Aren’t You Going Too Far

"You think I wouldn't dare?" She spun around and stormed off.

"Princess!" Darren Xuan blocked her way. "I'm the one who came to apologize to Divine Lady Lucia."

"Apologize? Apologize for what?" Princess Quinn Xiao's expression turned sour.

Darren Xuan said, "The princess was out of line toward Divine Lady Lucia in the barracks today. As her fiancé, I've come to apologize on her behalf."

"W-what!" Princess Quinn Xiao was so furious she could've breathed fire. "You're apologizing to her on my behalf?"

"Princess, you really shouldn't have acted like that just now," Darren insisted.

"Darren! You've never said I was wrong before!" Quinn Xiao looked both angry and hurt. "Now, just because of Lucia Lu, you're saying I'm in the wrong?!"

Darren usually indulged her, but today, in front of Lucia Lu, he refused to back down.

He just said coolly, "Princess, throwing your half-eaten Immortal Flat Peach onto someone else's desk—is that right? Someone kindly brought you Immortal Flat Peaches, and you insulted them in public—is that right?"

"You!" Quinn Xiao was livid and actually raised her hand to slap Darren.

Darren Xuan didn't dodge; he just stood there quietly.

Lucia Lu frowned and grabbed her wrist. "Princess, aren't you going a bit too far?"

"Disciplining my own man has nothing to do with you! Get lost!" Quinn Xiao spat out a burst of fire, aiming straight for Lucia Lu's face.

"Ssshh!" A flash of blue light—fire instantly extinguished.

Henry Xiao appeared, furious. "Quinn Xiao! What do you think you're doing?"

"Fourth Brother! Didn't you see? Lucia Lu bullied me!" Quinn Xiao shook the wrist Lucia was still holding.

"Shut up! Like I don't know you?" Henry Xiao didn't buy it at all. "Father already knows what happened in the barracks and wants all of you to go!"

Quinn Xiao instantly lost her nerve; most of her bravado faded.

Lucia Lu let go of her and said to Henry Xiao, "Thank you, Fourth Highness!"

"Don't mention it!" Henry Xiao looked at her face. "Are you okay? Did the fire burn you just now?"

Lucia Lu shook her head.

"I'm sorry! I apologize for my sister's behavior," Henry Xiao said with a frown. "Actually, I wanted to stop her earlier, but Ian Yan beat me to it..."

Lucia Lu shook her head. "Let's go. We shouldn't keep His Majesty the Celestial Emperor waiting."

Henry Xiao nodded and led the group back to the barracks.

By now, everyone had already returned after a fifteen-minute break—only their group was missing.

His Majesty the Celestial Emperor stood at the front, quietly watching them.

Sean Shaw was still seated behind the teaching desk, his gaze landing on Henry Xiao and Lucia Lu as they entered together at the back.

Suddenly, everyone in the front row felt the temperature drop for no apparent reason.

Quinn Xiao glanced at His Majesty the Celestial Emperor, skipped the formal greeting, and headed straight for her seat.

"Quinn Xiao," the Celestial Emperor called out.

Quinn Xiao froze.

"Come to the front."

Quinn Xiao dragged herself forward, muttering reluctantly, "Father Emperor."

"I heard you just threw your Immortal Flat Peach at Divine Lady Lucia and said it tasted like chewed wood shavings?" the Celestial Emperor asked.

Quinn Xiao took a deep breath. "Yes."

"Are you acting so arrogantly just because you rely on Me?" His Majesty the Celestial Emperor's tone turned faintly dangerous.

Quinn Xiao still stiffened her neck and said, "That's how I really felt! Can't I say it? The Immortal Flat Peaches from the Lumina Realm just aren't tasty!"

His Majesty the Celestial Emperor took a deep breath and asked, "Have you memorized the Divine Guard Code?"

Quinn Xiao: "I have!"

"What's the first article?"

"Obey orders."

"What's the second article?"

Quinn Xiao paused, then answered, "Unity. No private fighting."

"So you still insist you did nothing wrong?"