Chapter 74: Fu Hanxiu Testing Her?

After all, the Medicine King Pavilion usually auctions his items only after prior review, but this Five-colored Emperor Flower was so special that he tentatively agreed.

Ye Qingran examined the Imperial Flower before her, and the first person she thought of was Fu Hanxiu.

Could it be that Fu Hanxiu is testing her?

She doesn't rule out that possibility; Ye Qingran isn't quite sure.

However, Ye Qingran couldn't help but grin.

If it really is Fu Hanxiu, then he has definitely miscalculated this time.

He could never have imagined that she, possessing Shen Nong Space and Jiu Tian Xi Rang, could replicate an identical Five-colored Emperor Flower in such a short time!

"Truly, Heaven aids me!"

Ye Qingran almost wanted to look up and laugh heartily!

As the saying goes, when you break iron shoes in search, the find comes effortlessly—exactly describing her!

Ye Qingran took the Imperial Flower out of the Black Jade Box and examined it closely.

Soon, the expression on her face stiffened.

She, unwillingly, brought the Imperial Flower closer for a serious look, and the more she stared, the darker her complexion grew!

Beside her, Zhuang Xian noticed Ye Qingran's unease and couldn't help asking, "Miss, is there something wrong with the Imperial Flower?"

Ye Qingran, looking pale, placed the Imperial Flower back into the Black Jade Box.

"This Imperial Flower has been poisoned. The toxicity is irreversible, so it can no longer be used as a medicinal material to refine a Spiritual Root," Ye Qingran said softly, her tone betraying disappointment and anger.

"What?!" Zhuang Xian's expression changed.

"Could someone be trying to frame the Miss?!"

Ye Qingran shook her head gently.

She brushed it aside a bit, considering the first possibility: this Imperial Flower belongs to Fu Hanxiu, intended to test her, but if it's merely a test, why poison it?

The second possibility: the Imperial Flower is someone else's, and the person who sent it already knows she needs it to refine a Spiritual Root pill, so they poisoned it.

Ye Qingran's face was as cold as frost and snow, her eyes full of chill.

Regardless of which possibility, none is what she wants to see.

After a while, Ye Qingran said gravely to Zhuang Xian, "For now, let's not make a fuss. Today's auction will proceed as planned, and the Imperial Flower will be auctioned as usual."

The Medicine King Pavilion was packed to capacity.

When Ye Qingran returned to the third floor, a few oddly dressed men and women brushed past her. She instinctively glanced; the leader was a man, his features hidden beneath a cloak, blurry yet exuding a strange, otherworldly handsomeness.

And moreover…

"What a heavy chill!"

Ye Qingran couldn't help but mutter.

The group entered a private box, and where they walked, frost‑tinged footprints were left on the ground.

"Ye Qingran, why are you here?!"

Ye Qingran turned toward the voice and saw Thirteenth Princess Dongfang Ling'er looking at her with disgust.

"Naturally, I'm here for the auction."

Ye Qingran replied in good spirits.

"You? What does today's auction have to do with a waste like you?"

"Princess, that's not right; you can come, so why can't I…"

"Nonsense! I, the princess, am a genius, and you're a waste!"

"Genius? I didn't see that."

"You…"

Dongfang Ling'er was visibly angry.

"Ye Qingran, you scoundrel, how dare you insult me! Guards, seize her!"

At Dongfang Ling'er's command, the guards behind her, with hostile expressions, closed in on Ye Qingran.

"Miss Ye, I'm sorry for the offense!"

"If I recall correctly, the Medicine King Pavilion forbids violence, so it seems the Thirteenth Princess wants to be thrown out."

Ye Qingran said with a faint smile.

"Hand, come over."

The hand nearby, seeing Ye Qingran call him, brightened instantly and rushed over.

If the Xiao Family were present, they could recognize him at a glance; this hand is the same one who went to the Xiao Family three days ago to deliver a message.

"Miss, how may I assist you?"

The group kept a calm face, but inside they were roaring.

"Ah! The Valley Master is speaking to me!"

This is his first time being this close to the Valley Master!

The Valley Master is so beautiful!

"This Thirteenth Princess wants to lay a hand on me; according to the Medicine King Pavilion's rules, should we ask her to leave?"

Ye Qingran didn't know the hand's little inner thoughts.

"What?"

The hand instantly became angry.

"What kind of damn princess dares to bully the Valley Master!"

"What a twisted brat!"

"Thirteenth Princess, even if you are the Princess of Donglin, here in the Medicine King Pavilion the rules are set by me! How dare you break our pavilion's regulations, you'll pay for it!"

Swish-swish-swish~

Just as the clerk's words fell, several Dark Guards emerged from the shadows, each with an astonishing aura.

Dongfang Ling'er's face turned deathly pale.

"I haven't even touched her!"

She protested vehemently.

"You already gave the order; if Miss Ye hadn't promptly sought my help, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

The clerk remained neither humble nor arrogant, showing no fear despite the other party being a princess of a nation.

The people of Yaowang Valley have their own pride, for they possess this capital!

"You have gall! I am a princess of Donglin Country! Treat me like this, and I will have Father Emperor destroy you!"

The clerk sneered: "Even if the Donglin Emperor himself were to appear today, one must still obey the rules of Medicine King Pavilion!"

Dozens of countries, big and small, in the Central Region, with so many capitals—which nation would not wish for its own capital to host a Medicine King Pavilion?

To the nations of the Central Region, being able to open a Medicine King Pavilion in one's own country is a capital worth boasting about!

If Donglin Country were not the Valley Master's homeland, why would they have opened a Medicine King Pavilion in such an insignificant little nation?

Are they that busy?

He actually wants to see whether the Donglin Emperor has the gall to offend Medicine King Pavilion over a mere princess!

The arrogantly proud Dongfang Ling'er was seized by the Dark Guards, like a criminal; struggling, her hair disheveled, she looked especially disheveled.

Many of those who had come to attend the auction, upon hearing the clerk's words, were secretly alarmed.

They knew Medicine King Pavilion answered directly to Yaowang Valley, fearing no imperial authority, yet they had never seen Medicine King Pavilion openly clash with members of the Imperial Clan.

Even a lowly clerk dares to speak so frankly in front of everyone?

Their Valley Master must be pulling strings from the heavens, right?

"Royal brother, save me!"

In desperation, Dongfang Ling'er shouted toward a private booth.

The people inside quickly came out.

Leading them was Dongfang Qingxuan, followed by Ye Huanhuan, Ye Sisi, and Gu Dongliu.

Only Xiao Feng was missing.

Seeing Dongfang Ling'er being held, Dongfang Qingxuan's brows furrowed slightly, yet his face remained calm.

"I don't know what Ling'er did to offend Medicine King Pavilion."

The clerk calmly explained: "The Thirteenth Princess struck Miss Ye within Medicine King Pavilion, breaking our rules, so we intend to escort her out."

Dongfang Qingxuan's tone turned harsh: "A request? Is that what Medicine King Pavilion calls a request? It's no better than dragging off a criminal! Ling'er is, after all, a princess of a nation; doing this, you hardly put the Donglin imperial family in your eyes."

Even if Donglin Country is weak, it is still a nation; as a member of the imperial clan, to be treated thus in one's own country would lose the clan's face.

The clerk remained calm: "If the Thirteenth Princess cooperates obediently, we wouldn't need to do this."

The implication is that the Thirteenth Princess's sorry state is entirely her own doing.

Dongfang Qingxuan's gaze toward Dongfang Ling'er sank slightly.

At that moment, Zhuang Xian hurried over upon hearing the commotion.

Seeing Zhuang Xian, the manager, arrive, Dongfang Qingxuan's expression tightened and his posture instantly lowered.

"I am the Donglin Crown Prince, Dongfang Qingxuan; my royal sister is young and ignorant, having offended Medicine King Pavilion—I wonder if you could spare her for my sake?"

This bastard is the very crown prince who dared to have two lovers and betray his lady.

Zhuang Xian sized up Dongfang Qingxuan up and down, his eyes inscrutable.

Appearance, average.

Build, average.

Demeanor, average.

Talent, average.

……

In short, this person is just average.

How could he possibly be worthy of their lady?