Jiang Chen had no choice but to explain the truth — his slot had long since been reserved by the Fourth Prince.
"Ye Rong, that little monkey?" A sly smile crept across Consort Dan's radiant face. "What if I could persuade Ye Rong to transfer his slot to me?"
"This... The Labyrinth Autumn Hunt — can people really form alliances like that?" Jiang Chen asked curiously.
Consort Dan slapped her forehead. She was discovering that this Jiang Chen was genuinely naive to the point of near total ignorance.
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course you can form alliances during the Labyrinth Autumn Hunt. Why else would anyone bother fighting over these slots?"
Jiang Chen was puzzled. "Sister Consort Dan, with your status, it should be effortless to find cultivators far stronger than me. Why does it have to be me, specifically?"
Consort Dan giggled. "That, I'm afraid, must remain a secret for now."
"Then I'm not going. I don't even have the right to know what I'm getting into." Jiang Chen shook his head repeatedly, clearly displeased.
"You're not going? Believe it or not..." Consort Dan raised a slender, pale hand and made a sharp chopping motion. "Believe it or not, I'll make you end up just like that Fengjiao — snap! Hmph!"
Jiang Chen hadn't expected the perpetually elegant Consort Dan to suddenly spout something so fierce.
"That's a bit extreme, isn't it? At this point I'm starting to think you're some kind of trafficker preying on innocent youths."
Consort Dan laughed, a gorgeous bloom across her face. "Good — you're scared. Stop flattering yourself; I wouldn't eat you alive."
Jiang Chen was helpless. "I really hope Prince Ye Rong has the backbone to stand firm and won't be bewitched by your beauty wiles, tossing me over just like that."
"Don't even dream about it. That little monkey Ye Rong can't escape my palm." At this, Consort Dan rose to her feet, her steps light and graceful, the soft chime of her ornaments trailing behind her as she drifted leisurely toward the exit.
"Jiang Chen, it's settled. Remember — I'm not joking. If you dare stand me up, I'll make sure you end up as a Fengjiao!"
Watching this woman of ever-changing moods, Jiang Chen furrowed his brow. He was realizing that this woman was genuinely difficult to deal with.
One moment dignified, the next playful. One moment fierce, the next shrewd. One moment kind, and then she'd flash a hint of something demonic.
"Old Grand Tutor Ye, just how did you raise such an extraordinary woman? She wasn't specifically sent to torment me, was she?" Jiang Chen slapped his forehead. "Gouyu, come give my shoulders a squeeze."
He turned around to find that Gouyu had apparently stormed off in a huff as well.
"Oh come on — I've managed to alienate everyone on both sides." Jiang Chen was discovering that he'd somehow ended up in everyone's bad books at once.
What Jiang Chen hadn't anticipated was that Consort Dan would head straight back to find the Fourth Prince, Ye Rong — and that Ye Rong would capitulate without the slightest resistance, handing Jiang Chen over to Consort Dan just like that.
At the Fourth Prince's residence, Ye Rong grinned. "Jiang Chen, don't blame me for this. I really didn't want to let you go. But you know how it is — once Consort Dan gets that look on her face, I just can't hold my ground."
Tian Shao chuckled. "Brother Jiang, this hasn't spread yet, but if it does, you're going to be the target of every wagging tongue in the capital. You should know — Miss Consort Dan has participated in the Labyrinth Autumn Hunt twice before. Every time, countless young nobles were dying to team up with her. But guess what happened?"
"What?"
"Consort Dan didn't take a fancy to anyone, both times. She went alone, a lone beauty. You have no idea how many young nobles were crushed when she rejected every single one of them. And here you are, chosen by her personally to team up, looking all upset about it. Don't you know how lucky you are?"
Ye Rong also smiled. "Jiang Chen, don't complain — even I'm a bit envious. You don't know, we princes study under the Grand Tutor, and we get to see Consort Dan quite often each month. But from childhood until now, the total time we've ever spent alone with her probably doesn't add up to as much as your time during this Labyrinth Autumn Hunt."
That may be so, but Jiang Chen's mood didn't lift because of their words. The young nobles of the Royal Capital wanted to team up with Consort Dan so they could impress her and win her favor. First, because she was their goddess; second, because they hoped to curry favor with the Grand Tutor through her.
But Jiang Chen had none of those complicated calculations in his mind. He had no particular desire regarding the old Grand Tutor and no intention of currying his favor.
As for Consort Dan, she was certainly a beauty, but Jiang Chen wasn't the type to be so dazzled by a beautiful woman that he lost himself.
If Jiang Chen were a lecher, before he met Consort Dan, whether it was Princess Gouyu or Dongfang Zhiruo — frankly, as long as he showed interest, neither would have any reason to reject him.
But Jiang Chen was not a man blindly obsessed with female charm. Consort Dan was certainly outstanding, but such an exceptional woman was inevitably also covered in thorns.
Jiang Chen participated in the Labyrinth Autumn Hunt to train himself and hone his skills. He didn't really want to be tied to the side of a beauty.
Especially when that beauty's thoughts were so difficult to fathom.
"Jiang Chen, I still have two spots in my group. Do you need them?"
Jiang Chen considered for a moment, then nodded. "I'll take one."
He had originally wanted two — one for Xue Tong and one for Gouyu. But thinking about it, Gouyu was about to enter seclusion to break through to the Spirit Realm, so she probably wouldn't make it to the Labyrinth Autumn Hunt.
Furthermore, Gouyu and Consort Dan might not get along. Since he'd been conscripted by Consort Dan, if he brought Gouyu along as well and they happened to meet during the Hunt, things could become very awkward.
After weighing his options, Jiang Chen decided to give the spot to Xue Tong.
Xue Tong's talent in the martial path was exceptionally high. He was an uncarved piece of jade, waiting to be shaped.