The little princess screamed in despair in her heart, but Zhu Xiaxia had already returned to the Imperial Palace and even closed the main gates.
There was no way she could hear her.
“I… I’m sorry, Grandpa Nidege. I’m sorry!”
Zhu Qiu quickly lowered her head and apologized, hoping this male dragon would spare her.
Hearing the princess’s apology, Nidege’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly, and the Dragon Horn Fire gradually faded away.
“Very well. I did not come here to make things difficult for the Princess. First, let me ask: how long has the Princess been at the Imperial Palace?”
‘How long?’
‘Is he asking for my age?’
‘But if he’s asking for my age, why didn’t he just ask how old I am?’
‘Or could it be…?’
‘He knows my previous identity as the Human Sword Saint!’
‘That’s impossible. No one knows about that… except for Zhu Xiaxia.’
‘Zhu Xiaxia knows. She wouldn’t have sold me out, would she?’
‘If he really found out, I’m a goner. This male dragon just used Instantaneous Movement to appear right in front of me. He must be incredibly powerful.’
‘No, I have to find a way out of this.’
To test Nidege, Zhu Qiu came up with a strategy.
“Is Grandpa Nidege asking for my age?”
“Naturally.”
“It seemed so.”
As long as she didn’t reveal her true age and instead gave the number of days she had spent in the Dragon Race Imperial Palace, she could lie and perfectly avoid exposing her identity.
‘I’m a genius!’
In reality, however, it was useless.
Only Zhu Qiu thought a lie could cover up the truth.
Nidege had never even heard of the Human Sword Saint, nor had he ever questioned the Princess’s identity.
He was simply testing her potential because he saw she could already perform a Human Transformation.
‘Wait, how many days have I been here?’
Zhu Qiu suddenly thought of this problem and scratched her head.
“It seemed like…”
“Less than ten days?”
The moment the words “less than ten days” left her mouth, the dragons below the stage broke into an uproar once again.
“Ah, did you hear that? The Princess’s age is in the single digits, and the unit is days!”
“So it’s only been a few days. No wonder some of her etiquette isn’t quite right.”
“You can’t say that. To learn even a portion of the etiquette in just a few days is excellent. For example, her walking posture — that’s quite a rare feat.”
“No, don’t you all think it’s perfectly normal for a Princess who was born only a few days ago to have learned nothing at all?”
“Wow! The Princess was just born and can already maintain a Human Transformation. Her future potential is limitless!”
The number ten was indeed ridiculous.
The usually calm and dignified Nidege widened his eyes, looking at the not-so-bright Princess in front of him with astonishment.
“Less than ten days? Is the Princess joking?”
Nidege expressed his doubt.
How could any dragon achieve Human Transformation in just ten days?
“Of course. If you don’t believe me, go ask the Queen. She knows everything.”
Seeing everyone’s shocked expressions, a mysterious sense of confidence welled up within Zhu Qiu.
‘Hmph! Does my age of less than ten days scare you? That’s what you get for asking me.’
Since they were at the Dragon Race Imperial Palace, Nidege maintained proper politeness and did not go to question Her Majesty the Queen, even though doubt remained in his heart.
But if that was the case, then he was the one who had lost face!
She had been born less than a few days ago and could already transform into human form; that in itself was a great miracle in the history of the Dragon Race.
Moreover, he had just demanded that the Princess maintain her manners, but at that age, how could there be so many requirements?
The dragons had seen his actions earlier.
If he wanted a way to save face, he had to apologize.
“I apologize, Princess. I was unaware of your age and should not have offended you.”
Nidege took the initiative to apologize to Zhu Qiu.
He truly hadn’t expected that after all his years of great achievements, he would stumble over the age of a Princess who had only been born a few days ago.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. If there are no more questions, I’ll be heading back now.”
As she spoke, Zhu Qiu waved her hand.
At that moment, the gates opened.
“Time to slip away!”
Zhu Qiu quickly vanished from everyone’s sight.
The other dragons soon dispersed as well, transforming into their dragon forms and flying away to their own homes.
Only Nidege walked down the stairs step by step, still brooding over the Princess.
‘The Princess said she was only born a few days ago. That sounds fake, doesn’t it?’
‘But then she said I could ask the Queen if I didn’t believe her, which didn’t seem like a lie.’
If it were true, Nidege had to make preparations in advance.
The earlier a dragon could transform into human form, the stronger their potential.
For the Princess to achieve in a few days what other dragons took 100 years to do was unprecedented.
Her potential was infinite.
Once she developed, she would surely become a dragon even stronger than the current Queen.
If that happened… his daughter’s position might be in danger.
Nidege thought for a moment and reached a certain conclusion.
‘Then that’s what I’ll do…’
Nidege transformed into his dragon form and flew away from the Dragon Race Imperial Palace with a satisfied air.
Inside the Dragon Race Imperial Palace, Zhu Qiu jumped up and hugged Xiaguang, rubbing against her.
“Eeee— Xiaguang, you’re still the best. You knew I was embarrassed and opened the door for me. Unlike a certain Xiaxia, who purposely closed the door and left me to be bullied by an old man.”
Xiaguang had entered through the back door of the Imperial Palace while Zhu Xiaxia and Zhu Qiu were outside.
At this moment, she was haggard and drowsy, finding it difficult even to stand.
“Princess, I am a bit tired and would like to go rest.”
Xiaguang had flown day and night in her dragon form for so many days that she was nearly burnt out.
As for why she hadn’t returned sooner…
By the time she thought she had finished the notifications and was almost back at the Imperial Palace, three days had passed.
Then, she suddenly remembered there was still a tiny dragon city in the Northwest Corner.
There was nothing for it. Desperate, Xiaguang could only drag her exhausted body and continue flying.
As Zhu Xiaxia’s exclusive maid, she had to return immediately upon completing her mission and could not wander outside.
Thus, she had no time to rest and returned to the palace the moment the notifications were finished.
“My dear daughter, Xiaguang is tired. Let her get some proper rest. How about Mother gives you a hug?”
Zhu Qiu climbed down from Xiaguang and tilted her small head away.
“Hmph! Zhu Xiaxia is just a big bad dragon who only wants to see me make a fool of myself. I don’t want your hug.”
“How could that be? Mother just accidentally forgot.”
“Hmph!”
Zhu Qiu refused to accept Zhu Xiaxia’s explanation.
The “I forgot” excuse was far too uncreative.
“Good daughter, did you hear any suggestions from our fellow dragons outside just now?”
“Suggestions? None of those. Hehehe…”
A smile appeared on Zhu Qiu’s face.
The way she had made Nidege suffer and look shocked just now was simply too satisfying.
That served him right for making things difficult for her.
“None? But Mother heard some.”
“Huh? What did you hear?”
“Mother heard them say that my daughter’s Etiquette isn’t being learned very well. I think we should intensify your training.”
“No! I’ve already finished your lessons. You’re not allowed to use pinching my tail as a threat anymore.”
At that moment, a faint smile curled at the corner of Zhu Xiaxia’s mouth.
“Then Mother will invite a new teacher over in a few days.”
“!”