So Cute…
Three days later, Ming Yuemian’s group arrived at the capital of the Li Kingdom.
Ming Yuemian had originally intended to take her time, enjoying the sights and sounds along the way. However, while Feng Cheng was willing to indulge her, the Sovereign of the Li Kingdom was deathly anxious.
The Sovereign was a man utterly devoted to his daughter. As long as the Princess’s nightmare-induced illness remained uncured, his heart remained suspended in worry. Seeing that the people from the Tianxuan Sect had yet to arrive, he sent three or four urgent dispatches every day to hurry them along.
At the same time, another devoted father. Ming Ye, the Sect Leader of the Tianxuan Sect, had also sent several voice transmissions to Feng Cheng, reprimanding them for their negligence. His concern wasn’t about offending the Li Sovereign and ruining their relationship rather, he feared that if they delayed too long on the road, Ming Yuemian might suffer a heart relapse before reaching the Li Kingdom to receive the Jade Snow Flower medicine.
Both “daughter fool” fathers had truly exhausted their thoughts, worrying incessantly for their respective children.
Feng Cheng found it difficult to explain that the slow pace was due to Ming Yuemian’s requests, as it sounded like he was shirking responsibility. He had no choice but to accept his master’s harsh scolding in silence, enduring the brunt of it.
Caught in the middle and squeezed from both sides, he had just been lectured by Ming Ye when he approached Ming Yuemian with a crestfallen face to negotiate: “Junior Sister, we might need to pick up the pace. The Li Sovereign’s side simply cannot wait any longer…”
He expected he would need to waste a lot of breath to convince Ming Yuemian to agree. To his surprise, his usually willful Junior Sister was very easygoing this time and agreed immediately.
“Sure, let’s go then.”
Her decisiveness left Feng Cheng stunned, rendering his entire prepared speech useless.
It wasn’t that Ming Yuemian no longer wanted to enjoy the landscapes of the cultivation world. It was just that after encountering the vine demon in the mountains, where Fu Shuang revealed she possessed a “Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart” that constantly attracted the greed of great demons. Ming Yuemian had taken the matter to heart.
Unfortunately, she was currently a “newbie noob” and had no way to protect Fu Shuang.
Although Fu Shuang had encountered such things countless times since childhood and was long accustomed to them and certainly didn’t need a “noob” like Ming Yuemian for protection since she was perfectly capable of defending herself. Ming Yuemian still didn’t want to see her in danger again.
Fu Shuang had handled that vine demon with a flick of her wrist as if the monster wasn’t even worth mentioning, but hadn’t she still received a wound on the back of her hand?
It was better to avoid danger if possible, watching it was simply too heart-pounding.
The capital was densely populated and protected by the “Imperial Qi” of the Human Emperor. Compared to the wild mountains and countryside, the likelihood of great demons appearing was much lower.
They arrived at the capital at high noon. To show his sincerity, the Li Sovereign led his entire court of officials outside the city to welcome them. The Sovereign only recognized Feng Cheng, who frequently traveled on behalf of the Tianxuan Sect, and beamed with a face full of smiles as he called out, “Immortal Lord.”
However, Ming Yuemian felt that while he might be smiling on the outside, there was no telling how he was cursing them in his head.
A grand banquet had already been prepared in the royal palace to welcome the immortals. The gold and jade vessels on the tables were filled with rare delicacies and fine wines. To the side, musicians and dancers performed; the air was filled with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments and the melodies of songs.
It was truly a display of overwhelming wealth.
While the Tianxuan Sect was also extremely wealthy and Ming Ye doted on Ming Yuemian by giving her whatever she wanted, it was ultimately an immortal sect that valued quiet cultivation. It lacked the unashamedly extravagant and lavish atmosphere of a human imperial city.
Since only a fool refuses a free benefit, Ming Yuemian busied herself with eating. The task of exchanging official pleasantries with the Li Sovereign naturally fell onto Feng Cheng.
“The Immortal Lord has traveled a long way and must be weary. Please, try this wine,” the Sovereign said. “This was personally brewed by the late Queen and buried beneath the plum trees in the imperial garden. Today, to welcome the Immortal Lord, I ordered it to be unearthed.”
Cultivators held a transcendent status and were highly respected in this world. Even a Human Emperor had to show them a great deal of deference.
The relationship between human emperors and immortal sects was actually mutually beneficial. The sects protected the peace of the land so the people wouldn’t be preyed upon by demons and the emperors provided various resources in return. Thus, while those in the immortal sects were proud and aloof, they were also extremely polite to these princes and generals.
Feng Cheng, often traveling abroad as the eldest disciple and the “Number Two” official spokesperson of the Tianxuan Sect after Ming Ye, was long accustomed to these flattering tactics.
He nodded, raised his golden cup, smiled at the Sovereign in a gesture of respect, and gave him face by drinking it.
The Sovereign then turned his attention to Ming Yuemian and Fu Shuang to be inclusive: “May the two young ladies also have a taste.”
Feng Cheng hadn’t offered much of an introduction, but the Sovereign knew these two must also be from the Tianxuan Sect likely his junior sisters and were not to be underestimated or neglected.
Oh-ho. Hearing this, Ming Yuemian lowered her head to sniff the golden cup, only then realizing it contained alcohol.
A plum fragrance wafted up, light and delicate. It was likely just a fruit wine with a very low alcohol content.
“Sister, you can’t drink this.” Ming Yuemian acted quickly, pressing her hand down over the rim of the cup of the person beside her.
Fu Shuang raised her eyes to look at her, her expression blank.
Ming Yuemian leaned toward her and whispered an explanation: “Did you forget how you blacked out after just one sip of peach blossom wine back in that village? If you can’t drink, then don’t. You don’t have any friendship with this Sovereign anyway, there’s no need to give him face.”
These words were actually quite sensible.
But Fu Shuang wasn’t particularly buying it.
Fu Shuang stared at Ming Yuemian with a ghostly cold gaze, looking extremely noble and aloof. She thought to herself: What does it have to do with you?
It was true that her tolerance was poor, but was it Ming Yuemian’s place to manage her?
Fu Shuang felt displeased. In truth, she didn’t need Ming Yuemian to tell her, she had self-awareness and hadn’t planned on drinking it anyway. But now that it had been said, if she didn’t drink, it would look like she was obediently following the other’s orders.
She didn’t like that.
Seeing that she was being ignored, Ming Yuemian turned to apologize to the Sovereign first: “My elder sister isn’t good with alcohol, so she won’t be drinking. I’ll drink this cup for her.”
With that, she heroically downed the cup.
The drinking culture of the Li Kingdom hadn’t reached a toxic level. Hearing her say this, the Sovereign didn’t force Fu Shuang to drink and instead turned back to discuss other matters with Feng Cheng.
However, as soon as Ming Yuemian set her cup down, she saw Fu Shuang pick up her own wine cup and take a sip.
“…You…” Ming Yuemian tried to stop her, but was halted by a sharp “eye dagger” glare from Fu Shuang. “…Fine.”
Once she looked closer, she wasn’t as worried. Fu Shuang hadn’t actually drunk it; she was just going through the motions and letting it touch her lips.
She wasn’t actually going to drink it, she was doing it specifically out of spite to annoy her, like a bratty child who insists on going west just because their parent said to go east, desperate to prove they aren’t incapable of drinking.
Tsk, she’s so old, how is she still this rebellious? Ming Yuemian couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter, finding the display unexpectedly cute.
Fu Shuang, assuming she was being mocked, knit her brows, her gaze growing even colder as she glared back.
As a result, Ming Yuemian laughed even harder.
Fu Shuang: “…”
She suspected this person had a mental illness. Being in the Tianxuan Sect but still stuck at the Qi Refining stage at this age was likely because her brain didn’t work properly.
She set down her wine cup coldly, feeling that by bickering with a fool, she herself wasn’t being very bright either.
After three rounds of drinks, an attendant hurried into the hall and whispered a few words into the Sovereign’s ear. The Sovereign’s expression momentarily froze.
He seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding to the attendant.
He then addressed Feng Cheng: “Since the Immortal Lord has come for my daughter, it is only right that you meet her today. It happens that her spirit is quite good today, and she is able to get out of bed and move around. Men, go and invite Princess Fei Qiong.”
He framed it this way, but in reality, Princess Fei Qiong had heard about the visitors and insisted on coming to see them herself. When she wasn’t suffering from her nightmare induced fits, she was perfectly normal, so the Sovereign indulged her.
Soon, a flurry of footsteps echoed outside the hall, and a large group of palace maids entered, surrounding a single figure.
The woman at the center naturally became the focus of everyone’s attention. She wore a colorful phoenix patterned skirt stitched with gold thread and an eight treasure pearl-studded crown. Her entire being radiated a magnificent aura of jewels and precious stones. Without even looking at her face, her attire alone was enough to dazzle the eyes, making her look like a divine concubine or a celestial fairy.
“Fei Qiong greets Father King,” the beauty bowed gracefully toward the high seat. When she wasn’t “ill,” she was extremely dignified and proper.
The Li Sovereign’s eyes shone with the doting glow of a devoted father as he said affectionately, “Come, Qiong’er, greet the Immortal Lord from the Tianxuan Sect.”
Feng Cheng hurriedly stood up to salute.
Princess Fei Qiong moved with lotus like steps to stand before Feng Cheng and performed another graceful bow. At the same time, she slowly raised her eyes, her gaze landing on Feng Cheng’s face. Feng Cheng gave her a smile, and her face instantly flushed crimson.
Ming Yuemian: “…”
What are you blushing for, you bubble tea pot?!
No way, sister. As a princess, what kind of handsome guys haven’t you seen? You’ve fallen for him at this level? Is the Li Kingdom completely devoid of handsome men?!
The Li Sovereign then ordered the attendants to add a seat at the banquet. As “luck” would have it, the seat was arranged right next to Feng Cheng.
Ming Yuemian didn’t believe for a second that this Sovereign was being accidental. Can a “sweet, white, and naive” person become the ruler of a kingdom? This old geezer was clearly full of schemes.
Given Feng Cheng’s cultivation and status, if the Li Sovereign could recruit him as a son-in-law, it would be purely beneficial. The Li Kingdom could establish a closer connection with the Tianxuan Sect and receive better protection.
Heh, Ming Yuemian watched Feng Cheng with a cold eye, thinking to herself, What a popular little snack.
The Li Sovereign wasn’t a naive fool, and similarly, Ming Yuemian didn’t believe Feng Cheng was one either. How could he not know what these people were plotting?
He was perfectly aware.
He simply didn’t expose it or explain himself, maintaining an ambiguous attitude.
This was exactly what Ming Yuemian looked down on the most. Feng Cheng had the persona of a romantic lead, but compared to an openly profligate playboy, he was the type who was gentle to every woman, racking up numerous “peach blossom debts.”
He wasn’t cheating openly; he was being subtly nauseating. Even if called out, he could put on a victim’s pose. I didn’t do anything, my heart has only ever had you, it’s just that they all fell in love with me.
Ultimately, it’s all because I’m just too charming.
Ming Yuemian: Barf!
Indignant, she turned her frustration into appetite, fiercely picking up a fried chicken leg.
Just then, a palace servant hurried in again, clutching their robes. The Li Sovereign asked what was the matter, and the servant reported: “Sovereign, an envoy from the Miaoyin Sect requests an audience!”
“They arrived at this time?” The Sovereign was somewhat surprised but said, “Invite them in properly.”
Clatter. Ming Yuemian’s hand froze, and the crispy fried chicken leg she was holding with her chopsticks dropped onto the table.
Holy crap. She stared wide-eyed at the female cultivator stepping into the hall.
Could this be the female cultivator who has an ambiguous history with Feng Cheng? How is she online so early!
The banquet had suddenly become crowded to the point of being rowdy… Ming Yuemian started counting on her fingers, the original wife Fu Shuang, the “vicious junior sister” Ming Yuemian (herself), and the Royal Princess who turned red the moment she saw Feng Cheng…
And now there’s another female cultivator from another sect holding a “love number ticket”?
Ming Yuemian wailed inwardly. What kind of “four women in the same boat” plot is this?