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Ye Lan took Xue Qinghe's words as mere courtesy. His own request was quite simple—one he figured Qian Renxue would easily agree to.
"My request is very simple. Please try not to publicize my identity as a scholar. In other words, don't announce that the 'Scholar' has enrolled in Heaven Dou Royal Academy," Ye Lan said. He had no desire to be surrounded by onlookers every day.
It had been unavoidable in Soto City, which was the primary hub for promoting his "New Martial Soul Core Competitiveness" theory. His identity as Qingdi had already become a sensation there, and too many people had seen him. As a result, the news that Qingdi was the Scholar, and the Scholar was Ye Lan, had spread through Soto from the very beginning. After being stopped for autographs a few times, the crowds grew, and the word spread like wildfire. Before long, the entire city knew who he was.
Heaven Dou City was different. While people here knew of the Scholar and might have heard the name Ye Lan, the name itself wasn't unique. Most didn't know what he looked like. So, as long as his enrollment at the academy wasn't publicized, he could enjoy some peace and quiet for a while longer.
Of course, his identity would eventually be revealed as he made a name for himself. But until then, Ye Lan intended to enjoy the tranquility.
"That's simple enough. I will keep it a secret for you. I will also speak with His Majesty, Emperor Xue Ye, and ask that you not be disturbed," Xue Qinghe agreed.
"Great. Thank you, Brother Xue," Ye Lan replied.
"Don't mention it; it's a small matter. I honestly didn't expect you to be someone so indifferent to fame and fortune," Qian Renxue said.
This was the first time she realized that Ye Lan didn't chase recognition; in fact, he seemed burdened by the troubles that came with it. At fifteen, countless youths dreamed of achieving world-renowned fame. Ye Lan had already done it, yet he requested his presence be hidden, showing no interest in the adoration that followed.
The more Qian Renxue learned about Ye Lan, the more special he seemed.
She retrieved a personal token from her robes and handed it to him.
"Brother Ye, keep this token. If you ever run into trouble in Heaven Dou City, showing this should resolve most problems. My name still carries some weight here," Xue Qinghe said.
"Thanks, Brother Xue. I'll just hang it from my waist to show off. Maybe the noble students will give me a wide berth when they see it," Ye Lan joked as he accepted the token.
It carried a faint, sweet fragrance, clearly a girl's scent. Ye Lan pretended not to notice as he stored it in his Nine-Star Radiance Ring.
After the dinner Xue Qinghe had prepared for him, Ye Lan politely declined repeated offers to stay the night and bid farewell.
Leaving the Eastern Palace, Ye Lan felt very satisfied with the trip. He had not only improved his standing with Qian Renxue but had also accomplished his primary goal: joining Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Only by entering the academy could he get close to Dugu Bo and seize the opportunity to acquire the immortal herbs. He didn't strictly need them, but if he didn't take them, Tang San would. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well would be stripped bare and turned into Tang San's private backyard. In that scenario, Tang San would benefit, and he would lose out.
To spite Tang San, Ye Lan was determined to intercept his fated encounter.
Furthermore, he had to deliver on the surprise he once mentioned to Zhuqing and also help Ning Rongrong with her martial soul's flaw. After all, not everyone was like Ning Rongrong, capable of gifting a storage soul tool worth over three million gold soul coins just to become a disciple. Three million gold soul coins... in my past life, that would be like sixty billion yuan!
That was just his personality. If someone showed him one bit of kindness, he would return it tenfold.
Meanwhile, in a secret chamber within the Eastern Palace of Heaven Dou Imperial City…
Having removed her disguise, Qian Renxue sat before a mirror, recalling the details of her time with Ye Lan. She covered her flushed cheeks with her hands, unable to look at her own reflection.
How could I have been so bold? I actually fixed his hair and straightened his collar!
At first, fully immersed in her role as Xue Qinghe, she hadn't paid much attention to Ye Lan's appearance. But after their spirits resonated, a single glance was all it took for her to be completely captivated. Looking at him was like looking at a reflection of herself. In terms of appearance, besides that woman, Qian Renxue had never met anyone who could rival her. Yet today, she had met Ye Lan and found herself stunned for several seconds.
Using her Xue Qinghe disguise as a shield, she had shamelessly studied him up close while grooming him. Recalling her own boldness now, her ears burned a deep red.
"Xiaoxue, what on earth were you doing…"
She covered her face, remaining lost in the memory for a long time before finally pulling herself together.
Once calm, Qian Renxue began to contemplate the spirit resonance she shared with Ye Lan. She desperately wanted to know what their Martial Soul Fusion Technique would be. She suspected the compatibility between her Six-Winged Angel and his spirit was extraordinarily high. That feeling—the powerful urge to merge with him—made her blush with shame.
Moving past her daydreams about Ye Lan, she began to seriously consider the meaning of being a king and how to become a worthy one.
In the past, her world had been monotonous. Every day was spent playing the part of Xue Qinghe, meeting countless people. Besides helping Emperor Xue Ye with state affairs, her time was spent cultivating. Only rarely would she retreat to this secret chamber, remove her disguise, and become Qian Renxue again. She was afraid that one day she might forget herself and truly become Xue Qinghe.
Because of this, she had never truly thought about what she wanted. She didn't even know what she would do after her plan to usurp the empire succeeded, or what kind of queen she would be. She was simply living a life that had been laid out for her. It was only after her conversation with Ye Lan that she began to truly think about what she wanted and who she wanted to become.
"Uncle Porcupinefish, has Bibi Dong made any moves recently?" Qian Renxue called out.
"Young Master, Her Holiness the Pope recently issued a papal decree," Porcupinefish Douluo reported. "The contents are about reducing the spirit soul subsidies for Soul Grandmasters and above and reallocating the funds to support commoners."
Qian Renxue nodded. She had expected Bibi Dong to make a move after Ye Lan's theories were published.
"Any movement from Emperor Xue Ye's side today?" she asked. She had spent the entire day with Ye Lan and missed the morning's court session.
"Young Master, His Majesty has made no moves," Porcupinefish Douluo replied.
Qian Renxue nodded again. Xue Ye was probably happy to let Spirit Hall subsidize the populace. With the growth of agriculture and commerce, the Heaven Dou Empire would be able to collect more taxes. As for recruiting soul master talent, the empire had its own system of nobility to attract them. Anyone who wished to become a noble and stand above the rest would inevitably be drawn into the empire's system.
"Uncle Porcupinefish," Qian Renxue asked, "do you know what a king is?"
"A king? Someone like Her Holiness the Pope, I suppose. One who controls the lives and deaths of millions and reigns supreme over the world!" Although Porcupinefish Douluo was not in Bibi Dong's faction, he held a deep respect for her methods and her power. Aside from the Grand Priest and the Second Priest, the person he admired most was Bibi Dong.
Qian Renxue didn't disagree out loud, but simply shook her head. To her, Bibi Dong was not the king she envisioned. Perhaps the old Qian Renxue might have grown to become a ruler just like her. But after meeting Ye Lan, she had come to understand that a king was not defined by power or status.
A true king must bear the weight of all their people.
Although Bibi Dong's recent policies helped the common folk, her fundamental goal was still to expand the influence and strength of the Spirit Hall.
(End of Chapter)