"Who is most likely to win this year?" Prince Heng savored the fragrant spirit wine and asked leisurely.

"Your Highness." The supervisor bowed and replied, "This year’s Big Appetite Competition has several closely matched seed contenders. There is the renowned Celestial Pride from within the Fang Family of the Cangxiong Guard—Fang Yaowu. This young man has exceptional talent and has been cultivating the military’s horizontal-refining War Body type Profound Martial Technique [Cyan Bear Mountain Shaking Technique] since childhood. His body is as strong as a bear, and his appetite is astonishing."

The Thirty-Six Guards of Gui Long City are all named after various ancient divine beasts and stationed by different military families to guard the city, serving as the first line of defense for the capital city.

"I’ve heard about that kid Fang Yaowu. Recently, he’s been gaining fame in the military and is praised as one of the top ten young Celestial Prides in the military." Prince Heng admired him greatly but lamented, "It’s a pity he’s from a military background, expected to directly serve Your Majesty, and it would be taboo for us royal relatives to associate with him."

"There is also another contender from our Gui Long City, the young Purple Mansion species from the Shangguan Family of the Fourth-Grade Noble Family—Shangguan Yunhong. This young man has naturally awakened a devouring bloodline and has fine-tuned the Shangguan Family’s own War Body cultivation technique [Dragon Elephant Infinite Technique]. The Dragon Elephant Battle Body is now at a minor achievement, earning him a spot as one of Gui Long City’s ’Top Ten Outstanding Youths Under 100’." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The butler began introducing another candidate.

"The Shangguan Family has been quite talented these recent years." Prince Heng smiled and praised, "Gui Long City’s top ten outstanding youth always maintains a position. The previous generation’s Shangguan Yunque was ranked third as a Great Celestial Pride, offering hope for the Shangguan Family’s future ascent to the Third Grade."

"The future of the Shangguan Family is indeed promising." The butler said with a smile, "Various forces have already started vying to attract the Shangguan Family. It is said that even Prince Kang, who is favored among the quasi-crown prince candidates, has frequently shown goodwill towards the Shangguan Family."

"Wu Chengsi?" Prince Heng sneered disdainfully, "That kid is not diligent in his duties but is quite adept at making connections."

Among the royal relatives, many members strongly support Prince Kang.

However, there is also a group that harbors resentment towards Prince Kang. Prince Heng is one of them, even making his dissatisfaction public on several occasions.

"Your Highness..." The butler’s forehead was beaded with sweat, trying to advise, "Nowadays, that individual is quite influential, very likely to become the future Great Emperor. In private..."

"Am I afraid of a mere junior?" Prince Heng scoffed, "No matter what, I, Wu Hanheng, am his tribal elder. Not to mention he hasn’t become the Great Emperor yet; even if he did, as an elder, I can’t criticize him?"

Most of the royal race, due to their noble origins, are typically straightforward and prefer honesty over flattery.

"Your Highness is right."

The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead, daring not to argue with the prince.

"By the way, I remember a girl named ’Shangguan Bilian’ from the Shangguan Family, who also had a straightforward personality and once made quite a stir at my White Cloud Tower when she was young. Quite an interesting girl." Prince Heng, thinking of Shangguan Bilian from the Shangguan Family, asked, "She should be married by now? To which family did she marry?"

"Your Highness, the old servant does remember this. It was seventy or eighty years ago, and it stirred quite a sensation within the capital and even within the Shangguan Family." The butler, excitedly discussing gossip, said, "Back then, many families in the capital wanted to marry Miss Shangguan. Ancestor Shangguan indulged her, letting her choose herself. In the end, she chose a Sixth-Grade Noble Family from the countryside whose Ancestor of the Purple Mansion had just passed away..."

"She has personality." Prince Heng laughed admiringly, "No wonder her temperament made quite an impression on me. But doing so, the Shangguan Family’s reputation could have been tarnished."

"Indeed." The butler laughed, "It’s a pity, after Ancestor Shangguan’s decision, they couldn’t change her mind after private discussions and could only let her marry. Several noble young masters in the capital became a laughingstock, losing out to a small countryside family. This matter took over a decade to calm down."

"Interesting, interesting. When she returns to the capital to visit her family, have her come see me." Prince Heng, with a carefree personality, sighed again before the butler could respond, "It’s just Ci’er, that little girl hasn’t been seen for years. Only heard she’s gone with that old Yunyang to the Immortal Dynasty for free meals. Seeing her might take indefinite time."

Prince Heng lived long enough to have met many people in his lifetime, but only Wang Lici left the deepest impression on him.

Especially!

Those five years she spent at White Cloud Tower eating and drinking freely nearly bankrupted the place, leaving an unforgettable impression.

Because of this, although he really liked the round-faced, adorable girl, he had no choice but to issue a ban on Yunyang. Yet shortly afterward, he regretted it, as the Big Appetite Competition increased White Cloud Tower’s business.

Though not entirely enough to support Ci’er, it urged Yunyang to work harder, managing to barely cope.

Alas~

Now that poor girl, who knows what grievances she’s suffering in the Immortal Dynasty, or whether she’s had enough to eat?

Thinking about these things made Prince Heng’s heart ache.

Regret~~~If only he could contact Yunyang, he truly wanted to bring her back and take care of her, even adopting her as a granddaughter. As for Yunyang, let him earn his part through his work.