Chapter 101: The Name of the Seventh Princess (1)

"Really? Then stop saying I'm breaking the rules. If you've got the guts, remove me as judge. Otherwise, today's winner is definitely going to be Zhen Xiaoyan, not you!" Ye Lang's words were shameless, yet stubborn, and delivered with an utterly blatant, self-righteous air...

"You—you—" By now, everyone was at a loss for words.

"What 'you, you'? I now declare: Zhen Xiaoyan wins! You're out!" Ye Lang said with a smile.

"Ye Lang, if you're going to help her, at least be a little subtle. Don't make it so obvious!" At this point, the instructor who had hurried over upon hearing the news said with a headache.

"I didn't help her. Look, the fatty already finished, but this guy was still wasting time arguing with me, forgetting what he was supposed to do." Ye Lang pointed at Zhen Xiaoyan. Only then did everyone realize that, while Ye Lang and that competitor were talking, Zhen Xiaoyan had quietly completed her work.

As long as everyone admitted that Ye Lang's actions hadn't affected the result, then the result was Zhen Xiaoyan's victory! But would they admit it?

They would—at least most of them would. Not because they feared Ye Lang or were doing him a favor, but because the next sentence Ye Lang said benefited everyone present.

"Although I admit I'm a little selfish, there's something I want to say. As an alchemist, no matter the circumstances, you should never be influenced by people or the environment. Even if someone does something as infuriating as I just did, you should ignore it and complete your alchemy without being affected! If you can't even manage that, then you'll never reach the pinnacle of alchemy, and there's no need for you to participate in the competition!"

Indeed. If it were Ye Lang, no matter how excessive the things others did to him, he would still finish his alchemy, and do it without the slightest error. After all, alchemy isn't like other things—a tiny difference can cause tremendous changes.

If you use alchemy to fight, then you need to remember this even more. Otherwise, you're left with only one path: death!

Although the people present still felt that Ye Lang's words sounded a bit like an excuse, they had to admit it was the truth. And indeed, Zhen Xiaoyan's opponent just now had been affected.

Zhen Xiaoyan, on the other hand, performed very well in that regard. Even though Ye Lang's behavior made her face burn with embarrassment, she still managed to finish her alchemy first without being affected. So in that respect, Zhen Xiaoyan had won!

"Alright, my task here is done. I can give myself a break for ten days or half a month. Teacher, you don't have any objections, do you?" Ye Lang said with a smile. Once again, he had found an excuse to take time off and rest.

"Whatever. It's not like I can control you anyway!" The beautiful instructor said with an exasperated tone.

"Thank you, teacher! Fatty, I'm a bit hungry. Let's go get something to eat!" Ye Lang directly dragged Zhen Xiaoyan away, and she gave the crowd an apologetic bow before following Ye Lang off.

But halfway out, Ye Lang stopped, as if remembering something, and turned around—

"If anyone wants to challenge Zhen Xiaoyan, then I'll come back and serve as judge. You're all welcome to try, no problem."

Damn it. With you as judge, who would dare challenge her?!

Welcome to try, no problem? That's a naked threat!!

—Afterward—

"Ye Lang, you're so biased!" The Seventh Princess pouted.

"So what if I'm biased? I was just playing around anyway. Since I can help Fatty, of course I'll help her. Am I supposed to help strangers instead?" Ye Lang replied casually.

"That's not what I'm talking about!" The Seventh Princess kept pouting.

"?? Then what are you talking about?" Ye Lang asked.

"I'm saying—you treat Zhen Xiaoyan so well, even shielding her from trouble, but you don't give a damn about me!" The Seventh Princess was getting quite jealous.

"You don't need my help. She's dumb, but you're as clever as ice and snow. Why would you need me to help you?" Ye Lang answered.

"I don't care! You're just biased!" The Seventh Princess grabbed Ye Lang's hand and pinched it little by little, looking very wronged, and also quite pitiful.

"Even if I am biased, I treat you better than I treat her. What is there for you to be jealous about?" Ye Lang looked at the Seventh Princess, somewhat bewildered.

"Really?" The Seventh Princess's eyes lit up.

"Of course it's true. You and I grew up together. We're childhood sweethearts. You matter a lot more!" Ye Lang said. Though these words might make Zhen Xiaoyan a bit uncomfortable, it was an indisputable fact.

"That's more like it!" The Seventh Princess smiled with satisfaction and leaned against Ye Lang's shoulder.

"Xiao Qi..." Ye Lang looked ahead, wanting to say something, but was interrupted by the Seventh Princess.

"Ye Lang, call me by my name. The name you seem to have never called." The Seventh Princess was suddenly struck by a whim. Since childhood, Ye Lang's ways of addressing her could be summed up in three types—from "Old Seven" to "Seventh Princess" to now "Xiao Qi"—but he had never once called her by her actual name.

"This... I think 'Xiao Qi' is better. It's more intimate!" Ye Lang thought for a moment. At this time, whether it was out of embarrassment or what, he still didn't call her by her name.

"Then call me 'wife.' That's even more intimate!" The Seventh Princess said softly.

"Oh, wife..." Ye Lang answered blankly.

"Good boy!" The Seventh Princess hadn't expected Ye Lang to actually say it. She hadn't heard that form of address in several years. It was a term that made her blush, yet one she had always missed.

In fact, there was another reason Ye Lang was so obedient at that moment—he had just discovered a very serious problem, the root cause of why he never called her by her name! He realized that he didn't actually know the Seventh Princess's name!

That was hardly surprising. He had never called her by her name, and neither had anyone else. People either called her "Seventh Princess" or "Your Highness." No one addressed her directly by name, after all—she was a revered princess!

And he didn't really care much about names. As long as there was a form of address, that was enough—just like some people only know nicknames and not real names. It was no big deal.

However, if the Seventh Princess ever found out about this, she would probably fly into a rage!

For that reason, Ye Lang decided to find out what the Seventh Princess's name was, to avoid her discovering that this "childhood sweetheart" of hers didn't even know her name—the most basic of basic things!

But this situation turned out to be rather miraculous—

"What's Xiao Qi's name? Hmm, let me think... seems like it's Zhao something..." Ye Lanyu froze, then struggled to recall.

Zhao something—who didn't know that? Everyone knew her surname was Zhao! Fail!

"What's the Seventh Princess's name? How would I know? Ye Lang, don't you know?" Zhen Xiaoyan looked at Ye Lang and asked.

"Cough, cough. Of course I know. I was just asking you!" Failed again!

"Oh, you mean the Seventh Princess? What was her name again?" Random passerby number one.

"Damn, if I knew, why would I ask you!" Failed once more!

After his investigation, Ye Lang concluded that almost no one in the entire imperial capital knew the Seventh Princess's given name. It was truly miraculous. The other princesses, though not widely known, had at least some people who knew their names.

At this point, one could only say that the Seventh Princess was too low-profile. Apart from showing her face a bit when she was with Ye Lang, at virtually all other times, no one could even notice her existence!

Even Ye Lang's own parents—who regarded her as their future daughter-in-law—had only a vague impression of her name, not quite remembering it clearly. They were a bit better off than Ye Lanyu, though; they knew two of the characters: Zhao Ya something... Mm, because all the contemporary princesses followed that format: Zhao Ya something!

In the end, Ye Lang decided to find an opportunity to ask the Seventh Princess herself, because asking others was pointless. And if she found out he'd been running around asking other people what her name was, she'd probably be angry anyway. It was better to just ask her directly—then she'd only be angry about that one thing.

Find an opportunity, find an opportunity. Of course, the opportunity wouldn't come right away!

In the darkness...

"How is the plan progressing?" An icy voice spoke softly, the sound sending a chill down his subordinate's spine.

"Everything is proceeding according to your plan, Master. They have no idea that those are all part of our scheme! Before long, this world will be ours." The subordinate replied respectfully.

"Excellent! Hmph! Ye Lang, just you wait. I'll make you regret ever doing what you did!" The cold voice turned even colder, like air blowing out of an ice cellar.

What plan? Why was it related to Ye Lang? Who were these people? Unknown. All that was known was that a conspiracy was currently unfolding, and Ye Lang seemed to be entangled in it!

The plan was in motion, and the trials were likewise proceeding, growing increasingly intense. The team for the competition had basically been decided!

After a few more days of final selection, the Royal Academy's team for the ranking tournament was confirmed. Next came training and integration—while improving their individual strengths, they would also cultivate teamwork and coordination.

Following the usual practice from previous years, this training was conducted directly outside, with the teams taking different routes to the competition venue. In other words, once this training began, these students would have no time to return until after the competition ended, when they could finally go home.

Doesn't that mean...

"Fatty, I'll miss you..." After learning about this, Ye Lang realized that Zhen Xiaoyan would be gone for a long time, so he gazed at her with deep emotion.

"Mm, I know—you'll miss my food!" Zhen Xiaoyan remained completely unmoved, because she knew Ye Lang all too well.

"Clever! From now on, you need to prepare food for me every day. Prepare a whole year's worth." Ye Lang praised her.

"Hmph! I'm not preparing anything for you! I hope you starve to death!" Zhen Xiaoyan said angrily. After all, she was going to be away for over a year. Couldn't he at least show a little reluctance?

Could it be that I'm not even as important as food? All you know is eating! Eat yourself to death! Eat yourself to death!!