Chapter 22: Discussion // Suspicion

Returning from his memories, Zed's gaze burned brighter than ever as he was determined to protect Shi Jingfei.

Shi Zedong felt an uncomfortable feeling, but he couldn't find out who was causing it. Deciding to ignore it, he faces Xia Meixiang and tries to have a conversation.

"It is a pleasant day for Her majesty's coming-of-age celebration."

Xia Meixiang answers with perfunctory responses. "I suppose so."

"Has Her Majesty heard the new poem written by the famous scholar, Lao Tzu?"

"Not yet."

Shi Zedong's face brightened and proceeded to prolong the conversation by talking about topics he liked, such as poetry, laws, and governance.

Xia Meixiang maintained a blank face during the entire conversation as she would only nod or reply to short answers from time to time.

And when asked, "What about you? What do you think?" She replies, "I think it's alright."

However, deep inside, she thought that the noble in front of her was chatty and most of his knowledge was useless.

It was as if listening to a person say, "I'm smart because I know these things." Shi Zedong was a professional at covert boasting.

In conclusion, their conversation was worthless for Xia Meixiang because she didn't gain or learn anything from their conversation.

Xia Meixiang couldn't help but think about how this person couldn't be compared to a truly knowledgeable person with wisdom who also happens to be her friend.

She slightly glanced behind her and saw Zed's emotionless face, and if she hadn't been observing him for the past two years, she wouldn't realize that he was bored.

'As expected...' she thought, as none of the topics they talked about were able to light up his interest.

Most likely because he knows that their useless knowledge isn't applicable in reality.

Though the only good thing about letting Shi Zedong continue talking was him forgetting about his sister beside him.

Zed and the others didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but considering the way he treats her sister, they thought it was the former.

At the very least, Shi Jingfei didn't look as pale as earlier anymore while remaining quiet to not let her brother's attention return to her.

"Her highness' is truly knowledgeable. I have learned many things from this conversation exchange." Shi Zedong said.

Xia Meixiang's eyebrow twitched. 'Exchange? It was just you boasting about what you know!' She inwardly shook her head.

"It's just that... I have one last question if Her highness doesn't mind to answer." Shi Zedong's eyes met Xia Meixiang's.

"What is it?" Judging by his tone of voice, Xia Meixiang had already guessed what he was going to ask.

She also knew that this was his main reason for talking to her.

Shi Zedong spoke. "Are those two youths behind Her majesty, the rumored study mates?"

Xia Meixiang nodded. "Yes. They are my study mates and are qualified to participate in my banquet."

Although Xia Meixiang's tone remained the same as it had been in the beginning, the fact that she spoke more than usual hinted that there was something more between her and her study mates.

They were already mysterious since the royal family hid their identity. Both public and private investigations didn't occur since it would be equivalent to challenging the Royal Family's authority.

No one wanted to risk offending the rulers of this Kingdom just for the sake of the princess' playmates. Hence, this is the first time that they had all seen the two rumored study mates.

Zed didn't mind being seen since they already had protection from the Royal Family.

While Lan'er was only wearing her mask because she was too beautiful and her beauty could incite the greed of those young masters.

Speaking of Young masters, Zed's eyes swept across the banquet hall as he tried to spot the number 1 and number 2 people they needed to avoid.

Number 1, Wan Chao, was seated in the corner of the room and was busy surrounding himself with young masters and mistresses who had a lower rank of nobility.

He had short spiky black hair that was combed backward. His eyes were thin, similar to a snake.

He also had this ever-smiling mouth that would make people think he was planning some evil scheme.

Lastly, he wore luxurious dark purple robes and golden accessories that flaunted his wealth.

The more Zed covertly observed him, the more he matched with the evil rumors that he had.

However, Zed had a foreboding feeling that Wan Chao isn't everything as he seems.

At the same time, Number 2, Tian Delun was making his move. He was easy to spot since he had a large body.

He was slowly making his way towards them while his eyes were swimming across the room looking for beauty.

Shi Zedong spoke again, drawing Zed's attention back to their table.

"I see... However, I don't think they are dressed to match the occasion..."

Xia Mexiang rolled her eyes. "If Young master Shi Zedong wants to talk about attire, then what would you like to say about Young master Tian Delun?

Speaking of which..."

She looked to the side and noticed Tian Delun approaching.

Shi Zedong's face stiffened when he spotted Tian Delun.

"Young master Tian Delun is... a peculiar person and his reputation is infamous throughout the Kingdom."

He then turned to look at Zed and Lan'er. "However, They should be presentable as Her highness' study mates. At the very least, one should have the common etiquette to take off their masks in a gathering like this."

Zed was a hundred percent sure that Shi Zedong was planning something, since he is going this far just to confirm the appearance of Lan'er.

The thought of Shi Zedong trying to do something to his sister...

"...!! So it was you!" Shi Zedong finally noticed the uncomfortable feeling he had been receiving.

It turns out, it was the black-haired study mate of the princess!

Shi Zedong glared and the soft expression on his face disappeared. He felt deeply angry and insulted, but he held his anger in.

He had a very deep grudge against the princess' study mates because he knew that they were the reason for Shi Jingfei's continuous improvement.

If before, he could barely hold unto her soles, now his little sister had completely left him in the dust.

This was a very bad thing since his aunts, uncles, and the heads of the family branch were looking for the chance to replace him, the heir to the head position of the family.

Shi Zedong is truly trying his best and in reality, his results are above the average, borderline excellent but compared to his little sister... He was seen as someone incompetent.

Shi Zed gnashed his teeth in anger but didn't let his emotions show on his face.

After all, he knew that most nobles in the hall were observing them.

Calming himself down, he spoke in a cold voice.

"You... a mere playmate of the princess dares to-"

"I decided to allow my study mate to wear a mask. They don't have to answer to Young master Shi Zedong, nor are they obligated to follow Young master's commands.

They are not your subordinates." Xia Meixiang spoke in a warning tone.

Shi Zedong bit his tongue but knew he had to back off. At the very least, he had succeeded in accomplishing his goal.

He bowed. "I apologize for overstepping my boundaries."

"Y-y-your Highness!" The negative atmosphere was broken by the newcomer.

They turned and saw Tian Delong doing a courtesy bow.

"M-may I join your table?" His voice was deep.

She didn't like the way this person looked at her.

He couldn't even stop himself from grinning as he admired Xia Meixiang's face.

But similar to Shi Zedong, if She rejects him, a conspiracy theory will spread among the nobles.

Xia Meixiang nodded again, albeit hiding a gaze that looked at Tian Delong like trash.

He took the seat one seat apart from Xia Meixiang, while shyly scratching his face. His actions earned the ire of everyone at the table and despite that, he still continued to act as if he didn't notice anything.

"So... what were yo- H-her highness discussing about?" Tian Delun immediately corrected himself. He still remembered the reason why his grandfather's threat earlier.

While thinking of what to do, Xia Meixiang's face brightened up, and smirked inwardly as she thought of a cheeky idea.

"Well since Young master Tian Delun asked, Young master Shi Zedong was complaining about

some people present at the banquet were not wearing proper attire." She said while making sure to make eye contact with Tian Delun.

Shi Zedong's smiling face stiffened and his eye twitched.

Tian Delun was momentarily dazed as he thought Xia Meixiang's voice was attractive, but when he understood the content of what she said, his face immediately grew grim, and he looked at Shi Zedong. "Is this true, Surname Shi?"

Shi Zedong tried to deny and explain. "N-no! I wasn't talking abo-"

Bam!

Tian Delun's large palm slammed on the table.

The banquet hall's festive atmosphere turned silent as the young nobles looked at the source of the sound.

Tian Delun looked Shi Zedong in the eyes before speaking in a stern voice. "If you have something to say, say it to my face!"

Tian Delun was extremely furious because he thought that this twig-looking person was insulting him in front of the person he liked.

Shi Zedong tried to handle the matter covertly, but now that Tian Delun had attracted the attention of many, he had to protect his dignity as the heir of the Shi family.

"Lower your voice, Young master Tian Delun for you are disrupting the banquet." His eyes squinted and continued, "And this behavior of yours is unbecoming of someone from nobility."

Xia Meixiang smiled inwardly as she watched the spectacle she made. As royalty, she couldn't allow a noble family to become hostile to them, but it was a different story if they were against each other.

In fact, she welcomed it, since in cases where they went to war, the Royal family could profit by absorbing their territories. Usually, a Royal Family must avoid disharmony between nobles and unite them. But the Xia Royal family were rumored to have a connection with an Immortal, so who would dare to challenge them?

No one had enough guts to test out the rumor and challenge them for the last hundred years.

Being insulted directly in front of everyone; Tian Delun's face crumpled in anger, and stood upright. "Your Shi family dares!-"

Tian Delun was about to pounce on Shi Zedong, but an unfamiliar voice stopped him.

"Woah! Woah! Woah! What's going on here? I didn't know that the big nobles of the Kingdom were gathering."

His speech manner was classless and his attitude was easygoing. The new person that arrived was Wan Chao.

He took a seat beside Shi Zedong and relaxed himself.

"Yo! Young Mas- nah that's too long. I'll just call you Zedong. So? What's happening here?"

His appearance and actions were so abrupt that it took time for the nearby nobles to process it.

Although Shi Zedong and Tian Delun had heard of the rumors, this is still the first time they had seen each other because the Kingdom was very large and all the great nobles' territories were far apart from each other.

"Young master Wan Chao..." Shi Zedong was about to speak, but he was ignored by Wan Chao.

"Hey, you! Big guy! What do you think you're doing? You think you're some kind of hotshot around here?" Wan Chao spoke to Tian Delun.

Zed's ears perked up as he noticed the familiar speech manner of Wan Chao.

On the other hand, his unruly behavior caused all the nobles to look at him in disdain. They all had the same thought, 'This is one of the great nobles?'

Tian Delun finally recovered from his stupor. His face turned angrier as he spoke. "You!-"

"Atatatat... shh...." Wan Chao exaggeratingly shushed Tian Delun. "Do you hear that?"

He asked while looking around.

His actions caused everyone to turn silent and wonder what he was talking about.

Seconds later, Wan Chao smiled and spoke. "See how quiet it is when there's no dog barking? So if you could please, be a good dog and stay quiet."

Tian Delun's whole body trembled as his face turned red in anger. Never had he met anyone who dared speak to him this way.

At the same time, Zed confirmed his suspicion. 'His informal manner of speaking is definitely from the modern era.'

His eyes furrowed as he thought, 'Is he a reincarnator as well?'

Edited By: WorthyAdversary