Chapter 342: That Is the Smile of a Sovereign Gazing Down Upon the World

"Your Majesty, someone at the palace gates claiming to be from the Yundan Royal Family requests an audience."

’The Yundan people?’

Xiao Li had almost completely forgotten about that insignificant little country. ’The Yundan Royal Family? Now that sounds a little interesting.’

"Send them in."

’I happen to be free. It can’t hurt to see them.’

"Hua Qichuan of Yundan pays his respects to Empress Long Sheng!"

Xiao Li looked down at the poised and elegant man, raising a slight eyebrow in a rare moment of surprise.

The man didn’t dare raise his head, so he hadn’t recognized her. Xiao Li, however, could see him clearly. ’Isn’t this Mr. Qi, the owner of that caravan?’

’An old acquaintance!’

When a long moment passed without a sound from the throne, Hua Qichuan didn’t dare to look up, keeping his head bowed in a respectful posture.

’The Empress of Longsheng is said to be unpredictable and ruthless. I can’t afford to anger her.’

Just as Hua Qichuan was feeling incredibly anxious, a familiar, amused female voice drifted down from above. "Boss Qi, have you been well?"

’That voice?’

Hua Qichuan snapped his head up. The moment he saw the face of the person behind the imperial desk, he froze in shock. ’This person... isn’t she Miss Li from Beicang?’

’Why is she sitting there?’

Seeing her attire, Hua Qichuan instantly understood, and his shock grew even more profound.

"You... You’re actually the Empress..."

Hua Qichuan would never have dreamed he had already met the Empress, let alone at such a time and in such a place.

Ignoring the tempest raging in his heart, he hastily said, "I was not aware of Your Majesty’s identity before. If I have caused any offense, I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness!"

Hua Qichuan frantically racked his brain, trying to remember if he had done anything to offend the Empress.

’Emperors are notoriously fickle and do not tolerate being slighted.’

’Perhaps something a common person would consider trivial is a grave offense in the eyes of an Emperor.’

’I am here to ask the Empress for a favor. I can’t let what happened before ruin my chances.’

In just an instant, the thoughts racing through Hua Qichuan’s mind made his forehead break out in a sweat.

"You jest, Boss Qi. You saved my life. You are my benefactor, so how could you speak of offense?"

"Did I not say when we parted ways that if we should meet again, I would surely repay Mr. Qi’s kindness?"

Hua Qichuan quickly replied with polite deference, "I would not dare, I would not dare. It is more than enough that Your Majesty does not mind my previous lack of courtesy."

’For the Empress to remember is a grace in itself; I dare not presume upon that kindness to expect repayment.’

Xiao Li knew he must be here to ask for something, so she didn’t press the matter of repayment. Instead, she said, "Let’s put other things aside for now. I insist on having a drink with you, to properly welcome you as your host."

How could Hua Qichuan dare refuse? "Your Majesty is too kind. The honor is all mine."

Xiao Li ordered wine and food to be prepared and summoned Rong Qing to join them.

Rong Qing was also quite surprised to see Hua Qichuan. He stepped forward to greet him, "Mr. Qi, it’s been a long time."

’Now that he knew "Miss Li" was the Empress, it stood to reason that "Guard Yang" was no ordinary man either.’

He had heard quite a few rumors on his journey here, and now he could finally put a name to the face.

"General Rong, I have long admired you!"

’Rumor had it the Empress had two generals at her side. One was tall and imposing, a master of martial arts; the other was refined and scholarly, with a disarmingly cunning smile. Both were said to be unswervingly loyal, taking orders only from the Empress herself.’

’Judging by his build and features, this had to be the one renowned for his valor, Great General Rong Qing.’

’No wonder I wanted to recruit him on sight. The Great General of Longsheng is no ordinary talent. Who wouldn’t be green with envy?’

’As for the Empress, well, I was truly blind.’

’It wasn’t that she seemed unimpressive; he had sensed her mysterious and powerful aura. But he simply couldn’t have imagined that the Empress and the Great General would show up in the desert in such a desperate state.’

’To think I’d encounter two of the most prominent figures under heaven in a place like that. Fate truly is a wondrous thing.’

’And to think I even wanted to recruit them. I was truly overestimating my own abilities.’

The banquet began, and besides Rong Qing, Song Junzhan was also brought in to join them.

Hua Qichuan looked at Rong Qing, who was as majestic as a divine general, then at the elegant, poised, and handsome Song Junzhan, and marveled at how Longsheng was truly a land of exceptional people, producing one talent after another.

Xiao Li emerged wearing a white Kesi silk informal robe embroidered with dragon roundels. Her hair was bound up with a crown, giving her a crisp, neat appearance that didn’t lack for majesty. The white, however, lacked the oppressive weight of black, making her seem much more approachable and finally allowing Hua Qichuan to dare a proper look.

’Sure enough, some people are like that. No matter how down on their luck they appear, one look is all it takes to know they’re no ordinary person.’

’He had thought Xiao Li’s aura was special before. She claimed to be a young lady from Beicang, but he couldn’t imagine what noble family in a small nation like Beicang could possibly produce a daughter with such a disposition.’

’Now, seeing her in the Dragon Robe was like watching a mortise and tenon join together—a perfect, seamless fit.’

And the faint smile Xiao Li wore as she spoke always evoked an indescribable feeling—it was simultaneously frightening and gentle, and possessed an inexplicable, persuasive power.

’Now he understood. It was the smile of a ruler gazing down upon the mortal world.’

’It wasn’t the smile of a king from a small country like Yundan, but the calm composure of an absolute, supreme sovereign who held the world in their palm.’

"I hear you’ve come from Yundan, and are a member of the Yundan Royal Family," Prime Minister Song Junzhan inquired politely.

Hua Qichuan immediately replied, "The King of Yundan is my cousin."

As he spoke, he turned to the Empress and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, I have a younger brother, Hua Jinchuan. He was sent to Longsheng three years ago. I was wondering if it might be possible for us to meet?"

Xiao Li couldn’t answer that, so her gaze fell on Song Junzhan.

’I never dealt with that person. He hasn’t been killed, has he?’

Song Junzhan clearly knew the situation, for he nodded. "Rest assured, sir. The Empress will allow you to see him."

Hua Qichuan saw the subtle glance but didn’t understand its meaning.

’Still, judging by his tone, my brother must still be alive.’

’I’ve imagined many times that my brother might not be living well, so I don’t have high expectations. As long as he’s alive and in one piece, it’s enough.’

’I was lucky, too. To have stumbled upon the Empress on the border of Beicang and Yundan... She doesn’t seem like an unreasonable person.’

’The only question is whether the life-saving favor I did for her will be enough to convince her to let me take him away.’

As the Empress, Xiao Li couldn’t be expected to entertain her guest personally the entire time, so it was mostly Song Junzhan who conversed with Hua Qichuan, with Rong Qing occasionally chiming in.

The Empress listened the whole time, offering an occasional nod of acknowledgement.

However, after a while, Hua Qichuan finally realized what was happening.

Song Junzhan had been the one asking all the questions—about Yundan’s local customs, its economic situation, and the structure of the Yundan Royal Family and its court.

Of course, Song Junzhan wasn’t asking directly; his conversational style made one inadvertently reveal a great deal of information.

Hua Qichuan prided himself on his abilities and experience. He often traveled between several countries, had witnessed his fair share of human treachery, and considered himself extremely vigilant.

And yet this young man, Song Junzhan, who looked so handsome and harmless, had almost managed to coax out all his secrets with just a few casual sentences.

’Worthy indeed of a man who could become the Prime Minister of a great nation at such a young age, right by the Empress’s side.’

’How terrifying!’

Hua Qichuan’s sudden guardedness was so obvious that Xiao Li couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

’My Prime Minister looks handsome and harmless, but you’ll have a miserable time if you underestimate him.’