"I have an invitation letter to the academy. Not to mention my rank is rather low, so I will be amongst the bottom feeders when it comes to cultivation levels.

"However, cultivation levels are far from everything when it comes to cultivating. It is essential to know how to control one's Qi and use the right amount of energy for each attack.

"While my rank might be low, my Qi control is very skillful, and I do not doubt that I will be able to defeat many of those who are even ranked above me.

"While I cannot guarantee a win against a person who is at the Innate Realm, Red Tier, but I can still put up a great fight."

Qin Huiling listened to Bai Rouyun, and while most would have thought that she was arrogant and bragging, Qin Huiling did not feel that way. It was as if she had blind trust in Bai Rouyun, even though they had just met.

Bai Rouyun looked around, her eyes were slightly narrowed, and she was considering how to do this the right way.

She could naturally show off her Phoenix mark, but she was not willing to do that. If she displayed it for all to see, she would feel humiliated. Also, showing off her upper arm to strange men was not something she was willing to do. If it happened in an accident, she could accept it, but doing it, volunteering was not accepted. She had to keep her husband's name, honorable.

She pondered for some time before she whispered something in Qin Huiling's ear. The more Qin Huiling listened, the brighter her eyes became, and she nodded her head excitedly.

Smiling at one another, the two women continued to walk through the trial grounds. Everyone were shocked when they saw how casual Bai Rouyun was and that she completely ignored the words that were being snarled about her behind her back.

The more casual she was, the more snarky the remarks became, but seeing that she did not pay it any attention, many were also curious about why.

When Bai Rouyun reached the middle of the field, she and Qin Huiling stood still and observed some trialists display their martial art techniques; a young man suddenly walked towards her.

Many's eyes were on Bai Rouyun and Qin Huiling, and upon seeing someone go closer, they all etched their bodies towards her, ready to hear what they said.

"Princess Yun, I cannot help but want to ask you, how do you plan on dealing with the rumors that are flying around about yourself?"

The man was very polite and gentle, but there were a firmness and solemnity in his eyes that made Bai Rouyun raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"Why should I bother with the gossip of the masses?" she asked with her trademark smile on her face, and her gentle voice that made all the men present weak at the knees.

"Princess Yun, you are married to the hero of all men, the most respected person in many empires, and your scandal is bringing embarrassment to his highness, Prince Yun."

"You think that Prince Yun is not aware of his own wife's virtue?" Bai Rouyun asked, slightly teasingly.

The young man was astounded, and so were everyone else. What did she mean?

Looking at their confused eyes, Bai Rouyun's laughter rang like bells in the wind, startling them all, and their attention was focused on her as she spoke.

"Any woman has a Phoenix Mark, a mark that cannot be faked. If I did not have a red mark when I went to the wedding chambers, do you really think he would not have made a big scene out of it?

"Prince Yun was gifted me as a reward for his successful campaign against foreign forces. If the gift indeed turned out to be a used shoe, don't you think he would have been the first to complain?

"Not to mention, Prince Yun is a smart person. I am sure you all know of my previous condition. I was mentally challenged, had the mental age of a five-year-old, and he spent so much time to heal me. Would he truly have done so for a slut, as you so elegantly called me?"

The people frowned as they thought about what Bai Rouyun said. Bai Rouyun was not going to show her Phoenix Mark unless it was the last option, and fortunately, most of the people present were intelligent enough to know that something had happened.

"Instead, let me ask you, these rumors, which claim that I am impure, that I have seduced many men and that I am a used shoe, did they not all originate from the Richu Empire?

"Now, think about who is the leader of the group of Richu's experts? That is the revered Crown Prince. However, we do not need to think much to know about the Crown Prince's personality.

"He has never been in a war campaign against another country, and thus he is always being compared to my husband. It is natural that he is jealous of my husband and then think further. Shaming me, is the same as humiliating my husband, why not do his utmost to do so?

"Oh, and by the way, the one who suggested that I was gifted to Prince Yun as a reward happened to be the Crown Prince. Now consider who wants to gift a mentally challenged woman to a man as a reward. It is more of an insult. It is easy to see who the true culprit behind the rumors is and what his aim is."

Bai Rouyun looked at them all; her eyes were cold, and then she said seriously. "My husband is aware of my situation with my chastity, and no one else has any right to speak out. He has always respected me and never forced me to do anything; neither did he try anything funny when I was mentally unstable. I owe him many thanks for being human, while I cannot say the same thing about his brother, the Crown Prince."