427: Deceiving Huang Rong

"Mmm, the flavor is good, no 'technological harsh additives'." Duan Zhengchun nodded.

"Huh? What 'technological harsh additives'? What is that?" Huang Rong looked at Duan Zhengchun with a confused expression.

"It's nothing, just things they add to improve texture and taste, but they are harmful to the body." Duan Zhengchun said with a smile.

Huang Rong seemed to partly understand, but she grasped the core problem.

Namely, there existed something that could enhance the flavor and texture of food, yet it was harmful to the body, though not immediately fatal.

"Your Highness, you must have lived quite well before, right? How could you have eaten such things?" Huang Rong looked at Duan Zhengchun with suspicion.

"No, it's not that. What if I told you I once had a very, very long dream, and everything I experienced in it felt as real as if I were there myself."

"In that dream, it was a very novel world, different from the Nine Provinces continent of today."

"That world was called the technological world. Even ordinary people could fly, traveling a thousand miles in a single day."

"Unfortunately, due to the development of technology, the environment was severely damaged. Although the lifespan of ordinary people was extended, they became more prone to illness."

"At first, I didn't know I was dreaming. It was only after an accident, being attacked and killed by a technological product from that world, that I woke up from the dream and realized it was all just a dream."

"However, that experience was deeply imprinted in my mind. It was from that moment I had a sudden awakening and resolved to no longer be a useless, profligate prince."

"That is how the person I am today came to be."

"It's equivalent to having the experiences of two lifetimes, so naturally, my cultivation progress is much faster than that of ordinary geniuses." Duan Zhengchun explained with a smile.

"Wow... Heavens, Your Highness, so such bizarre experiences really exist in this world!" Huang Rong looked at Duan Zhengchun with an expression of shock.

"So, is the reason you seem to know everything also because of this?"

"Clever girl, truly worthy of being called the 'female zhuge liang', the lovely Huang Rong." Duan Zhengchun laughed and playfully tapped Huang Rong's cute, upturned nose.

"Hmph... Of course. There are few problems in this world that stump me, well, except for matters of martial arts." Huang Rong wore a proud and haughty expression.

"Yes, yes, you're the best, even in cultivation, you're the best."

"You're still the first person who can Cultivate for a full day and night without resting." Duan Zhengchun looked at Huang Rong with a mischievous grin.

Hearing the implied meaning in Duan Zhengchun's words, Huang Rong's pretty face flushed red. She instinctively glanced around and, seeing people staring at her, felt even more bashful.

"Aiya, Your Highness, how can you say such things!"

"Haha... What? You can get shy too?" Duan Zhengchun couldn't help but laugh heartily.

"Hmph, I'm ignoring you." Huang Rong, feeling shy, turned and walked away.

Watching Huang Rong's coy demeanor, Duan Zhengchun felt the primordial power within him begin to stir restlessly.

Taking a deep breath, Duan Zhengchun suppressed the restlessness in his heart and followed her.

"Stop right there, where do you think you're escaping to..." Duan Zhengchun coldly shouted as he gave chase.

Hearing the commotion behind her, Huang Rong let out a startled cry and tried to flee, only to find a strong arm directly wrapping around her slender waist.

Their actions immediately drew pointing and whispering from the people around them. After all, in this era, social customs were still quite conservative.

After a woman married, she would typically not leave the inner quarters, staying home to care for her husband and children, rarely going out.

As for unmarried women, even if they went out, they would wear veils to prevent strangers from seeing their faces.

Of course, there are always exceptions. In any era, there will always be one or two who go against the grain.

Someone like Huang Rong wasn't entirely unheard of.

Although people were somewhat surprised, they weren't overly excited.

After all, the situation these past few days was somewhat special; many from the Martial Forest didn't have so many taboos and formalities.

The reason they were pointing and whispering was because Huang Rong was too beautiful, and Duan Zhengchun was too handsome, which truly shocked them.

"Damn, what a perfect golden boy and jade girl pair. Their looks, their figures, they're simply incredible."

"This is the first time I've seen such a beautiful woman."

"Wow... So handsome, that man is too handsome."

Listening to the surrounding chatter, Duan Zhengchun felt like a monkey in a zoo.

He didn't like being gawked at in such a situation. Immediately, his figure flickered and vanished, and Huang Rong disappeared along with him.

This sudden turn of events left all those who had been gossiping stunned.

Everyone did the same thing: they rubbed their eyes vigorously.

Looking several times, they confirmed that the two had indeed vanished.

"Holy shit, ghosts!..."

"Heavens, could we have really encountered ghosts?"

"It's possible. Otherwise, how could they be so beautiful?"

"Hmph, *you're* the ghosts. My male god is not a ghost."

"Tch, a bunch of ignoramuses. One of those two just now was an existence like a deity: Duan Zhengchun, the Reliant King of Dali, Prince Duan, an invincible presence in the Earth Immortal Realm."

"What's there to make such a fuss about? It's a good thing you didn't offend His Highness, otherwise, even if the Prince didn't take action himself, someone else would have dealt with you."

Duan Zhengchun had no interest in paying attention to these people's reactions.

After taking Huang Rong away, he arrived at the most luxurious inn in the Great Ming capital. The nearby inns were already packed to capacity.

Only a place like this still had vacant rooms, because the prices were so high that ordinary people couldn't afford to stay.

As soon as Duan Zhengchun and his companion walked in, they saw a richly dressed, portly man walking towards them.

"May I ask, is Your Excellency Prince Duan and the Princess Consort?" The plump man looked at Duan Zhengchun with an ingratiating smile.

"Hmm? You know this prince?" Duan Zhengchun raised an eyebrow, looking at the fat man.

"How would a humble servant have such luck? It's just that my Young Master provided me with a portrait of Your Highness."

"Moreover, he instructed me to prepare accommodations for Your Highness." The fat man said with a smile.

"Oh? Your Young Master? Is this establishment a property of the Hua Family?" Duan Zhengchun asked, raising an eyebrow at the fat man.

"That's correct, Your Highness. Please follow me." The fat man nodded.

"Then I'll trouble you." Duan Zhengchun didn't stand on ceremony and agreed with a nod.

Soon, under the fat man's guidance, they arrived at a luxurious estate.

"Your Highness, everything in this estate has been prepared. If you need anything, you can order the servants at any time." The fat man said to Duan Zhengchun with a smile, cupping his hands in salute.

"Thank you for the trouble. I'll mention it to Brother Hua later." Duan Zhengchun nodded.

"You are too kind, Your Highness. If there's nothing else, I won't disturb you further. Food will be delivered shortly."

"Does Your Highness have any dietary restrictions or special requests in this regard?" The fat man asked with a smile.

"The usual is fine, nothing else." Duan Zhengchun nodded.

"Very well, then I shall not disturb Your Highness further."

Having said that, the fat man turned and left.

Huang Rong looked at the vast estate before her, feeling quite emotional.

This was the convenience brought by status and strength. No matter where you went, there were special privileges.

"Your Highness, the Hua Family you mentioned, is that the Jiangnan Hua Family, the wealthiest family in the Great Ming?" Huang Rong asked Duan Zhengchun curiously.

"Yes, that's the one. Only the Hua Family could accomplish something like this within the Great Ming." Duan Zhengchun nodded.