Free Web NovelChapter 189: Chapter 171: National Day Assassination
With Sheng Yiqing’s comfort, Yu Lan quickly put the unpleasantness behind her.
She even paid no mind to Louisa’s renewed provocations.
Louisa, feeling that she had failed to get a rise out of her, quickly left with Qi Jingshen after the photos were taken.
It was Yu Wenzhou, on the other hand, who felt a rare sense of dread that he found difficult to face.
He wanted to cooperate more with Yu Lan and cheer her up, but Sheng Yiqing had already beaten him to it.
He was left facing a Yu Lan who had already been cheered up by Sheng Yiqing and was in a relatively good mood.
A wave of defeat, helplessness, and jealousy toward Sheng Yiqing washed over him all at once.
After the photoshoot ended, watching the retreating figures of Yu Lan and Sheng Yiqing leaving together, Yu Wenzhou lowered his head. He stared at his palm, where his nails had dug in so hard they’d left bloody marks, and chanted inwardly.
’Soon. Very soon.’
’Soon, I will be able to stand openly by Yu Lan’s side.’
At that moment, Yu Wenzhou’s agent, who was standing beside him and watching him stare infatuatedly at Yu Lan’s retreating back, scratched his head, a look of confusion on his face.
It’s unclear what came to his mind, but he reached out, patted Yu Wenzhou on the shoulder, and offered some sincere advice:
"Wenzhou, if there’s a female you really like, you have to do your best to pursue her."
"The most important thing when wooing a female is to make her feel your unique and undivided affection."
"Only then will you move the young female’s heart and convince her to take you as her Beast Husband."
"Whatever you do, don’t be like those little male cubs in kindergarten who show they like a young female by making her cry."
"That kind of male isn’t popular at all."
The agent earnestly and painstakingly broke it down for him.
"Once you make the young female cry, there will be plenty of other males waiting on the sidelines to swoop in and comfort her."
"At that point, there will be no place left for you by her side."
It was just like what happened moments ago: Yu Wenzhou sided with Louisa and upset Yu Lan. Sheng Yiqing immediately swooped in to comfort her and gleefully snapped a few photos with her. What place was there for Yu Wenzhou then?
Didn’t you see that even though Yu Lan was in a better mood later, she wasn’t fully into the photoshoot?
’The males out there are a cunning bunch; they won’t tolerate a bad male who deliberately bullies a pretty young female.’
Faced with his agent’s patient guidance, Yu Wenzhou nodded, his voice hoarse as he spoke.
"I know."
He had always known.
He had known for a long, long time.
’Because I’m the villain who once swooped in and had Yu Lan all to myself.’
’But now, the tables have turned, and it’s finally my turn to be on the receiving end.’
’No matter how much I hate it, I have to endure this for the chance to be by Yu Lan’s side in the future.’
*
Amid everyone’s anticipation, or perhaps their worry and wariness, National Day arrived as scheduled.
On this day, the entire Imperial Federation celebrated.
Central Street was filled with fluttering ribbons.
Countless balloons symbolizing freedom and peace drifted in the air.
Tens of thousands of doves of peace were released.
Yu Lan had moved into the Imperial Palace the night before National Day.
She was woken up to be dressed and prepared before dawn.
Layer after layer of intricate, jewel-encrusted garments were draped over her shoulders.
When it was all over, Yu Lan felt a deep exhaustion welling up from within.
’So heavy.’
’It’s just too heavy.’
’It’s so heavy I can barely breathe.’
Yu Lan felt her outfit weighed at least seventy pounds.
’If some accident were to happen on National Day, I probably wouldn’t even be able to run.’
Just as Yu Lan thought the preparations were finished and she could finally take a breath,
the Maid in charge of dressing her clapped her hands, and someone immediately came forward with a round platter.
On it rested an extraordinarily valuable coronet.
It was made entirely of crystal-clear rubies, and under the deft hands of the Royal Family’s artisans, it had been adorned with countless rare treasures and images of mythical birds and beasts.
Just looking at the rubies, Yu Lan guessed it had to weigh at least a dozen pounds.
Not to mention all the other adornments.
’All told, does this mean I’ll have to carry over a hundred pounds for the entire celebration?’
Yu Lan subconsciously took a step back.
Seeing this, a flicker of amusement flashed in the Maid’s eyes.
"Princess Yu Lan, this is the very coronet worn by the first Empress of the Empire at her coronation."
"Each of the ornaments on it was a gift from the planets under the Empire’s jurisdiction at the time, so it is inevitably quite heavy."
"But they all represent the sentiments of the various Star Commanders, making it extraordinarily meaningful."
"Her Majesty the Queen has requested you wear this coronet for your appearance this time. There is surely a deeper meaning behind it."
’A deeper meaning.’
’Does she mean to pass the throne to me?’
Yu Lan didn’t think so.
But the matter was not up to her. Under the Maid’s skillful hands, the coronet was soon placed on her head.
Once it was on,
everyone present who witnessed the scene couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.
She was beautiful. Simply too beautiful.
Her already radiant and lovely face, now enhanced by the magnificent robes and jewelry, gained an air of noble, captivating authority that no one dared to underestimate.
「A moment later」
On Central Street, the sound of Big Ben echoed throughout the skies of Central Star.
The Maid quickly walked up to Yu Lan and said respectfully,
"Your Highness, it is time for us to depart."
The National Day celebration was officially beginning.
Yu Lan raised her eyes and looked out the window. Without her realizing it, the sky had already brightened completely.
The sky was a vast, cloudless blue, with balloons and ribbons drifting on the breeze.
Golden sunlight spilled over them.
The fervent, celebratory atmosphere was palpable, and everything seemed almost too perfect.
It was an exceptionally rare, beautiful day.
’All plots and schemes will have nowhere to hide under the sun.’
Yu Lan placed her hand on the back of the Maid’s and slowly walked forward.
The heavy, expensive adornments constricted her body, slowing her gait, which was exactly what Belina had intended.
At the gates of the Imperial Palace, her procession met up with those of Belina and Louisa.
Seeing that their attire was considerably lighter and less cumbersome than hers, the feeling that she was walking into a conspiracy grew even stronger in Yu Lan’s heart.
Her vigilance and wariness were on high alert.
It was Louisa, however, whose gaze swept over Yu Lan’s coronet. The moment she recognized it, her pupils contracted sharply, and her expression turned incredibly sour.
’Has Belina already decided on the next Queen’s successor?’
’Has she kicked me out of the running completely?’
’Then what was everything I did before for?’
Louisa’s vision blurred for a moment.
"Louisa."
Just then, Belina’s cold voice rang out.
The call snapped her back to her senses. She quickly recovered, put on a perfectly gentle smile, and stepped forward to take Yu Lan’s hand.
"Lanlan, you look so beautiful today. Your outfit, and you yourself... I was just so stunned I couldn’t help but stare. You won’t blame me, will you?"
’Everyone in the Imperial Palace is a master of changing faces.’
Even Yu Lan, through her frequent confrontations with Louisa, had begun to learn how to put on an act.
She gripped Louisa’s hand in return, giving her no opportunity to cause any trouble.
"Of course not. Thank you for the compliment, sister."
"The National Day celebration has already started. We should get going, let’s not keep everyone waiting."
Not far away, Belina watched this scene with a smile. What a picture of a loving mother and filial children, a truly warm and harmonious family!
Beyond the scene, hidden in the shadows, assassins were lying in wait, poised and ready for a single, decisive strike.
