"No way?!"

"He passed the first round like that?"

"Don’t tell me being handsome really lets you do whatever you want?"

The other Princes were stunned. They wracked their brains but couldn’t think of any reason for Gao Neng’s success other than his good looks.

Gao Neng’s jaw dropped, too.

’This isn’t how the script is supposed to go, is it?’

’I’ve been so arrogant, and I haven’t left myself any way out. How can you people still tolerate this? Are you dead set on making me the Prince Consort?’

Gao Neng felt a bitter pain in his heart.

He had bet that the Seventh Princess and the Elf Queen wouldn’t be able to swallow this insult, but they had. This meant they were willing to sacrifice the Elf Race’s dignity just to get him killed.

’The enemy is strong...’

’They’ve completely abandoned their pride!’

’They have no limits, no bottom line at all.’

Just as he was thinking this, the Great Elf who was hosting spoke again, announcing the list of candidates moving on to the second round.

As expected, Gao Neng made the list.

Additionally, the Dark Night Elf Clan had also considered inter-clan relations, adding some powerful races to the mix, such as the Beast Race, the Hill Giant Race, and so on.

There were ten spots in total.

But Gao Neng was certain that, barring any surprises, he would be the one the Seventh Princess ultimately chose. And then... wouldn’t he be right back where he started?

’No!’

’Two things have changed!’

’First, since I’m not marrying into her family, I at least won’t be forced into the bridal chamber tonight. That gives me some time. Second, if I had followed the path of a shill, I would have undoubtedly become a common enemy, drawing the hostility of all the other Princes and races. But now, my relationship with the other Princes has become rather subtle.’

These were the only two points he could use to his advantage right now.

But the ending was clearly fixed.

’How can I use these two points to fight back?’

"Alright, will the ten Princes whose names were called please step forward. To the other Princes, our clan can only express its apologies!" the hosting Great Elf continued.

"Hmph..."

"Damn it! It’s one thing for me not to be chosen, but how could that Thirteenth Prince get in?"

"It’s rigged!"

"Just because he’s handsome?"

The unselected Princes were more than a little dissatisfied, but their gifts were indeed a cut below those who were chosen, so it wasn’t a complete injustice.

The only thing that truly irked them was Gao Neng.

Hearing this, Gao Neng sighed inwardly. It seemed there were only ten powerful connections left for him to cling to. He just wondered, after he was chosen as Prince Consort, how many of those ten would still be there for him?

"Please present your question, Seventh Princess," the hosting Great Elf said.

"Yes. My question is this..." Seventh Princess Wu Dingxiang seemed to have prepared this in advance. "Should two people in love share everything without reserve, holding no privacy from each other? Or should they respect one another, each keeping a private world in their hearts? I would like the Princes to make a choice and then give their reasons."

The question was rather... "romantic."

It was a fitting question for a marriage selection.

It wasn’t off-topic.

And the final decision was completely in the hands of Seventh Princess Wu Dingxiang. Whatever reason she preferred, others would not be in a position to object.

The nine Princes fell silent.

Gao Neng just stared at the sky.

"So, which Prince would like to be the first to answer the Seventh Princess’s question?" the hosting elf asked, seeing the Princes’ silence.

"I will!" The Prince of the Beast Race was the first to step forward.

"Prince of the Beast Race, please answer!"

"I believe that if you trust each other, you should be open and honest. This is a fundamental principle of trust. However, since our two races are different, disparities in faith, upbringing, and culture are inevitable. Therefore, for a more harmonious and stable future, it is best to maintain a private world in one’s heart regarding faith and certain other specific issues!" The Beast Race Prince finished with a smile.

Hearing this, the surrounding Elf Race People nodded lightly.

It was an answer that covered both sides.

One could say it was perfect.

"Yes, the Prince of the Beast Race has spoken very well. Next, we invite the second Prince to answer!" The hosting Great Elf nodded in agreement and spoke again.

"I believe that if you are together, you should hold nothing back. I respect the Princess, and I would naturally bring the Princess’s faith to my own people!" the Prince of the Hill Giant Race declared, stepping forward.

"Excellent. Next, please!"

"..."

"..."

Soon, all nine Princes had given their answers.

The turn to speak came back to Gao Neng.

"Thirteenth Prince, you are the last to answer. I wonder, what is your choice regarding the Seventh Princess’s question?" the hosting Great Elf asked, looking at Gao Neng.

"I choose neither!" Gao Neng said without a moment’s hesitation.

"Hm? You choose neither?"

"That’s right. I am the heavens. If the Seventh Princess wishes to marry me, she must worship me as such. What nonsense about ’holding nothing back’? I will do as I please. What’s so strange about having three wives and four concubines? If every woman who married me wanted to keep her own ’private world,’ how many worlds would I need to accommodate them all? Therefore, my word is the truth, and you should obey it unconditionally!" Gao Neng said, his words completely at odds with his true feelings.

But he had to say it.

He wanted to struggle just a little bit more. He refused to believe that the Seventh Princess would choose a profligate son like him in front of so many Princes and the entire Elf Race.

This would be a slap in the face to the entire Dark Night Elf Clan!

’So you think you have no bottom line?’

’Then let’s see who can sink lower!’

And just as he’d hoped...

The moment Gao Neng’s words fell, the Elf Queen’s expression changed. And it wasn’t just her expression; the cold pool at her feet began to swirl into a vortex.

’This is too much!’

It wasn’t just Elf Queen Una; the hosting Great Elf and the surrounding Elf Race People all clenched their fists, their faces filled with rage.

"Throw him out!"

"Yes, get him out of here!"

"We will never allow the Seventh Princess to marry a Prince like him!"

The Elf Race People protested loudly.

Did he really think he could do whatever he wanted just because he was handsome?

No!

They absolutely could not stand by and watch the Seventh Princess leap into a pit of fire!

Meanwhile, the Beast Race Prince and the other eight chosen Princes exchanged smiles. They had already noticed that the Seventh Princess held a certain favor for this Thirteenth Prince.

But this Thirteenth Prince was really something else...

How did he dare to give an answer like that?

He’d incurred public wrath!

Even if the Seventh Princess still wanted to choose him, it would be impossible now, right?

"I choose Prince Jami!!! The Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elf Race!" Just then, Seventh Princess Wu Dingxiang’s voice rang out once more.

Her voice wasn’t particularly loud.

But it was like a clap of thunder, instantly silencing the surrounding uproar.

"Seventh Princess, you can’t!" The hosting Great Elf clenched his jaw. Even though he knew the Seventh Princess wanted to kill Gao Neng, he couldn’t bear to see her suffer such a grievance. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The other Princes were also frozen in shock.

She still chose the Thirteenth Prince after all that?!

Why?

Had the Dark Night Elf Clan truly abandoned all its dignity?

"Ding Xiang!" The Elf Queen’s fists tightened.

"Mother, my mind is made up. You don’t need to persuade me further!" the Seventh Princess said, gritting her teeth.

"I refuse to accept this! Why would you still choose the Thirteenth Prince? Doesn’t the Seventh Princess owe us a proper explanation?" one of the Princes demanded furiously.

"The reason is simple!" The Seventh Princess’s gaze was clear. "The Dark Night Elf Clan and the Wood Elf Race were originally one. Though we are now separated, the blood of the elven lineage flows in all our veins!"

Seventh Princess Wu Dingxiang paused here, her eyes fixed on Gao Neng as she spoke again. "The relationship between our Dark Night Elf Clan and the Wood Elf Race was fractured decades ago. I want to mend the relationship between our two peoples. Although the Thirteenth Prince’s tone is flippant, I am willing to marry him. I am not doing this for myself, but for our race! I am willing to make a sacrifice. I believe I can change him with my own abilities. And even if I cannot, then I will still give it my all, like a foolish moth drawn to a flame. Even if I am turned to ash by his fire, I am willing!"

"..." The scene fell silent instantly.

All the Elf Race People and the Princes turned to look at Seventh Princess Wu Dingxiang.

Even Gao Neng was dumbfounded.

’If he were truly the Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elf Race, he probably would have been moved by those words.’

A moth to a flame.

’Even if I am turned to ash, I am willing!’

For some inexplicable reason...

Gao Neng actually felt that perhaps his previous behavior had been a bit excessive. This Seventh Princess was actually quite decent. But the moment that thought flashed through his mind, he snapped back to reality.

’No!’

’I’m being deceived!’

’This Seventh Princess’s acting skills are an 85 out of 100!’

’And that’s an 85 rated by the "Idiot System." That’s an absolutely high score.’

"Prince Jami, noble Thirteenth Prince of the Wood Elf Race, I, Wu Dingxiang, am willing to marry you and will worship you as the heavens for my entire life. Will... you marry me?" Seventh Princess Wu Dingxiang walked toward Gao Neng step by step, her long dress creating ripples in the water.

She approached Gao Neng, treading upon the water of the cold pool.

Her eyes were filled with deep affection, and droplets of water clung to her waterfall of black hair.

Moreover, and most importantly, she deliberately puffed out her chest. Beneath her form-fitting dress, the faint, cold mist gave her a partially obscured, ethereal aura.

Gao Neng had to admit, it was an incredibly seductive scene. The cunning of the Seventh Princess before him ran far deeper than he had imagined.

Instinctively, he felt his mouth go a little dry.

But reason told him...he absolutely could not trust the Seventh Princess. She had only one goal: to kill him.

"I am not willing!" Gao Neng shouted, instinctively taking a step back.

"But you proposed to me, didn’t you? Even if you were forced by your clan, you still came, no? Since you came and proposed to me, and I have now chosen you, you cannot refuse to marry me, correct?" The Seventh Princess continued to advance, her smile like a flower blooming in the cold pool.

"My heart already belongs to another! And... I’ve fallen in love with my own sister! Will you still marry me even after hearing that?" Gao Neng gritted his teeth. At a time like this, he couldn’t worry about anything else; he had to play the incest card.

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