I Can Control Resources

The female guards were waiting for the Seventh Princess to reprimand the handmaiden.

Meanwhile, the Seventh Princess was waiting for the female guards to order them to speed up...

After all, Gao Xiaomeng didn’t think anything Fang Tangtang had said warranted a reprimand.

Since they were almost there, it was only natural to pick up the pace.

So, the result was... both sides staring at each other blankly.

After a moment, Gao Xiaomeng grew impatient.

"Why aren’t we speeding up? Didn’t you all hear what Little Lan’Er said?"

The female guards were shocked.

Immediately, the same thought surfaced in all their minds.

’The Seventh Princess of the Dark Night Elf Clan, Wu Dingxiang, really is as kind and approachable as they say, so gentle with her subordinates! The rumors are true!’

"Pick up the pace!" someone finally urged.

"Yes!"

The party sped up.

The White-faced King, however, frowned upon hearing this.

"Lord City Lord, is there a problem?" an attendant asked cautiously, noticing the White-faced King’s expression.

"From what I know, the Elf Race’s hierarchy is extremely strict," the White-faced King muttered under his breath. "And the Seventh Princess is the Elf Queen’s most beloved daughter. It makes no sense that she would rely on a handmaiden like some less-favored princess might."

"Could it be that she’s just anxious to meet the Fourth Prince and overlooked it in her haste?" the attendant suggested, glancing at the surrounding Blood Race guards.

"Hm, you have a point. Perhaps I’m overthinking it," the White-faced King said after a moment’s thought, then nodded. "The Seventh Princess only brought a single handmaiden on this trip, so she’s unlikely to punish her on the road. And with the Blood Race Royal City so close, it’s understandable she’d be eager to meet the Fourth Prince as soon as possible."

"After we enter the Royal City, should we leave immediately, or wait inside?"

"We’ll wait," the White-faced King said, his gaze drifting to the falling snowflakes. "Although my primary purpose is to seek protection, from Mu Feifei’s tone, it seems she’s genuinely considering an alliance with my clan. If that comes to pass, it would be a momentous achievement!"

"Yes, I understand," the attendant replied, saying no more.

...

「Blood Race Royal City.」

It was an ancient city dominated by hues of red and black.

Snow fell, flurrying through the air.

It added a dusting of white to the red and black city walls.

And today, atop that layer of white, thousands of colorful flowers had been placed, each one emitting a soft, shimmering glow.

In winter, any flower that bloomed was bound to be a rare one.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Yet today, thousands of such rare flowers were tucked into the city walls, vying for splendor.

How extravagant.

Such was the extravagance of the Blood Race.

Clad in magnificent silver armor, Xue Ruyu stood upon the city wall. His name, Ruyu, meant "like jade," and he lived up to it. For he was the Fourth Prince of the Blood Race, the one who might one day inherit the title of Clan King.

He was also, of course, a genius.

A genius whose reputation was known throughout the Hundred Races.

And that was merely who he had been.

Now, he had broken through to the eighth rank, and his entire disposition had changed dramatically. His former restraint had given way to blatant arrogance.

For he now had the power to back up his arrogance.

After his breakthrough, his father—the current Blood Race King, a man named Xue Pen—had sought him out. He then publicly declared Xue Ruyu the successor to the title of Clan King.

’A genius of this caliber... what else was there to pursue?’

Xue Ruyu had held back for so many years. He felt it was time to celebrate, to make up for all those lost years and finally let loose.

"Your Highness," a Blood Race Warrior approached. He had two horns on his head and radiated a potent life force. "The Seventh Princess and the Ninth Princess are a mile outside the city!"

This was the Blood Race’s strongest fighting force, the Blood Shadow Army.

And just three days prior, Xue Ruyu had been appointed Legion Commander of the Blood Shadow Army. Unlike the other princes, who were merely given positions like Vice Corps Commander or Commander, he held the top rank.

’What did this mean?’

’It meant his position was unshakeable.’

’His father had placed the Blood Race’s most powerful military force in his hands.’

"Good. Follow me out to greet them." Xue Ruyu nodded slightly.

’One must enjoy the good times to the fullest.’

’Especially when beautiful women were coming to his door... traveling a thousand miles just to see him.’

Xue Ruyu straightened his silver battle armor, then descended the city wall. Escorted by a contingent of the Blood Shadow Army, he passed through the gates of the Royal City.

Two rows of the Blood Shadow Army stood guard solemnly.

The flowers on the city wall filled the air with their fragrance.

Before long, a dark procession appeared on the horizon.

The dark shape grew steadily larger, a stark contrast against the white snow. They were moving very quickly.

’Quite impatient, aren’t they,’ Xue Ruyu thought, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Having grown up in one of the great races, he’d been taught from a young age how to read people. He could deduce another’s thoughts from the smallest of details.

In a short time, the party arrived before Xue Ruyu.

"Xue Ruyu, Fourth Son of the Blood Race King and Legion Commander of the Blood Shadow Army, welcomes the Ninth Princess of the Celestial Race and the Seventh Princess of the Dark Night Elf Clan!" Xue Ruyu announced, taking a step forward with a flourish of his red cape.

CLICK!

The carriage door opened.

Mu Feifei, clad in blue armor, and Wu Dingxiang, in a long white dress, slowly stepped out of the carriage.

They moved with light, graceful steps.

A sweet fragrance drifted through the city.

For a moment, Xue Ruyu was utterly transfixed.

He had spent his entire life in the palaces of the Blood Race, seeing almost exclusively Blood Race women. He rarely had the opportunity to interact with women from other races.

And now, as his gaze fell upon Mu Feifei and Wu Dingxiang, his mind went strangely blank.