Douluo Continent: The Celestial Star, Ruler of the Stars

Chapter 15 Xu Xinghan: No? What do you mean Princess Vina is my fiancée?!

Xu Xinghan appeared calm and composed while holding his teacup, but his mind was in turmoil.

While he was fidgeting, the owner of the teacup opposite him was also busy.

Vina's light brown eyes glanced furtively in Xu Xinghan's direction as she looked down.

The first thing you notice is the face.

Her silver hair was tied back, with a few stray strands falling around her ears. Dark glasses covered her eyebrows and eyes, but couldn't hide her well-defined face.

With a high, straight nose, a sharp jawline, and slightly pursed thin lips, his features were so exquisite that he seemed unreal, more like a celestial being from a painter's brush.

She had seen many nobles and royalty, but this was the first one she had ever seen who looked like this.

The second thing you notice is the hands.

Xu Xinghan's hand holding the teacup was long and fair, with distinct knuckles and neatly trimmed nails.

The way he held the cup was very steady, not a kind of deliberate, practiced grace, but an innate, natural, and unpretentious manner.

Unlike those spoiled brats, whose hands either tremble like leaves or who put on airs with their pinky fingers raised.

The third look is the whole person.

This person has an indescribable and elusive quality about him.

He was sitting there exchanging polite greetings with her, his smile not reaching his eyes, but it wasn't indifference; it was more like... absent-mindedness.

It was as if seven or eight things were running through his mind at the same time, and receiving her was just one of them, not even the most important one.

Vina looked away and took a sip of tea.

The tea is served warm, with a slightly bitter taste upon first sip, followed by a sweet aftertaste.

She lowered her eyelashes, her light brown eyes reflecting the tea leaves floating in the cup.

This person is much more interesting than the portrait her father gave her before she set off.

Before she came, her father had told her that the person who was truly in charge of the reform of soul tools in the Star Luo Empire was not Emperor Xu Jiawei, but this Prince Xuanxing.

An eighteen-year-old Soul Saint with twin martial souls and shrewd skills, he elevated Star Luo's soul guidance military industry to a new level in three years.

The Heavenly Soul Empire is the one among the four kingdoms of Douluo that most adheres to the tradition of Soul Masters and rejects Soul Master instructors.

However, they have also witnessed the sudden rise of the Star Luo Empire in recent years.

Especially along the border.

Conflicts between two countries over sovereignty issues are sometimes inevitable.

However, after the reforms, the Star Luo Empire supplied a large number of soul-guided devices to its army, and the border regions were no exception.

The Tianhun Border Army gradually shifted from a balanced force to a one-sided defeat.

Such behavior naturally attracted the attention of the empire's high command.

Before she left, her father, Victor, told her: "This person is the key to the rise of the Star Luo Empire; he is truly a rising star."

Vina thought her father was exaggerating.

How powerful can an eighteen-year-old prince be?

Now that she has met him in person, she suddenly feels that what her father said was quite conservative.

Vina glanced at Xu Xinghan again, her smile deepening.

I never imagined that this kind of man would be mine...

……

The teacup was gently placed back on the table, making a soft, porcelain-like sound.

Vina raised her head and looked at Xu Xinghan with a generous expression. Her light brown eyes were clear and bright, and she smiled.

"Your Highness, I have long heard of the customs and culture of Xingluo City. If it is convenient for me these next few days, would you be willing to act as my guide?"

Xu Xinghan was mentally battling wits with Xue Di when he heard this. He looked up, met those smiling eyes, and was stunned for a moment.

"It's my honor that the princess is interested," he said with a standard social smile. "However, I wouldn't dare call myself a guide, but I can accompany the princess for a walk."

Vina nodded and didn't say anything more, but the curve of her lips was a little wider than before.

Within the sea of ​​spirits, the Snow Emperor's voice echoed softly.

"Guide? Weren't you just complaining that you were exhausted from shopping all day? Now you have energy again?"

Xu Xinghan silently replied in his heart, "That's diplomatic language. Can you please not interpret everything that way?"

"What did I think?" Xue Di's voice was chilling. "Did I say anything? I didn't say anything."

There are two types of people in this world you shouldn't mess with.

First, women.

It's the woman who argues with you.

Xu Xinghan decided to shut up.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip, only to find that the tea had gone completely cold.

The bitterness spread across his tongue, and the astringency almost made Xu Xinghan spit out his mouthful of herbal tea.

He put down his teacup, a standard social smile on his face, while already planning to move on to a different topic.

"Since Princess Vina is interested, and it's still early, why don't I take the princess for a walk around?"

Vina put down her teacup, a glint of light flashing in her light brown eyes.

"Then I'll trouble you, Your Highness."

She stood up, turned to look at the two male envoys behind her, and spoke in a gentle but unquestionable tone:

"You two have worked hard. Please go back to the inn to rest. I'll walk with His Highness for a bit and then head back."

The two envoys exchanged a glance, their faces showing embarrassment.

One of the older men stepped forward and lowered his voice: "Princess, this is probably inappropriate..."

"What could possibly happen at the foot of the Star Luo Imperial Palace?" Vina smiled, her tone still gentle, but there was an uncompromising edge to her smile. "Go."

The two envoys had no choice but to bow and retreat.

……

Nine o'clock in the evening.

Prince Xuanxing's Mansion.

The moment Xu Xinghan pushed open the door, his legs no longer felt like his own.

He thought that accompanying Xue Di shopping in the morning was the limit, but he didn't expect that accompanying Vina shopping in the afternoon would be the real nightmare.

This princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire looks gentle and kind, but she walks as if she has a perpetual motion soul tool installed.

The Heavenly Soul Empire didn't have many soul tools, which made them curious about everything.

Moreover, she is different from Xue Di.

Xue Di said, "This looks good, I'll buy it," while Vina said, "This looks good, Your Highness, what do you think?"

"That one is also good, Your Highness. What do you think?"

"This shop has a very unique style, Your Highness, what do you think?"

……

Every question must be answered, and every answer must be appropriate.

Xu Xinghan felt that he had used more social skills in this afternoon than in the previous three years combined.

He pushed open the door, dragged his leaden legs across the threshold, and prepared to head straight to the bedroom to collapse and sleep.

Then he froze.

The lights were on in the lobby.

Xu Jiawei sat in the main seat, holding a long, thin feather cat toy, teasing a pure white Persian cat.

The cat lay lazily on the table, ignoring the cat toy, its tail swishing idly.

His Majesty the Emperor was so engrossed in playing with the cat that he completely failed to notice his younger brother standing frozen in place at the door.

Xu Xinghan rubbed his eyes.

You read that right.

He is his older brother.

The emperor of the Star Luo Empire.

He was dressed in casual clothes, looking like an ordinary middle-aged man, and came to his younger brother's house late at night... to play with the cat.

"Big brother? What brings you here?"

Hearing someone call his name, Xu Jiawei looked up, still waving a cat toy in his hand.

"You're back? How did your day go with that princess from the Heavenly Soul Empire?"

Xu Xinghan's lips twitched.

He dragged his weary body into the hall, plopped down in the chair opposite Xu Jiawei, and slumped back in the chair, his silver hair falling down to cover half his face.

"This is terrible."

"Um?"

"Women shopping is truly terrifying." Xu Xinghan closed his eyes, his voice filled with deep exhaustion. "They've been shopping from afternoon until night, my legs are about to break, and she's still full of energy. Brother, I beg you, please don't ask me to do this kind of work again. Let those people from the Ministry of Rites do it."

Xu Jiawei put down the cat toy, picked up the teacup next to him, took a sip, and smiled slightly.

"That won't do."

Xu Xinghan opened one eye to look at him.

Why?

Xu Jiawei put down his teacup, the porcelain making a soft clinking sound against the table.

He looked at Xu Xinghan with an expression that said, "You're lucky, kid."

"Because the other person is your childhood sweetheart."