"I understand, Young Master Ye!" Yao Yao nodded gracefully. Seeing that Ye Jingyu had nothing further to say, she finally rose and headed for the stairs leading down...

"Hey, hey, beautiful Yao Yao, you haven't even told me your phone number! Oh, wait, your contact information. You can't leave just yet..." Seeing Yao Yao rise to depart, Liang Xiaoke leaped directly from the table, intending to pursue her, but was caught in a firm grip by Ye Jingyu.

"She is a courtesan of the Huamanlou; you can seek her out anytime. Right now, help me figure out what to do about tomorrow's hunt."

"What hunt?"

"It's a royal hunt organized by the Crown Prince. Many imperial relatives will be attending, and Ling'er has also been invited. That detestable Xiao Geng is now a First Rank Marquis and Ling'er's fiancé, so he will certainly be there. However, I, as a First Rank Earl, have not received a single invitation!" As he spoke, Ye Jingyu was clearly displeased. Wasn't this plainly setting up an opportunity for Ling'er and Xiao Geng? The most galling part was that he couldn't attend, which deeply annoyed him.

"Can't you just show up uninvited?" Liang Xiaoke rolled her eyes. "It's just an invitation. Are you the type of person who waits for a formal summons?"

"Uh, I still have a certain status, don't I? If I crash the party, it would be too awkward, wouldn't it? How am I supposed to maintain my standing in the Nanyun Empire after that?" Ye Jingyu spread his hands wide.

"Status? If you truly had status, you would have already been invited, not cast aside! From where I stand, this is clearly the Crown Prince getting petty revenge. Since he can't deal with you directly, he's stabbing you where it hurts from another angle. Who in the entire court doesn't know you favor Princess Yongle? And Xiao Geng sees you as a thorn in his side. This is obviously staged to create an opening for Xiao Geng and needle you!" Liang Xiaoke gazed towards the street below, where Yao Yao's figure was slowly vanishing at the far end of the road.

"Uh, should I really just attend uninvited?" Ye Jingyu looked utterly lost.

"Of course. Are you expecting the Crown Prince to mail you an invitation? Brother, that woman is yours to deal with as you see fit. I have something pressing to attend to now!" Liang Xiaoke brushed off Ye Jingyu's hand and turned to walk downstairs.

"What urgent business do you have?" Ye Jingyu asked, his face blank with confusion...

"Heh heh, this old fellow has spotted his springtime! I must strive for my own romance now—ah, sacred love! Bye-bye!" With that, Liang Xiaoke’s figure disappeared down the stairwell.

Watching the direction Liang Xiaoke vanished, Ye Jingyu felt a lingering bewilderment. Did that guy really fall for Yao Yao? He wouldn't try anything forceful, would he? But recalling Liang Xiaoke's words, he shook his head. If he actually scurried over there like a panicked fool, it would be too humiliating. Even if he went, he had to make a grand entrance...

Qishan was the largest mountain range within hundreds of miles of the Cloud Capital. It had once been a simple place for commoners to gather firewood and hunt, but since Luo Xiaofeng declared himself Emperor half a year ago, it had become the royal hunting grounds. The entire vicinity of Mount Qishan was guarded by troops, making it nearly impossible for ordinary folk to approach. However, as conflicts continually escalated and the Nanyun Empire suffered repeated catastrophes, nobody dared to complain much anymore.

Today was the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, traditionally the Double Ninth Festival, though the Dou Hun Continent did not observe this holiday. The blazing sun hung high in the sky, occasionally tempered by gusts of autumn wind that kept the temperature from becoming too oppressive.

A contingent of the Imperial Guard, numbering at least three thousand strong, escorted a group of richly dressed nobles and dignitaries towards Mount Qishan. This was the hunting procession...

At the very front rode the Crown Prince, Luo Haitian, his expression smug. He was clad in a bright yellow brocade robe, his mount a sixth-tier Desolate Beast, the One-Horned Dragon Lion—the very illusionary beast once belonging to Chi Yi.

Behind him followed Xiao Geng in gleaming white armor, and Qin Yunxiao in a white brocade robe. Qin Yunxiao rode a red Dragon Horse whose hooves churned the earth at a pace suggesting it was at least a fourth-tier Desolate Beast. Xiao Geng rode a pure white steed; though not a Desolate Beast, it was a treasured horse that had accompanied him for many years, having witnessed countless battles. It showed no fear of the majesty exuded by the Dragon Horse and the One-Horned Dragon Lion beside it, even seeming eager to contend, though Xiao Geng firmly held it in check.

Beside Luo Haitian were Luo Ruofeng in a black dragon robe, Luo Muyang in a dark yellow brocade robe, and Luo Hailong, who closely flanked the Crown Prince. As for the Second Young Master, Luo Muyan, he was far away in Blazing Flame City, and the Seventh Young Master, Luo Xiaoyuan, remained in the Northern Border to guard the Hu Kingdom, which Xiao Geng had utterly devastated. The Sixth Young Master, Luo Tiancheng, had not come due to illness...

Luo Haitian, as the eldest brother and the organizer of this hunt, beamed with satisfaction, constantly boasting to his younger brothers about his recent achievements. Whether it was Luo Ruofeng, Luo Muyang, or the other young lords and lesser dukes, they all nodded and smiled at the Crown Prince’s words, offering incessant praise about how benevolent and magnificent their elder brother was... In short, it was all empty, flattering talk...

As for Xiao Geng, he kept turning his head to glance back at the group of women protected in the center. They were princesses and high-ranking county mistresses, numbering over thirty in total. Each wore practical riding attire, looking spirited and cheerful, chatting animatedly amongst themselves. At the very heart of the cluster was Luo Ling'er. This was not only because she was Luo Xiaofeng’s most beloved daughter but also because she was soon to marry Xiao Geng, the most promising young general in the Nanyun Empire... Indeed, Xiao Geng was not only handsome but also skilled in both military strategy and the arts—the ideal prince charming in the eyes of these young ladies. The fact that he was about to marry Luo Ling'er naturally caused a stir.

However, the usually playful Luo Ling'er seemed utterly joyless today. She kept dodging the glances Xiao Geng directed her way, her face etched with deep preoccupation... The thought that Ye Jingyu was absent today, coupled with the fact that little Tao Tao had vanished somewhere that morning, filled her heart with worry...

Xiao Geng, noticing Luo Ling'er's expression, felt a pang of confusion. He was about to disregard propriety and approach her when he sensed a tremor ahead. He instinctively turned back and saw, several thousand meters away, a massive blade aura shooting towards the sky. Immediately after, a sword aura tore through the air, colliding with the blade aura, resulting in a deafening boom that kicked up clouds of dust... The colossal noise startled everyone present. The Imperial Guards quickly surged forward, completely shielding the Crown Prince and his entourage...

(Ten chapters today, over twenty thousand characters. Regarding future updates: updates will be at least six thousand characters daily, though usually closer to eight or nine thousand, with occasional bursts. My upload times are always in the early morning, so I cannot guarantee when they appear. Please be patient! I won't waste more words; please give your support. Star is working hard on the novel! Flash)