Within Weiyang Palace, Song Yanran sat cross-legged in her chambers, regulating her breath while continuously replaying the battle with Shen Zhao in her mind.
"His martial arts and agility are peerless. In an instant, he could mimic the techniques of the Imperial Zenith Celestial Art, even merging them to enhance his combat power. This Chu Liuxiang... could he be...?"
With this thought, Song Yanran rose and paced the chamber, gazing at the eastern sky, which was faintly tinged with dawn. Her doubts deepened.
"But if I'm not mistaken, his techniques and arts showed no trace of Spiritual Qi fluctuations, only the power of mortal true qi and inner strength. Why is that?"
"Without Spiritual Qi, it would be impossible to handle even a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator with such ease, let alone a Great Emperor. Who is he, and why have I never heard of him before?"
After much deliberation, she still couldn't find an answer and decided to put the matter aside.
Just as she was about to summon a palace maid to prepare her for the morning court, a report came from outside her chambers: "Your Majesty, King Jing requests an audience."
"Summon him."
Moments later, Di Feijing entered the chambers, his face beaming, carrying a food box.
The moment Song Yanran saw her beloved, a unique tenderness bloomed on her face.
"Your Majesty," she said, "I know you rarely eat properly. I was worried you might harm your health over time, so I specially prepared this Jade Dew Bird's Nest Soup for you. Please drink it while it's hot before you attend court."
With that, Di Feijing placed a steaming bowl of bird's nest soup on the table.
Song Yanran's heart ached. She moved to the table and sat down, gazing at the fragrant soup. "You should have had the servants do this," she said softly. "You're still injured. Why overexert yourself?"
Di Feijing lowered his voice. "I am deeply favored by Your Majesty and have no way to repay your grace. This humble bowl of soup is merely a small token of my gratitude. I beg Your Majesty to accept it."
A flutter of emotion stirred within Song Yanran. She picked up the bowl, stirred it a few times with the spoon, and took a gentle sip.
"It's good. You've put thought into this."
"As long as Your Majesty approves."
Song Yanran took only one sip before setting down the spoon and looking at Di Feijing with a complex expression in her eyes.
Di Feijing dared not meet her gaze, keeping his head bowed.
*Pfft~*
Suddenly, the Empress let out a soft laugh.
"Are you so afraid of me that you can't even look me in the eye?"
"I... I'm not..."
"Why are you acting so timid? I won't eat you," the Emperor said.
Di Feijing broke into a cold sweat and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, I still can't believe I've earned your favor. I'm nothing more than an ordinary person with no special talents.
The thought of marrying you fills me with anxiety. I fear I'll fall short and tarnish your reputation."
Song Yanran gently reassured him, "Why worry so much? When we marry, you'll become my husband. From then on, we'll face the world together, each leaning on the other. This has been my heart's deepest wish."
Di Feijing frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I have another question. Please enlighten me."
"There's no need for formality. Speak freely."
"Your Majesty, what exactly do you see in me that warrants such extraordinary favor? I'm a mere mortal with poor talent and no distinguished status. Before meeting you, I was just an insignificant servant disciple in a sect. How could I possibly deserve your attention?"
Hearing this, Song Yanran rose and walked to the windowsill, casually watering the potted plants with spiritual spring water.
"This is a long story, Feijing. Do you believe in past and present lives?"
Di Feijing froze, staring at Song Yanran with a completely bewildered expression.
Unaware of Di Feijing's confusion, Song Yanran continued.
"In my past life, you and I met by chance. You sacrificed everything to live and die with me, without a single complaint.
Yet after our mission was accomplished, you suddenly vanished from the world. My heart ached, and I searched for you like a madwoman, pouring all my energy into the search.
But after a lifetime of effort, I could find no trace of your existence, as if you had never existed at all.
Do you know how lonely and heartbroken I was then?"
Di Feijing remained blank-faced, as if listening to a matter entirely unrelated to him.
"Throughout my life, I encountered countless exceptional people. But in the final years of my past life, only two mattered most to me. One of them was you, Feijing."
"And the other?" Di Feijing asked casually.
"The other..." Song Yanran smiled faintly, then turned with a solemn expression. "Was an enemy who could have threatened the very survival of my Heavenly Dynasty. However, before I could even meet him in that past life, he had already met his end, his corpse left in pieces."
"Ah, this..."
Song Yanran continued, "This future rival of my Heavenly Dynasty was also a legendary figure. His epic deeds are sung throughout the Nine Realms of Immortals and Martial Arts..."
"In just twenty years, he single-handedly transformed a fallen second-rate nation into a powerful empire capable of rivaling ancient dynasties.
Yet even such a heroic and brilliant figure was ultimately ensnared by love. Betrayed by the one he cherished most, he died unjustly at the peak of the Nine Heavens.
It is a great regret that I never had the chance to clash with him. After his death, I journeyed to the Nine Heavens to search for his remains.
What I found there was a apocalyptic scene of blood-mist-filled skies and collapsing mountains.
Pity that the War God of his generation should meet such a fate, his very bones lost to the world..."
"Oh, I see," Song Yanran replied.
Noticing Di Feijing's waning interest, she frowned slightly, a flicker of disappointment passing through her eyes before she quickly masked it and changed the subject.
"Let's not dwell on such matters. You wouldn't believe me anyway. Just consider it love at first sight on my part.
Return now and focus on healing. On our wedding day, I will host the most magnificent ceremony imaginable."
"Let it be known throughout the realm that you, Di Feijing, are my husband, Song Yanran."
As soon as she finished speaking, Song Yanran felt a faint fluctuation of Spiritual Qi near her ear again.
"Your Majesty, I shall take my leave now."
"Hmm, take good care of yourself. If you require anything, simply make your request to the Imperial Household Department."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's kindness. I take my leave."
After Di Feijing left the bedchamber, his legs were so weak with fear that they nearly gave out, and his back was drenched in sweat.
He cautiously glanced back toward the bedchamber, then stumbled away, his feet numb.
Once Di Feijing was gone, Song Yanran sighed softly. "Ah... never mind. What was I even thinking..."
The Spiritual Qi near her ear continued to fluctuate. Closing her eyes, she listened intently, her brow furrowing slightly.
She glanced at the bowl of soup, sighed, and shook her head, as if silently saying something.
In the next instant, her figure vanished from the spot.
***
Inside the Wind and Rain Pavilion, Shen Zhao leisurely surveyed the room's furnishings while Hu Yushu attended to him with respectful deference.
Soon, a melodious zither melody drifted from behind a screen. Hu Yushu immediately withdrew.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, the great trouble you faced last night—it was a matter of life and death, wasn't it?"
Hearing Ying Chaoyun's voice, Shen Zhao habitually touched his nose and replied indifferently, "The martial world is fraught with danger and twists and turns. If one fears trouble, they shouldn't venture into it."
"After offending the Dragon Han Empress, you remain so carefree. Should I call you reckless, or fearless?"
Shen Zhao gently fanned himself, unconcerned. "Even the strongest have their weaknesses. I may lack other skills, but I've certainly honed my ability to flee."
Ying Chaoyun chuckled. "You came to see me so urgently. What matter is it?"
"I have intelligence to exchange."
"What kind?"
"The Xiongnu Royal Court intends to strike against the Dragon Han Empress. How much is that information worth?"
The zither music abruptly ceased.
"How can the Xiongnu, a mere tribal force, possibly shake the foundations of the transcendent Dragon Han Empress?"
"If the Empress were so easily dealt with, the Wind and Rain Pavilion wouldn't be hiding in this dark, wretched place, clinging to survival."
"In a direct confrontation, few in the Nine Realms of Immortals and Martial Arts could stand against the Dragon Han Empress. But as the saying goes, 'Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against.' Eliminating someone doesn't always require brute force."
"Tell me what you know."
"No hurry. I've already offered my stake. Since the terms are equal, I'd like to know what reasonable compensation the Pavilion Master is willing to offer."
"What do you want?"
"Within the last year, all records of outsiders entering and leaving Flamebright City. The more detailed, the better."
The zither music abruptly ceased.
"First, you beat up the Empress's consort, and now you're meddling in Dragon Han's internal affairs. Chu Liuxiang, how many lives do you think you have to waste? Do you truly fear no death, provoking the Empress's wrath again and again?"
"Whether I live or die is none of the Wind and Rain Pavilion's concern. Just tell me, Master, is my intelligence worth this stake?"
Ying Chaoyun remained silent for a long moment, then a sudden, resonant plucking of a zither string echoed through the room.
"Agreed. Tell me everything you know."
-----------------------
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