"Yes, Grandfather."
Ye Yu responded straightforwardly.
"Back then, I had no background or status—only my skills and ideas."
"I wanted to enroll in a better soul master academy and receive a proper education. I felt that only the Crown Prince, open-minded and meritocratic, could give me that chance."
"So at the time, I entered the Royal Academy through His Highness's recommendation."
"If not for the Crown Prince's help, I might never have met Yan Yan."
Dugu Bo's expression turned complicated. He hesitated, lips parting, but in the end… said nothing.
After all, he owed Prince Xuexing his life.
Having sided with Prince Xuexing's faction, and after analyzing the situation under the Prince's guidance—
He had come to suspect that Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's identity wasn't quite right, very likely someone from Spirit Hall.
But that kind of speculation was extremely dangerous.
Sometimes, knowing too much was a curse.
After all, Spirit Hall was immensely powerful.
And looking at Xue Qinghe's current reputation and capability—
He was all but destined to inherit the throne after Emperor Xue Ye's eventual death.
At that point, what would become of Prince Xuexing and the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng?
Impossible to say.
If his granddaughter's fiancé, Ye Yu, was aligned with Xue Qinghe's side—
Then so be it.
If things ever went south in the future, perhaps Ye Yu could ensure that Dugu Yan survived unscathed.
It was, in a way, Dugu Bo's form of contingency planning.
Since Ye Yu returned in the evening, he didn't head out to search for a blacksmith to forge his refined iron spear.
Instead, he stayed at the Dugu Estate for the night to rest properly.
After all, during that half month at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he hadn't slept all that well.
The Next Morning
Ye Yu, along with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
On the way, Ye Lingling hesitated, her face slightly flustered.
"Ye Yu, my mother would like to invite you to our home as a guest..."
"If you're free sometime, could you visit us?"
Ye Yu was a little surprised.
"I actually have some things to do this afternoon, and I wasn't prepared."
"How about tomorrow? I'll come by then."
"Alright!"
Ye Lingling's delicate and serene face lit up with joy. Even her normally cool voice carried a rare trace of happiness.
After Ye Yu's dazzling display at the academy,
The moment he entered the Grade 3, Class 1 classroom of the Intermediate Division—
Almost all eyes that turned to him were filled with awe and reverence.
Ye Yu remained composed, calmly sitting beside Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, chatting casually.
Later in class, the homeroom teacher of Grade 3, Class 1 also noticed Ye Yu's return and was visibly surprised.
But with Ye Yu's talent and strength, he had long since been elevated to "Elite Special Student" status at the academy.
Elite students held special privileges.
As long as he didn't disrupt other students, the academy wouldn't interfere no matter what he did—
Even if he took a year-long leave of absence, no one would complain.
But once it was known Ye Yu had returned to the academy,
One of the teachers aligned with Qian Renxue quickly passed the news on to the Crown Prince's Mansion.
"Our little genius is finally back—let's go!"
At the Crown Prince's residence,
Qian Renxue's strikingly handsome, slightly androgynous face lit up with a smile.
She brought along a group of Royal Knights and palace guards, boarding a luxurious golden carriage adorned with the Heaven Dou Imperial Seal—
And headed straight for Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Arriving at the base of the mountain where the academy was located,
Qian Renxue instructed the driver and guards to wait below.
She then personally led her attendants up the mountain to the academy.
She had always held true respect for talent—no matter their origin.
Time quickly passed, and it was now noon.
After the morning session ended,
Ye Yu walked out of the classroom with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, ready to head back to their residence.
But just as they exited the classroom—
They heard a stir downstairs.
Voices—excited, buzzing—rose up from below.
"It's the Crown Prince! His Highness is here!"
"Why is the Crown Prince suddenly visiting the academy? Is he waiting for someone?"
"Seems like it!"
"The Crown Prince?"
Ye Yu blinked in surprise, heart filled with curiosity.
Recalling what Dugu Bo had told him yesterday…
Could Qian Renxue be here looking for me?
Descending the stairs with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling—
Ye Yu's suspicion was soon confirmed.
At the base of the building—
Clad in a regal golden robe, with short blond hair and refined, somewhat ethereal features,
"Xue Qinghe" stood silently in the shadows beside the school building, hands clasped behind his back.
Beside him stood a dozen heavily armored royal guards.
"Ye Yu—long time no see!"
Qian Renxue smiled as she stepped forward.
"I heard that since entering the Royal Academy, you've been focused on researching how to evolve the Blue Silver Grass spirit."
"Congratulations on your success."
"Do you have time this afternoon for a simple meal together?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
Though Ye Yu had planned to visit the forge to commission a refined iron spear, he couldn't very well reject a personal invitation.
He agreed.
Since Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were also heading back to the city,
They joined Ye Yu in Qian Renxue's carriage and returned together to Heaven Dou City.
After arriving,
Qian Renxue cordially invited Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling to join the meal as well.
But the two girls were far from naïve.
They knew clearly:
Qian Renxue had not come all this way just to share lunch.
There must be other matters she wanted to discuss with Ye Yu.
So, they wisely chose not to intrude.
After they got off the carriage and parted ways,
The luxurious carriage rolled on.
Inside its spacious and ornate interior—
Only Ye Yu and Qian Renxue remained.
Qian Renxue's sharp, elegant face took on a trace of guilt and sincerity as she spoke:
"Ye Yu… I owe you an apology."
"At first, I underestimated you."
"I assumed you were only talented in observation and invention—good at designing clever tools—but I never imagined your gift for martial spirit research was so extraordinary."
"Had I realized that earlier, and supported you properly, you might have discovered how to evolve the Blue Silver Grass much sooner."
"I almost missed out on someone as brilliant as you."
Now that Qian Renxue had truly recognized Ye Yu's value,
She understood one thing:
To win over a genius, one shouldn't rely on palace intrigue or manipulation—
But on respect, genuine sincerity, and the right support.
But before offering more benefits, she wanted to test Ye Yu's stance.
After all—
His future father-in-law, Dugu Bo, was aligned with Prince Xuexing.
"Your Highness, you flatter me."
Ye Yu smiled and responded calmly:
"Back then, my cultivation talent was indeed poor. My only skill was in invention."
"If I had approached anyone else—even after presenting the curved-plow design—"
"The likely outcome would've been indifference, or worse—someone stealing the blueprints, tossing a few spirit coins at me, or even driving me out."
"Only you, Your Highness, took me seriously."
"You not only met me personally—you also secured a noble title for me from the Emperor and arranged for my enrollment in the Royal Academy."
"I will never forget your kindness, Your Highness."
Looking at Qian Renxue in front of him, Ye Yu showed just the right amount of emotion.
In his tone—
There were only two words:
Grace. Gratitude.
Because Ye Yu was a man who always repaid kindness.
And besides... back in his previous life, his favorite cuisine had been—Cantonese food.