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The Crown Prince's Mansion.
In the front courtyard's Reception Hall, Xue Qinghe, who was actually the transformed Qian Renxue, entered. Upon seeing him, Tang Yuehua and Liu Erlong immediately stood up.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince," Tang Yuehua greeted him.
Qian Renxue quickly stepped forward to help Tang Yuehua, quietly saying, "Aunt Yuehua, I've told you so many times that we don't need to be this formal. Just call me Qinghe when we're alone."
A parrot landed on a roof beam. Qian Renxue frowned slightly, wondering, Could that scoundrel Su Yan have transformed into this?
Tang Yuehua smiled gently and introduced Liu Erlong to Qian Renxue:
"Qinghe, this is Liu Erlong, the Dean of Blue Tyrant Academy. She's a Level 75 Spirit Saint , and a good friend I've recently made. I specifically brought her here today to introduce you two. I hope we aren't disturbing you?"
It was well-known throughout the Heaven Dou Empire that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was always looking to find and recruit talented people, so Tang Yuehua bringing Liu Erlong along was entirely appropriate.
Qian Renxue replied quickly, "How could you be disturbing me? Aunt Yuehua's friends are my friends, of course. Hello, Senior Liu."
From the moment Liu Erlong walked in, she had been scrutinizing "Xue Qinghe". This made Su Yan, who was disguised as the parrot, absolutely sure of his guess: she really was here for a blind date!
Six hundred sixty-six, Su Yan thought. You really know how to make things interesting!
"Hello, Your Highness, the Crown Prince," Liu Erlong replied.
Liu Erlong actually had a decent first impression of Xue Qinghe, the role being played by Qian Renxue. However, she felt he looked a bit too feminine, which was a slight drawback in his appearance.
Qian Renxue smiled and said, "Since you and Aunt Yuehua are friends, please just call me Qinghe. Please, have a seat."
Xue Qinghe was certainly graceful in his mannerisms and composed in his speech.
Liu Erlong felt that if he were just a little more cheerful and masculine, he'd be quite a good catch.
What a pity, she thought.
Liu Erlong was a very straightforward person and preferred men who were more traditionally masculine.
In a chat group, Liu Erlong sent a message:
[Liu Erlong: Photo (Xue Qinghe).jpg]
[Liu Erlong: Sisters, check him out for me. What do you think?]
Hu Liena was puzzled: [Hu Liena: ???]
Qian Renxue, under the alias 'I Am an Orphan,' was equally confused: [I Am an Orphan: ???]
[Yanzi Is Not Swallow: Xue Qinghe? No, are you really serious?]
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Oh my god! Isn't that Brother Qinghe?]
[Group Member Number Nine: Six.]
At Shrek Academy, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu looked at Ning Rongrong, their faces full of bewilderment.
Ning Rongrong said with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, "Xue Qinghe is my father's disciple! He's the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. What on earth got into Liu Erlong? Why did she go on a blind date with him?"
"Ah?" Xiao Wu looked completely lost. "So she's really going for the younger guy, and aiming to become the crown princess, too?"
Zhu Zhuqing was also caught between laughter and tears. Of course, Zhu Zhuqing knew that 'Orphan' was Qian Renxue, but she didn't know that the 'Xue Qinghe' they were discussing was also Qian Renxue. Su Yan hadn't shared that much information before.
At the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Hu Liena had only left for a moment but rushed back in.
"Teacher, it's bad again!" she cried.
Bibi Dong was slightly irritated. "Why are you so frantic every single day? I've only been in the small dark room for half a day, and you're already so impatient."
Hu Liena said, half-laughing and half-crying, "That wicked Liu Erlong, she really went on a blind date."
"Oh?" Curiosity appeared in Bibi Dong's eyes.
Hu Liena continued, "The person she's dating is Xue Qinghe!"
"What!" Bibi Dong was instantly shocked.
A strange thought immediately popped into her head: From love rival to daughter-in-law?
Pah!
Or son-in-law?
Bibi Dong slapped her own forehead, utterly speechless. "Liu Erlong, oh, Liu Erlong. And you still claim you're not the Blind Douluo? I'm truly at a loss for words."
Meanwhile, in the chat group:
Su Yan messaged: [Su Yan: Liu Erlong, after a quick check, I just feel like you and Xue Qinghe are a perfect match. You're a straightforward person, and he has a gentle and elegant personality. Couples should complement each other, and your horoscopes are very compatible. If you can be with him, you'll be the crown princess, and eventually, the Empress of the Heaven Dou Empire!]
[I Am an Orphan: ???]
[Liu Erlong: Hey, are you trying to trick me?]
[Yanzi Is Not Swallow: It seems to be true, Liu Erlong. You really lucked out.]
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: It's not a bad match. Liu Erlong, you're barely good enough for Brother Qinghe. I'll temporarily approve of this marriage.]
[Group Member Number Nine: Greetings, crown princess... no, greetings, Empress!]
[Su Yan: Pfft hahahaha!!!]
At the Crown Prince's Mansion, Qian Renxue was engaged in a lively conversation with Tang Yuehua, but inside, she was gnashing her teeth in hatred.
That scoundrel Su Yan, she thought. He must be doing this on purpose!
He's so annoying!
When I get back later, I'm going to bite you to death.
The group chat continued:
[Group Member Number Thirteen: Well then, let's congratulate Liu Erlong in advance on becoming the mother of the nation.]
[Loves Eating Carrots: Liu Erlong, oh, Liu Erlong, I never thought you, you naughty woman, would have such good fortune.]
[I Am an Orphan: Wait, aren't you guys celebrating a bit too early? Xue Qinghe is the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire; would he even consider Liu Erlong?]
Hu Liena echoed the sentiment: [Hu Liena: Yeah, would he consider Liu Erlong?]
[Yanzi Is Not Swallow: How dare you! How dare you disrespect the Empress?]
[Group Member Number Nine: For an Empire's Crown Prince, there's no such thing as 'looking up to' or 'looking down on' someone; it's all about a political marriage. Liu Erlong is the Dean of Blue Tyrant Academy, a Spirit Saint , and she'll definitely be a Spirit Douluo-level powerhouse in the future. Plus, she's from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.]
[Cat in the Shadows: This marriage alliance is fine. Even if she can't be the Empress, she could at least become an imperial consort.]
Su Yan then sent a surprising offer: [Su Yan: Liu Erlong, if you marry Xue Qinghe, I will give you a major gift—a gift that can help you break through to Titled Douluo. How does that sound? As the group leader, am I generous enough?]
Everyone else in the chat was stunned: [Everyone: ???]
[Yanzi Is Not Swallow: Are you serious, too?]
[Loves Eating Carrots: This feels very strange!]
[Seven Treasures Little Princess: Ah? Liu Erlong, you've struck gold! If Brother Su Yan gives you a gift to help you break through to Titled Douluo , the position of Empress will definitely be yours. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will also send you a lavish gift.]
[Cat in the Shadows: Why do I suddenly feel like this whole thing isn't so simple?]
Back at the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Hu Liena was completely dumbfounded.
"Teacher, this is bad!" she exclaimed.
Bibi Dong said, sounding exasperated, "What's bad now? Blast it! That little scoundrel Su Yan has only kept me in the small dark room for half a day, and I already feel so lost without him! It's so annoying."
Hu Liena explained, with a nervous laugh, "Su Yan said that if Liu Erlong marries Xue Qinghe, he'll give her a gift to help her break through to Titled Douluo."
"What!" Bibi Dong was shocked yet again.
"No way!" she said. "Is that little scoundrel out of his mind? Whatever Liu Erlong and Xue Qinghe do has nothing to do with him, yet he wants to give her a grand gift?"
Bibi Dong frowned. "Wait," she continued. "That little scoundrel knows about the continent's affairs. He must know that Xue Qinghe is actually Little Xue. He's definitely trying to cause trouble on purpose."
"Forget it," Bibi Dong sighed. "I won't bother with him."
"Alright!" Hu Liena secretly breathed a sigh of relief. So, he was just stirring up trouble. She had been wondering why Su Yan was so invested in the matter.
Liu Erlong almost genuinely profited from all this.
In the chat group, Liu Erlong finally replied:
[Liu Erlong: Su Yan, are you crazy?]
[I Am an Orphan: He really is crazy. Liu Erlong is on a blind date, and you're over here singing and dancing about it?]