None of You Are Innocent

Then, under the eyes of the crowd, Amy broke into a grin and jogged over to Lu Yuan.

"You big liar, what are you doing here?"

Lu Yuan smiled. "I should be asking you that — what are *you* doing here?"

"It's Harvest Day, isn't it? I came with my mom. She has some business to take care of here, apparently."

Amy explained cheerfully.

"I see."

Lu Yuan gave a small nod.

Beside him, Yang Ping went stiff.

He'd thought earlier that Wang Lingling had been looking at him. Now it was painfully obvious — standing anywhere near Lu Yuan, he had exactly zero presence. None whatsoever.

This was rough.

Meanwhile, more than a few young men in the venue who'd had their eye on Amy were wearing sour expressions.

The Li family's daughter being connected to him was one thing — but why did the Algaibi family's little princess have to be connected to him too?

Had they not taken the opportunity to look into Lu Yuan's background, they'd have assumed he was a man living off wealthy women.

At this moment, the gazes more than a few young men trained on Lu Yuan turned even colder.

And yet, having done their research, they knew: Lu Yuan might have no notable family background, but his talent was extraordinary. Just two months into school, he had already ranked second in the Red Maple Empire's Talent Camp. His odds of becoming a Battle Emperor someday were extremely high — and surpassing Battle Emperor wasn't impossible either.

They also knew the Red Maple Empire would never allow anyone to openly move against him.

Moreover, looking at the ties between the Li family's daughter, the Algaibi princess, and Lu Yuan — the Shadow Battle Emperor and the Tianrao Battle Emperor probably wouldn't stand by and watch him get bullied.

Anyone who wanted to act would have to think very carefully.

In the end, they all swallowed it.

The group chatted, and time passed quickly.

Before long, Maige arrived as well.

As the sky darkened, the palace blazed with light. Tables were laden with every imaginable delicacy and fine wine, available for guests to enjoy as they pleased.

Across the venue, guests mingled in clusters of two or three.

This was a banquet of the highest order — prestigious by the standards of the entire Red Maple Empire, and indeed by those of all Great Qi Star. Its purpose was networking and forging new alliances.

No matter how exquisite the food, nearly every guest did little more than taste it. Conversation was the real currency of the evening.

Talented young men drifted over to try their luck with Amy, but unfortunately, Amy's mind was entirely absorbed by the dessert table. Wang Lingling handled every one of them on her behalf.

Lu Yuan had long known Wang Lingling was capable, but watching her work was something else. Every aspiring suitor walked away smiling, effortlessly steered off course by a few gentle words.

He was growing increasingly convinced that Wang Lingling was probably the most cunningly dangerous woman he'd ever encountered.

He even began to wonder if she had some kind of brainwashing Combat Technique.

Talented Camp students and a handful of lovely young women came to talk with Lu Yuan as well, and he could only smile and make conversation.

It was fortunate Wang Lingling was there to help. On his own, Lu Yuan genuinely wasn't sure he could have managed all this.

Yang Ping and Maige, by virtue of being in Lu Yuan's orbit, ended up in cheerful conversation with various young men and women nearby.

Before long, Li Qinghe returned — and with her came Shuangyue and Rebecca.

Shuangyue wore a simple green gown in a distinctive cut, unmistakably Elf fashion — somewhere between a formal robe and an evening dress.

But beautiful as she was, she needed no help. Even in flowing Elf robes, Shuangyue was breathtakingly lovely, with an added quality of noble grace that seemed to settle over her effortlessly.

Beside her, Rebecca wore a cream-colored dress and a pained expression, her fingers picking restlessly at the tight cuffs.

Clearly, she had not made peace with formal wear.

The three of them stepping back into the venue was enough to turn every head in the room.

But when people saw them walk directly over to where Lu Yuan was standing, every prince from every minor kingdom, every heir of every great family, felt their expression darken.

Of all the...

They wanted to hit something.

After finding Lu Yuan, the three naturally spotted Amy and Wang Lingling at his side. Li Qinghe's brow arched slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes, followed by a quiet smile.

"Yuaner, is this the little princess of the Algaibi family?"

Lu Yuan nodded with a smile. "That's right, Sister Qinghe. I mentioned her to you before — Amy Algaibi. And this is Wang Lingling, Amy's... steward?"

The two of them were good friends, and Lu Yuan had brought Amy up during past conversations with Li Qinghe.

He just hadn't expected Amy to show up at the Red Maple Empire today of all days.

Amy stared at Li Qinghe with wide eyes, open curiosity written all over her face.

"So you're Sister Li Qinghe? The big liar told me about you. He said you're the person closest to him."

Lu Yuan: ???

His mouth twitched. He had said that, yes — but this little menace actually brought it up *here?!*

The others nearby were all giving him very peculiar looks.

Lu Yuan felt acutely embarrassed.

Li Qinghe raised an eyebrow, smiled, and slipped her arm through his, looking at him with an expression of pointed interest.

"Oh? So that's how Yuaner talks about me?"

Amy nodded enthusiastically and opened her mouth to say more. Lu Yuan snatched a strawberry cake from a nearby tray and stuffed it directly into Amy's mouth. Her cheeks puffed out instantly. He smiled pleasantly.

"Amy, this cake is excellent. Have as much as you want!"

Amy's eyes lit up. She nodded in satisfied approval, voice somewhat muffled.

"It's not bad!"

Rebecca looked at Lu Yuan with an expression that was very difficult to read.

"A-Yuan... Amy seemed like she had something else she wanted to say just now?"

"She didn't! You imagined it!"

Lu Yuan shot her a sharp look. Rebecca immediately shrank back.

"Oh."

Shuangyue glanced between Lu Yuan and Li Qinghe, a smile forming at the corner of her lips.

"You two are even closer than I thought."

Li Qinghe turned that warm, amused gaze on Lu Yuan.

"Yuaner? Anything you'd like to add?"

Lu Yuan cleared his throat.

"How did you all end up out here already? Didn't you come out with the mentor and Tingxue?"

Li Qinghe watched him with an expression halfway between amusement and something more knowing — but she let it go. She smiled.

"The banquet is about to start. They're princesses — naturally, they have to make their entrance last. We came out ahead."

Lu Yuan nodded in understanding. Just then, the great doors of the main castle swung open, and a man stepped out from within: the Red Maple Emperor — short silver-grey hair, a handsome face, his age difficult to determine. He wore a warm and composed smile, and when he spoke, his voice carried evenly across the grounds.

"Welcome, all of you, to the Harvest Day Banquet hosted by the Red Maple Imperial Family. The old year has passed, and we carry our gratitude forward. In the year to come, may each of you find new rewards and new beginnings. I won't say much more — I hope you all have a wonderful evening."

The moment the Red Maple Emperor finished speaking, the orchestra struck up.

The musicians were the most celebrated masters in the entire Red Maple Empire. To be invited by the Imperial Family to perform at the Harvest Day Banquet was a rare and precious honor, and every one of them played with absolute dedication.

Then, without warning, the entire venue fell still. Every person turned toward the great doors behind the Red Maple Emperor.

Si Tingyu and Si Tingxue walked out.

Si Tingyu had golden hair and amber-red eyes. She was tall, her figure commanding, dressed in a gold-red gown that shimmered with splendor yet never crossed into vulgarity — regal as a queen in full power.

Si Tingxue wore an ice-blue gown that complemented her ice-blue hair. Her face, perfect and exquisitely carved, bore not a trace of expression — she looked like a spirit of winter given human form.

For a breathless moment, the venue was silent. Then the murmuring began.

Every whisper Lu Yuan caught was one of pure admiration.

Nearly every young man in the room had a fervent light burning in his eyes.

Amy crammed an entire slice of cream cake into her mouth in one go, her cheeks round as a chipmunk's.

She looked at Si Tingyu and Si Tingxue, unable to suppress her own awe.

"These two princesses are so beautiful."

Lu Yuan nodded with a smile.

Li Qinghe gently pinched Amy's cheek and said softly, "Amy is beautiful too."

Lu Yuan wasn't sure why, but Li Qinghe seemed to have taken a genuine liking to Amy.

Amy planted her hands on her hips and nodded with exaggerated dignity.

"Obviously! This young lady is quite a beauty."

She wasn't wrong, but Lu Yuan still thought the girl was impossibly vain.

*Unlike him — he knew perfectly well how handsome he was, of course. He just never said it out loud.*

The Red Maple Emperor looked at his two daughters, a private pride surfacing in his eyes.

He had no shortage of princes and princesses. But those who combined such striking looks with the inherited ancestral Transcendent Gene and truly exceptional talent — those were only Si Tingyu and Si Tingxue, the two daughters who made him proudest of all.

Then a shade of helplessness crossed his face.

Neither Si Tingyu nor Si Tingxue was engaged yet, and this had become a gnawing worry he couldn't shake.

Given their talent and strength, he couldn't possibly let them marry into another kingdom. Any arrangement would have to bring the husband here.

As far as he was concerned, as long as they chose someone with decent talent who genuinely cared for them, that was enough.

But neither of them had shown any interest in anyone.

Just days ago, so many talented young men from various kingdoms had come eager to meet them, exchange even a few words — and both princesses had simply vanished.

And there wasn't a thing he could do about it.

Utterly hopeless. He was a Battle Sovereign, and at this rate he'd worry his hair clean off.

The Red Maple Emperor pushed the thought aside and stepped out with his empress, the two of them sweeping into the ceremonial opening dance as the music swelled.

After the opening dance, other couples drifted onto the floor.

Young men began moving to invite Si Tingyu and Si Tingxue.

And, entirely as the Red Maple Emperor had expected — every last one was turned down.

He watched it happen. The quiet ache settled in.

After dismissing wave after wave of suitors, Si Tingxue and Si Tingyu evidently decided they'd had enough.

They rose together and moved elsewhere in the venue.

Many eyes followed them. When people saw their destination, almost no one was surprised.

After all, it was well known that Li Qinghe and Shuangyue shared a close friendship with Si Tingyu.

But when those watching noticed Lu Yuan standing at the center of the gathering — more than a few young men clenched their jaws, faces tight with barely restrained fury.

*Him again?!*

*How was this man everywhere?!*

The Red Maple Emperor caught sight of Lu Yuan and paused, blinking slightly.

He knew who Lu Yuan was. He thought of how Si Tingxue had fought alongside Lu Yuan during the Beast Tide, and something stirred in his gaze.

*If it were Lu Yuan...*

*That might actually work.*

His talent was exceptional — a genuine chance of reaching Battle Emperor, perhaps even beyond. Having Tingxue bound to someone of that caliber would clearly be to the Si family's advantage.

And the Red Maple Emperor knew his daughters well.

He had never seen Si Tingxue draw close to any young man the way she seemed to with this one.

At the very least, Tingxue didn't dislike him.

Which meant there was hope.

A small smile tugged at the corner of the Red Maple Emperor's mouth, his mood lifting a notch.

Then his gaze drifted to Si Tingyu beside her, and the mood dropped right back down.

Si Tingxue, perhaps. But what about Tingyu?

He sighed inwardly once more.

Over at Lu Yuan's corner of the venue, naturally, invitations began to arrive.

After all, every woman gathered there was talented and well-connected — the kind of partner that could spare an ordinary man years of hard work, and for heirs of great families, a genuine strategic asset.

Not to mention they were all beautiful.

The moment the dancing began, a blond young man approached, polished smile in place.

"Miss Rebecca, may I have the honor of this dance?"

Rebecca had been stealing glances at Amy, silently debating whether to pinch those adorable round cheeks and risk getting scolded. The question startled her.

"Me?"

"Yes, Miss Rebecca."

Rebecca's eyes darted around nervously. Then she grabbed Lu Yuan's arm.

"I — I already have a dance partner."

Lu Yuan: ???

He stared at her in bewilderment. She had definitely not mentioned this.

Rebecca looked at him with desperate, pleading eyes. Her voice came through a private mental channel:

*A-Yuan! Save me! Think of all those games I carried you through!*

Lu Yuan sent back: *Give me that divine artifact weapon of yours.*

*You shameless opportunist — ...Fine!*

Barely suppressed resentment.

Lu Yuan's lips curved. He turned to the blond young man with an apologetic expression.

"Sorry — Rebecca is already with me."

The blond young man's face stiffened. He managed a dry laugh.

"I see."

After he left, a dark-haired young man stepped forward.

"Miss Li Qinghe, would you honor me with a dance?"

Li Qinghe regarded him with a smile that was hard to read, then pointed at Lu Yuan.

"You'd have to ask my partner."

"Wh—?!"

The dark-haired man stared at Lu Yuan in bewilderment.

Hadn't he just watched Rebecca claim Lu Yuan as her dance partner?

Lu Yuan smiled pleasantly. "No."

The dark-haired man's expression went rigid. He turned and walked away without another word.

Not long after, another young man — dark-haired, with slightly longer hair — approached.

"Lady Shuangyue, may I have this dance?"

Shuangyue wore an expression of gracious regret.

"I'm afraid my partner has already arrived."

She smiled and indicated Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan stood there expressionless. He thought back to how these women had handled suitors throughout the evening. Now they were all using him as a human shield?

He felt the full weight of their collective scheming pressing down on him.

"...Yes," he said, resigning himself. "That's me."

The dark-haired young man's fist tightened at his side. He fixed Lu Yuan with a cold stare.

At that moment, Li Qinghe's eyes narrowed slightly. A ripple of dark light stirred within them.

As though sensing something, the young man stiffened, forced a laugh, and stepped back.

"I see. Understood."

A while later, even Amy attracted an invitation.

Unfortunately, Amy was in the middle of dessert and barely registered the question. In the end, Wang Lingling smiled pleasantly and pointed at Lu Yuan.

"This is my young lady's dance partner."

Lu Yuan's expression went perfectly flat. *At this point, one more doesn't even register.*

He could feel scorching stares from every direction in the room.

He looked around at the women and said, tone utterly deadpan:

"If I end up getting jumped in a dark corner tonight, not a single one of you can claim to be innocent."

Li Qinghe slipped her arm through his and swept a calm gaze across the surrounding crowd.

"Who would dare touch you?"

Shuangyue's smile was warm and untroubled.

"Don't worry, Yuaner. It won't come to that."

Rebecca grinned.

"My grandfather mentioned you — said he's had his eye on you. If you ever need anything, you can go to him directly."

Amy nodded along.

"You've already met my great-grandfather, right? This young lady has your back — relax."

Then Si Tingyu and Si Tingxue arrived and joined the group.

They ate, drank, and talked their way through the rest of the evening, until the banquet finally drew to a close.

Somewhere along the way, Lu Yuan did end up dancing once with each of the women — a duty duly fulfilled.