Chapter 55: The Princess's Preparation and an Imperial Audience
After leaving the grand audience hall where the Emperor of the Heavenly Soul Empire resided, Vina did not immediately summon her carriage to rush back to the Body Sect. Usually, she would seek out Liu Yuan without a moment's delay. Today, however, her pace was measured. The marble floors clicked softly beneath her heels.
Her state of mind had shifted. The decree had been issued by her Imperial Father's own mouth, and Sect Master Du Busi had already set the unshakeable foundation in his secret letter. Liu Yuan was no longer just her Senior Brother. He was no longer merely a future pillar of the Empire. He was to be her husband.
Vina was a woman of absolute pragmatism and deep forethought. She understood the cold reality of political marriages. A union bound solely by mutual interests and imperial edicts was a fragile thing, easily shattered when the winds of power shifted. If this marriage was to endure, she had to build a foundation of genuine connection.
Affection could not be commanded. It had to be cultivated, woven drop by drop through the quiet, subtle details of daily life.
Before departing the capital, Vina returned to her temporary palace and issued a swift command. Within the hour, several of the most renowned master tailors in the Heavenly Soul Imperial City knelt in her courtyard.
During their previous missions together at the Body Sect, Vina's sharp eyes had silently memorized Liu Yuan's precise measurements. Standing before the trembling craftsmen, she described his physique and unique temperament with exacting detail. She demanded the use of exclusive royal-tribute materials, ordering them to rush the production of several sets of martial attire and casual wear. The garments needed to exude quiet nobility without restricting the explosive movements required for his Martial Soul.
"The stitching must be flawless, and the color tones must remain grounded. Nothing overly flashy," Vina instructed, her fingers brushing over a selection of premium fabrics. She personally pulled aside several bolts of cloud brocade. The material was understated in its dark hues, yet it caught the light with a faint, shifting shimmer.
The craftsmen labored through the night, needles flashing under the glow of soul lamps. By dawn, several sets of luxurious clothing lay presented before her.
Vina inspected each piece with a critical eye. Finally, she selected a dark cyan long robe. It featured cinched cuffs designed for combat and was elegantly edged with complex silver thread patterns.
A faint smile touched her lips. She gestured to her companion. "Store this properly, Mu Xue."
"Let us go. Back to the Sect." Only then did Vina board her carriage, beginning the long journey back to the Body Sect.
Seven days dissolved in the blink of an eye.
When Vina and Mu Xue finally returned to the rugged peaks of the Body Sect, they found Liu Yuan still sealed within his secret chamber.
Heavy, rhythmic waves of soul power bled through the microscopic cracks of the stone door. The air in the corridor felt thick, vibrating with the intensity of his deep seclusion.
Mu Xue stepped forward, raising her hand to knock on the heavy stone. In her mind, an imperial decree from His Majesty the Emperor represented the absolute highest authority on the continent. Every second of delay bordered on disrespect.
Before her knuckles could strike the rock, Vina's hand gently caught her wrist.
"Do not disturb him," Vina said, her gaze fixed on the tightly sealed door.
"He is breaking through a bottleneck. The path of cultivation is incredibly fragile during these moments; being startled midway could cause irreversible backlash. While my Imperial Father's summons holds great weight, Liu Yuan's cultivation is directly tied to the very future of our Empire."
She released Mu Xue and turned to the maid guarding the corridor. Her voice was peaceful, yet it carried an unquestionable royal authority. "You will remain stationed here. When Liu Yuan wakes from his meditation, or when the violent fluctuations of his soul power completely subside, only then will you inform him of my Imperial Father's summons."
"I will wait in the front hall. Do not rush him under any circumstances. Let him cultivate with absolute peace of mind."
Vina sat in the front hall. She waited for two full days.
On the morning of the second day, the oppressive, suffocating vortex of soul power swirling inside the secret chamber finally began to thin.
Inside, Liu Yuan exhaled a long breath of impure air. He had completely solidified his foundation at rank thirty-eight. His muscles coiled with newfound, explosive strength. He stood, his boots echoing against the stone floor, and pushed the heavy chamber door open.
The maid immediately bowed and delivered her report. Hearing that Vina had waited two entire days to deliver an oral decree from the Emperor, Liu Yuan's expression shifted slightly. He did not waste time, instructing the maid to guide Vina to his reception room at once.
"Vina, I have kept you waiting," Liu Yuan said as he crossed the threshold of the living room.
Vina sat gracefully at the wooden table, a cup of steaming tea resting lightly in her hands. She set the porcelain down and looked up.
The moment her eyes met his, she felt a subtle pressure wash over her. The soul power radiating from his body was far more condensed than it had been half a month ago. Even without summoning his Martial Soul, the restrained, dangerous brilliance lurking deep within his dark red Double Pupils made her breath catch for a fraction of a second.
"You have grown stronger again," Vina noted, a trace of genuine admiration softening her features.
Liu Yuan offered a faint, dismissive smile. He had no interest in boasting about his progress. "Just a bit of luck. Since His Majesty has issued a summons, it must be a matter of great importance. Shall we depart immediately?"
Vina did not stand. Instead, she cast a quiet glance at Mu Xue, who immediately stepped forward and unfastened the silk bundle they had brought from the capital.
Vina reached inside and withdrew the dark cyan outfit. She walked slowly toward Liu Yuan, the fine fabric draped over her arms.
"I noticed you usually wear the standard martial attire issued by the Sect," she said, her voice soft but steady. "While those garments are practical and sharp, an audience with the Emperor requires something a bit different from your daily wear."
She held the robe up slightly. "I memorized your measurements a while ago. When I returned to the Imperial City, I sought out the finest master tailors to craft a few sets specifically for you."
"Why don't you try this one on? Let us see if it fits."
Liu Yuan blinked, slightly taken aback.
He looked down at the carefully stitched fabric. The quality was extraordinary, the weight of the cloud brocade heavy and smooth against the air. He raised his gaze to Vina.
Through the analytical gaze of his Double Pupils, he searched her face. There was no excessive flattery, no manipulative royal charm. Her expression held a perfectly measured warmth—a quiet, grounded closeness.
"Thank you for the trouble," Liu Yuan said, his voice lowering a fraction. He accepted the clothes without false modesty and stepped into the side hall.
Moments later, the heavy curtain pushed aside.
When Liu Yuan stepped back into the room, Vina's eyes visibly brightened.
The dark cyan long robe draped perfectly over his tall, straight frame, making him look as unyielding as a lone pine on a snowy peak. The cinched cuffs hugged his wrists, ready for combat, while the complex silver threads along the collar caught the ambient light. The cool tones of the fabric provided a striking contrast to the dark, predatory red of his Double Pupils.
The raw, untamed ferocity he usually carried had been smoothed over, replaced by a deep, steady nobility that commanded immediate respect.
"Very good," Vina murmured, a satisfied smile touching the corners of her mouth. She nodded slightly. "You look even more handsome than usual."
Liu Yuan cupped his hands in a formal gesture of thanks. "I appreciate it. The fit is perfect."
"It is merely a small gift. As long as you do not dislike it, I am content," Vina replied smoothly, refusing to make a grand display of her effort. She turned and signaled for the guards to prepare their departure.
The journey to the capital took another seven days.
Inside the spacious carriage, the atmosphere was relaxed. They spent the hours discussing the intricacies of the Body Sect's cultivation techniques and analyzing the shifting political tides across the Douluo Continent.
Yet, beneath the flow of conversation, Liu Yuan's sharp instincts picked up on a distinct change in Vina's behavior.
In the past, despite her easygoing nature, Vina had always maintained an invisible boundary. As the Princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire, she carried a subtle royal reserve, a strict adherence to etiquette that kept everyone at a polite distance.
Now, that boundary had blurred. She still lacked the arrogant airs of typical nobility, but she had closed the distance between them.
She proactively asked about the minor, mundane details of his cultivation. When they stopped to rest, she quietly managed the small comforts—ensuring his tea was hot, checking the provisions—details Liu Yuan, in his pragmatic pursuit of power, usually ignored.
Liu Yuan observed this shift clearly. Surprisingly, he felt no aversion to it.
He despised the hypocritical, calculated warmth of places like Shrek Academy. But Vina's actions felt grounded. Real. In this natural, unforced closeness, he felt a quiet sense of belonging, an affection usually reserved for true family. It was a tangible bond, and Liu Yuan valued the tangible above all else.
On the afternoon of the seventh day, the carriage wheels rolled onto smooth, polished stone.
Guided by Vina, Liu Yuan finally stepped into the absolute center of power within the Heavenly Soul Empire—the Heavenly Soul Imperial City.
The central avenues were massively wide and immaculately clean. Ancient, towering architecture lined the streets, the heavy stone facades radiating the deep, unshakeable heritage of the Empire.
Liu Yuan had zero personal desire for political authority. Power, to him, meant personal strength. Yet, as his Double Pupils swept over the grand, imposing structures, a flicker of genuine interest sparked in his eyes.
Catching his gaze, Vina stepped closer and spoke softly. "This is the Imperial City."
"Once you have met with my Imperial Father and our business is concluded, if you are not in a rush to return to your seclusion, I can show you around. There are many places here worth seeing."
"Then I will thank you in advance, Princess," Liu Yuan replied, giving a slight nod.
They walked side by side, passing through layers of winding corridors. Elite Imperial Guards in heavy armor stood like statues, their eyes tracking the duo as they crossed the final threshold.
They finally halted before the towering doors of the solemn main audience hall.
Vina stopped. She took a brief moment to smooth the fabric of her dress and adjust her posture, shifting back into the flawless image of a royal princess. She turned her head, meeting Liu Yuan's gaze with a quiet, encouraging look.
A ceremonial official struck a heavy staff against the floor, his voice echoing through the courtyard.
With a deep, grinding groan, the massive wooden doors slowly pushed open.
Liu Yuan stepped forward, his expression calm and his dark red eyes unreadable, ready to face the scrutiny of the man who held the absolute highest authority in the Heavenly Soul Empire.
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