Douluo Continent: The Twin Holy Dragons of Light and Darkness, the Dragon Emperor Breaks Through the

"The Holy Son is short of a maid. His Majesty wants you to go to Martial Soul Capital as Mu Bai's fiancée and work for the Holy Son."

"It's not about serving others, it's about... ensuring that the Star Luo Empire has someone of its own in the upper echelons of the Martial Soul Empire."

Zhu Zhuqing's face darkened.

She clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. "Father, I'm not going." Her voice was cold.

Zhu Tianyun looked at her. "Zhu Qing, this is His Majesty's will."

"What does Your Majesty mean?" Zhu Zhuqing's voice rose a few decibels. "Mu Bai ran away, why should I be the one to take his place?"

“I am his fiancée, not his scapegoat. What does it matter to me if the Holy Son needs a maid? I am not a servant!”

Zhu Tianyun sighed. "Zhu Qing, listen to me—"

"I won't listen!" Zhu Zhuqing interrupted him.

“Father, I started cultivating when I was six years old. I get up before dawn and rest when it gets dark.”

“I worked hard for six years, not to become someone else’s maid.”

"I want to become stronger, I want to become a Title Douluo, I want to let everyone know that the Zhu family's daughter is not just a pretty face!"

Zhu Tianyun looked at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Zhu Qing, His Majesty said that if you don't go, the Star Luo Empire's resource allocation will be reduced again next year."

"Do you know how difficult things are for the Star Luo Empire right now? The Heavenly Dou Empire has 60% of the resources, while we only have 40%."

"If we reduce the number of soul tools any further, the army won't even have enough, and the students at the Soul Master Academy won't even have basic cultivation resources."

"You're not doing this for yourself, you're doing it for the Star Luo Empire."

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, her eyes reddening.

"Why? Why should I take the blame when Mu Bai ran away?"

"I didn't choose him. The engagement was arranged by you. I've never even met him!"

Her voice was choked with emotion.

Zhu Tianyun stood up, walked up to her, and reached out to pat her head.

Zhu Zhuqing took a step back and dodged.

"Zhuqing, your father is sorry," Zhu Tianyun said in a low voice, "but you know, we had no choice."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes, but she held them back.

She took a deep breath, looked up, and looked at her father.

“I will go. But I can’t guarantee I can stay. If the Holy Son is not satisfied and sends me back, don’t blame me.”

Zhu Tianyun nodded. "Okay."

Zhu Zhuqing turned and walked out of the study. Her steps were quick, as if she were fleeing.

The next morning, Zhu Zhuqing boarded a carriage bound for Wuhun Capital.

She brought no maids or guards, only a small bundle.

The bundle contained a few changes of clothes and a jade pendant, which was Dai Mubai's engagement token.

She didn't want to bring it at first, but after thinking about it, she brought it anyway.

She wanted to return the jade pendant to him, and on the day he returned, she would personally smash it in his face.

The carriage left Xingluo City and headed towards Wuhun Capital along the official road.

Zhu Zhuqing lifted the carriage curtain and glanced back at the city walls of Xingluo City.

On the city wall, the flags of the Star Luo Empire had been replaced with the Angel and Panlong flags of the Martial Soul Empire, fluttering in the wind.

She lowered the carriage curtain, leaned against the carriage wall, and closed her eyes.

Her fingers clenched the hem of her clothes.

Chapter 239 Zhu Zhuqing's Resentment

She didn't want to go to Martial Soul Capital, didn't want to be a maid, and didn't want to serve a man she had never met.

But she had no choice.

She was the daughter of the Zhu family and a subject of the Star Luo Empire; she could not refuse.

After five days of travel, the carriage finally arrived at Wuhun Capital.

Zhu Zhuqing climbed out of the carriage, stood at the city gate, and gazed at the majestic city.

The walls of Wuhun City are higher and thicker than those of Wudou City, and they are covered with defensive runes, each of which shimmers with golden light in the sunlight.

The city streets are wide, lined with shops, and bustling with pedestrians, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

Zhu Zhuqing had no mood to appreciate it; her heart was filled with resistance and resentment.

The Hall of Worship is located in the center of Martial Soul Capital, with white jade steps and golden tiles on the roof. Two huge angel statues stand in front of the hall.

Zhu Zhuqing stood in front of the offering hall, looked up at the huge building, and took a deep breath.

"Are you Zhu Zhuqing?" a voice came from behind.

Zhu Zhuqing turned around and saw a woman in white standing behind her.

The woman was dressed in white, with long golden hair that reached her waist. She had an exquisite face and a pair of golden eyes that resembled two suns.

Qian Renxue, a level 98 Title Douluo and Empress of the Spirit Empire.

Zhu Zhu knelt on one knee. "Zhu Qing greets Your Majesty the Empress."

"Get up." Qian Renxue's voice was cold as she glanced at her.

"I have received Dai Tianfeng's letter. He said that you are Dai Mubai's fiancée and would like to come and see the world of martial spirits."

"I agree. But I have one condition: the Holy Son is short of a maidservant. You shall fill that position."

Zhu Zhuqing's fingers tightened slightly.

She didn't want to come, didn't want to be a maid, and didn't want to serve anyone.

But she couldn't say.

She lowered her head and remained silent for a moment. "Yes."

Qian Renxue glanced at her. "You don't want to?"

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip. "No."

Qian Renxue didn't press further and turned to walk into the offering hall. "The Holy Son is not talkative and has a bad temper. Be prepared. Serve him well, and he won't mistreat you."

Zhu Zhuqing followed behind her and entered the offering hall.

The hall was spacious and solemn, with sunlight streaming in through the stained glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

At the far end of the hall stood a huge statue of an angel, and in front of the statue stood a young man in black.

He stood with his back to her, hands clasped behind his back, dressed in a jet-black robe, his black hair flowing like a waterfall, a dragon-patterned staff slung diagonally behind him.

The nine spirit rings pulsed rhythmically, with the ninth golden spirit ring shimmering like another sun in the candlelight.

Ling Feng, the Holy Son of the Martial Soul Empire.

“Holy Son.” Qian Renxue walked to his side. “The people from the Star Luo Empire have arrived.”

Ling Feng turned around and looked at Zhu Zhuqing.

His gaze was calm, as if he were looking at an object.

Zhu Zhuqing felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, but she still forced herself to meet his eyes.

Her eyes were cold, with a hint of stubborn defiance.

"Your name is Zhu Zhuqing?" Ling Feng asked, his voice low.

"Yes."

"The Netherworld Spirit Cat Martial Soul?"

"Yes."

What level?

"Level 27."

Ling Feng nodded. "Twelve years old, level twenty-seven. Not bad."

His tone was completely flat, as if he were stating a fact.

He glanced at her. "You don't want to come."

Zhu Zhuqing was taken aback.

She hadn't expected Ling Feng to see through her. Her lips moved as if she wanted to deny it, but in the end, she nodded. "I don't want to."

Qian Renxue's brows twitched slightly.

Zhu Zhuqing thought Ling Feng would get angry or simply kick her out.

But Ling Feng simply looked at her; there was no anger or dissatisfaction in his dark eyes, only calm.

"You didn't want to come, but you still came. That means you had a compelling reason to come," Ling Feng said calmly. "Since you're here, stay put. I don't keep idlers here."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head. "Yes."

Ling Feng turned around and walked deeper into the offering hall.

"You shall live in the east wing, and shall not enter the main hall or bring anything unrelated."

"They come to serve you with your washing and grooming every morning, and you are free to cultivate at other times."

His footsteps echoed in the empty hall, one after another.

Zhu Zhuqing stood there, watching his figure disappear behind the palace gate.

Qian Renxue walked to her side. "He's right. Since you're here, just stay put. Don't overthink it."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her head and looked at Qian Renxue. "Your Majesty, has the Holy Son... always been like this?"

Qian Renxue was silent for a moment. "He wasn't like this before. A lot of things happened later, and he became like this."