Firmament Sword

As countless students of True Martial Academy craned their necks in anticipation, the Seventh Princess... finally arrived!

There was none of the extravagant pageantry they had imagined, no massive retinue of attendants. There was only a single carriage bearing the royal insignia, and an old servant driving it.

The Seventh Princess had come to True Martial Academy almost entirely alone!

At the academy’s main gate, Wei Ziting and a crowd of other young men from prominent families had claimed the best spots to wait for her.

They wanted to be the first to show their best side to the Seventh Princess!

At the Seventh Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, she and Xu Luo had been intimate, exchanging flirtatious glances. The princess had even publicly declared that she would ask Xu Luo for the first dance in the future. But despite all this, Wei Ziting and the others were not discouraged.

They believed that her words and the affection she showed Xu Luo were purely out of gratitude!

Yes, gratitude!

Just imagine it: for anyone, being confined to a wheelchair for over a decade, unable to stand or walk, would be immense torture.

Then, someone suddenly appeared who could make her stand again, bringing medicine that could cure her. That kind of gratitude... was truly beyond words.

So, it wasn’t surprising that the Seventh Princess had said what she did in public.

But even the deepest gratitude would eventually fade with time. Besides, gratitude... was not the same as affection!

This group of young men from prominent families knew better than anyone that so-called affection was the most unreliable thing in the world!

It was influenced by too many factors. Especially for someone born into the Royal Family, matters of the heart were often beyond one’s own control.

No matter how much the Emperor doted on the Seventh Princess, he would still have to consider reality.

As for Xu Luo... even if the Seventh Princess did have some feelings for him, these young nobles had plenty of ways to make those feelings fade, disappear, or even... turn from adoration to loathing!

That... was their specialty!

Meanwhile, students from lesser families or lower-class youth were all inside the academy gates, split into two rows as if forming a welcoming procession, all craning their necks in anticipation.

Lin Chi was also among them, but he looked upon those around him with utter disdain.

’You bunch of incompetents, what are you doing joining in the commotion? No matter how much you push to the front, do you really think the Princess will spare you a second glance?’

Lin Chi sneered inwardly, but his face remained perfectly calm. He held a fan in his hand, which he opened with a SNAP. On it were four words written in a flamboyant, cursive script—’Boundless as the Sea’!

The calligraphy was bold yet agile, the brushstrokes firm yet fluid. It was vigorous and grand. Just by looking at the characters, even a contemporary master calligrapher like Prime Minister Wei Feng would surely offer a word of praise: ’Excellent script!’

This was a fan Lin Chi had made himself, and the characters, of course, were his own work. Ordinarily, Lin Chi rarely carried a fan, believing it smacked of pretentious elegance.

But today, he had brought it out and made sure he was visible. He wanted the Princess to see the fan, to see the calligraphy, and most importantly, to see him. He wanted the Princess to know that True Martial Academy was full of hidden talents, and she shouldn’t only pay attention to those useless sons of prominent families!

His excellence, Lin Chi’s excellence, was something those people could never hope to match!

Any carriage, upon reaching the main gate of True Martial Academy, had to stop. This was a rule of True Martial Academy!

Not even a royal carriage was an exception!

Even past Emperors, when inspecting True Martial Academy, had never set a precedent of driving directly inside!

This was a sign of respect from the Royal Family for the institution that cultivated the pillars of the Cangqiong Kingdom.

Naturally, the Seventh Princess could not be an exception. The carriage came to a halt more than two hundred meters from the academy’s main gate.

First, it was out of respect for the academy. Second... it was simply impossible to advance any further!

The road ahead was completely blocked by the sons of prominent families!

True Martial Academy gathered the vast majority of the Cangqiong Kingdom’s young elites, with over a hundred thousand students. Among them, the number of students from prominent families was also quite astounding.

Wei Ziting, Leng Ping, Zhao Mo, Sun Donghai, Wang Ziweng... all of the Imperial Capital’s top young masters had appeared.

Some young masters whose families were a slight tier below the most prominent ones were also present.

Faced with the Seventh Princess, no one could remain calm. There was no rule stating that a princess had to marry a young master from the most prominent family. So, before a final decision was made, everyone... had a chance!

”Your Highness, there are too many people ahead. How about you let this old servant accompany you inside?” The elderly driver appeared to be in his seventies, yet he was hale and hearty. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes from time to time, warning others not to underestimate him just because he was a coachman.

”That’s not necessary. They’re just fellow students. I’m sure they’re only like this because they’re enthusiastic. Once they get used to it, I imagine it won’t happen again,” came the Seventh Princess’s voice, as clear as silver bells, from inside the carriage.

Then, the carriage door opened, and a long, straight, and flawlessly smooth leg stepped out first.

”The Seventh Princess is out!”

”She can really walk!”

”Heavens, I can finally see the Seventh Princess!”

With the Seventh Princess’s appearance, the crowd erupted into a sudden commotion.

This Royal Princess, whose disability had captured the hearts of countless people in the Cangqiong Kingdom, had recently achieved a level of prestige that was second to none.

People in every street and alley were talking about the good fortune the Seventh Princess brought. Not a single person had a bad word to say about her!

This was something that not even the current Emperor could achieve!

The Seventh Princess had truly won the hearts of the people!

And this was a point that everyone who harbored fantasies about the Seventh Princess valued greatly!

After stepping out of the carriage and waving goodbye to the old man, this radiant Royal Princess, this peerless beauty, walked toward the crowd with calm composure.

Although a closer look revealed that her gait was still somewhat unnatural, it was, on the whole, more than enough to excite everyone!

”I, Wei Ziting, welcome Your Highness the Seventh Princess! Welcome to True Martial Academy, and congratulations on your full recovery!”

Wei Ziting’s face was flushed with excitement as he spoke in a clear, loud voice.

After speaking, he glanced smugly at the expressionless Leng Ping nearby and sneered inwardly, ’Young Master Leng? Hah! Without the Sixth Prince to back you, you’re less than a dog in my eyes! Once I marry the Seventh Princess, you’ll be the first one I crush! And as for Xu Luo... hmph, by then, you’ll already be dead! No need to crush you!’

The Seventh Princess glanced at Wei Ziting and frowned slightly, but still gave him a polite nod. Inwardly, however, she was thinking, ’Xu Luo... didn’t you hear I was coming? I wouldn’t have even come if you weren’t here! The way these people are looking at me is so disgusting! It’s like they want to eat me alive! Xu Luo... where are you?’

”Princess, since you’ve just arrived, you must be unfamiliar with the academy. Allow me to show you around and give you a detailed introduction. Might I have this honor?” Wei Ziting said with suave elegance, stepping before the Seventh Princess and making a welcoming gesture.

He was confident that even if the Seventh Princess was unwilling, she would never publicly embarrass him, Wei Ziting!

For no other reason than that she was a Princess, and she... represented the Royal Family!

If the Seventh Princess were to embarrass Wei Ziting in public, it would reflect poorly on Prime Minister Wei Feng. Others might then speculate whether the Emperor had some issue with Prime Minister Wei.

That... could cause a rift between the sovereign and his minister!

The Seventh Princess was exceptionally intelligent. She would never do anything that violated royal etiquette!

As expected, the Seventh Princess’s elegant brows furrowed even more, but a flash of helplessness crossed her eyes.

Just then, a lazy voice drawled from the side, ”Wei Ziting, who the hell do you think you are, trying to suck up to my woman? I think you’re tired of living! Get lost! Scram! Or I’ll beat you so bad your own mother won’t recognize you!”