s land—even if the gift were a rock, he’d say the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s real! It must be real!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man—this noble Dianxia —must truly be the prince from the Eastern Continent’s super-kingdom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon, who had witnessed every micro-expression on Xia Mingyu’s face, screamed inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, as a noble’s basic instinct, he swiftly assessed the value of this discovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heir of a super-kingdom from another continent had accidentally come to him—possibly fleeing enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if handled well, this was an unparalleled opportunity!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even ignoring the value of the kingdom itself, with its 1.4 billion subjects, the prince himself was already immensely valuable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether his “college student” new mortal class, his knowledge of another continent, or the mysterious powers granted by his noble bloodline—each alone would command the utmost respect from all Western Continent nobles, even the King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Karon Hughes had always seen himself as a lone wolf—but today, he wondered if he might try being a “dog” like his mount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please vote for monthly tickets~ One more chapter coming soon\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1110,"2026-06-19T22:18:43.340Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","126362e80a8f4cf1761e4a9a5be134ae86bb04eb556419ca3c9b1bd897e452a0","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-28","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-26",186,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-cover.jpg"]