C19 Poison Plot

Upon hearing the name Tiange, Beiming Yuan couldn't help but look up. "What did she apply for?"

"Both the Wenn Mansion and the Martial Academy," Lee Chengrui replied truthfully.

Beiming Yuan was stunned for a moment, unable to utter a single word. Where did she get such confidence? Suddenly, he found himself a bit curious about his sister...

The Drunken Immortal Tower was quite famous in the capital city. Besides its unique dishes, it had managed to thrive in the competitive Nether Market for years, a feat not many establishments could boast.

In a private room on the third floor, Xie Ruxuan ordered the crystal pork and duck soup. Feng Xueyao added a couple more dishes and asked the waiter to prepare them.

With the door securely closed, Xie Ruxuan burst out, "Who does that shameless ugly duckling in your family think she is? Applying to both the Wenn Mansion and the Martial Academy—she's determined to disgrace your family's name!"

Feng Xueyao watched her friend with a hint of disdain. If anyone was embarrassing, it was Xie Ruxuan, who had already brought shame to her father's name at the Imperial Academy. Feng Tiange had easily bested her, yet she still had the nerve to criticize others!

"That's not entirely fair," Feng Xueyao said, pouring tea from the purple clay pot for Xie Ruxuan. "Father is very invested in my sister's application to the Imperial Academy. With his guidance, she might just get into the Martial Academy. Remember what happened at the Imperial Academy..."

"She just got lucky at the Imperial Academy last time! If we face off again, there's no way I'll lose to that ugly duckling!" Xie Ruxuan thought bitterly, clenching her teeth at the memory of being outdone by Feng Tiange.

Just then, the waiter knocked and brought in four dishes along with some main courses. Once he left, Feng Xueyao seized the moment to speak, "With your skills, you can definitely get into the Martial Academy. As for our eldest sister, she probably won't make it into the Wenn Mansion, but if she somehow manages to get into the Martial Academy... Considering the grudge you two have from the Imperial Academy, plus the fact that she's the Empress Dowager's granddaughter and has our uncle backing her, I'm worried she'll cause trouble for you once she's in."

"Ha! I'm not afraid of her!" Xie Ruxuan scoffed, slapping the table with disdain.

"Of course, you're not afraid of her. I'm just concerned that she'll constantly annoy you at the Imperial Academy. You know how special her status is, and you can't really do much about it..." Feng Xueyao repeated, patiently guiding the conversation.

Finally, on the fifth attempt, Xie Ruxuan caught on, "So if we stop her from getting into the Martial Academy, she won't be able to bother me like a pesky fly?"

Feng Xueyao secretly breathed a sigh of relief; that was exactly her point.

"Who can say for sure?" Feng Xueyao feigned helplessness.

"I can! All I need to do is find someone to break her leg, and let's see if she can still make it to the Martial Academy!" Xie Ruxuan felt a surge of cleverness at her own idea. "But she is your sister, after all. You wouldn't feel bad, would you?"

Feng Xueyao was certain that Xie Ruxuan's words weren't a test; she simply wasn't the type to play mind games. "If I had to choose between my sister and you, I'd choose you."

She also knew Xie Ruxuan had connections with a powerful gang at the Fish Market. While it wasn't as complicated as the Nether Market, it was still a place full of all sorts of characters.

"I knew you'd always have my back!" Xie Ruxuan grinned, picking up a piece of crystal pork. Just as she was about to take a bite, she glanced out the window and froze. "Isn't that Prince Rong? He was supposed to be at the Imperial Academy today after hosting the entrance exams yesterday. What's he doing at the Nether Market?"

Hearing Xie Ruxuan, Feng Xueyao jumped up excitedly.

Sure enough, there he was—Prince Rong, dressed in white, with an elegance that seemed otherworldly. His striking looks were unforgettable, leaving a lasting impression at first glance.

"Wait here for me," Feng Xueyao said, rushing out of the private room.

She needed to know why. Just the other day, when she gave Rong Qi the embroidered handkerchief, he seemed to like it. So why had his demeanor turned so cold at the Imperial Academy? Or maybe she just wanted an excuse to talk to him, even if it was just a single word.

On the bustling street, Rong Qi was walking with a few foreign diplomats, chatting in small groups. Feng Xueyao couldn't hear their conversation from a distance, but she could catch the occasional laughter drifting from their group.

The young men were all impeccably dressed, but Rong Qi stood out the most. It's no exaggeration to say that even in tattered clothes, his extraordinary charm would still shine through.

Seeing them approach, Feng Xueyao took a deep breath to steady herself, then gracefully walked over. "Xueyao greets Prince Rong."

With Feng Xueyao addressing him directly, the others took the hint and stepped aside. Rong Qi looked at her, his gentle smile as radiant as the morning sun. "Is there something you need from me, Miss Feng?"

Feng Xueyao tried hard to maintain her composure, but her cheeks still flushed. "I was just dining upstairs and happened to see you, Prince Rong. I wanted to ask if you still like the embroidered handkerchief. If you do, I'd be happy to make another one for you."