Gui Qinshao pretended not to hear anything.
"Miss, Young Master Ling Ao is waiting right outside the gate," said the maid outside.
"What’s that, just let him wait," Gui Qingshao pursed her lips.
Turing Duo laughed, "Cousin, Ling Ao has been so popular recently that he’s turned purple with success. Careful, or some other woman might snatch him away."
Gui Qinshao said pridefully and disdainfully, "Let them snatch him away. Who cares?"
She had been completely engulfed by darkness and pain after being rescued from Chaos Stone Island by her father, as if she became a different person.
However, since her memories of the latter half were erased in the Dragon Temple, it was as if she came back to life in an instant.
The proud, haughty Gui Qinshao was back in full force because the memories of her being weak, coveting life and fearing death, were all gone. She had her foundation for arrogance restored.
As for the memory of being tortured and violated by Suo Lun, it hardly seemed to leave any deep scars on her. In her view, for any man to marry her, to be graced by her charm, was a great honor and a gift.
As for her lost chastity, what of it? Hadn’t a female magician already restored it?
Seeing Gui Qinshao’s undisguised pride and her beauty that could make even women jealous, what arose in Turing Duo’s heart was not disdain but envy.
It was great to be a girl like Gui Qinshao, who could afford to be capricious and superficial without having to bear the burden of revitalizing her family like she did.
Though the Turing Clan was the number one military family in the Rage Wave Kingdom, greatly surpassing the Gui Family Clan in prominence, only Turing Duo knew the precarious nature of her family’s standing. Without progress, it was regress – a couple of unsuccessful generations could turn them into decadent nobles living off their past glory, utterly powerless.
The Gui Clan, in contrast, was always a house of lords. As long as Rage Wave Kingdom stood and they did not suffer the unfortunate fate of the Suo Family, blocking the kingdom’s strategies, even raising several generations of incompetents wouldn’t matter; their wealth and honor would never be lost.
"Xiao Duo, I heard Suo Lun has returned," Gui Qinshao inquired.
"Hmm," Turing Duo replied, "He came back with more than ten thousand troops."
As she spoke, her tone was very calm, but her heart was tight, and the scar on her chest felt as if it was aching faintly.
Twice, she had been defeated by Suo Lun, each time nearly costing her her life.
Because of her brother Turing Chen’s special relationship with Yan Nai’er, Turing Duo had been sent to Tianye City to carry out the mission.
It was her first solo mission. Although she had been sure of victory, she failed at the last moment, allowing Suo Lun to escape and even gain more than ten thousand troops.
Although her father said nothing, Turing Duo saw disappointment in his eyes.
Her failure had brought significant losses to Prince Zili. To make up for the loss, an enormous price had to be paid.
And so, Turing Duo was now temporarily resting at home, set aside. The task of dealing with Suo Lun had once again been handed over to Commandery Princess Zhining.
"Alright, let him in. We wouldn’t want him to make a spectacle at the front gate," Gui Qinshao said.
A moment later, Ling Ao appeared before Turing Duo and Gui Qinshao, clad in brand-new armor, his martial presence commanding.
Turing Duo glanced at Ling Ao. This man’s appearance was truly one in a million, no less exceptional than Suo Lun’s. While Suo Lun’s beauty was more delicate, the man before her exuded sheer masculinity.
Indeed, Turing Duo and Ling Ao had a kind of fate between them.
It was about two years ago when her father, Turing Tuo, suddenly asked her what she thought of Ling Ao.
At that time, in the Royal City Academy, Ling Ao was already showing signs of being number one. Once her father asked, Turing Duo knew the implication.
After a slight hesitation, she nodded and said, "Not bad."
She knew that this "not bad" might very well determine her entire future.
Because the Turing Clan needed new blood. Among her generation, apart from Turing Chen, her brothers were not particularly outstanding. Therefore, Turing Tuo had always hoped to find an exceptional son-in-law to strengthen and enlarge the Turing Clan’s influence.
Afterward, Turing Tuo spoke vaguely with Gui Xingfu about this matter. Since Ling Ao was essentially Gui Xingfu’s adopted son, much like the relationship between Suo Hanyi and Suo Long, Ling Ao even seemed to have a more secretive origin.
However, Gui Xingfu claimed that he had plans to keep Ling Ao as his son-in-law and therefore had not given him the status of an adopted son.
Consequently, Turing Tuo’s plan came to nothing.
In this graduation examination at the Royal City Academy, Turing Duo had seen Ling Ao’s results. His martial arts skills were above her own, even potentially surpassing those of Suo Hanyi from years before.
And in strategy, tactics, he was proficient in them all.
He majored in Knight Martial Arts, but what won him first place in the competition among five countries was his Sword Dao.
Thus, Ling Ao was arguably the most outstanding talent in the Royal City Academy in over a decade.
Upon entering, Ling Ao nodded in greeting to Turing Duo, then said to Gui Qinshao, "Qin Shao, come with me for a moment."
Having said that, he then headed straight outside.
Ling Ao led Gui Qinshao to the top of Lingjue Tower, which was almost the highest point in the royal city.
"I don’t like you living in the Turing Clan’s house," Ling Ao said.
"Why?" Gui Qinshao asked. "No matter where I am, I’m treated like the lady of the house. Even at the Turing Clan, my status isn’t less than Turing Duo’s."
Ling Ao didn’t explain but simply said, "I have become the attendant of Prince Zili, and everyone thinks I’m riding high, but I don’t like it at all. I want to join the army, or go to Heibing Mansion."