The Green Tea is Always Targeting The Wrong Person (GREENTEA)
Yue Chu held the pale blue moonlight cup in his hands and the clear liquid casting a beautiful glow through the delicate thin walls. A vibrant green mint leaf floated on top that emits a faint, refreshing fragrance.
This was already the sixteenth time the little maid had glared at him.
Truly, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger.
She didn't seem concerned that if she encountered a cruel master, she could be torn to pieces in an instant.
Yue Chu took a sip of the bittersweet wine and placed the cup on the table.
"Salu, do you have something against me?"
Yue Chu asked with a light laugh, which actually emboldened the little maid a bit more. Her round eyes widened as she tried to gauge Yue Chu's mood, but when she met his gentle, blood-red eyes, she guiltily lowered her head.
Salu picked up a cloth to wipe her hands, then awkwardly stood in front of Yue Chu. Though she was a bit scared, she still spoke defiantly, "I've heard everyone say that Prince Xino was scolded by the King because of you. Prince Xino is a good person, so please don't bully him!"
The little maid seemed genuinely worried for Xino and even boldly raised her head to muster the courage to say these words.
Yue Chu slightly raised an eyebrow. Him? Bullying Xinuo? Where did these rumors come from?
"Is there anything else?"
The little maid looked at him in confusion and stumbled over her words as she thought for a while before saying, "And... and they say you're a Fifth Generation Pureblood, just like Prince Xino, and that you pose a great threat to his position. But… but the Prince was personally raised by the King, and he's strong and gentle, so how could you possibly replace him!"
Yue Chu tapped his fingers, and the slender, jade-like digits looked even more radiant against the champagne-colored armrest.
It seemed that the identity of a Fifth Generation Pureblood was indeed significant. Even though Lafa had been so dismissive and oppressive towards him, these rumors still spread.
A glint flashed in his eyes as a plan began to take shape in his heart.
Yue Chu: "How do you know Prince Xino is gentle? It must be quite difficult for someone of your status to meet him."
Salu's eyes sparkled with starlight and her youthful, flower-like face bloomed with a happy smile.
"It was just a chance encounter. At the time, I was still a blood slave, and I had collapsed on the ground after being drained of too much blood. It was Prince Xino who helped me up. I'll always remember his smile at that moment and his golden hair more dazzling than the most beautiful sunlight, and he gently asked me if I was hurt."
At this, Salu solemnly said, "Prince Xino was so kind to a mere blood slave, then he must be a truly gentle person."
Blood slave... a human?
Yue Chu pondered thoughtfully.
The little bear flew to Yue Chu's side in a huff with its arms crossed and almost faint from frustration.
"What are you dawdling for! If you don't seize Prince Xino soon, he's going to meet Anna!!"
Yue Chu twirled a strand of his slightly grown hair with his finger and calmly gazed at the blood moon hanging in the sky. "Do you think the root of this world's destruction is Anna's death?"
The little bear looked puzzled: Isn't it?
Yue Chu smiled and casually picked up the cloth Salu had forgotten on the table and tossed it onto the bear's head, then leisurely walked into the bedroom.
Such a foolish system should just play in the corner.
He closed the doors and windows, took a deep breath, and following the Domain he had seen from Lafa last time, he slowly extended his fingers to release the illusion.
Lafa, who is resting on his throne, suddenly opened his eyes.
His deep red, wine-like eyes flashed with a hint of surprise and his gaze seemed to see something yet remaining in an unknown place.
Yue Chu sighed and withdrew the illusion.
It still wasn't working; there was something he hadn't figured out yet.
A black bat hanging outside the window flapped its wings and silently flew away. A glint flashed in Yue Chu's eyes as he calmly picked up a book from the table to study. In a few days, the King would be testing their knowledge, and as a self-taught outsider, he felt quite the pressure.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The midnight bell rang again.
A weary bird perched on the edge of the castle and listlessly grooming its black feathers.
Lanterns hung from the tall trees and flickering with the wind that cast strange shadows on the ground.
The brightly lit hall once again filled with people, but this time there was no sense of leisurely enjoyment. Instead, everyone was as tense as students facing a pop quiz.
Yue Chu stood silently in the corner.
His solitary figure appeared particularly forlorn, though his expression remained calm. He was cramming with a thick book in his hands, making a last-minute effort before the exam.
If the mecha knowledge from the previous world had been somewhat manageable, the magical knowledge of this world was giving him a headache, especially the ancient and complex terminology that was a mouthful just to read.
When Lafa entered, Yue Chu just managed to put away his book. Though he wore a composed smile, only he knew how confident he truly felt.
Hopefully, he wouldn't end up at the bottom.
Lafa served as the examiner, which clearly added significant pressure to the young Blood Clan members. One of them was so nervous he could barely speak and was promptly thrown out of the hall by Lafa.
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
Yue Chu lightly curled his lips and felt somewhat relieved. At least he wasn't the worst.
Finally, it was Xino's turn. It had to be admitted that this Prince, raised from childhood, was indeed well-versed. He could answer many of the tricky and obscure questions.
Lafa nodded in satisfaction. He had always known Xino was a clever child, but because he was too clever, he never focused on one thing.
When Lafa had fallen into a deep sleep, the elders had relaxed their discipline over Xino, leading to a stagnation in his abilities. Now, with his supervision, Xino would surely strive as he had before.
Lafa: "Keep up the good work."
Lafa affirmed Xino's performance and offered his encouragement and his cold eyes only held a hint of warmth when they looked at Xino.
Xino's excitement faltered, and he forced a smile to thank his father.
No matter how well he did, his father would never be satisfied. Sometimes, he felt he was worse off than the ordinary nobles; at least their efforts had an end in sight, but he could never surpass the mountain that was his father.
Yue Chu smiled playfully.
A strict father and a rebellious son, what a troublesome relationship.
Yue Chu was the last to answer, deliberately placed there by Lafa. The entire exam arrangement showed Lafa's favoritism: the beginning was too tense, so Xino wasn't placed there, and the end was too slack, so Xino wasn't placed there either.
To highlight Xino's status, Lafa had pushed Yue Chu, also a Pureblood, to the end. He was telling Yue Chu that even with his Pureblood status, he was no different from the ordinary nobles here. Xino was the ruler; he could only be a subject.
Lafa looked at the gentle, jade-like child before him.
It wasn't entirely true that he felt no pity—strong, excellent, diligent and studious, every quality in this child was one he admired. Moreover, to have constructed the basic model of a Domain after just one encounter was nothing short of a prodigious genius.
If not for his rationality restraining him, he would have loved to take this child under his wing and personally guide him.
Lafa clenched his fingers, but he knew he couldn't. That would undoubtedly shake Xino's position. Even if Yue Chu had no such intentions, and even if he himself had no such intentions, the complex web of power would never let go of the opportunity to seize merit.
Lafa lowered his eyes and quizzed Yue Chu on a few questions.
The questions he posed were neither too simple nor too difficult. Even if Yue Chu answered them all correctly, it wouldn't earn him any extra points—perhaps his most selfish and petty move.
Perhaps out of a sense of guilt, after hearing Yue Chu awkwardly explain with his stilted terminology, Lafa said indifferently, "There's still room for improvement. Work harder."
Yue Chu smiled lightly, and his clear, bright eyes were like the morning sun. Though they were blood-red, they were more transparent than most people's. The warmth and joy in those eyes, mixed with a hint of shyness, flowed directly towards Lafa. There was no doubt and no resentment, only admiration and happiness.
Yue Chu: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will continue to work hard."
After speaking, Yue Chu lowered his head, and all the warmth and joy dissipated, leaving only a cold, dark void. He retreated back to the corner and stood quietly with his hands at his sides, forming a stark contrast with the clustered crowd and appearing inexplicably desolate.
Lafa pursed his thin lips.
Was he being too cruel? Yue Chu had already refrained from competing and placing himself in a low position, yet he continued to suppress him.
He moved his fingers irritably, a sign of emotional turbulence he hadn't experienced in a long time due to his excessively noble status. The usually decisive Blood Clan King was now unsettled by the appearance of a mere Pureblood.
He closed his eyes and decided to send Yue Chu back to his Domain as soon as possible.
Outside the castle, Dila cautiously tugged at Feilin's intricately patterned sleeve. "Feilin, I feel like His Highness isn't in a good mood."
Feilin pulled her sleeve back with distaste and distancing herself from Dila.
This ugly creature, couldn't he stay away? Just looking at him was an eyesore.
Feilin: "His Highness is under a lot of pressure right now. Don't provoke him."
Dila: "Pressure? What pressure?”
Feilin's gaze swept over Yue Chu, who was walking down another path. "The existence of another Pureblood, naturally."
Dila looked utterly confused. "But hasn't His Majesty made it clear that the successor will only be His Highness?"
Feilin shook her head helplessly.
Precisely because of that, as the saying goes, those involved are blinded while the onlookers see clearly.
Prince Xino was clearly trapped in his own emotions, and unable to see the deeper meaning behind His Majesty's actions.
She had tried to hint at it once or twice, but it only resulted in Prince Xino's fury, so she dared not say more.
Feilin herself was somewhat puzzled because she was also unsure of the true source of Prince Xino's inner turmoil.