Chapter 52: Did You Leave Your Brain at Home?

After a few seconds of silence, someone sneered.

"I heard Ye Qingran's talent is mediocre; today the youth talents of Xiliang have gathered here, so Ye Qingran probably didn't dare to come, right?"

"Rumor says her looks were ruined? Could it be she's too ugly to show up?"

"I think Ye Qingran looks down on everyone, relying on being the Dingyuan General's Daughter, and refuses to give the Crown Prince any respect!"

……

Ye Huanhuan remained unruffled.

Because she knew Ye Qingran had arrived. She had secretly set a trap, deliberately making Ye Qingran late to leave a bad impression on everyone.

Just as the crowd chattered, a clear voice pierced the tangled light and shadow, reaching every ear.

"What's everyone talking about? So lively?"

The crisp tone, like a mountain spring, stood out among the lingering sounds, as if a fresh post‑rain breeze blew into a stale, polluted room.

Everyone instinctively glanced toward the entrance.

Beyond the screen's candle shadows, a figure paced forward, half‑visible, hazy.

After stepping out from the screen, the view cleared.

A woman approached slowly, wearing an ordinary white long dress, its two ribbons trailing behind her, fluttering as she walked.

The night was like water, the moon bright and the stars sparse.

She seemed to walk on the moon, each step birthing lotus blossoms.

Already stunningly beautiful, she wore no makeup, her bare face turned upward.

Moonlight bathed her, holy as a descending goddess, untouched by any dust.

Her bearing was simple and elegant, standing apart from the world.

Everyone present, no matter how fine their silk robes or elaborate makeup, looked dull at this moment, even becoming unbearably vulgar.

The pinnacle of earthly beauty, like spring water bringing forth a lotus.

There is a kind of beauty in this world that belongs to one who has shed all superficial splendor.

Even with the simplest attire and a bare face, she outright outshone everyone present, making them appear as ordinary, mediocre mortals!

Ye Huanhuan suddenly felt her own magenta finery was painfully glaring.

Compared with Ye Qingran, she thought herself especially vulgar.

She wished she could instantly change into a plain garment!

"Ye Qingran, you're late! The Crown Prince's Welcome Banquet, and you dare be late—perhaps you don't regard the Crown Prince?"

Zhao Yan's gaze fixed on Ye Qingran, jealousy pouring freely from her eyes.

Ye Qingran's eyes lightly swept over her.

"Did you leave your brain at home when you went out?"

"Ye Qingran, what do you mean?"

"The Crown Prince's invitation said today at the hour of Xu; I ask you, has the hour of Xu arrived?"

Zhao Yan was speechless.

At this moment the hour of You was ending, and the hour of Xu had not yet arrived.

After a moment's thought, she added, "How can you be later than the Crown Prince himself?"

Ye Qingran replied dismissively, "If the Crown Prince wants to arrive early, that's his own business. Do you think I need to find someone to watch him and see when he comes?"

Zhao Yan gritted her teeth, "What a needless entanglement!"

"Enough. Tonight is the Crown Prince's Welcome Banquet; there's no need for such fuss. Crown Prince, you agree, right?" Ye Huanhuan maintained a composed demeanor, bearing the poise of a lady host.

Dongfang Qingxuan said, "Fine. Ye Qingran, find a seat for yourself."

Everyone, upon hearing, broke into gloating smiles.

If Ling Shaoyang, the unruly bully, weren't here, Ye Qingran could have sat alone at a table.

Now, only the seat beside Ling Shaoyang remained.

Ye Qingran would have to stand, or share a table with Ling Shaoyang.

Ling Shaoyang's temper and misdeeds are known to all.

The last person who provoked him met a particularly tragic fate.

Sensing the crowd's ill‑intent, Ye Qingran lifted an eyebrow, looked around, and saw at the far end a youth lying prone, snoring.

Could it be that this person has some issue?

Ye Qingran pondered, then walked calmly toward that seat.

Just as she was about to sit, the sleeping youth lifted his face; his drowsy handsome features bore impatience, and a cold glint flashed from his narrowed eyes.

"Get out!"

The crowd erupted in laughter, their faces eager for the spectacle.

Ye Qingran was truly unlucky, having provoked the bully of Ling Wangfu.

Now she's doomed!

"A Ran, come sit over here."

Not far away, Ye Li and a disciple of the Xuan Yuan Sword Sect sat at a table.

Ye Qingran averted her gaze as if ignoring it.

"Miss Ye, if you don't mind, you may squeeze over to my side."

Not far away, Gu Dongliu waved his fan, a dashing smile on his face.

The banquet guests were also stratified. A young master of Gu Dongliu's rank could have a whole table to himself, while slightly lesser family scions shared tables with others.

The crowd's expressions changed.

It's not strange for Ye Li to invite Ye Qingran.

He is Yun Sui Feng's adopted son, and he has some acquaintance with Ye Qingran.

But why would Gu Dongliu invite Ye Qingran?

"Thank you, Young Master Gu. However, I still prefer this position."

Everyone was stunned.

They secretly cursed, wondering if Ye Qingran had gone mad?

Gu Dongliu had already given her a way out, yet she actually refused?

Such behavior is truly utterly foolish!

Under the astonished gazes of everyone, Ye Qingran plopped down beside Ling Shaoyang.

Everyone instantly felt a killing aura burst forth from within Ling Shaoyang.

"Are you looking for death?" Ling Shaoyang's face was terrifyingly cold and grim.

Yet Ye Qingran showed no fear at all.

She spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"If you don't want to be lectured by your grandfather, then just sleep nicely and don't provoke me."

Upon hearing this, Ling Shaoyang's pupils first twitched slightly, then his whole body's aura became noticeably colder.

Many people who saw this scene couldn't help but feel schadenfreude.

"I dare to bet, Ye Qingran is doomed this time. Everyone knows Ling Shaoyang's temper—offend him, and you're just waiting to die."

In earlier years, many disciples from great families provoked Ling Shaoyang, and they all ended up dying miserably; horrifyingly, not even Ling Shaoyang nor Ling Wangfu suffered any repercussions.

Some say His Majesty is protecting Ling Wangfu; others say there is a huge backer behind Ling Wangfu.

No one can be sure.

Anyway, no one dares to provoke this guy.

Facing Ling Shaoyang's threats, Ye Qingran rested her chin on one hand, leisurely saying, "You don't need to scare me; it's useless. I still say the same thing: if you don't want to be scolded by your grandfather, then don't provoke me."

Ling Shaoyang gritted his teeth, but the killing intent and lethal aura around him gradually subsided.

"Xing Er, sit down, let's have a drink."

Han Xing, who had been silently following behind Ye Qingran, nodded and sat down, pouring two cups of wine.

Ye Qingran picked up the wine cup on the table, gave it a shake, and the full moon in the cup, following her motion, turned into a spray of tiny light.

After taking a sip, Ye Qingran couldn't help but furrow her brows.

Alas, what to do about missing the Peach Blossom Brew from Medicine King Valley?

Ling Shaoyang watched helplessly as Ye Qingran calmly sat beside him, drinking and eating; his expression shifted for a while, then he finally closed his eyes and slumped back in resignation.

Damn it, how does she know…

Everyone: "……"