Masquerade in Bridal Attire and Marry the Prince

168. Chapter 168: The Ulterior Motive

Translator: Tracycbj

“Stop it.” Yuxing Tianrui reached out and grabbed Du Chuxuan’s hand helplessly. The girls felt jealous when the two of them whispered in each other’s ears. Now many people were staring at them with widened eyes, thinking the rumors were not true.

Two or three girls came and went before an outstanding woman appeared. When her name was announced, even Du Chuxuan was attracted. This girl was one of the accomplished ladies in the capital city, and even Zhao Zheng could not rival her in certain aspects.

“Good morning, Your Highness. I’m Fang Rui.” The girl curtsied at them with greater elegance than Zhao Ling’er. From a glance, one could see that she had been cultivated since childhood into a dignified wife.

“Good. The Fang family has always been a place for scholars. His Majesty often tells me that Mr.  Fang is the pillar of our country. As long as the Fang family is around, there is a place for the scholars of Shenglan country to communicate with each other.” The Empress did not exaggerate, as this was how the Fang family was.

The four great families of the capital city had made significant contributions when their ancestors fought with the late emperor in the wars across the country. The ancestor of the Fang family had laid the foundation of education for Shenglan country. At least half of the ministers in the court were the students of the Fang family. Even if the Emperor wanted to take down the Fang family, he had to think twice.

Today, Fang Rui didn’t wear plain clothes for the pageant, and she looked refreshing among the girls with heavy makeups. She wore a light green dress with a jade hairpin shaped like pear blossoms, impressing people with her crisp pureness.

“The Fang family appreciates the favor of His Majesty, and we will do everything we can to ensure the advancement of the scholars in Shenglan country.” Such ambitious words uttered by a delicate woman were impressive. Although Du Chuxuan was noncommittal with what she said, she was drawn to Fang Rui.

There was no need for the maid to give her any hints. After Fang Rui spoke, she walked to the side and said softly, “Today, I am going to present to you a Picturesque Landscape. I hope that Shenglan country will be famous and prosperous throughout the ages!”

After that, a maid who had been waiting on the side unfolded a large banner that was several feet long. Everyone thought that Fang Rui had painted something on the paper, but there was actually nothing on it.

A girl intended to point that out for the purpose of embarrassing Fang Rui and making herself look good. However, before the girl uttered anything, Fang Rui said in a clear loud voice, “May the round heaven and square earth bless Shenglan country with prosperity and peace!”

As she spoke, she seemed to move to some rhythm as she flung herself out and grabbed a painting brush in her hand. She shook her hair and started to draw. A long and curvy line appeared on the paper.

The line seemed to divide the sky from the earth in an imposing way, which made people want to sing a song of compliment. Du Chuxuan looked up and saw the admiration on the faces of the envious girls. He raised his eye brows.

It seemed that the daughter of the Fang family was not bad. She actually knew the Calling Magic that had been lost in Jianghu for many years. This method was used by charlatans to fool ignorant people. However, many years ago when the ordinary people were not enlightened, only State Preceptor would know how to use this method.

And this State Preceptor could rival a powerful army. Du Chuxuan had read from an ancient book that with one dance, the State Preceptor could enchant millions of soldiers, who stood still and got killed. Although there was only one sentence describing the scene, one could know how power the Calling Magic was. However, very few people knew that only women could learn this Calling Magic.

State Preceptors from the ancient times were capable and beautiful women. Du Chuxuan didn’t know where Fang Rui learned the Calling Magic. If she did not use it properly, she would cause a disaster in the future.

While Du Chuxuan was pondering, Yuxing Tianrui was struggling with the voice in his mind. He seemed to hear a voice bewitching him. The more he looked at the picture, the more eager he was to hold Fang Rui in his arms.

He did not have the same insight as Du Chuxuan, nor did he have the internal power as Du Chuxuan. He had been relying on his willpower.

After finishing the stroke, Fang Rui didn’t stop. She turned her hand and her entire body was soaked in ink. She started to spin elegantly as if there were wheels under her feet. She muttered, “I hope the landscape that I draw could bless Shenglan with strong soldiers, sturdy horses and abundant grains.”

Du Chuxuan quickly worked up the internal power in his body. He took an involuntary look at Yuxing Tianrui, and knew something was wrong. After Fang Rui spoke, Yuxing Tianrui started to sweat on his face, but he held his legs tightly. He seemed to be enduring something.

Du Chuxuan turned to look at Fang Rui, who was still drawing mountains at high speed. Du Chuxuan’s eyes darkened slightly. He had thought the Fang family was good, but it turned out to be more dangerous than the Zhao Family. However, the people in Shenglan thought highly of the Fang family, and even Yuxing Tianrui had never spoke ill of it.

The Fang family should have no intention of doing anything, but this vicious woman came this time to enchant everyone including Yuxing Tianrui. Thinking of this, Du Chuxuan was even angrier. He wanted to rush up and cut her into pieces.

However, Yuxing Tianrui was struggling against the enchanting voice in his body, but Du Chuxuan couldn’t help him at all. At this time, any slight disturbance from the outside world would trouble the mind of Yuxing Tianrui, who would fall unconscious for a few days or suffer damages in his brains and would not wake up.

While he was anxious, Du Chuxuan stared at Fang Rui without blinking. The four most important things in the Picturesque Landscape were the distant mountains, dark clouds, rivers running into the sea, and the inhabitated villages. Absence of any of these four things was not counted as Picturesque Landscape. Seeing that Fang Rui had finished painting the mountains and dark clouds, there should be two other things left.

Du Chuxuan guessed she would launch two fiercer attacks later on.