A torrent of emotions surged through Jiang Chen's heart. Excitement, agitation, joy, guilt… every feeling crashed over him at once.
Truthfully, there had been very few people at Danxin Palace with whom he'd shared a genuine bond. Palace Master Danchi was one. Mu Gaoqi was another. Elder Yunnie as well.
Even counting the Ling sisters, the list wouldn't exceed ten people.
And Ling Bi'er was undoubtedly on the same level as Mu Gaoqi. Although Jiang Chen had never overstepped any boundaries with her.
But back then, Ling Bi'er had been his closest female friend at Danxin Palace—the one he could talk to most freely, the one he shared the deepest understanding with.
Ling Bi'er was never much of a talker, and her temperament ran cool.
But through their several encounters, Jiang Chen had come to know that beneath that reserved exterior, she was actually warm-hearted.
Her devotion to her father, her protectiveness toward her younger sister, her loyalty to the sect—all of it made it clear that Ling Bi'er was someone who valued bonds above all else.
Now, seeing her here in a foreign land, how could Jiang Chen not be overwhelmed with emotion?
Standing beside him, Huang'er's heart was equally turbulent. When she had lived in seclusion at Danxin Palace, she had naturally met Ling Bi'er as well.
Seeing her here now, she was no less startled.
However, the relationship between Huang'er and Ling Bi'er was quite different from the one between Jiang Chen and Ling Bi'er. The two women had few interactions.
Two outstanding women who were each aware of the other's existence.
Huang'er even knew that both Ling Bi'er and her sister had been deeply smitten with Jiang Chen.
But seeing Ling Bi'er appear here as a princess of the Blue Smoke Island Domain, Huang'er found it both surprising and somewhat suspicious.
She couldn't help stealing a glance at Jiang Chen through the corner of her eye. His expression was complex, his emotions clearly in turmoil.
A knowing smile flickered across Huang'er's lips.
She believed that her beloved and Ling Bi'er had never engaged in any improper relationship back then, nor had Jiang Chen harbored any dishonorable thoughts toward her.
If anything, it was Ling Bi'er who had been completely taken with Jiang Chen.
But after all these years, was Ling Bi'er still the same person she once was? Was her feelings from back then still as steadfast and pure as they had been?
Huang'er's mind churned with a flood of thoughts.
She knew that Jiang Chen would absolutely not turn a blind eye to Ling Bi'er's situation. If Ling Bi'er were truly happy in the Blue Smoke Island Domain, Jiang Chen might let things be.
But was she happy?
Huang'er couldn't help taking another look at Ling Bi'er. At the very least, from what she could see, there was none of the joy one would expect from a princess on her face.
If she were truly happy, then even someone with her naturally aloof disposition would have shown at least some inner radiance in a setting like this.
But Huang'er couldn't detect any.
With a woman's intuition, she even felt that every move Ling Bi'er made seemed forced—a reluctant performance born of helplessness.
"I wonder if Brother Chen has noticed?" Huang'er wanted to alert Jiang Chen, but she didn't dare transmit a secret message—she feared that someone in her family who was secretly monitoring her might discover her connection to Jiang Chen.
So instead, she gave a light smile and said aloud, "Cousin Qingsang, this princess truly is a stunning beauty. However, she doesn't appear to be in very good spirits."
Yan Qingsang's brow furrowed slightly. "Perhaps that's simply her natural temperament?"
"Ha. She's a woman, and I'm a woman. With my intuition, I can tell—the princess has absolutely no interest in this martial competition for marriage."
"What makes you say that?" Yan Qingsang asked, a note of skepticism in his voice.
"Look at her. From the moment she appeared until now, she's done nothing more than offer a perfunctory nod. Have you seen her smile? Have you seen her greet anyone? Have you seen her eyes wander to take in the crowd? In this princess's eyes, you contestants on the stage and the spectators below are all no different from thin air."
These words were ostensibly directed at Yan Qingsang, but in truth, Huang'er intended them for Jiang Chen.
A flicker passed through Jiang Chen's mind. He and Huang'er shared an almost telepathic understanding.
Hearing her words, he immediately grasped what she meant.
Huang'er was telling him that Ling Bi'er might not be participating in this competition of her own free will. Perhaps, in fact, Ling Bi'er was trapped in an extremely passive situation.
Thoughts tumbled through Jiang Chen's mind in a dizzying rush.
"Your Highness, so many brave warriors have competed here for an entire month, all for your sake. Won't you say a few words to these champions?"
Ling Bi'er cast a cool glance at the royal prince beside her, then finally let her gaze sweep across the crowd below in a cursory fashion.
"Your efforts are appreciated. The royal house of the Blue Smoke Island Domain thanks you for your dedication."
That was all she said—a single, flat sentence.
The royal representative beside her looked faintly displeased. But the prince was clearly a master at working a crowd.