Chapter 217 - 102: Practically Glowing Green, and Returned to Me After 3 Days?

"Thank you, Li... Senior Sister, for helping me out at the banquet yesterday."

Su Qinghan collected her thoughts, took a few steps forward, and thanked her sincerely.

She didn’t know how to address Li Mengning, so she just called her Senior Sister, worried that calling her "sister" would be a bit too forward.

"..."

Li Mengning gave her a puzzled look, not understanding why Su Qinghan was suddenly thanking her.

But after a moment’s thought, she gave a slight nod, her serene eyes showing little emotion.

Su Qinghan was beginning to understand her personality, so she wasn’t surprised. She smiled to herself, and just like Li Mengning, found a bluestone to sit on cross-legged and began to cultivate.

Li Mengning came from a better background and was more talented, yet she still cultivated so diligently, never slacking off.

She really admired her for that.

Lately, with Chu Chan not by Jiang Lan’s side, she had grown a bit lazy, spending all day clinging to him, having had a taste and wanting more.

Even her cultivation had fallen behind a little.

However, the Pure Girl Star-Praying Skill that Yuqing Zhenren had taught her wasn’t very effective when practiced during the day.

And at night, when she and Jiang Lan dual cultivated, she couldn’t practice the Pure Girl Star-Praying Skill.

’I really do have to go to the Dao Cang Sword Sect...’

Su Qinghan actually felt a sense of urgency, especially after returning from the Purple Mist True Monarch Secret Realm. She was finding it harder and harder to gauge Chu Chan’s cultivation level.

Chu Chan’s strength was improving rapidly. Before, she had only lacked opportunities and resources.

Now that she wanted for nothing, it was as if her accumulated potential was finally being unleashed, and her strength was soaring.

On top of that, Chu Chan knew exactly how to please Jiang Lan.

During their time in Anyang City, she had often seen Chu Chan order servants to Wuyi Lane to purchase some Jueqiao garments that were as thin as gauze.

If Chu Chan were at the Prime Minister’s Mansion, she would probably know how to win the madam’s favor as well.

Su Qinghan didn’t want to get into this rat race, but someone was forcing her to compete...

Meanwhile, after having breakfast with his parents, Jiang Lan casually asked about the Xie Family’s situation.

Jiang Lintian thought he was worried and said with a direct smile, "I have already made all the arrangements, Lan’Er. You can rest assured. That Xie Jianjia wouldn’t be able to escape even if she grew wings."

"Emperor Xia intends to protect Xie Jianjia and plans to send the Xie Family’s women away in batches. Some will go to the Dao Cang Sword Sect, and others to the Canglan Sword Sect."

"And while it’s publicly claimed that Xie Jianjia is being sent to the Dao Cang Sword Sect, she’s actually with the group of women going to the Canglan Sword Sect. Even Xie Jianjia herself doesn’t know about this."

"I know what you’re worried about. Prince Zhenbei Xiao River’s third son, Xiao Teng, is deeply in love with that Xie Jianjia. After getting the news yesterday, he started looking for friends to help him escort her safely to the Sword Sect..."

"How could his little scheme possibly escape my notice?"

"Everything is going according to my plan."

"It seems Father has already arranged everything perfectly. I was worrying for nothing," Jiang Lan replied, having nothing more to say.

His father’s plans were, one could say, meticulously detailed and flawless.

His father had taken everything that needed to be considered into account.

But he had overlooked one thing: Xiao Teng’s own extraordinary nature.

As the illegitimate son of Ge Qixing and the Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace, Xiao Teng not only possessed the Star Body but also a pair of Pupils of Truth. This was a secret he kept deeply hidden, and very few people knew about it.

In the entire Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion, only Prince Zhenbei himself was aware of it.

These Pupils of Truth allowed Xiao Teng to perceive and deduce hidden dangers and schemes, letting him avoid misfortune and seek fortune.

Even with the Celestial Secret Pavilion, which could gather intelligence from all under heaven, backing his father, he still didn’t know Xiao Teng’s secret.

Jiang Lan didn’t explain further. After all, if he were to say more, it would go beyond the scope of the "fragment of the future" he had claimed to see yesterday.

"Father, I plan to go to the Observatory myself," he said suddenly.

"Oh? Why is that?" Jiang Lintian asked, slightly surprised.

"I want to personally confirm whether Xie Jianjia’s Primordial Yin is still intact. If it’s already lost, then we don’t need to go to all this trouble," Jiang Lan said.

Of course, he was just saying that. In the original plot, Xie Jianjia had kept Xiao Teng on a string, not even letting him touch her hand.

In truth, he was going for another reason.

The Observatory was, after all, a place of great importance in Great Xia. Getting inside wasn’t easy. Even as the Son of the Prime Minister, he would need a Pass Token.

"Very well."

Jiang Lintian nodded slightly. Understanding Jiang Lan’s ’fastidiousness,’ he casually took off his own Identity Token and handed it to him.

As for a Pass Token for the Observatory, how could that be as useful as his own Identity Token?

...

At the same time, in a magnificent grand hall deep within Jingyang City, a tall figure wearing a crown and a bright yellow Dragon Robe stood by a window with his hands clasped behind his back.

From his perspective, one could look down upon sprawling palace walls and towering pavilions.

In the distance, a silver waterfall could be faintly seen, crashing down from a vast Divine Mountain and kicking up endless mist.

Amidst the veiled Divine Island Immortal Mountain, clouds and mist swirled, presenting a truly majestic sight.

"This is all my empire..."

the tall figure said softly.

His face was incredibly fair and handsome, with sharp, well-defined features and brows as if drawn by a brush. He was a bit slender and looked rather androgynous, as did his voice, yet it held a trace of imperial majesty.

Beside him, several women who looked like ladies-in-waiting stood in attendance with their eyes lowered.

One held a sword, another wore a saber at her waist, a third held an ancient seal, and a fourth carried an official stamp. Judging by the fluctuations of Spiritual Energy they emanated, all of them were clearly accomplished cultivators.

In the distance, across the grand hall, palace maids moved about while eunuchs stood at attention, holding Golden Lamp Incense Burners. There were exactly one hundred and eight of them in total.