I, the lazy prince, am the darling of the ladies of destiny.

At this moment, the huge banquet hall was silent for a moment, then suddenly erupted in chaos!

The top figures and prodigies from all sides turned their gazes to the figure that had suddenly appeared in mid-air, their eyes filled with a mixture of surprise, amusement, and mockery.

The engagement of the young master of the Lü family is imminent, and someone actually dares to disrupt it in public? This is going to be quite a show.

"Yunzhi! You can't marry him! I know you don't truly love him!"

Xiao Dong's figure soared into the air, his robes fluttering in the night wind.

He deliberately placed his figure in the light, just so that the white figure he longed for could clearly see him.

This move was certainly risky, but it was worth it for her!

"Who...who are you?! I don't know you at all!"

Yunzhi's cold voice rang out, seemingly calm, yet it faintly revealed a tremor that she was trying her best to suppress and... anger!

However, it was just these two simple sentences in response—

To the guests in the hall, this was tantamount to confirming a certain suspicion.

Many people immediately showed expressions of "I knew it" and "I understand" on their faces, exchanging meaningful glances with each other.

That's it! There must be some entanglement between these two!

I'm afraid it's not just a simple acquaintance; perhaps it's already... tsk tsk.

In an instant, hushed whispers, undisguised sneers, and sounds of shock and anger emanating from the direction of the Yun family rose and fell, buzzing incessantly.

At the head of the table, Lü Cangqiong continued to sip his tea with his eyes lowered, while Lü Yang's face remained ashen. All the core members of the Lü family remained calm, as if Xiao Dong, who was so aggressive in mid-air, was nothing more than an insignificant clown who didn't even deserve their attention.

This almost indifferent composure stood in stark contrast to the Yun family's shock, anger, and humiliation.

Xiao Dong seemed oblivious to everything around him. In his eyes, there were only the two of them at that moment.

One was Lü Xuan, a despicable man who relied on his family background and tried to steal away the love in his heart.

The other was Yunzhi, a girl he was willing to protect with his life, as bright as the moon in the sky.

He wanted to walk up to her, break all the shackles, and tell her in person: You are the woman I have chosen, and no one can force you to do anything you don't want to do!

His gaze, like a quenched sword, pierced fiercely at Lü Xuan, the hatred and fighting spirit surging within it almost tangible.

Meanwhile, Lü Xuan, locked in by this "death stare," was screaming inwardly:

System! System Daddy! Golden Finger Grandpa! Where are you?!

In the usual time-travel tropes, isn't this the standard opening scene where the system awakens, issues missions, and leads the villains to a counterattack and slap the protagonist in the face?!

Where's my cheat code?!

Just as Lü Xuan was racing through his thoughts and almost in despair, the plot unfolded like a wild horse, galloping headlong towards the familiar "original story."

When Xiao Dong's hateful gaze passed over Lü Xuan and landed on Yun Zhi, it instantly transformed into endless sorrow and tenderness.

His voice was hoarse, yet carried a resolute force:

"Yunzhi, I'm sorry... I'm late."

"Don't be afraid, today I've come to take you away!"

He abruptly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the ashen-faced members of the Yun family, and pointed at them one by one, sternly rebuking them:

"The prestigious Yun family, one of the four great families of the Northern Region, actually relies on sacrificing a woman's lifelong happiness to maintain its clan?! Do you... have even the slightest sense of shame?!"

"Rebellion! This is outrageous!" A furious shout rang out from the palace gate.

A young man dressed in fine clothes and with an arrogant face strode out.

He is a highly regarded member of the younger generation of the Lü family, ranked third, known as the Third Young Master Lü. He has a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level and is one of Lü Xuan's most loyal supporters.

He glared at Xiao Dong, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "A mere Qi Refining Level 10 dares to bark wildly in my Lü Family's sacred land, disrupting the Ancestor's birthday banquet and insulting the Crown Prince and his future wife!"

"If I don't tear you to pieces today, how can the Lü family save face?!"

According to the cultivation levels in this world: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation, Dao Foundation, and Dao Ancestor.

Apart from the ten levels of Qi cultivation, the remaining realms are divided into five stages: beginner, intermediate, advanced, peak, and great perfection.

According to the rules, the older generation should not easily take action against the younger generation.

At this moment, it is the responsibility of the younger generation of the Lü family to defend the family's reputation and to expel or even punish this arrogant person.

According to the original story, this loyal Third Young Master Lü was the first to jump out and attack Xiao, and also the first extra to be "overpowered" and end up in a miserable state.

After him, it was time for Lü Xuan, the "real protagonist," to suffer.

"Third brother! Wait!"

Lu Xuan jolted awake, almost leaping forward to grab Lu Sanshao's arm tightly, and urgently pleaded in a low voice, "Today is Grandfather's birthday, and guests from all directions are present. It would be very unlucky to draw blood!"

Why bother arguing with someone of unknown origin? It would only make you lose face.

Upon hearing his young master speak, Lu Sanshao, though still furious, abruptly stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on Xiao Dong with the fierce intensity of a wolf.

"Look! My young master is so well-mannered and has such extraordinary bearing!"

"Exactly, why bother arguing with such an arrogant peasant? It's beneath our dignity."

"I think this man is a toad trying to eat swan meat. He doesn't even look in the mirror. How dare he compare himself to Prince Lü?"

"Young Master Lü, why bother talking to him? Just give him a couplet to match!"

A chorus of agreement and praise immediately arose from the surrounding guests, but there was also no shortage of mockery and ridicule directed at Xiao Dong.

The classic formula of a "feel-good" novel is to use the words of passersby to build up the protagonist's anger, elevate the villain's status, and pave the way for the subsequent "face-slapping" moment.

However, listening to these words of praise and criticism, Lü Xuan was so cold that his inner clothes were almost soaked with sweat.

You bunch of troublemakers, why are you yelling so loudly?!

Could you please be a little more friendly?!

You guys feel good swearing, but I'm about to be thrown into the crematorium!

That Xiao has the Emperor Flame cultivated by the Burning Flame Ancestor in his hand. Even if he can only exert one percent of its strength, it can still burn us two Foundation Establishment stage noobs to death!

As expected, Xiao Dong's face instantly darkened to the point of being dripping with gloom as he listened to the harsh mockery coming from all around him.

Those gazes, like two icicles, were once again fixed on Lü Xuan.

It's all because of this hypocrite!

Relying on his family background, he pestered Yunzhi, which forced her into this predicament and made these sycophants dare to humiliate me like this!

A raging fire burned fiercely in Xiao Dong's chest.

Just then, a clear, crisp sound, like ice spring water striking jade, suddenly rang out. It wasn't loud, but its clarity completely overwhelmed the noise in the hall, spreading to every corner inside and outside the main hall:

"Xiao Dong—"

Dressed in white, Yunzhi slowly walked out of the side hall and stood under the bright lamplight.

The night breeze stirred her snow-white skirt and a few strands of dark hair. Her aloof and otherworldly face was expressionless, except for her eyes, which were astonishingly bright and chillingly cold, fixed on the figure in mid-air.

"Aren't you being a bit too nosy?"