Chapter 416: Don’t Be Unappreciative
Yu Luo had long since put this matter out of her mind, never expecting that Ye Lü would still be dwelling on it.
But could an unfavored prince and the prince of Ximo Kingdom really stand against Fengcheng’s retaliation?
“Thank you for your help. Since you’re supporting me so much, I’ll set aside a batch of vegetables for you in a month. Dongfeng will be deep into winter by then, and fresh vegetables will be rare and valuable. You can take them to the capital and make a nice profit.”
Yu Luo didn’t know how else to express her gratitude, so the best she could do was help Ye Lü earn more silver.
Ye Lü’s eyes lit up. Even though accepting such a favor from a woman made him feel slightly guilty, he consoled himself with the thought that Yu Luo treated him differently from others. That was enough to make him happy.
“That’s great! Xiao Luo, you’re truly loyal—you never forget me when there’s a good deal.”
Yu Luo smiled. “We’re friends. You look out for me, so of course, I’ll think of you when opportunities arise.”
Three days after the Fengcheng tournament ended, the Third Boss of Fengcheng arrived with gifts.
Naturally, his goal was to meet with Yu Haojie, but Yu Luo found an excuse to brush him off.
Despite Fengcheng’s high status, she had personally visited them and hadn’t been granted an audience with their City Lord. So why should a mere Third Boss be allowed to meet her father so easily?
Sometimes, holding back was a way of preserving one’s position. Even if Yu Luo wasn’t openly hostile to the Third Boss, she wasn’t going to let her father be dragged into this until Fengcheng’s City Lord showed himself.
Accepting Fengcheng’s lavish gifts with a polite smile, she made small talk.
“There was no need for such generosity, Third Boss. You’ve visited our Luocheng before—there’s no need to bring gifts every time.”
“Miss Yu, you’re too modest. This is just proper etiquette. We regret that the tournament incident startled you. It was never our intention, and we feel deeply guilty. These gifts are merely a token to ease your distress.”
“In that case, I’ll accept them graciously. But I do have a question that I hope you can clarify.”
“Please, ask away, Miss Yu.”
Yu Luo’s smile faded slightly, her tone becoming more serious.
“Fengcheng is a major city with great renown across several kingdoms. If an incident like this occurred during your tournament, are these gifts truly meant as an apology? Do you take me for a fool? The woman on that stage belonged to an established sect. Shouldn’t they be the ones coming forward to make amends?”
At Yu Luo’s words, the Third Boss’s smile stiffened.
He hadn’t expected such a young girl to be so difficult to deal with. Even after accepting Fengcheng’s gifts, she was still holding onto this issue.
Sensing his change in expression, Yu Luo feigned an apologetic smile. “I don’t mean to make things difficult for you or for Fengcheng. I’m simply confused. Fengcheng is known for being swift and decisive—surely you wouldn’t tolerate such an incident.”
“Hahaha, of course, of course! We’ve already negotiated with their sect, and they’ll come to personally apologize to you soon. However, I must admit I’m disappointed not to have met your father today. Could you tell me when he’ll return? I’d love to visit again then.”
“My father hasn’t mentioned his return date. But there will be opportunities in the future.”
“In that case, Miss Yu, take care. I’ll visit again soon.”
After sending the Third Boss off, Yu Luo eyed the mountain of gifts. Just in case, she asked the system to scan them.
[Host, these are all tonics, jewelry, and gifts for women. Some items are even for infants. Could it be that Fengcheng has already discovered your mother is pregnant?]
Yu Luo’s face darkened.
“If Fengcheng holds such a strong position across the kingdoms, then finding out about us would be easy. These baby items are likely a warning—if we keep refusing to cooperate, they might take action.”
[That’s my analysis as well. You need to accelerate your plans. Fengcheng could strike at any time.]
“Yes, I understand. I’ll also need to warn my mother to avoid going out. For all we know, Fengcheng’s spies are already in Luocheng.”
[Luocheng can’t shut itself off if it wants to grow, so your mother will have to be extra cautious.]
What Yu Luo didn’t expect was that the next day, people from Bai Ting Sect arrived at Luocheng in person.
When Yu Luo saw the women seated in the reception hall, she immediately knew they weren’t here to apologize. The eldest, around fifty years old, had a stern face reminiscent of a strict nun. Their expressions weren’t those of people coming to offer remorse but rather of those looking to demand something.
“Thank you for waiting.”
Accompanied by Luo Yi, Yu Luo took her seat at the head of the room, her expression cold and indifferent. She had no reason to extend warmth—after all, Bai Ting Sect had been the aggressors.
The older woman did not rise but merely gave a curt salute.
“You must be Miss Yu of Luocheng?”
Yu Luo smiled faintly and nodded. “Yes, I am the one nearly injured by your sect’s disciple in Fengcheng. May I ask what brings you here today?”
“Our junior sister has gone missing. We’re here to demand her return!”
“Xiao You, mind your manners!”
Before the elder could speak, a young woman named Xiao You had already blurted out her accusation.
A woman in her thirties, seated beside the older woman, turned and shot Xiao You a warning glare. Then, she turned back to Yu Luo with a feigned apologetic smile.
“Miss Yu, I apologize for our junior’s lack of discipline. However, we are indeed here to offer our apologies for what happened at the tournament. At the same time, we would like to inquire about our junior sister’s whereabouts.”
Watching their performance, Yu Luo’s indifferent smile deepened.
She lowered her gaze slightly, chuckling before meeting the woman’s eyes again. Her expression had turned sharper.
“You all don’t seem particularly remorseful. If anything, it feels more like you’re here to make demands.”
“What do you mean, Yu? These two are our sect elders! Their presence alone is already an act of great courtesy to you! You should know your place!”
(End of Chapter 416)
