Royal princess

Chapter 3: Preparations (1)

Lin, following Liuyue's instructions, drove to the clothing market. As soon as Liuyue got out of the car, she headed straight for the men's clothing section. Though Lin was puzzled, she followed Liuyue without question.

Liuyue entered a*****e, seemingly browsing casually through rows of exquisite men's clothing. She picked out a few pieces she liked, held them up to the mirror to check, and then handed them to Lin to carry. Lin was still in a daze—since when did her princess like wearing men's clothes?

Even after Liuyue finished shopping and paid for the clothes, Lin couldn't figure it out. Liuyue noticed Lin's confusion but chose not to explain.

At noon—

Liuyue and Lin stepped through the castle gates. "Boom!" Confetti cannons went off above Liuyue, covering her in glitter and streamers.

"Darling! How do you like the party Mommy prepared for you?" Liuyue's mother exclaimed, jumping out from behind a corner with excitement. But her voice trailed off when she met Liuyue's cold gaze. How could she forget her daughter’s aversion to messes?!

Oh no! She's going to be upset. Liuyue’s mother silently prayed for Liuyue not to get angry. Liuyue, expressionless, removed the streamers from her body and slightly smiled, "Thank you, Mommy." Then she went to her room to take a shower, wondering how many harmful chemicals were in that confetti.

Liuyue wasn’t angry!

Her mother felt neither joy nor disappointment. She just wanted to cheer Liuyue up a bit. After all, she hadn't fulfilled her duties as a mother for over a decade and felt guilty about it.

Wait, why was her daughter's hair so short?

Liuyue understood her mother’s intentions. After her shower, she joined her mother for a meal to make up for the celebration.

"Darling, why did you cut your hair? Long hair suits you!" her mother couldn't help but ask.

"I wanted a change," Liuyue replied succinctly, shutting down any further questions.

Her mother had no choice but to let it go, whatever made her daughter happy.

"Lin, we’re going to ‘Shengye’ tonight," Liuyue said.

"Understood."

After the meal, Liuyue went for a walk and took a short nap upon her return.

Shengye was Liuyue’s bar and a gathering place for Fog Moon Palace members, also serving as an intelligence collection hub.

Liuyue's room was predominantly blue and white, colors she found clear and relaxing.

In the afternoon—

"Darling, make the most of your time at the academy. Don't miss this chance. I’ve heard there are many handsome boys there! If you bring one home as a son-in-law..." Her mother continued talking despite Liuyue’s lack of interest.

Liuyue listened patiently, "I know."

Her mother finally stopped, her worry evident despite her silence. She feared her strong-willed daughter might never marry.

"I'm full." Liuyue, recognizing her mother’s concerns, excused herself.

Back in her room, Liuyue put on a binder and changed into men's clothes: a white vest, a denim jacket, slim-fit jeans, and black canvas shoes. She transformed into a strikingly handsome young man.

When Liuyue stepped out, Lin was momentarily stunned. Was this handsome guy really her princess?

Thirty minutes later—

"Y-your young master!" The doorman at Shengye was about to say "princess" when a sharp look from Liuyue made him quickly correct himself.

Liuyue walked to the bar, "One 'Ice Soul.'"

Ice Soul was a drink Liuyue had created, only available to her people. Outsiders didn’t even know it existed.

The bartender, another one of Liuyue’s trained pupils, quickly prepared the drink.

As Liuyue enjoyed her drink, a loud crash interrupted her. She frowned.

Following the sound, she saw a burly man causing a commotion.

"Don't you dare refuse my drink! Get out of here! This is my place!" the man shouted rudely, making Liuyue’s gaze turn cold.

"Should we call someone to handle this?" Lin asked worriedly.

"No need!" Liuyue stood up and walked toward the shouting man, her cold eyes fixed on him.

Feeling a chill behind him, the man turned to see Liuyue staring at him. He raised his hand to push her away, "What are you looking at, kid? Get lost!"

Lin sighed internally. Her highness was already in a bad mood, and now this fool was making it worse.

Liuyue sidestepped the push, took a step forward, and deftly threw the man to the floor, "Since when do you call the shots here? Hmm?"

Realizing Liuyue wasn’t to be trifled with, the man quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, young master. I drank too much." He tried to slip away just as two Shengye guards arrived.

"Young master!" They greeted Liuyue respectfully, "Do you need help?"

"Shengye isn’t a place for troublemakers. I don’t want to see this happen again," Liuyue said coldly, her eyes on the man.

"Understood!" The guards dragged the man out.

"Sorry for the trouble. Tonight’s drinks are on me," Liuyue told the six young men who had been harassed by the man.

Nangong Yunchen replied calmly, "It's alright."

With that, Liuyue walked away without another word.

"Is that Shengye’s young master? I've never seen him before!" Gu Xu wondered.

"Who is he, owning such a big place?" Xu Haokai was also curious.

"I heard Shengye’s young master is very mysterious. Why is he here today?" Lu Shaoming added.

"Didn’t expect to run into him," Liu Nuoyang remarked.

Xiao Shuo Xi felt it was no coincidence.

The six of them had come to Shengye to relax before school started the next day, not expecting to encounter trouble and meet the bar’s elusive young owner.