"Little Yezi..." Luo Ling'er, casting aside all concern for her status or the whispers of others, lunged directly toward Ye Jingyu.

"Ling'er, I won!" Ye Jingyu pressed his body tightly against hers, inhaling the fragrance on her, murmuring softly into her ear.

"Mmm, you won!" Luo Ling'er whispered back.

"We can finally be together now, nothing can stop us anymore!" Ye Jingyu's voice was low, yet his spirit swelled with deep pleasure.

"Mmm!" Luo Ling'er nodded firmly, and ignoring the surprised gazes of the crowd, she lightly rose onto her toes and placed a soft kiss on Ye Jingyu's cheek.

"I love you, Little Yezi!" The words, pulled from the depths of her soul, acted like a potent elixir, instantly healing all the pain ravaging Ye Jingyu's body.

The faint, lingering warmth on his cheek sent waves of exquisite sweetness through his heart.

For the sake of the beloved, what did a little more suffering matter?

Luo Haitang froze, utterly stunned by Luo Ling'er’s audacity. It was one thing for her to steady Ye Jingyu in front of so many people, but to kiss him openly and speak such passionate words—was this truly the Ninth Sister he knew?

Luo Muyang, Luo Hailong, and the others shared the same bewildered thought, and even the princesses and county mistresses faltered. Yet, swiftly, they grasped the truth: Luo Ling'er simply loved Ye Jingyu too deeply.

After all, if any one of them had a man willing to risk death for them, they would surely behave in the exact same manner.

County Mistress Xiyue stood behind Luo Ling'er, gazing at Ye Jingyu's handsome profile and the boundless love reflected in his eyes. For some unknown reason, clear, glistening tears welled up in her own eyes and traced paths down her cheeks.

Only Luo Ruofeng’s mouth twitched violently. He muttered under his breath, "What kind of aphrodisiac did this fellow feed Ling'er? He’s managed to corrupt her to this extent, committing such a wild act in broad daylight—it’s utterly unbecoming!"

The hunt, which was meant to be a spirited affair, abruptly ended in anticlimax due to the mutual crippling of Ye Jingyu and Xiao Geng. However, neither the county mistresses nor the princes expressed any discontent; the battle between Ye Jingyu and Xiao Geng could only be described as heaven-shattering. Those accustomed to the confines of palaces and manors rarely witnessed such combat.

Especially the profound affection shared between Luo Ling'er and Ye Jingyu—that sentiment spread quickly among the gathered princesses and county mistresses. Within just a few days, every noble and official in Yunjing knew the full extent of their affair.

The Xiao family duly penned the letter to dissolve the engagement. Luo Xiaofeng, who had been deep in secluded cultivation within the imperial palace, was compelled to emerge to address the situation.

Inside the Imperial Study, Luo Xiaofeng, clad in his golden dragon robe, held the Xiao family’s betrothal annulment letter. His mouth twitched severely.

"This brat—he really knows how to cause trouble for Us? To have blown this affair up to such magnitude—does he have no regard whatsoever for the dignity of Our Imperial House?" Luo Xiaofeng’s expression betrayed no hint of anger or anything else.

"Heh, Your Majesty worries too much. In truth, whether among the common folk or within the households of the high officials, who is not praising Princess Yongle now as a spirited woman who dares to love and dares to hate?" Nan Fengyun, standing behind Luo Xiaofeng, softly interjected.

"Dares to love and dares to hate? Hmph, look at these memorials! Which one isn't criticizing her? Impropriety, utter impropriety!" Luo Xiaofeng slammed the desk heavily, displaying a look of disappointment that iron could not be forged into steel.

"Your Majesty, these are merely the stale remarks of the censors. Your Majesty is already an existence nearing transcendence; surely you wouldn't concern yourself with such trivialities?" Eunuch Yun stated placidly.

"Heh, it seems nothing escapes your notice, old friend. Then tell Me, how should this matter be handled?" Hearing Eunuch Yun's flattery, Luo Xiaofeng felt a slight lift in his mood. He was, after all, a Martial Saint; surely his perspective wasn't that of the common masses?

Deep down, despite his irritation, Luo Xiaofeng admired his daughter’s courage. She was his most beloved child, and possessing the nerve to do what others dared not—in this, she was worthy of being His daughter.

"This old servant wouldn't dare offer suggestions. However, has Your Majesty noticed the blade carried by Lord Ye?" Eunuch Yun inquired respectfully.

"Oh? I heard that day the blade erupted with intense purple light, with faint purple lightning coils tracing its edge, and within the blade itself, there resided a Blade Soul," Luo Xiaofeng frowned slightly and stated calmly.

"Precisely. Does Your Majesty recall anything about such a blade?" Eunuch Yun nodded and continued.

Luo Xiaofeng’s brow furrowed deeply as memories of that blade surfaced in his mind. Slowly, his expression shifted to astonishment.

"You mean… you mean that… that is the saber of that esteemed one?" Luo Xiaofeng found his own deduction hard to believe.

"Indeed. That is the saber of the senior Dugu Bachen from three hundred years ago—the Heavenly Venerate Blade!" Eunuch Yun nodded gently, articulating each word with care.

The mere mention of Dugu Bachen caused Luo Xiaofeng’s entire frame to tremble, despite his current power. No one could regard such a figure with ordinary eyes.

"Lord Ye was captured by the Bai family back then, and we all assumed he couldn't escape disaster. Yet Lord Ye returned completely unharmed, and with vastly increased strength. That moment, this old servant felt profound doubt—who could have rescued Lord Ye? Now, thinking back, besides the senior Dugu Bachen, who else would intervene? Or, who else would possess the ability to pull him out of the Bai family’s clutches? Furthermore, Lord Ye has consistently practiced blade techniques. If this old servant’s guess is correct, Lord Ye is very likely the direct disciple of the senior Dugu Bachen!" Nan Fengyun could barely maintain his composure as he spoke.

This statement plunged Luo Xiaofeng into alarm. Dugu Bachen—the only person to have ever wounded Xuanyuan Jue—was a myth, a legend. Just like the Hundred Flowers Gate and the Asura Gate, the greatest reason Luo Xiaofeng dared to raise an army against the current order was his belief that experts like Xuanyuan Jue would no longer concern themselves with worldly affairs. The biggest factor, however, was his faith in the existence of figures like Dugu Bachen.

Because Dugu Bachen could check Xuanyuan Jue, as long as he existed, Xuanyuan Jue could not act without restraint.

Now, learning that Ye Jingyu was the disciple of such a formidable figure—how could he not be shocked?

Reflecting carefully on Ye Jingyu’s terrifying strength and immense innate talent, Luo Xiaofeng quickly accepted Nan Fengyun's words. They had long suspected Ye Jingyu had a powerful backer; what greater support could exist in this world than Dugu Bachen?