Chapter 36: Isn't it good for me to make things convenient for you?

Before Chu Li could turn around, Fu Heng had already stood tall and reached her side.

A bone-chilling aura, all too familiar to Chu Li, instantly enveloped her, prompting her to shift slightly away. Fu Heng noticed her subtle movement, but merely furrowed his brows without a word.

At this moment, Cui Shi, who had been following behind Fu Heng, stepped forward. His gaze inadvertently fell upon Chu Li before he addressed his subordinates guarding the staircase: "Reinforce security. Refer any issues to the manager. I must personally escort His Highness, the Prince of You, and cannot be distracted."

Every guest on the first floor of the Seven Treasures Pavilion felt their legs go weak upon hearing Cui Shi’s words, and they knelt before the imposing figure.

"Ten thousand years to the Prince of You! We commoners pay our respects to Your Highness!"

"It is truly the God of War of our Dongcang Dynasty, the Prince of You! To think the Prince has actually come to Rong City—my heavens..."

Most of the townspeople could hardly believe that the legendary Prince of War, of whom they had only heard in whispers, was standing before them in the flesh. For Rong City, this was an honor beyond measure!

Fu Heng had begun following Chu Li in secret the moment she departed, entering the city discreetly and hoping to avoid any fanfare. "I am merely passing through; there is no need for such formalities."

With that, Fu Heng signaled to Cui Shi, who hurried ahead to clear a path, guiding them toward the auction on the second floor. After taking a few steps, Fu Heng paused and turned back. "Miss Chu, after you?"

Chu Li kept her face stony; she wanted nothing to do with him. However, the divine aura emanating from Cui Shi was strikingly similar to a sect artifact belonging to her Heavenly Dao Xuan Sect, and she had to confirm it.

Unable to resist, Chu Li remarked, "Is Your Highness truly just 'passing through'? Are you sure you aren't following me?"

Fu Heng did not feel the slightest bit of embarrassment. "Do not concern yourself with such details. Isn't it a good thing that my presence here can provide you with convenience?"

Chu Li: "..."

What a shameless man. She knew well that Fu Heng was no altruist; he certainly had ulterior motives for seeking her out at every opportunity. Chu Li deeply regretted ever revealing her true birth date to him. Now, she had only managed to ensnare herself.

The group made their way to the second floor under the watchful eyes of the crowd. Though Cui Shi led the way, he caught enough of the conversation between the two behind him to be deeply shocked. He did not recognize the woman, but given how she interacted with the Prince, their relationship was clearly far from ordinary.

The Prince addressed her as "Miss Chu." In all of Rong City, he knew of only one Chu family. Could she be a daughter of that house? But the Chus were mere merchants—what standing could they possibly have to be on such terms with the Prince of You?

Cui Shi led them to a private room on the second floor. It was little more than a small space partitioned off by screens. There were only a dozen such "private rooms" on the floor, circling the center to provide seclusion for the noble families of Rong City attending the auction.

As the young master of the Seven Treasures Pavilion, everyone in Rong City knew Cui Shi. He usually never personally escorted guests, yet today, he was acting with extreme deference toward this man—a man whose bearing, looks, and aura of regal, lethal authority were one in ten thousand, making it difficult for anyone to meet his gaze directly.

Realizing the stranger must have an extraordinary background, the occupants of the other private rooms and the common seating area all made a mental note to inquire about him later.

In one of the other rooms, Chu Zhonghe was conversing with Fang Zhenshan, the secondary head of the Fang family, when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing past. Chu Zhonghe looked up in a hurry, but only caught a half-profile; the bright, peach-colored hem of the skirt looked vaguely familiar. His wife had indeed prepared a dress in that color today, saying it was for Chu Meng to wear.

However, seeing the powerful company that group kept, he doubted his own lackluster foster daughter could possibly be so close to such people. Assuming he had mistaken her for someone else, he pushed the thought aside.

He turned back to Fang Zhenshan. "Master Fang, surely you have heard that my daughter has returned? She is the eldest daughter of the Chu family, and we have spared no effort in her upbringing. Regarding the marriage, I think it would be best to settle it sooner rather than..."

Fang Zhenshan interrupted, "I understand your meaning, Master Chu. But you know that Fang Shihuan is my first-born son; he is of legitimate lineage, after all. I recall that Chu Meng is your foster daughter, right? Even if she has been entered into the family records, she is not of your true bloodline. I actually think your daughter Jiaojiao is quite excellent—a perfect match for my son."

Chu Zhonghe’s heart skipped a beat. While Fang Shihuan was the eldest son, everyone knew he would never inherit the Fang family. The focus of the family was the secondary son, Fang Li, a man of brilliant intellect and martial prowess.

This Fang Zhenshan was playing a clever game, trying to marry off a discarded son to the daughter he valued most. What kind of alliance was this? If not for the influence behind the Fang family, the Chu family would hardly have looked their way. Furthermore, he didn't believe for a second that the Fangs lacked ulterior motives; Fang Zhenshan had long envied the Chu family’s business success, and since no one in his own family had a talent for trade, he likely hoped to leverage the Chu family’s connections to open up his own markets.

The two old foxes sparred back and forth, neither revealing their hand, and neither committing to Chu Meng. Chu Zhonghe was anxious but helpless, forced to play along with Fang Zhenshan’s subtle games.

As for Chu Li, once seated, she turned her face away to avoid looking at Fu Heng, though she glanced at Cui Shi from time to time, wondering how to bring up the subject. The object must still be on him.

Fu Heng looked at Chu Li, then at Cui Shi, and gave a cold laugh. "Miss Chu is quite interesting. Is there a flower on Young Master Cui’s face?"

For a young lady to stare so intently at a man—she lacked all restraint.

Chu Li: "..."

Cui Shi felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. He could not fathom these two, especially the Prince. Weren’t the rumors that the Prince of You was bloodthirsty, cruel, and cold-blooded? Why did he seem so meddlesome? And his tongue was so sharp—he was far less composed than the young woman beside him.

It was said the Prince had a deeply cherished Princess, and the public admired his singular devotion, with many loving couples holding them up as an example. Yet, from what Cui Shi could see, the relationship between the Prince and this Miss Chu was incredibly subtle.

If anything, it seemed the Prince was the one chasing after her, while Miss Chu seemed to be doing everything she could to avoid him. Was this really how it was supposed to be?