She returned to the Golden Jade Palace.
Jiang Yuechu dismissed her attendants.
With a thought.
Since stepping into the Seed Lotus, it had indeed been some time since she properly examined the system panel.
[host: Jiang Yuechu]
[Realm: Lotus Planting Middle Realm]
[Dao Cultivation: Nine hundred and sixty-five years]
[Recorded Demons: Tiger Mountain God (Heavenly Accomplishment), Mythical Ape (Heavenly Accomplishment), Green-Faced Gentleman (Heavenly Accomplishment), Black Mountain Bear Lord (Heavenly Accomplishment), White Ape Duke (Heavenly Accomplishment), White Flood Dragon Jiao Xu (Heavenly Accomplishment), Black Flood Dragon Jiao Chun (Shadow Copy), Qiankun Demon King (Shadow Copy)]
[Innate Divine Abilities: Yin Method Heaven Bestowal, Tiger Fiend Blood Boil, Wolf Travels a Thousand Li, Filthy Earth Golden Body, Flesh and Blood Demon Armor, Water Control (Fish Belly Storage, Mirage Breath), Ten Thousand Jun Strength, Moving Mountains and Filling Seas, Broad Knowledge and Strong Memory, Cloud Journey of Ten Thousand Li]
[Martial Arts:]
"White Tiger Geng Metal Blade" (supreme)
"Green Cliff Returning Shadow" (supreme)
"Primordial Unity Qi Art" (supreme)
"Myriad Demon Swallowing Heaven" (Minor Achievement)
"White Ape Bone Transformation" (proficiency)
"Yin-Yang Horizontal Hand" (supreme)
"Spring-loaded Leg Shrinking the Ground" (supreme)
"Dragon Transformation Scripture" (Incomplete, Part One) (supreme)]
Nine hundred and sixty-five years.
She rubbed her temples helplessly.
Poor.
Too poor.
Although she had gained many benefits from killing the Qiankun Demon King earlier.
In order to record the Shadow Copy of that Golden-Winged Great Peng, she had immediately thrown in eight thousand six hundred years of Dao Cultivation.
Later, to upgrade the "Myriad Demon Swallowing Heaven" technique, which plunders vital energy, she added another four thousand two hundred years.
With all this back and forth.
Her previously somewhat abundant savings instantly hit rock bottom.
Now, only less than a thousand years of Dao Cultivation remained.
If she wanted the Black Mountain Bear Lord to deduce techniques, merely memorizing them was far from enough.
She needed to cultivate them herself first before she could provide them to the Black Bear.
But how could cultivating Martial Arts, given her talent, be separated from the infusion of Dao Cultivation?
Over nine hundred years... if used to upgrade the Seed Lotus technique, the "Perfect and Unbreakable Method," it would barely reach the Basic Entry Level.
Insights gained from merely scratching the surface were like scratching an itch through a boot when it came to deduction.
If she couldn't thoroughly master these Cultivation Techniques, the Black Bear wouldn't be able to extract their true essence.
Rather than wasting the remaining Dao Cultivation just to make a small attempt.
It was better to save it up first.
Jiang Yuechu sighed.
Even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice.
It seemed the matter of deducing new Cultivation Techniques couldn't be rushed for the time being.
"Forget it."
She would wait until after the New Year.
Then she would look for places where she could harvest Dao Cultivation.
As for the Black Bear... she would let it scratch its head under the Training Platform for a few more days... The people of Great Tang valued festivals, especially this New Year's Eve.
Since the Twelfth Lunar Month, the sound of firecrackers in the city had been non-stop.
Vermilion Bird Street was even more lively.
Dragon dances, lion dances, stilt walkers.
And the teams performing the Nuo Dance while wearing fierce masks, accompanied by deafening gongs and drums.
The noise forced the swirling wind and snow to retreat three paces.
Ordinary families, no matter how frugal they were usually, would buy two catties of pork and wrap white flour dumplings on this day.
If there were mischievous children in the family, they would change into new clothes early, tuck a few pieces of Tanggua into their pockets, and chase and play at the alley entrance, shouting wishes for Peace Every Year.
Inside the palace, the extravagance reached its peak.
According to the Ancestral System of Great Tang.
On New Year's Eve, the Great Nuo Ceremony must be performed.
Thousands of Imperial Guards, clad in golden armor and wielding long halberds, patrolled within the Imperial City, ostensibly to expel Malevolent Spirits.
By night, the palace was brightly lit, shining like day.
Inside the Golden Jade Palace.
A dozen Palace Maids surrounded her.
Jiang Yuechu sat before a bronze mirror, letting the people fuss over her.
The person in the mirror had cloud-like hair piled high, with a Phoenix Hairpin slanted in it.
On the auspicious crimson robe, five Phoenixes embroidered with gold thread looked ready to take flight.
A Jade Belt with Flowing Cloud Patterns cinched her waist, making her figure appear impossibly slender.
A Floral Mark between her brows burned like fire.
Her originally cool and detached demeanor gained a touch of allure under this extravagant attire.
"Your Highness is truly beautiful..."
The Head Palace Maid in Charge stared in fascination and couldn't help but exclaim, "Even the legendary Guanghan Fairy probably wouldn't compare."
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly.
She reached out and fiddled with the Tassel hanging by her ear.
"Couldn't we..."
Before she could finish speaking, the Palace Maid seemed to know what she was going to say and immediately knelt down to beg for mercy.
"Your Highness, this is the New Year's Eve Palace Banquet!"
"Your Majesty specifically ordered that we absolutely must not lose the face of the Imperial Family!"
Jiang Yuechu sighed.
She had already compromised once in front of Wei Qing.
How long had passed since then?
And she had to compromise again!?
Indeed!
The saying from her previous life—that wearing female clothes is either zero times or countless times—was true... Linde Hall.
The sound of strings and flutes was pleasing to the ear, and warm fragrance assailed the senses.
The vast hall was already filled with distinguished guests.
In previous years, New Year's Eve was a State Banquet.
It required a grand feast for all officials in the Taiji Hall, where all officials offered congratulations.
The rites and music were performed simultaneously, and the rules were extremely complicated.
The bowing ritual alone would take more than half an hour.
But tonight presented a different scene.
The only people present were Imperial Relatives, Various Princes, Princesses, and the Imperial Concubines of the inner palace.
People gathered in small groups of two or three.
Although they spoke in hushed tones, the center of their conversation was, without exception, one thing.
Prince Jing, Li Jingran, held a Jade Cup, his expression slightly bitter.
A Prince, dressed in Brocade Robes with a frivolous face, approached Prince Jing, Li Jingran, holding a wine cup.
"I heard about it when I was in my Fiefdom; the rumors were miraculous—something about Ink Dot Realm at seventeen, something about slaying Demons at Taihu Lake..."
"You are right here in the Capital, so you must have met that person? Is she truly as the rumors say?"
Li Jingran's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped the cup, giving him an irritated look.
Ink Dot Realm?
Heh... she is already in the Seed Lotus now!
A Seed Lotus expert at seventeen!
With such talent, who in Great Tang could possibly compete?
"Fifth Brother."
Li Jingran put down his wine cup, took a deep breath, and his tone became exceptionally serious.
"Listen to a piece of advice from your Elder Brother."
"When that person arrives later, put away your frivolous nature and keep your mouth shut."
"If you provoke her..."
The Prince was startled by the serious tone and shrank his neck.
"That powerful? If we talk about age, she still has to call me Imperial Brother!"
Li Jingran's gaze was profound as he looked toward the hall entrance.
Although he had only met that person once at the Liushang Banquet.
He didn't know why.
But he felt that given this girl's personality, if someone really dared to provoke her.
She would dare to strike them directly, even at today's Palace Banquet.
As for the Emperor?
Heh!
He would probably just clap and cheer.
On the other side.
The Empress sat upright on the Phoenix Chair, speaking with the Concubines beside her.
"Empress, today is New Year's Eve, why isn't the Empress Dowager present?"
The smile on the Empress's face stiffened slightly, then returned to normal.
"Mother Empress hasn't been feeling well these past two days; she said her Headache flared up and she couldn't stand the noise, so she is resting."
"Your Majesty is Filial and specifically instructed us not to disturb her."
The Concubine who asked the question nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.
Headache?
It's probably a Sickness of the Heart.
Everyone knew that Empress Dowager Liu was incompatible with Consort Ming back then.
Now Consort Ming's daughter has returned to the palace in glory.
The Empress Dowager decided to avoid seeing her to avoid being upset, so she claimed illness and didn't show up.
"However, this Grand Princess Your Highness..."
Another Concubine, the beautiful and enchanting Consort De, covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, her eyes shifting.
"She certainly puts on airs."
"Both His Majesty and Your Ladyship have arrived, yet she is still late to show her face."
"It's only been a few days, and she's already so lacking in etiquette. If this continues, won't even Your Ladyship have to act according to her mood?"
These words seemed to be defending the Empress, but they were actually intended to sow discord.
The Empress glanced at her, her tone indifferent.
"Consort De, watch your words."
"Zhaoyue is His Majesty's own younger sister, and she is a meritorious official of Great Tang."
"Some rules are established for others."
"Why be so harsh towards family?"
Consort De was rebuffed and awkwardly shut up.
But deep in her eyes, a trace of disapproval flashed.
Just as everyone was harboring different thoughts.
The Emperor, seated in the main position, was somewhat restless.
He repeatedly looked toward the hall entrance, lifting and setting down the wine cup in his hand.
"Why hasn't she arrived yet?"
The Emperor frowned deeply and waved for the Old Eunuch.
"Go check again!"
"Did she slip because the snow is heavy on the road?"
"Or are the Servants of the Golden Jade Palace too slow, causing a delay?"
The Old Eunuch was just about to accept the order.
When a high-pitched, drawn-out Announcement came from outside the hall.
"Grand Princess Zhaoyue arrives—!!!"