Chapter 79
Xiao Minghuang chuckled and pinched Ye Ruoshui’s delicate nose.
After a moment of affection, Ye Ruoshui shared her thoughts.
Xiao Minghuang had overheard the conversation between the Emperor and Ye Ruoshui.
She knew very well that Ye Ruoshui was deeply attached to her and wanted to stay by her side to serve her.
However, this would hinder Ye Ruoshui’s growth. If the little girl remained by her side, she would forever remain a child who never matured.
Xiao Minghuang didn’t mind pampering her as a little girl forever, but even a little girl shouldn’t become too dependent on her.
The path of cultivation is long and arduous, requiring efforts beyond the imagination of ordinary people. If Ye Ruoshui is overly protected, it may hinder her when she encounters difficulties in the future, thereby affecting her cultivation and growth.
“Ruoshui, sister knows your thoughts. Since you desire to stay with me, I naturally won’t refuse you. However, you still have a long journey ahead, and I can’t keep you by my side forever. For instance, now that His Majesty wishes to bestow a new status upon you, you could have accepted it, but you chose to decline.”
“But have you considered another possibility? Even if you accepted those rewards, you could still stay by my side. These two things are not mutually exclusive.”
Hearing this, a trace of confusion appeared on Ye Ruoshui’s delicate face. When she heard that the Emperor wanted to reward her, her first thought was that she would be stripped of her status as a princess.
It seemed she had never considered that these two things could coexist.
Seeing the confusion on Ye Ruoshui’s face, Xiao Minghuang gently patted her head and said leisurely:
“Many things in the world are not single-choice questions but multiple-choice ones. You can have it all.”
“Even if your status changes, the bond between you and me will remain the same. Why worry about it?”
Hearing these words, the confusion in Ye Ruoshui’s heart completely dissipated. A smile appeared on her face as she said joyfully:
“Your Highness, I am willing to accept the reward!”
Hearing this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Minghuang’s mouth. In fact, since their journey to Beiyang City, a trace of worry had been lurking in her heart.
Ye Ruoshui was too dependent on her.
Her admiration and attachment to Xiao Minghuang surpassed everything else. While this deep affection seemed beautiful, it could become a burden and backfire on both of them if it developed to a certain extent.
Therefore, Xiao Minghuang tried to train Ye Ruoshui, helping her gradually become more independent.
This wasn’t because she no longer liked Ye Ruoshui and wanted to push her away.
It was precisely because she cared so much for Ye Ruoshui and wanted the young girl to become better that she thought of her future.
Just as a young eagle must learn to spread its wings and soar, and a fine steed must learn to gallop freely, this is a path that must be taken.
With Xiao Minghuang’s help, Ye Ruoshui would face fewer setbacks, which was actually a blessing for her.
Xiao Minghuang gathered her thoughts and took Ye Ruoshui’s hand, leading her before the Emperor.
Ye Ruoshui looked up at the imposing figure of the Emperor, mustering a bit of courage, and said:
“Your Majesty, this humble servant is willing to accept the reward!”
Hearing this, a smile appeared on the Emperor’s stern face as he stroked his beard and said:
“A teachable child indeed!”
The Emperor knew well that the change in Ye Ruoshui’s attitude was largely due to the Ninth Princess’s influence.
He would not forget to reward the Ninth Princess either.
Moreover, his decision to elevate Ye Ruoshui was not only due to her own talent but also to bolster the Ninth Princess’s standing.
The Emperor spoke with authority:
“By the decree of the Emperor, Ye Ruoshui is hereby conferred the title of Princess Yaoguang, with the status equivalent to a princess; the Ninth Princess Xiao Minghuang is conferred the title of Princess Ziwei, with the status equivalent to a grand princess. They are bestowed with 100,000 spirit stones and 1,000 pills!”
Hearing this, a look of surprise appeared on Xiao Minghuang’s face. Wasn’t this supposed to be a reward for Ye Ruoshui? Why was she being promoted as well?
Seeing her puzzled expression, the Emperor stroked his beard and said:
“There’s no need to be surprised. With your talent, you are bound to take the top spot in this grand competition. His Majesty’s decree is meant to build momentum for you, allowing you to seize the position of Crown Princess in a dignified and indisputable manner. This way, your elder brothers will have no room for objection.”
Xiao Minghuang nodded. She understood clearly that her father was doing this entirely for her sake, paving the way for her.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great favor! Your servant will certainly live up to your expectations!”
After the two expressed their gratitude once more, the Emperor left with Wang Jin.
After receiving her title, Ye Ruoshui was overwhelmed with excitement, jumping and cheering around Xiao Minghuang, clearly overjoyed.
Xiao Minghuang did not stop her, a gentle smile on her face.
The Emperor’s reward this time was of immense significance, not in the spiritual stones or elixirs, but in the title itself.
Ziwei, the master of the celestial constellations, is the most noble among the stars. By bestowing upon her the title of Princess Ziwei, it was a hint that she would inherit the throne in the future.
This was no small matter.
Once this decree was announced, the political winds in the court and beyond would undoubtedly shift immediately.
Whether it was the staunch supporters of the other princes or the fence-sitters, new thoughts would arise in their minds.
After all, no one would be determined to follow someone destined to fail.
As for the title bestowed upon Ye Ruoshui, the meaning was even more apparent—it was clearly intended to have her faithfully assist and protect the North Star, Xiao Minghuang.
After the commotion, the grand hall returned to tranquility.
Inside the hall, only Xiao Minghuang and Ye Ruoshui remained, along with the Seventh Elder standing not far away, his expression complex.
In this competition, he had utterly lost and had even become a stepping stone for Ye Ruoshui, now known as Princess Yaoguang.
This battle had brought fame to Princess Yaoguang but had trampled him, a master of alchemy, into the mud, never to rise again.
“His Majesty told me to humble myself and temporarily treat Princess Yaoguang with the respect of a disciple. This… I am over two hundred years old, a fifth-level Divine Sea realm martial artist. How can I lower myself to such an extent?”
Seventh Elder thought with resentment.
However.
He understood even more clearly that he had indeed lost this competition, and to a girl of twelve or thirteen years old.
Seventh Elder recalled the words of the Emperor.
“That girl Ye Ruoshui has an extraordinary talent for alchemy. If you are willing to humble yourself and learn from her, it might be more effective than decades of hard study. In learning, there is no distinction of seniority; the accomplished are the teachers. I don’t need to teach you this, do I?”
After much deliberation, Seventh Elder sighed lightly and walked towards Xiao Minghuang and Ye Ruoshui.
Xiao Minghuang and Ye Ruoshui were whispering to each other when they noticed Seventh Elder approaching with heavy steps, his face full of humiliation.
Xiao Minghuang immediately understood and teased:
“Princess Yaoguang, your good disciple has arrived!”
A blush appeared on Ye Ruoshui’s face as she playfully punched Xiao Minghuang’s chest, cooing:
“Your Highness, don’t make fun of me!”
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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