The Sword-Wielding Princess

Arrogant, aren’t you, Little Chair? Qin Gou thought as he watched Yi Chengying behave with complete confidence before the Emperor of Tian Kun. She acted as though she didn’t even see the Emperor as a threat, a stark contrast to her timid demeanor around Qin Gou.

After all, Yi Chengying was one of the nine Saintesses of the renowned Mystic Maiden Palace. Normally, even if the Emperor personally visited the palace to request her presence, she might not deign to meet him.

Yet the Emperor showed no sign of anger at her disrespect. Instead, he maintained a calm and elegant smile. “It seems there’s more to this matter than meets the eye. May I ask, Lone Shadow Saintess, which great master you’re referring to as the Demon Sovereign?”

Yi Chengying answered matter-of-factly, “Naturally, the Purple Extreme Demon Sovereign. Do you really think Xu Jin’s miraculous recovery from his congenital defect was just a coincidence? If you want details, ask your Marshal here.”

A flicker of fear and dread crossed the Emperor’s face, but he quickly masked it. Turning to Xu Chengfeng, he asked, “Is this true, Marshal Xu? Why wasn’t I informed earlier?”

Xu Chengfeng bowed deeply, his expression filled with respect. “Your Majesty, my son did mention having a strange dream in which he was acknowledged by a senior cultivator with the surname Zhao. However, there was no concrete evidence to confirm that this was the Purple Extreme Demon Sovereign. That’s why I didn’t report it immediately.”

“I see,” the Emperor said, his voice steady but his unease evident. He then smiled faintly. “But now that the Lone Shadow Saintess has spoken, isn’t that evidence enough? Marshal Xu, you’re truly fortunate to have such a blessing in your household.” As he spoke, the Emperor cast a meaningful glance at Qin Gou.

“In that case, I see no harm in allowing you to participate in the martial arts marriage contest. Furthermore, I’ll make an exception and permit you, Xu Jin, to meet the Sword-Wielding Princess. If you can win her favor, I’ll even ensure you make it to the final round, where you can face your elder brother, Xu Wenrui, directly.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Qin Gou said with a polite bow, forcing a smile. He couldn’t help but notice Yi Chengying smirking at him from the Emperor’s side, her expression practically screaming, You owe me for this.

—

Within the palace, Mu Man’er resided in a grand hall of her own. On the surface, the Tian Kun Dynasty seemed to treat her well. However, the heavy security surrounding her residence betrayed her true status—she was no more than a glorified prisoner. Qin Gou silently added another mark against the Emperor in his mental ledger.

“Man’er, your father has come to visit you and brought some of your favorite snacks,” the Emperor said, gesturing for the eunuchs and maids to set down over a dozen plates of delicacies.

Dressed in an elegant white palace gown, Mu Man’er exuded a dignified and graceful aura. Her youthful appearance gave her the look of a refined young lady. She glanced at the visitors, her gaze briefly lingering on Qin Gou, before addressing the Emperor. “Greetings, Father. What instructions do you have for me today? Please, speak plainly.”

The Emperor frowned slightly, displeased by her lack of decorum. Still so wild and untamed, he thought. But he quickly composed himself and said, “Today, I wish to introduce you to a young man. He’s quite taken with you and has begged me to allow him to participate in your martial arts marriage contest.”

With that, the Emperor gestured toward Qin Gou. “This is Xu Jin, the third son of the Marshal’s household.”

“Greetings, Sword-Wielding Princess,” Qin Gou said, bowing respectfully.

Mu Man’er’s lips curled into a mocking smile as she looked him over. “Xu Jin? I’ve heard of you. The infamous cripple who spent twenty years bedridden in the Marshal’s estate.”

“Your Highness, that was in the past. Take a good look at me now—do I still look like a cripple to you?” Qin Gou replied without hesitation.

Mu Man’er’s smile turned icy. “How bold of you to talk back to me. Father, you’ve finally introduced someone interesting. Very well, please step aside. I’d like to have a private chat with this Marshal’s third son.”

As she spoke, the sound of a sword being drawn echoed through the hall. Mu Man’er’s gaze was sharp and challenging as she fixed her eyes on Qin Gou.

She was called the Sword-Wielding Princess because, even within the palace walls, she was never without her blade.

The Emperor sighed, disappointment flickering in his eyes as he glanced at Qin Gou. It seemed Xu Jin had failed to make a favorable impression. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the eunuchs and maids, then left the hall with Xu Chengfeng.

“Marshal Xu,” the Emperor said as they walked, “tell me, in the eyes of the Purple Extreme Demon Sovereign, who is more important—a junior disciple or a promising young talent?”

Xu Chengfeng looked confused. “Your Majesty, I don’t understand what you mean.”

The Emperor chuckled dryly. “What I mean is, Man’er’s background is far too significant for me to handle easily. And you, Marshal Xu, have three outstanding children. If one of them were to… disappear suddenly, it wouldn’t be such a great loss, would it?”

“What?! Your Majesty, are you saying the Sword-Wielding Princess might harm my son? That’s unacceptable!” Xu Chengfeng exclaimed.

“Well, she’s never drawn her sword so directly before. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll die. Perhaps he’ll just lose a limb or two. No big deal,” the Emperor said, his tone casual.

—

Back in the hall, now empty except for Qin Gou and Mu Man’er.

Mu Man’er’s icy demeanor cracked as she took three steps toward Qin Gou, her sword in hand. Then, as if all the air had been let out of her, she suddenly transformed into her true form—a petite, doll-like girl. With a running start, she dove at Qin Gou, wrapping herself around his leg and bursting into tears.

“Master! You’re finally here! I was so excited I almost gave myself away earlier!” she wailed.

Clinging to Qin Gou like a small, adorable beast, Mu Man’er sobbed uncontrollably, her tears soaking his robes. The sight was so pitiful that Qin Gou’s heart nearly melted.