Chapter 185: Invitation from Her Highness

　　Chapter 185 – Invitation from Her Highness

　　“Morning, Junior Sister Lu!” Shao Zhengyang greeted Lu Mingshu.

　　“Morning.”

　　She walked past Shao Zhengyang after answering half-heartedly. Shao Zhengyang raised his eyebrows and turned back to Tan Yubing, who was behind him. “Senior Aunt Tan, what’s wrong with Junior Sister Lu? She looks dead inside.”

　　Shouldn’t she be on cloud nine after being ranked first on the New Generation Ranking and defeating the barbarians yesterday?

　　Tan Yubing shook her head. “I don’t know. She was like this when I saw her earlier too. Maybe she didn’t get a good sleep.”

　　But she is in the Harmonization Realm, where sleep isn’t really needed. Would a lack of sleep really have such a big effect?

　　Neither of them could figure it out.

　　“Senior Sister Lu.”

　　“Good morning, Senior Sister Lu!”

　　“Senior Sister Lu…”

　　Lu Mingshu gave a one-word reply to all the young disciples who passed her.

　　In the past, she was said to be arrogant and rude for being cold.

　　But now, there seemed to be no opinion about her greetings, and some even said, “She’s so cool! No wonder she’s ranked first.”

　　When she reached the tent, her seat had already been cleaned, and even the fruits given to her were better than what the others received. Seeing that she had arrived, everyone moved to let her come in.

　　That’s just human nature, huh?

　　It was a full attendance today, and everyone was seated, waiting patiently for the competition to start.

　　The New Ranking was just a warm-up. The Hero Ranking was the main event.

　　The competition rules between the Spirit Realm elders was much simpler, but that made the competition tougher. It was like the arena type of competition – once you lose, you’re out.

　　The rules were cruel. You might manage to get into the top ten with luck, but first place was the best for sure.

　　This competition was different from the New Ranking competition. The New Ranking focused on potential, while the Hero Ranking focused on ability.

　　Among the three chaperones of Nine Jade Palace, An Tongchen was the only one who had the chance to try to fight for the Hero Ranking. Kang Tian, the main chaperone, was old; he was only sent to protect the team. Yin Hong was just not that capable and only came because Zhou Miaoru sent her to settle some things.

　　Lu Mingshu didn’t understand. Nine Jaded Palace had declined to such a state where they didn’t have any good Spirit Realm elders in the sect? Why didn’t Fu Shangqin come? Isn’t he very good? Before he met the Zhou Family Head, he was in the Inner Breath Realm. With the help of the Zhou Family, he managed to reach the Harmonization Realm and then break through to the Spirit Realm within seven years.

　　Such a person would be considered a genius no matter where he went.

　　Normally, the best disciples of the top clans took at least eleven years to break through to the Spirit Realm. This included eight to ten years of hard work, then three years to polish their skills so that they could immediately fight at full power when they broke through.

　　Even if the time for polishing was taken off, being able to breakthrough in seven years was still very impressive. No matter how bad his character was, nobody ever suspected his talent.

　　Looking at how much the Nine Jade Palace had declined, why didn’t he, as the sect leader, come and fight? If he did well, Nine Jade Palace wouldn’t be the same.

　　Lu Mingshu didn’t know what Fu Shangqin was thinking. Perhaps he isn’t confident and wants to wait for the next Qilin Festival? Ten years was nothing much to those in the Spirit Realm.

　　The three chaperones made their way to the tent. Yin Hong went to talk to Lu Mingshu immediately and grinned happily, ignoring the cold reply from Lu Mingshu.

　　An Tongchen even had to ask her to go back to her seat.

　　But she didn’t care. Yin Hong was in a good mood, and nothing would affect it.

　　Why would she be angry? Last night, the queen asked to meet with her, and she stated clearly that she hoped that Lu Mingshu would stay here and not return to Nine Jade Palace.

　　Obviously, Yin Hong agreed without much thought. The thought of precious gifts made her full of passion. Such a good trip! I just had to move my lips and now I’m going back with all this stuff! She had been stuck in a bottleneck for a while, and these gifts could raise her cultivation.

　　Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy.

　　This girl, she has such luck for the queen to favour her! Even though her life may be hard if she has to live with the queen, but with the Alioth Star-Lord as her partner, she would have ample resources for herself. The Seventh Truth Platform is way richer than Nine Jade Palace!

　　If I were her, would I even still be considering? Who does she think she is?

　　Whatever, the queen has made herself clear, and no matter what, that girl has to obey. A girl should just accept her fate! Didn’t the sect leader’s wife accept her fate too? The Big Miss is now married to a poor Fu Shangqin and still fulfilled her wife’s duty.

　　Before the competition started, Ding Qingqing came along with her servant girls.

　　The three chaperones immediately stood up to greet her.

　　Ding Qingqing gave them a smile. “It’s okay. I’m just here to pass a message.”

　　She then turned to Lu Mingshu. “Miss Lu, Her Highness has invited you over for a talk.”

　　Whispers could be heard. Those who knew what was going on looked at her with worry, but those who didn’t looked at her green with envy. The queen must like her a lot! She just sent her a string of Mystic Dewdrops yesterday, and today she invited her for a talk! The main seat is not somewhere just anyone would get to sit!

　　Yin Hong looked at Lu Mingshu, eyes filled with worry. She was worried that Lu Mingshu would rudely refuse and make Ding Qingqing angry.

　　But to her surprise, Lu Mingshu stood up without a word and bowed to the chaperones before leaving with Ding Qingqing.

　　Yin Hong sighed. That’s right, just accept your fate. She’s the queen after all.

　　Ding Qingqing looked shocked, but she was fast to plaster a smile on her face. “Please, Miss.”

　　Lu Mingshu followed Ding Qingqing and went to the main seat.

　　After Ding Qingqing was finished, she bowed to the queen and king. “Lu Mingshu from Nine Jade Palace greeting Your Highness and Your Majesty.”

　　The queen and king both smiled. The queen waved her hand; “Save the courtesy, come sit beside me.”

　　The seat was already open, and it was right beside the queen.

　　“Thank you, Your Highness.” Lu Mingshu bowed before sitting down.

　　The queen held her hand and took a glance at her. “I really didn’t expect you to be so feminine after seeing your fights.”

　　The king of Zhongzhou nodded. “Indeed! If I didn’t know, I would think she’s the Miss of some prestigious family.”

　　“You’re so calm as well even though you’re still young.”

　　“Yeah….”

　　Hearing the praise from the king and queen, State Master Jiayan huffed.

　　She was angry and embarrassed after Xie Lianzhen exposed her the other day, so from then on, she never went to the Seventh Truth Platform’s tent. Now, the seat where Lu Mingshu was sitting was originally hers, which was what she wanted to see least of all.

　　State Master Jiayan gritted her teeth and stabbed the cake in front of her with a chopstick out of anger.

　　“Sister, is the cake not tasty?” The younger prince didn’t realize that she was angry and asked in curiosity.

　　“It’s tasty! It’s very tasty!” Jiayan huffed in anger, then took a piece of cake and stuffed it in her mouth. She imagined that it was Lu Mingshu and bit down hard.