Chapter 227

Are you trying to match her with the National Master?

Dongfang Ling'er looked at the handsome man at the head seat, her expression shy, but when she glanced at Ye Qingran she reverted to her willful and domineering self, her brows knit, "Ye Qingran, I bet with you!"

……

Nobody expected Ye Qingran to draw her sword, and she even came into conflict with the Thirteenth Princess.

Zhao Shi saw Ye Qingran not only want to draw her sword but also make a bet with the Thirteenth Princess, her face full of contempt. She turned to the grim-faced Ye Yu and asked with ill intent: "Sir, who do you think will win the Bet Agreement between Ye Qingran and the Thirteenth Princess?"

Ye Yu didn't even think, impatiently saying: "Do we even need to ask? How could that waste possibly draw a sword? She's sure to lose! She has no talent at all, yet she likes to show off and embarrass herself."

Zhao Shi smiled satisfied.

She loved hearing Ye Yu scold Ye Qingran; each time it made her especially satisfied.

Ye Qingran reached out, gripped the hilt, gave a light pull, and then everyone saw a flash of silver light; that sword, which many had expended the strength of nine oxen and two tigers to wield, even causing Ye Huanhuan to make a fool of herself, was actually drawn out so easily.

Without any hindrance!

Er…

As Ye Qingran held the treasure sword and admired it back and forth, everyone was still in a dazed state.

On Xia Zhimeng's side, she had just stood up, clenched her fists, cleared her throat, ready to cheer for her sister Ran, but just as she finished preparing, she realized everything had already ended.

She could only stare at that treasure sword helplessly.

What the hell?!

Zhao Shi's smug expression hadn't faded before she froze there; Mu Qingrou had already leaned back in her chair, ready for the show, but the next instant she sat up straight…

All of this happened too suddenly!

Beyond everyone's expectations!

"Indeed a fine sword!"

Ye Qingran praised it, satisfaction flashing in her eyes. Then she casually performed a few sword flourishes; the sword's sound as it split the air struck the soul, and as the sword intent flowed, its sharpness was fully revealed.

Only then did the crowd come to their senses, looking at the treasure sword glowing with silver light in Ye Qingran's hand, their shock evident.

"Did I see wrong? Otherwise, was this sword really drawn by Ye Qingran?!"

"What's going on? How did Ye Qingran manage this?!"

……

In the past, when Ye Qingran tried to draw her sword, they just laughed, thinking she was merely playing and couldn't possibly draw it. But now, seeing this scene, their hearts were filled with shock.

Ye Huanhuan stood up in shock, and even under her cloak one could feel the jealousy radiating from her.

Something she couldn't do even after making a fool of herself, Ye Qingran easily accomplished?

She, she hates it so much!

Damn Ye Qingran, why do you always show up?!

Ye Qingran raised her sword, pointing at the dazed Thirteenth Princess, and said softly: "Thirteenth Princess, I've drawn this sword; accept the bet and concede!"

Dongfang Ling'er's expression changed, she pointed at Ye Qingran and shouted: "Ye Qingran, did you do this on purpose?! You knew from the start you could draw the treasure sword, deliberately luring me into the trap?!"

"Whether I did it on purpose or not, is that important? What matters is that you, Thirteenth Princess, lost. So hurry up and perform a self‑slap for everyone; we're all waiting!"

Self‑slap?

Impossible!

"Ye Qingran, I am a proper princess!"

Empress Gu naturally wouldn't let Ye Qingran have her way, and said: "Ye Qingran, Ling'er just misspoke; don't hold it against her."

Ye Qingran gently shook her head: "The Thirteenth Princess has already come of age; she should be responsible for her own words. Empress, your excessive favoritism will spoil people."

Ye Qingran paused, then added: "Furthermore, as a princess of a state, she should set an example!" Ye Qingran's lips curled slightly, then she looked at the Donglin Emperor and said slowly: "Your Majesty, there are still honored guests from the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect present today. If they see our Donglin Kingdom's princess breaking her word and gaining weight from false speech, it would spread and harm our kingdom's image!"

The Donglin Emperor's brows furrowed.

He actually also didn't want Dongfang Ling'er to slap herself in public. After all, as a princess, doing so would lose face for the royal family. But after Ye Qingran said that, he couldn't refute.

"Ling'er!" he shouted in a low voice, and Dongfang Ling'er's body stiffened.

"You should pay the price for your words!"

"No, Father…" Dongfang Ling'er shook her head desperately, unwilling to agree.

Ye Qingran said softly: "It seems the Thirteenth Princess has grown up and has her own ideas."

As soon as she said that, the Donglin Emperor's face darkened: "Are you trying to defy the edict?!"

Dongfang Ling'er's face turned deathly pale instantly.

She stood up and slapped herself humiliatingly.

Ye Qingran pressed on aggressively: "Thirteenth Princess, are you slapping yourself or just touching yourself?"

Dongfang Ling'er gritted her teeth, the hatred in her eyes seeming to solidify.

However, under Ye Qingran's powerful aura, Dongfang Ling'er had to increase the force. For a moment, the crisp sound echoed in the night of the back garden.

The crowd's gazes upon Ye Qingran were rather complex; only later did they realize that the rhythm of tonight's palace banquet seemed to be under her control!

Once a despised waste, when did she become such a formidable figure?

……

Dongfang Ling'er's self‑slap performance hadn't even finished when a commotion came from outside the Yuhua Yuan.

Hearing the commotion, Ye Huanhuan's eyes flashed and the corner of her mouth slowly curled into a cold arc.

Ye Qingran, your good days are over!

The commotion outside drew everyone's attention; the guards reported that the Grand General of the Cavalry requested an audience.

"Meng Yuan has come; let him in." the Donglin Emperor said with a smile. Tonight's banquet had actually invited Meng Yuan, but because Meng Yao went missing, he didn't attend.

Soon, Meng Yuan led Meng Qian and several deputy generals striding into the Yuhua Yuan; these people had faces as dark as water, their iron‑blood aura instantly filling every corner, and the festive atmosphere plummeted to freezing point.

Meng Yuan, what are you doing? Tonight's banquet, you're dressed like this and brought so many talisman generals—those who don't know would think you're here to fight!

Meng Yuan's expression did not change; he knelt before the Donglin Emperor and said, "I disturb Your Majesty's refined pleasure, I hope Your Majesty will forgive me. However, I have come tonight not to attend the banquet."

Having his refined pleasure spoiled, the Donglin Emperor was not pleased, saying, "You're not here for the banquet—then what are you here for?"

Meng Yuan stretched out his hand, pointing at Ye Qingran.

"I, your subject, have come to arrest the criminal Ye Qingran!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar.

"Arrest the criminal Ye Qingran?"

Countless gazes fell upon Ye Qingran, wondering how she, who had been fine, had become the criminal spoken of by the Piao Qi Jiangjun.

The Donglin Emperor was also at a loss, asking doubtfully, "What exactly is happening? Meng Yuan, tell me clearly—how did Ye Qingran become a criminal?"

Meng Yuan closed his eyes; his dark complexion was extremely wan, his lips cracked and bleeding—clearly he had been utterly exhausted these past few days.

He glanced back at Meng Qian behind him; Meng Qian stepped forward a few paces and also knelt down, her usually spirited face now looking quite wan.

"Your Majesty, my sister Meng Yao went missing a few days ago; the Zhen Guo Gong Fu and the Yuncheng where my brother-in-law resides both dispatched large numbers of people, combing through Xiliang city, and finally, just now, they found her."

The Donglin Emperor's eyes lit up, "Found her? Isn't that good news?"

A great pain flashed across Meng Qian's eyes as she bit her lower lip, remaining silent for a while before replying, "My sister is dead; what we found is a charred corpse!"