"Barely Becoming a Titled Douluo, and the Counterattack System Arrives

After watching Qian Renxue depart, Tang Yuehua praised her to Lin Fan: "What do you think of Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Tian Dou Empire? He's courteous, gentle, and doesn't put on airs with commoners. If he ascends the throne, he'll be a wise ruler."

Yuehua, too, had been deceived by Qian Renxue's outward charm.

"Fan Ge, you see everything—do you think he'll become emperor?" Yuehua, aware of Lin Fan's gift, asked.

"He matters in the past, not the present or future," Lin Fan replied coolly.

"Again with riddles. Honestly, if he becomes emperor, would he be wise?" Yuehua pressed.

"If he becomes emperor, given his nature, he'd be a competent leader—hardly a 'wise' one," Lin Fan answered earnestly.

"Your standards are high," Yuehua sighed.

Lin Fan smiled quietly, not responding further. Across five millennia and over two hundred emperors he'd known, he found none of Douluo Continent's rulers truly bore a genuine imperial bearing.

Back at her residence, Qian Renxue sat in her hall, deep in thought. She'd realized probing Lin Fan in front of Tang Yuehua risked revealing her own identity as the emperor's daughter. The fewer who knew, the better.

"Why don't we invite him again—pretend it's from the crown prince?" she mused.

"Two days later, invite him to Tian Dou Restaurant," she told Snake Spear and Stegosaurus.

After winning the first invitation? Rejected. The second invite? Rejected again. Third? Still no answer. Frustrated, Stegosaurus suggested in anger: "Why don't we just kill him tonight?" But Snake Spear reasoned his prophecy might save him, and revealing themselves now would risk their cover.

"Make the fourth invitation," Qian Renxue insisted.

Meanwhile, Lin Fan had told Yuehua, "If he invites me again, I'll go with your permission."

Two days later, the fourth invitation came. Lin Fan chuckled: "She's persistent. Fine, I'll go—tell the prince I'll arrive at five this afternoon."

Snake Spear hurried to inform Qian Renxue. When he delivered the news, she was astonished and delighted.

"Good—there are three hours. Book the table."

Stegosaurus sneered: "He must have sensed my murderous intent and acted wisely."

That afternoon, Lin Fan told Yuehua his plan, left Yuexuan Tower, and headed to Tian Dou Restaurant, located in the heart of the city. As he arrived, Snake Spear—now acting as escort—greeted him formally:

"Welcome, Master Lin. The crown prince has been awaiting you."

"Lead the way," Lin Fan answered calmly.