Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 387 : Zhang Mingrui’s Declaration

Chapter 387: Chapter 387 : Zhang Mingrui’s Declaration

The joyous cacophony of the party screeched to a halt, replaced by a hush thick with curiosity. Laughter lingered in the air, frozen mid-chuckle, like butterflies pinned to silk. Heads swiveled in unison, drawn to the figure emerging from Juhua Palace’s ornate gates.

The Monkey King, radiating an aura of untamed power, strutted through, his presence demanding attention. In stark contrast, behind him, his small niece crept along, her head bowed, a fragile flower dwarfed by a mountain.

She was holding a beautiful cage with a small singing bird inside.

"Mother, stop this matchmaking party at once," Zhang Fengxi muttered under his breath before he strode off to greet the Monkey King.

"What matchmaking party?" Lady Song exclaimed in denial at her son’s back. "I am just letting the boys play with their peers!"

Wu Shenxia emerged from the inner chambers just in time to welcome the Monkey King to her humble abode.

"Monkey King, welcome, welcome! Thank you for coming to my daughter’s One-Month Celebration!"

Having fought together many times to defend the Heavenly Realm, she had accepted the Monkey King as a comrade and the monkey clan as part of the Heavenly Empire a long time ago.

Unfortunately, the same degree of brotherhood had yet to apply to many realm residents.

"Thanks for inviting us."

Iron fists meeting in a comradely clasp, the Monkey King and Wu Shenxia’s grip spoke volumes of trust and respect born from shared battles and unwavering loyalty.

"Hey, Monkey King."

"Yo, Supreme General."

The Monkey King and Zhang Fengxi grasped each other’s lower arms and exchanged friendly smiles.

"I haven’t seen you around much outside of battlefields," Zhang Fengxi remarked.

"Eh, I am not a big fan of celebrations," the other alpha shrugged.

"Is that so? In that case, I need to thank you for honoring me with your appearance today!" Wu Shenxia slapped the Monkey King’s back playfully.

"Let us drink some wine to celebrate Jiayi’s birth. Oh, maybe you should take a look at the precious princess first," Zhang Fengxi suggested. "Shenxia’s little treasure."

"Oh, she really is," Wu Shenxia quipped.

Behind the Monkey King, the little monkey ripped her eyes open in terror.

"U-Uncle, can I come with you???"

All three alphas swiveled around and looked down at the little monkey girl.

The Monkey King furrowed his brows at his unreasonable niece.

"Lihua, go play with other kids. You are too young to drink wine with us adults."

Zhang Fengxi smiled at her. He bent closer to Mo Lihua and spoke to her in a gentle tone.

"The children are all gathered in the back garden. You seem to be about the same age as my sons. Are you attending Grand Tutor’s class at Crystal Jade Pavilion?"

Mo Lihua’s eyes shook as she stared at Zhang Fengxi.

"Y-Your Highness, your sons are...?"

"Xie Junjie and Zhang Mingrui."

"... Uncle, please let me come with you!" Mo Lihua cried out while clutching the cage in her hands. "I don’t want to meet the other children!"

"Lihua!"

The Monkey King shot his niece a glare. "You are a proud member of the monkey clan. Remember that. There is nothing you need to be afraid of! I tell you to go there so go!"

Mo Lihua looked down and bit into her lips to prevent her tears from falling down her cheeks. She wrapped her trembling hands around the cage, as if trying to shield the bird inside from her uncle’s wrath.

Zhang Fengxi knitted his brows slightly.

Lihua?

He seemed to remember the name from somewhere, but right now it simply slipped his mind.

"Yes, by the way..."

The Monkey King took the cage away from his niece, who still refused to look at him.

"I caught this pretty songbird at my Monkey Mountain. I believe it makes a nice gift for your daughter..."

The three alphas left, and Mo Lihua stood alone at the center of the courtyard.

The monkey in her wanted nothing more than to return to Monkey Mountain and swing from branch to branch to relieve her distress.

There was a very good reason why she did not want to meet other children, particularly her classmates.

After losing Yu Weimin’s jianzi the first time she got to play with the boys, Mo Lihua prayed the entire night for the jianzi to be found.

Alas, not only did Xie Junjie fail to keep up his promise, he and his twin brother ended up being punished for breaking the rules and traveling to the Human Realm.

Mo Lihua felt so bad that she punished herself with the same punishment, going back home as soon as the class concluded and not trying to play with the others again, boys or girls.

And now her insensible uncle urged her to go mingle with her peers again.

To make it worse, Xie Junjie and Zhang Mingrui were both present.

Mo Lihua plopped down on a swing and started swinging herself back and forth in a forlorn manner.

Until something hit her on the head.

"Ouch!"

Mo Lihua rubbed the top of her head.

It was a jianzi.

A group of boys came running out, spearheaded by Zhang Mingrui.

"Hey, Mo Lihua!" He grinned at the monkey girl. "Want to play with us?"

Mo Lihua gaped at Zhang Mingrui, and then at the jianzi in her hand.

"You... You guys found the jianzi?" She sputtered in disbelief.

"Well, to be very honest, Daddy brought it back from the Human Realm. Come on, Weimin is also playing."

Mo Lihua’s face brightened up like a sun emerging from beyond dark clouds after a storm passed.

"I want to join!" She cried out happily.

But then a group of older girls nearby started to giggle.

"Oh, my," one of them said. "Monkeys are monkeys after all. Even the girls cannot help but partake in boys’ games."

"Hehehe..."

The giggles started getting louder.

"No wonder the First Heavenly Emperor refused to take a wife from the monkey clan."

"I heard that they are used to going up and down the trees without using ladders. Even the ladies. So disgraceful."

Mo Lihua’s excitement quickly drained away, replaced by dejection.

It was Zhang Mingrui who stepped in front of her and gallantly announced, "Mo Lihua is the second prettiest person I have seen after my Mommy. If I become the Heavenly Emperor, I would take her as my wife for sure!"