Chapter 516: The Princess Enters the City

Chapter 516: The Princess Enters the City

The arrival of the princess in Huan Tian City was a momentous occasion! The citizens felt as if they had been blessed by the heavens, lucky enough to welcome the princess in their humble town. They surged to the scene, creating a chaotic but festive atmosphere, where people jostled and crowded together.

In the center of the street stood a magnificent carriage, flanked by soldiers who kept the masses at bay, ensuring that no commoner would get too close.

Excited cries erupted from both sides of the crowd as everyone longed to catch a glimpse of the princess’s stunning beauty.

But the window of the carriage remained closed, leaving the crowd in suspense, unaware of the enchanting figure concealed within.

“The princess is coming! It’s like a dream!”

“Right? For commoners like us to see her beauty, we must be eternally grateful!”

“I heard the princess is truly a person of justice! With both the Liu family and the princess in town, Huan Tian City is destined for prosperity and stability!”

…

The masses cheered as if they had seen a beacon of hope, especially since the city had been plagued with chaos and corruption previously. All hoped for these issues to be resolved, longing for peace and stability in Huan Tian City.

Among the crowd, hiding in plain sight, was Lin Nuo, the would-be assassin. Of course, he had to be there, but he wasn’t about to shove into the throng of regular folks. Thanks to his skills, he found a high perch, observing from above.

While everybody else squirmed below, he enjoyed a superior viewpoint.

If he had created a super powerful bomb, he could simply drop it and instantly end the princess, no divine intervention could save her.

But alas, he possessed no such tool, and with soldiers posted around the carriage, any attempt to strike would certainly backfire. Also present were Liu Shuqin and Ruo’er; making a move now would be flashy, but fraught with trouble.

Stealthy assassination was the way to go.

What would the future Empress look like?

Yet, like the other citizens, he was unable to peer inside the carriage to see the princess.

But that was fine; it had to be her—it was such a grand spectacle, after all.

The princess wouldn’t come all this way just to seclude herself in the City Lord’s Mansion; she would be out and about, drawing crowds wherever she went.

From the moment she entered the city, it marked the beginning of her end. He only needed to discover where she settled, and then he could strike silently.

He drew a dagger, flipping it playfully as if performing a circus act. If he could, he’d like to hurl it through the carriage, ending this Luo Xiaoxue with a flourish.

As Lin Nuo scanned the scene, he suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.

Was that… Luo Yi?

He squinted, noticing a girl who seemed like Luo Yi among the common folk. She was dressed plainly, without excessive decoration or makeup; indeed, she blended in so well she might have been just another ordinary villager.

But Lin Nuo recognized her—not because he was entranced by her face, but because of her natural beauty that stood out even amongst a sea of average-looking individuals.

The princess’s appearance was one thing; it was understandable that Luo Yi would be present too.

After all, she was Luo Xiaoxue’s loyal follower.

He recalled how Luo Yi had come to Ru Yu Village with the authority granted to her by Luo Xiaoxue, attempting to persuade the villagers to leave.

It was laughable; despite her authority, it couldn’t compare to the power of Dong Wei. The soldiers who followed her had nearly betrayed her.

A pity for that minion; as Luo Xiaoxue entered the city in grandeur, Luo Yi couldn’t even follow her as a retainer, reduced to blending in with the crowd.

Truly, Luo Xiaoxue had a knack for manipulating people—whenever something went wrong, she threw her underlings under the bus, yet when it came to glories, she left them behind.

Still, Luo Yi had come to support Luo Xiaoxue quietly; her loyalty was almost pitiful.

Thinking about it, if Luo Xiaoxue were to perish, Luo Yi would no longer be just a minion; she’d lose the chance to bask in the glory of an Empress.

But Lin Nuo felt no pity, and if anything, he found it amusing.

Luo Xiaoxue was bound to die; even if Buddha himself came, he couldn’t save her. That’s what I say.

…

At an inn, Liu Shuqin, Ruo’er, and Dong Xiyan stepped outside, drawn by the commotion surrounding the princess’s entrance into the city. They, too, wished to take a look.

“Sister Shuqin, the princess is coming! I’ve never seen the princess in person! I’ve heard she’s a very beautiful lady! Sister Shuqin, you’ve played music for the royal family before; what is the princess like?”

Ruo’er asked eagerly, her big ears twitching with excitement.

“The princess is breathtaking, dignified, and has an extraordinary aura. She’s very down-to-earth and a good princess. You will surely have a chance to meet her, Ruo’er,” Liu Shuqin replied with a gentle smile, though in truth, she had already met the princess multiple times under a different guise.

The princess often preferred subtle visits and usually didn’t make grand entrances into the city. For her to come in her true identity this time was indeed rare.

Though, given her rank, it made sense she’d want to display royal presence this time around.

“If only our young master were here, we could have seen the princess together! He mentioned wanting to meet her before.”

“Your Junior Martial Brother wants to meet her?”

“Yeah! Once, while we were eating, the young master said that he admired her ability to govern and her sense of justice, wishing to meet her at least once!”

Hearing this, Liu Shuqin felt a pang in her heart.

Her Junior Martial Brother wanted to meet her? Did she possess such high charm?

He was no power-hungry person; he wouldn’t be drawn to her just because of Luo Xiaoxue’s status.

Could it be that he truly revered everything she stood for?

Thinking back, it was clear that Luo Xiaoxue had eyes for him; after all, it wasn’t surprising for a strikingly handsome man with character like him to catch the princess’s interest.

What’s more, Luo Xiaoxue often mentioned him—a girl obsessively babbling about a young man must surely have feelings for him.

But it was alarming; if her Junior Martial Brother truly wished to meet her, that spelled trouble.

What if they actually hit it off, and he became a prince consort? This…

No, no—perhaps he was just curious about her or admired her in certain aspects, not thinking anything more.

In the end, the princess was still an outsider; his focus remained on their pursuits.

Yet they couldn’t drop their guard with her.

With the Liu family moving to Huan Tian City, surely they would have dealings with Princess Luo Xiaoxue; she figured it was best to return soon.

Just then, Ruo’er perked up, waving excitedly.

“Luo Yi! Luo Yi!”

As Luo Yi pulled herself from the crowd, she turned at the sound of her name being called.

What a coincidence! It was Liu Shuqin and Ruo’er!

They had become rather good friends by now, so she walked over to greet them.

But Liu Shuqin squinted, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks.

Was it really Luo Xiaoxue?

Wasn’t she supposed to be in the carriage? What was she doing here?

Who was in the carriage?