Chapter Four: Yu Lan Confronts Louisa, with Su Xingye’s Arrival

Although she could not tell whether Louisa’s suggestion was truly well-intentioned or deliberately malicious, Yu Lan could never agree to such a proposal. Furthermore, Su Xingye was already recovered; he had absolutely no need for Louisa’s assistance.

Before Yu Lan could speak the truth, she saw Louisa knit her brows, looking at her with a hint of disapproval, as if Yu Lan were being incredibly unreasonable.

"Lanlan, do you still have reservations? Major General Xingye’s condition cannot afford any delay."

Louisa’s aggressive approach made it clear that she had been well-prepared for Yu Lan’s refusal. Yu Lan caught a glimpse of a triumphant curve on the corner of Louisa’s mouth. The next second, a woman standing beside her suddenly dropped to her knees and began kowtowing to Yu Lan with heavy, rhythmic thuds.

"Princess, I beg you, please spare my son. You possess no healing power; Xingye will die! There are so many male beasts on the capital planet—why must you insist on clinging to my son? Please, let him go and let Princess Louisa provide him with psychic soothing."

The words of truth Yu Lan was about to utter—that Su Xingye was already well—were effectively choked back. She had not expected that Louisa would even bring Su Xingye’s mother along. She could not allow an elder to kneel before her, especially not over a matter like this. Feeling deeply uncomfortable, Yu Lan hurriedly reached out to help the woman up.

"Madam, please, get up. Major General Su is already fine."

Yu Lan was telling the truth, but the more truthful her words were, the more terrifying they sounded in that moment. Everyone knew that Yu Lan was a useless female with no healing power, someone who had even gone so far as to purchase stimulants on the black market to induce Su Xingye into a rut. How could a man like Su Xingye, a prideful elite who would rather die than live in humiliation, ever willingly accept such a person? Therefore, it was obvious to everyone that Yu Lan was lying.

At once, the wailing from Su Xingye’s mother grew louder. Her forehead struck the ground repeatedly, soon staining the floor with blood. "I beg you, Princess, spare my son. Please, let Xingye go; he is still young, only twenty years old."

It was a scene of overflowing maternal love that would break the heart of any onlooker. The reporters from the Interstellar Daily, brought by Louisa, were already snapping photos frantically. Several sympathetic and hot-blooded reporters began to discuss the situation with righteous indignation.

"Hmph, I think this Princess Yu Lan who was brought back is far inferior to Princess Louisa."

"Even though females have always held a high status and are respected wherever they go, this is the first time I’ve seen such an detestable female. She’s simply unworthy of being a female."

"Exactly! Can a female who lacks healing powers and cannot soothe a male even be called a female?"

"If not for her status, what capability does she have to be engaged to Major General Xingye? Clearly, Princess Louisa is a much better match."

Louisa, being hailed by the crowd, let her gaze flicker with a subtle glint. No one knew that the soothing agent in Yu Lan’s hand was fake; this was a trap she had set herself. Thus, even if Yu Lan had a change of heart and gave the agent to Su Xingye, it would be useless. Only if she personally performed the soothing could Su Xingye wake up. She intended to snatch away every male around Yu Lan, one by one.

Ambition flashed in Louisa’s eyes as she locked gazes with Yu Lan, a hidden provocation in her stare. "Lanlan, I know you love Major General Xingye. I won’t fight you for him; I have no designs on him. Otherwise, after all these years, he and I would have already been together, and not..."

Louisa paused, and everyone understood exactly what she left unsaid. A reporter in the crowd immediately seized the opportunity to chime in: "If Princess Louisa had any interest in Major General Xingye, they would surely have been together long ago. Why would they have waited for Princess Yu Lan to be found?"

"Just because Princess Yu Lan isn’t liked by males, does she think all females are like her?"

As the reporter finished, a burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Louisa frowned just enough, pressing her hands down to calm them. "Everyone, please don’t say that about Lanlan. I believe Lanlan knows she was wrong this time, right? Let me go in and soothe Major General Xingye first. Lanlan, I truly won’t fight you for him."

Louisa offered her assurance to Yu Lan again, but with her back to the reporters, her eyes flashed with pure defiance. She silently mouthed the final two words: *Like hell!* She intended to steal Su Xingye from Yu Lan, and nothing less.

If it had been the original owner of this body, she might have lost her temper and started a fight with Louisa in front of the reporters. But Yu Lan would not. Knowing that Su Xingye was already healed, she folded her arms across her chest. A look of stubborn, unyielding defiance appeared on her pretty face as she emphasized once more:

"I have already said it: Su Xingye is fine now and does not need your help."

Since she wanted to act, then let the storm be even more violent. Although Yu Lan did not know where Louisa got the confidence that Su Xingye was in dire need of her soothing, she did not mind playing along with Louisa’s trap. When the situation reached its peak, she would call out a healthy, fully recovered Su Xingye. The look of shock and disbelief on the faces of those present would surely be a sight to behold.

Thinking of this, Yu Lan lifted her delicate, fair chin, wearing a look of slight smugness. Standing behind her, Huo Zhanting’s golden eyes flickered as he watched her.

As expected, Louisa took Yu Lan’s smugness for a bluff, a desperate attempt to appear confident. Thinking of the limited time Su Xingye had left under the influence of the stimulants, a rare trace of anxiety appeared on Louisa’s face. She could not resist reaching out to push Yu Lan aside to reach the villa’s backyard, all while continuing to occupy the moral high ground and lecturing her.

"Lanlan, you have truly disappointed me. I thought I could reason with you. I never imagined you would be such a selfish person. Major General Xingye has fought for the Empire, defended against the erosion of the Dark Planets, and earned glorious merits. I will never allow myself to watch him turn into a beast right before my eyes because of your trivial emotions. I am going to save him."

As she spoke, Louisa held her head high, like a victorious swan, her face seemingly glowing with a saintly light.

Just then, as the crowd cheered for Louisa pushing past Yu Lan’s blockade, the front door of the villa opened from within, and a familiar face appeared before them all.