Voices in the Royal Palace

Voices in the Royal Palace . . .

After the departure of the defeated young nobles, Qin Wentian calmly returned to his seat. The Scarlet Eye Marquis, deeply impressed by Qin Wentian's display of power, raised his wine cup in a toast.

"That was truly incredible, young man. To effortlessly outshine over ten of your peers is quite extraordinary. Let me raise a toast to you," the Marquis commended.

Qin Wentian reciprocated the gesture, lifting his cup and downing its contents in one swift motion. "Marquis, your praise is too kind."

With a warm smile, the Scarlet Eye Marquis continued, "I assure you, I'm not being overly polite. While those young talents may not be considered the absolute cream of the crop among their generation, their talents are undoubtedly remarkable. Yet, you swept them aside effortlessly, as if it were child's play. This clearly demonstrates the extent of your formidable strength. It's highly likely that within your generation, there are very few who can rival you at the same level of cultivation."

The Scarlet Eye Marquis was an immortal king, and he could sense the immense power that emanated from Qin Wentian during the confrontation. It was akin to the aura of a formidable Greater Demon King from the desolate lands, a rarity among those below immortality. Additionally, Qin Wentian possessed an exceptionally resilient body, enabling him to dominate opponents of similar cultivation levels with ease.

Word of their confrontation quickly spread throughout the royal palace, sparking endless discussions and debates.

"This young man is unbearably arrogant. He publicly humiliated the descendants of kings and marquises, displaying an astounding level of tyranny. He treats the royal palace inhabitants with complete disdain."

"Qin Wentian's strength is simply awe-inspiring. It's no wonder Princess Qing'er fell for him. With his combat abilities, there's hardly anyone in the same generation within the royal palace who could match him."

"He had the audacity to claim that our sons would run to us and their grandparents for help after losing? What an uncultured brute! His tongue is his only weapon."

"Ha! Qin Wentian is amazing. It's no wonder Princess Qing'er chose him. I'm actually rooting for him. Did anyone honestly think their sons had a chance with Princess Qing'er? Are they even worthy?"

"Princess Qing'er's judgment is unparalleled."

In various estates, conversations about Qin Wentian resounded, each person holding a unique perspective on him.

However, at that moment, a thunderous voice reverberated from the Cloud King Manor.

"Qin Wentian's arrogance knows no bounds. Despite Princess Qing'er's affection for him, he dared to insult Xia Lian, the daughter of the Everpeace Marquis, with his words. His actions are utterly despicable. He even caused chaos within the Everpeace Manor. As the princess is still young and unfamiliar with the world's ways, she inadvertently took the life of the Everpeace Manor's daughter because of him."

"Qin Wentian, he's something else, isn't he?" remarked one nobleman, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Because he clinched the top spot in the Immortal Ascension Rankings, he thinks he's entitled to overlook us all. It's obvious he used his extraordinary talent to enchant Princess Qing'er. Now, he's made his grand entrance, aiming to become the prince consort. His ambition knows no bounds, and he's willing to trample over kings and marquises to achieve it."

Another noble chimed in, his voice laden with disdain, "Not only did he have the audacity to insult Xia Lian with his words during his visit to the Everpeace Marquis Manor, but he also caused her unfortunate demise. Does he truly believe he can disregard everyone solely because of his talent? He's already convinced that he's destined to be the prince consort, surpassing even the kings and marquises in the future."

"The Cloud King isn't taking this lightly; he's planning to approach his Majesty personally," added another voice to the ongoing discussions. "He won't tolerate Princess Qing'er continuing to be enchanted by Qin Wentian. The consequences could be catastrophic."

Innumerable voices filled the air within the noble estates and manors, their collective focus on Qin Wentian. The topic of discussion seemed endless, even extending to the palace guards and servants.

"This explains why he acts so high and mighty," mused one servant. "Being ranked first in the City of Ancient Emperors, it's only natural for him to have such an arrogant attitude. He doesn't even hesitate to insult the descendants to the point of suggesting they'd seek help from their parents and grandparents if he injured them. It's practically a taunt."

"Can you imagine the weight of being the number one ranker in the Immortal Ascension Rankings?" another servant chimed in. "With all those supreme geniuses in the City of Ancient Emperors, his arrogance is somewhat understandable. Perhaps that's why he doesn't hold the descendants of nobility in high regard."

"He's quite the 'prized' first ranker," another servant sarcastically commented. "With his remarkable talent and Princess Qing'er's support, it's no wonder he's brimming with confidence, enough to disregard kings and marquises. All he needs is a nod from the Emperor, and the position of prince consort is his."

Within the palace walls, the discussions were leaning in a particular direction. However, these voices didn't belong to the kings and marquises themselves. Given their current status, even if they harbored such thoughts, they wouldn't openly share them. Most of these voices came from various individuals throughout the royal palace. Many perceived Qin Wentian as solely reliant on his talent and Princess Qing'er's affection, attributing his audacious disregard for others to these factors.

Nevertheless, it was imperative to remember that they were currently residing within the hallowed confines of the Evergreen Immortal Empire's royal palace. In this grand establishment, Qin Wentian was still regarded as an outsider by all the kings and marquises who held sway within its illustrious walls. While his extraordinary talent was undeniable, as evidenced by his top ranking in the Immortal Ascension Rankings, his status remained precarious. Should the Evergreen Immortal Emperor bestow his favor upon Qin Wentian, he would ascend to the coveted position of prince consort, instantly elevating his status to a level that could lord over even the kings and marquises. None were foolish enough to make an outright adversary of him. However, this did not mean they were ready to openly lend their support.

The recent death of Xia Lian weighed heavily on their minds. The daughter of the Cloud King had transported Xia Lian's lifeless body all the way to the royal palace, fueling their ire. After all, the daughter of nobility had met her untimely demise due to an outsider. There was a lingering fear that history could repeat itself. Would Qin Wentian be permitted to take their sons and daughters' lives without facing any repercussions? Such lawlessness was unacceptable.

"The princess has been ensconced in the emperor's palace for quite some time now," remarked a noble, the curiosity in his eyes mirrored by countless others fixed upon the central emperor's palace. "It appears that she and His Majesty have much to discuss. I wonder what His Majesty's stance will be?" In the grand scheme of things, all the support and opposition could be rendered moot with a single decree from the Evergreen Immortal Emperor. If he chose to align with Qing'er and Qin Wentian, then no matter how loud the dissenting voices grew, they would have no choice but to bow to his decision.

Within Princess Changping's estate, both the princess and the Scarlet Eye Marquis were unobtrusively employing their immortal senses to monitor the situation in the royal palace. Even amid their conversation with Qin Wentian, their vigilance remained unwavering. Princess Changping offered Qin Wentian a knowing smile. "It seems that the majority in the palace harbor reservations about you."

"Dear friend Qin, the opinions of the masses matter little when one possesses power," the Scarlet Eye Marquis chimed in. "So, it's true, you are the top ranker in the Immortal Ascension Rankings for the City of Ancient Emperors. The Evergreen Immortal Empire has yet to produce such an exceptional figure. Here's to you once more!" He raised his wine cup in a gesture of camaraderie, and Qin Wentian reciprocated by draining his cup in one swift motion.

Princess Changping interjected a word of caution. "Keep a watchful eye on the Cloud King. He can be quite devious. Your status as the number one ranker in the Immortal Ascension Rankings for the City of Ancient Emperors should only be known to you and Qing'er. There's no conceivable way that this information could have spread so rapidly within the royal palace. Did you disclose this during your stay at the Everpeace Marquis Manor?"

Qin Wentian nodded affirmatively.

"Ah, I see," Princess Changping responded, her explanation shedding light on the situation. "The Cloud King kept this information under wraps until you dominated those juniors. Then, he seized upon it as a pretext to bolster the narrative of your arrogance. Now he even contends that you hold the kings and marquises in contempt. Essentially, they've placed you in a precarious position without granting you the opportunity to clarify your stance. This orchestrated shift has swayed the discussions within the royal palace in their favor," she concluded, causing Qin Wentian to furrow his brows in response.

The Scarlet Eye Marquis leaned in, his voice a whisper, laden with wisdom. "What you're witnessing here, my dear Qin Wentian, is nothing more than the green-eyed monster of jealousy."

"Jealousy, a universal emotion," Princess Changping chimed in with a knowing look. "One mustn't underestimate the power of envy, especially in this palace. You see, my dear, you are the first gentleman that Qing'er has ever introduced into these hallowed halls. That alone is enough to kindle the fires of jealousy in many hearts. Add to that your remarkable achievement as the #1 ranker in the Immortal Ascension Rankings, and the unfortunate incident involving Xia Lian's untimely demise. People tend to disregard the facts and shape their judgments based on appearances."

Qin Wentian couldn't help but wear a wry smile, shaking his head slightly. "It appears that no matter how I fare, I'm trapped between a rock and a hard place. If my talents are modest, I'm deemed inconsequential and unworthy of a place within these palace walls. But when my talents shine, I'm swiftly labeled as arrogant, showing disdain for the kings and marquises."

"Indeed," Princess Changping agreed, her smile carrying a tinge of sympathy. "Since Qing'er brought you here, that, in itself, is the original 'crime,' my dear Qin Wentian. It's only natural that you'd be subjected to such scrutiny and pressure." She couldn't help but chuckle softly. Qin Wentian was no stranger to the complexities of the palace's social dynamics. Being an outsider introduced directly into the Evergreen Immortal Empire's royal palace, and furthermore, being romantically linked with Princess Qing'er, the Emperor's beloved daughter, naturally stirred the pot of jealousy and resentment. After all, how could anyone overlook such a fortunate alignment of circumstances?

Princess Changping leaned forward, curiosity glinting in her eyes. "Would you be so kind as to share with us the precise details surrounding Xia Lian's unfortunate demise? I have complete faith in Qing'er. She is not one to take a life on a whim, especially not within the hallowed halls of the Everpeace Marquis Manor."

With a measured tone, Qin Wentian began to recount the events that had transpired. He explained, "Xia Lian's actions left Qing'er with no choice. She had to act swiftly to protect me."

"In that case, it's clear that Xia Lian brought this upon herself," Princess Changping remarked, her smile holding a hint of shrewdness. "I'm quite certain the Everpeace Marquis Madam hasn't revealed the full truth to her father, the Cloud King. After all, the loss of a daughter would naturally elicit sympathy."

The Scarlet Eye Marquis chimed in with a dry chuckle, his voice carrying a touch of cynicism. "So, the Cloud King stands firmly behind her. Does he truly believe that His Majesty would take his side over Qing'er's?"

Princess Changping provided insight into the Cloud King's motives. "This is precisely why the Cloud King Manor is orchestrating this narrative. They understand that they won't be able to harm Qing'er, but they want to put a stop to the possibility of your union with her. A grudge has already been forged through Xia Lian's death."

Qin Wentian marveled at Princess Changping's acumen; she had unraveled the intricacies of the situation with ease. "Princess Qing'er has emerged," a voice announced, catching their attention. From a distance, Princess Qing'er could be seen making her way toward Princess Changping's estate. She moved with an air of regal indifference, her emotions veiled behind a facade of calm. The news of her meeting with the Evergreen Immortal Emperor soon rippled through the royal palace.

"She entered the palace alone and spent a considerable amount of time with His Majesty. Yet, she emerged without you being summoned to meet him," a courtier observed, voicing the confusion echoing through many minds.

This development sparked conjecture about the Evergreen Immortal Emperor's intentions. Did his lack of summons signify disapproval of your relationship? Had Princess Qing'er failed to convince her father otherwise?

Many within the palace, especially the nobility, sighed in relief. If the Emperor had summoned Qin Wentian, it would signal the culmination of their fears. Once the Emperor endorsed their union, opposition from the Cloud King would be rendered ineffectual. However, it was now likely that the Emperor was still evaluating the situation. His doting affection for Qing'er would likely deter him from taking any drastic measures against Qin Wentian. Even if he did not wholeheartedly endorse their union, he might refrain from forcefully separating them.

Amidst these deliberations, Qing'er arrived at Princess Changping's estate. Qin Wentian regarded her with a warm smile, fully prepared for whatever outcome awaited. Regardless of the Emperor's stance, he would not allow it to affect his resolve. Qin Wentian had no illusions of proposing marriage to the Evergreen Immortal Emperor; he understood the limits of his position. His purpose in accompanying Qing'er to the royal palace was to declare his existence to the world, to boldly assert, "I am Qin Wentian."