Jiang Yuan looked at Lu Mingshu and flashed her a smile but ignored her question.
“Okay, there is nothing else for us, let’s go.”
Lu Mingshu looked at Yan Wugui. Yan Wugui shook his head.
Neither of them made a sound and followed Jiang Yuan toward the checkpoint.
What does she mean? Lu Mingshu felt that something was off. Why does it seem that she is helping us not because of the deal, but to expose the Floating Cloud young master?
She was involved in a love triangle with Eldest Miss Nie and the Floating Cloud young master, so it was hard for others to not think in the direction. Eldest Miss Nie might’ve been nothing to her, but what about the Floating Cloud young master? Did she still love him, or did she hate him for leaving her? Perhaps she simply had nothing better to do and just wanted to get the Floating Cloud young master into trouble?
“Prince Jiang.” Yan Wugui pondered for a while and asked, “Is there an ulterior motive to this debate?”
“What ulterior motive?” Jiang Yuan hummed.
“About the emperor…”
Jiang Yuan stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at him.
Yan Wugui flashed her a huge smile.
Jiang Yuan turned around and waved her hands. “None of your business. All you need to do is help me get into the top three.”
“Isn’t that bad?” Yan Wugui asked. “If we do not know anything, won’t that influence our decision-making?”
Jiang Yuan stared back. “What, are you trying to threaten me?”
“Of course I do not dare! Haha, we have already signed a contract, what would I get out of threatening you?”
But his expression said otherwise. Jiang Yuan continued to walk on, ignoring him. “How much do you know about the world?” she suddenly asked.
This question took both of them aback. The only thing about this world they knew was what Ji Zhenzhen said after being hypnotized and some gossip with the Yunjing people.
“Erm, as of now, aristocratic families stand in great number, and the emperor is well-respected for creating a peaceful and pleasant world….” Yan Wugui bullcrapped.
“Peaceful? The Sea of Cloud’s Debate is such a grand occasion where we can kill as we wish and this is considered peaceful?” Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow.
Before they could even respond, Jiang Yuan was already snickering. “That’s just a mask. You are from a small state, so you should know better than anyone how aristocratic families became successful by stepping over countless dead bodies.”
Lu Mingshu gritted her teeth and looked at Jiang Yuan, who was filled with anger and fear.
Even though she and Yan Wugui had just arrived, it was obvious how grand the world was today was due to the exchange of many alien’s lives. The good lives that the true humans led was all thanks to the aliens.
But what did that have to do with Jiang Yuan? She was from an aristocratic family, gaining the benefits from this inequality. How can you feel indignant when you’re the one benefitting?
“The emperor’s power is outstanding and the aristocratic families respect him, but more conflicts between the aristocratic families arise and the emperor hasn’t left the Supreme Sacred Imperial Palace for a long time, so he has lost control of the situation.”
“So?” Yan Wugui looked back at her. “Isn’t this debate all about fighting for the emperor’s reward?”
“The Sea of Cloud’s Debate is all about distributing benefits.” Jiang Yuan smiled thinly. “In normal times, it would be relatively peaceful. But the emperor is starting to lose control, and his rivals have started reappearing. With the conflicts too, it’s a big mess.”
“Then the emperor’s order…”
“Since this dynasty began, the emperor has never left the Supreme Sacred Imperial Palace, but some things still need to be done.”
“What you mean is that whoever gets the emperor’s order will be the emperor’s voice?”
“Who knows?” Jiang Yuan shrugged. “Since this dynasty began, that has only happened twice. Who knows if they’ll have it in this debate?”
But since there was such a rumor, who wouldn’t seize the chance? Thus, the four princes were all participating in this debate. The other aristocratic families had surely sent their best out too, they just weren’t as well-known as the four princes.
As they were chatting, the trio had already walked out of the woods. A scene of a clear blue sky and a luminous lake welcomed them.
It seemed to be a dock, with ten people guarding it. All of them wore uniforms. Other than the ten Purity Soul Realm guards, there were two Freezing Spirit Realm elders guarding it as well.
There were fewer people at the checkpoint now compared to the start of this debate, but the number of people couldn’t be considered small. People were queuing up to hand over their badge, and they waited patiently at the side for their spirit fire to be counted.
Lu Mingshu saw Eldest Miss Nie and the Floating Cloud young master at the side. When they saw them, the Floating Cloud young master just looked at them calmly, while Eldest Miss Nie glared at Jiang Yuan unhappily.
But Jiang Yuan pretended to not notice them and joined the queue calmly before going to the side to wait for calculation.
The guard took her badge and started counting seriously.
Soon after, they had their points recorded, then they sat by the side and rested.
Occasionally, young masters and misses from aristocratic families would come over to greet her, but Jiang Yuan ignored them.
After greeting her, a guy turned around and increased his volume. “He’s just a bastard! Why act so arrogantly when Prince Qin isn’t doing so?”
Shortly, this guy was pulled away unwillingly by his attendant.
“Prince Jiang, you do not seem to be popular,” Yan Wugui muttered.
“Why else would I ask for your help?”
Soon after, Prince Chu walked over to her, full of smiles. “Brother Jiang, you’re early.”
Jiang Yuan bowed back. “Brother Chu isn’t late either.”
“Haha, and these two…?” Chu Zhengyan looked over at Yan Wugui and Lu Mingshu.
Jiang Yuan looked over at them and shrugged. “Ji family from Bell Woods. They have some relations with us Jiangs.”
“I see.” Chu Zhengyan bowed and smiled at Lu Mingshu and Yan Wugui and looked back at Jiang Yuan, continuing their conversation.
The Chu family wasn’t big, but maybe because they were from Yunjing, they weren’t considered small either. What Jiang Yuan meant by “some relations” was mostly smaller families coming to them for benefits. Normally, if the other party had some usefulness, the big family wouldn’t reject them, they would just take what they needed from each other. Since Lu Mingshu and Yan Wugui looked quite capable, it was nothing bad if they used the Jiang name to prevent trouble, and they would give a helping hand to Jiang Yuan in return. Since Jiang Yuan was an illegitimate child, Jiang Yuan would not have many trusted aids back in the Jiang family.
After some idle gossip, Prince Chu left after giving his goodbye.
Before the sun set, the guard stopped collecting badges and announced the name list. “Those who intend to give up, just report here tomorrow.”
Obviously, the three of them got into the next round successfully. “Let’s find a place to stay,” Jiang Yuan said to them.
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