With the carriage speeding along, they were soon back on the road to the Soaring Phoenix Realm. It wasn't long before they received big news.
Crown Prince Jude Song of the Soaring Phoenix Realm was holding a grand Imperial Bride Selection. Any unmarried girl aged sixteen to twenty-three could participate.
So all along the way, you could see carriages carrying girls toward Draken City. Clearly, tons of them were super excited for the selection.
On the road, not only were there loads of girls rushing to Draken City for the first round interviews—even commoners tagged along for the fun. For the Soaring Phoenix Realm, which hadn't held a selection in over twenty years, this was a huge deal.
Ivy Shen sat in the carriage without saying a word. The others were confused, but no one dared to speak up.
After a while—
Ivy suddenly looked at them seriously and said, "From now on, you have to remember every word I say."
Everyone turned to her, surprised by her sudden seriousness, and couldn't help but sit up straight and listen carefully.
"Once we get to Draken City, you all have to split up. You can go home, or if you don't want to, just find separate inns. Don't meet up unless you have to—after all, that's Jude Song's turf, and I don't want you guys drawing attention." Ivy said this very seriously. She knew that if these handsome men stayed together, they'd stand out anywhere, so splitting up was the safest bet.
Of course, she also knew that getting them to actually go home was harder than climbing to the heavens!
"What about you? Where will you stay?" Caleb Miles couldn't help asking the question everyone wanted to know. After he spoke, all eyes turned to Eli Crane—he figured she'd want to stick with Little Seven, right?!
"I'm splitting up from you guys!" Ivy said, leaving everyone stunned.
"Split up? Where are you going?" Everyone anxiously asked. After finally reuniting, why split up again?
Seeing this, Ivy glanced at them and calmly said, "I'm joining the Imperial Bride Selection!"
"What?!" The whole group shouted in shock, so loud that Charlie Qiao driving the carriage and Aiden Chen beside him both froze. They exchanged a look—what the heck just happened?!
"What did you just say?!" Ethan Chu asked again, stunned. The others stared at her, and even Eli Crane was totally shocked.
"I'm joining the selection. I'm going into the palace!" Ivy repeated calmly, not nearly as worked up as the rest of them.
"Why?! Don't you know Jude Song has always wanted you dead? How can you risk this?!" Caleb Miles said anxiously. Plus, that guy has Lady Silver with him...
Thinking of Lady Silver brought back memories of the cliff scene. Instantly, Caleb's heart ached—he never wanted to see anything like that again!
"Ivy, do you even know how evil Jude Song is? How can you walk right into the tiger's den?" Ethan Chu tried again to talk her out of it.
"Yeah, Ivy, we won't make a fuss or argue anymore—just please, don't go, okay?" Butterfly Rogue pleaded, eyes full of deep worry.
Sitting next to her, Eli Crane didn't say anything, but his hand gripped hers tightly. He was just as worried as the others.
Seeing this, Ivy smiled and said, "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how will you catch the tiger? Of course, the 'tiger cub' isn't a snake egg this time—it's a very important person." She thought about mentioning her sister, but held back—not because she didn't trust them, but because she knew they'd worry even more.
That piece—the sister—was absolutely crucial, and Jude Song was sure to keep a close watch. It would be hard for anyone else to get near. If she told them, they'd realize how desperate she was to see her sister, and they'd never agree to let her go.
"Who? You have someone important in the palace?" Everyone asked at once.
Ivy just smiled and said, "Of course. My mother used to live in the palace, so I want to see her old quarters—maybe there are some keepsakes. Plus, Jude Song has never seen my real face, so he won't suspect me. I need to earn his trust to find out his next move!" As she finished, her eyes flashed sharp—Jude Song, Wendy Cao, we'll be meeting soon!
Earn his trust? Ivy, don't you know Jude Song is a total pervert? If he sees you looking this beautiful, he’ll..." Ethan Chu said, clearly conflicted.
"Exactly! Ivy, you're so gorgeous—we're really worried. Jude Song is bad news, we're scared for you." Butterfly Rogue added again.
Ivy nodded, reassuring them: "You think a cripple could really do anything to me? I'm not a three-year-old—I know my limits."
"So when you see him, are you just going to kill him?" Butterfly Rogue asked worriedly—he really didn't like the Crown Prince, especially after what almost happened to them all!
Are you dumb? Ivy can't just go into the palace and kill him. If she did, all those guards would..." Ethan Chu started to say, but trailed off. The smart ones got his meaning.
The palace is insanely well guarded. They'd be super careful, and with Ivy alone in such a dangerous place—even if she's a martial arts genius—could one person really fight off thousands?
"Do you really have to go?" Eli Crane suddenly asked in a quiet voice, but there was deep worry behind it.
"Yes, I have to. Now that your legs are healed, I can relax. This is the perfect chance to get into the palace—I can't miss it." Ivy looked at Eli Crane seriously, knowing someone inside had been waiting for her a long, long time. She had to go, to give them hope.
"Fine, if you really have to go, then I'll go with you!" Eli Crane suddenly declared.
"Yeah, we'll go with you too!" The other three quickly chimed in.
Go with me? How exactly? Are you planning to join the selection too?" Ivy laughed.
"Why not? I can dress up as a woman!" Butterfly Rogue said quickly.
Oh, please. Do you think the palace staff are idiots? They check everyone—how would you pass? Unless you want to be eunuchs?' She shot them a look. 'If you want to be eunuchs, I don't mind!
"Ivy!" the group grumbled. Seriously, who has time to joke around right now?
Enough, you guys—wipe those dead-fish faces off! Who am I? I’m basically a goddess! Even falling from that height didn’t kill me—great calamity, great fortune! Stop worrying. Butterfly Rogue, since your qinggong is so good, help me notify Adrian Night and Lucian Vane. Tell them not to run around searching for me—I’m safe, just on a mission.' She squinted at Butterfly Rogue. 'If you snitch and tell them I went to the palace, then you…
"What?" Butterfly Rogue swallowed nervously, seeing her sharp glare.
"You’ll have no hope left!"
"I swear I won’t say a word."
Eli, you and Aiden Chen go find Qingyan. He’s as simple and kind as you, so you’ll get along. They’ve never met you, so they won’t suspect anything.' The selection is urgent—she had to settle everyone quickly!
"Okay!" Eli Crane agreed out loud, but no one knew he already had a plan—he’d promised to protect her, no matter what!
You three, be extra careful—especially you, Ethan Chu. You’re the Emperor of Chu, so showing up here will definitely attract attention.
Ethan froze, then laughed. "Got it!" Emperor, right—he’d almost forgotten his own status. Now he had a legit reason to enter the palace. Ivy, we’ll meet again soon!
"Alright, since we’re agreed, you all have to take care of yourselves, okay?" Right now, she didn’t want any of them getting hurt.
"Ivy..." Eli Crane was choked up—he had so much to say, but couldn’t get the words out.
Ivy glanced at him, then at the other three worried men, and smiled. "Relax, I’ll be fine!" She took a deep breath. Jude Song, we’re about to meet for the first time—are you ready?