I Can Control Resources

"Th-this... You don’t mean His Highness the Fourth Prince is coming tonight, do you?! But the Princess hasn’t even agreed yet! If he comes over this late, won’t that... ruin Her Highness’s reputation?" The maidservant jumped in fright.

"What are you thinking about?" Wu Dingxiang waved a hand dismissively. "Of course the Fourth Prince won’t come in person. But the Royal Hall is a vast place. If he wants to see me, there are ways."

"What do you mean? I don’t understand."

"It’s fine if you don’t understand. The stories of princes and princesses are not something a mere servant like you could possibly comprehend..." Wu Dingxiang didn’t elaborate.

After all, she was already ninety percent sure.

It was almost certain she would be staying.

The toast from the Blood Race King, Blood Spray, had made that much clear. If he truly looked down on her, the Clan King would not have bothered with a mere princess of the Dark Night Race.

The Clan King’s attitude determined the Fourth Prince’s intentions.

Therefore, there was at least a thirty percent chance the Fourth Prince would send someone to invite her to "admire the beauty of the Royal Hall" tonight.

’Placing our rooms nine doors apart must have been to keep Sister Feifei from joining me. Is he really asking me out alone?’ Wu Dingxiang slipped off her last garment, revealing skin as beautiful and white as jade.

The midnight lamplight.

It was utterly enchanting.

Wu Dingxiang stepped slowly into the bath.

The sound of splashing water gently rose.

Meanwhile, Xiaocui watched Wu Dingxiang with an envious expression, waiting on her attentively from the side.

"If His Highness the Fourth Prince is really coming to see Her Highness, will two drops of ’Flowing Dark-Scent’ be enough? I heard he’s already reached the eighth rank, hasn’t he?" Xiaocui asked, looking up after adding two drops of a green liquid to the bath.

"You don’t understand. This Fourth Prince of the Blood Race is no ordinary prince. He won’t be too hasty. I just need to leave an ’impression’ on him. As for... seeing things to their beautiful conclusion, that will take more time," Wu Dingxiang said, waving her hand again.

"Your Highness is truly wise..."

KNOCK KNOCK!

Just then, a knock came at the door.

Wu Dingxiang’s eyes lit up.

"He’s here! Xiaocui, quickly, help me into my Cloud and Mist Robe."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The two of them hurried.

Once Wu Dingxiang was dressed, Xiaocui quickly opened the door.

Outside the door.

Gao Neng stood at the entrance with four guards from the Blood Shadow Army.

"And you are...?" Xiaocui asked, looking in surprise at Gao Neng, who stood before her in magnificent robes. For a moment, her mind couldn’t quite process the sight.

She had, after all, more or less understood what Wu Dingxiang had said earlier.

The Fourth Prince would not come in person.

’So who is this young man from the Blood Race, who looks so much like a prince?’

"Xue Ruyu, fourth son of the Blood Race King," Gao Neng replied crisply.

"Huh?!" Xiaocui’s jaw dropped.

In fact, it wasn’t just Xiaocui. Inside, the smile on Wu Dingxiang’s waiting face flickered with surprise.

’The Fourth Prince...’

’He came in person?’

’And at this hour of the night, right to her door?’

’What is he planning?’

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this late-night visit, Your Highness?" Wu Dingxiang, ever composed, knew she had to maintain her dignity.

She was a princess, after all!

How could a princess allow a man to barge into her room like some common harlot, even if he was the Fourth Prince of the Blood Race?

"The Seventh Princess has traveled so far to be here. Surely you know why this Prince has come?" Gao Neng countered, ignoring her question.

"Well..." Wu Dingxiang was a little lost.

’What the hell?’

’Why isn’t this Fourth Prince playing by the script?’

’What happened to the suave and elegant Fourth Prince I’d heard about?’

’Why is he acting like such a lecher from the moment he arrives?’

’Could he be a fake Fourth Prince?’

’But that can’t be right...’

’I am a princess of the noble Dark Night Elf Clan. Even if the Fourth Prince wanted to test me, he would never dare to pull a stunt like this.’

’Could it be... that the rumors are unreliable?’ Wu Dingxiang finally sat up straight. Her eyes flickered as an idea struck her. "Xiaocui, please invite His Highness the Fourth Prince inside."

"Yes. This way, Your Highness." Xiaocui immediately stepped aside.

"Take the Seventh Princess’s maid to rest. And guard the door." ’This is taking too long,’ Gao Neng thought. ’I’m in a hurry. I’ve already been waiting for over an hour.’

"Sir!" The four Blood Shadow Army soldiers immediately flanked Xiaocui and escorted her out.

"Your Highness..." Once outside, Xiaocui’s face finally showed a hint of panic. She looked like she wanted to go find Mu Feifei.

Wu Dingxiang naturally guessed Xiaocui’s intentions.

So, as Xiaocui was being led away, she quickly called out, "Xiaocui, just rest outside the door. Don’t go anywhere, understand?"

"Y-yes, I understand," Xiaocui nodded.

THUD!

The door was shut tight.

Gao Neng strode inside.

In the inner chamber, Wu Dingxiang was slowly rising from a chair.

The lighting in the room was not very bright.

But it was enough to illuminate Wu Dingxiang’s face.

It was a beautiful face, faintly flushed. Paired with a long, white gown that shimmered with an iridescent light, she looked just like a Fairy who had descended to the mortal realm.

"Wu Dingxiang, the Seventh Princess of the Dark Night Elf Clan. We meet again!" A smile played on Gao Neng’s lips.

"Meet again? Your Highness, have we met somewhere before?" Wu Dingxiang paused for a moment, then a smile graced her lips. "Otherwise... shall I venture a guess?"

"Oh? You want to guess?" Gao Neng had been ready to draw his weapon, but her words sparked a flicker of mischievous interest.

"Hmm... I guess it was the year I turned eight. I was still young and didn’t know much back then, but I remember that His Highness the Fourth Prince followed the Clan King on a trip to the Celestial Race Royal City. And by a great coincidence, I was there too!" Wu Dingxiang had, in fact, done her homework.

Before coming, she had investigated all the places the Fourth Prince, Xue Ruyu, had been in recent years.

In the end, she found a few points where their paths might have crossed.

The year she was eight, the Fourth Prince had visited the Celestial Race Royal City.

Although she was certain she hadn’t met the Fourth Prince that year, since he was the one seeking this meeting, it was possible that he had seen her.

So, when Gao Neng said, "we meet again," her mind immediately jumped to that potential encounter in the Celestial Race Royal City.

A glimpse in childhood.

A memory that lingered.

’He really is a devoted Fourth Prince.’

’He might not be as handsome as the princes of the Celestial Race, and he even has two small horns on his forehead, but devotion is what makes things last.’

In her heart, Wu Dingxiang was quite satisfied.

"Eight years old? When I was eight, I was still in the Forgotten Land." Gao Neng pretty much understood now. ’This scheming bitch of a princess is trying to seduce me.’

’But am I the kind of person who falls for a simple honey trap?’

’Not a chance!’

"The Forgotten Land?! Wh-what do you mean?" This time, Wu Dingxiang was clearly stunned, not quite understanding what Gao Neng meant.

Gao Neng lunged forward.

"Ah? Your Highness... N-no!" Wu Dingxiang fell backward in a panic, landing right on the bed.

With that one lunge, Gao Neng pinned her beneath him.

Then, Wu Dingxiang began to struggle.

Her two hands pushed weakly.

She tried to push Gao Neng off her, but no matter how hard she pushed, it felt as if she had no strength to resist at all.

’This easy? She’s not even resisting?’ Gao Neng was stunned for a second.

’It’s really too simple.’

He was certain that, in this moment, the Seventh Princess Wu Dingxiang was completely powerless to resist. All he had to do was deliver a single blow to her head, and the mission... would be complete.

’But is it really that simple?’

’This is a mission from that ridiculous system, after all...’

’Forget it!’

’To hell with the consequences.’