The Tranquil Abode now looked almost completely different. Besides the large swathes of herb beds in the yard having been tended to become more dazzlingly beautiful, the originally intricate weave of dried branches and vines had been completely cleaned up, giving the entire place a brand new look.
In the little courtyard that had been exquisitely and tastefully cleaned up, a soft lounge had been placed. A young lady in a white dress laid upon it, lazily basking in the sun with one hand resting over her forehead, in unbelievable contentment.
A white blur fleeted in at incredible speed from a certain direction in a flash, the blurry shadow so fast it was hard for the naked eye to even see, but was caught between two fingers by the young lady.
[Look at what this is!]
It was a beautiful Snow Toad, its entire body snowy white, a little creature the size of a baby’s palm. Its two large sparkling eyes were highly intelligent, its four limbs kicking and struggling incessantly in the air, looking pleadingly at the smiling person in front of its face.
Qing Yu propped herself up from the soft lounge and squeezed the little creature in her hand a little.
Where have you gone to get wild these past few days hmm? To think you still knew well enough to come back. I had thought that you had gone out to look for food, why have you not eaten and come back here skinnier?
The Snow Toad blinked its eyes innocently. [I have always been so slim you know?]
It was just thinking to protest when it suddenly recalled something important, and it immediately couldn’t care any less that it was in currently in such a humiliating position, squeezed in the hand of that person. It then waved its short little limbs while opening and closing its mouth like it was trying to say something. To the eyes of any other person, the little creature would merely look like it was up to its tricks by trying to look adorably helpless.
But Qing Yu was able to understand what it was saying.
The pair of alluring upslanted phoenix like eyes then perked up with interest. [Things were becoming more and more interesting!]
Alright. Seeing that you brought back useful information, I’ll let you off.
Qing Yu curled up her lips, breaking into a highly gentle smile. She released her grip and the Snow Toad then fell onto its behind on the ground, caught completely off guard. It was just about to throw a fit when it heard that melodious voice drift over sinisterly.
I heard that a Snow Toad’s body contains all kinds of great precious effects. I wonder what they taste like double boiled?
The little creature on the ground shivered, and then quickly turned over to pretend to play dead, not moving an inch. But in its heart, it was shedding tears. [How harsh it is! ? Life is just so harsh~]
Ever since that big incident happened at the New Moon Lake that day, as the Crown Prince, Xuanyuan Che had immediately gone back to the palace to report the matter, and he was almost certain that the Duke of Vast Seas and the Ninth Princess Yue Xin Yan were already in the Green Wave Kingdom.
But why had they delayed coming to the palace? That was a point that many people felt was rather unfathomable.
The people were all guessing in their hearts, whether they were carrying out some secret investigation, and after getting a clear picture, they would then declare war upon the Green Wave Kingdom.
The Green Wave Emperor was seen to deeply troubled, his face melancholy and depressed. The words Duke of Vast Seas were like a cancer, that made him feel hatred and terror, but could not afford to show him wary respect.
Despite the fact that the people over on this side had thought up a million and one possibilities to be the reason that the Duke of Vast Seas had brought forward his arrival unannounced without showing himself, the man in question himself had actually come two days earlier merely to handle some personal affairs.
And on this trip here, he had only brought along two people with him, Yue Xin Yan and Ah Jin. As the other people from the Water Edge Kingdom had not even reached, so he had not yet gone to the Imperial Palace to seek an audience with the Emperor.
Afterall, with one as the Duke and the other a princess of their kingdom, they could not possibly show up without an official delegation. The rest of the Water Edge’s delegation would reach the Green Wave’s Imperial Capital in about another one day and a half, and that would be the best time for them to present themselves to the Emperor in the palace.
But. For Qing Ye Li who had stayed in the Afterlife Loft for the past three days, he had not received anything fruitful from it.
.2 : Water Edge Kingdom Visits
You couldn’t find anything?
The countenance beneath the mask darkened imperceptibly. Every little frown and every faint smile from the person in the painting was so moving but unfortunately, it was afterall still just a painting, where one was able to see, but not able to touch.
Qing Ye Li sighed softly.
Where are you…..
Highness.
Ah Jin’s voice came in from outside the door.
Just received news that the Water Edge’s delegation led by General Wei will be reaching the Imperial Capital in another hour.
Alright.
Qing Ye Li kept his thoughts away and his tall and slender figure stood up from the chair, turning back into the high and mighty, stern faced Duke of Vast Seas, one not prone to smiling or words.
The people of the Water Edge Kingdom had come, and the atmosphere in the Capital City was a little frenzied.
For no other reason than the fact that the one person who had come was the god of slaughter, the Duke of Vast Seas whose fame drove everyone throughout the lands to tremble in their boots. That was a person whom even the Emperor himself had to be wary of.
It was rumoured that the Duke of Vast Seas looked vicious and ferocious, and that was why he always wore a mask before people. Otherwise, people who saw his real countenance would have their very lives completely frightened out of them.
Adults had often used that to scare disobedient children, telling them if they continue to be naughty, they would send them to the Duke of Vast Seas, whereby the children would then not dare to be mischievous and be up to any more tricks.
Hence it could very well be imagined, how big an effect this visit had on the people, when even young children have heard of his infamy.
The Green Wave Emperor had specially arranged for the Crown Prince and the Duke of Eternal Peace to go forth and receive the people from the Water Edge Kingdom, in a show of respect.
The entire Water Edge Kingdom’s grand delegation consisted of a good hundred people, all dressed in the same deep blue military uniform, with one lone man on a horse leading in front, his face stalwart and rugged, his figure toweringly burly while exuding a austere aura. The man was one of the Water Edge Kingdom’s generals who was skilled in warfare and battle, a born warrior, and a highly trusted aide of the Duke of Vast Seas.
Behind him were two beautiful and luxurious palanquins, each carried by eight people treading with firm and steady steps. The one in front was light blue in colour, which looked highly intricate and pretty. That must be that Water Edge Kingdom’s Ninth Princess inside where rumours about her claimed that she was almost as divine as a goddess.
The palanquin before was silver and it looked a lot more simple, but looked grand and unpretentious. The indistinct figure of a person could be seen faintly inside and with the occasional breeze that blew past, the silver hair of that person stood out strikingly.
People in the world all knew that the Water Edge Kingdom’s Duke of Vast Seas was born with a head of extraordinary silver hair, and a pair of eyes that was a deep green like those of a wolf.
Even though they were unable to get a clear look, that silver hair had already proven his identity.
That evil demon. I get so angry my entire body hurts the moment I see him.
Yu Xiao Ning clenched her teeth together, her large limpid eyes brewing with rage.
But after saying that, she then noticed that she was not getting any response. She turned her head around in puzzlement, to find Yan Ning Luo who was always as expressionless as a mountain of ice staring with her cold indifferent eyes, focused unwaveringly in a particular direction, or rather, a particular person.
[And the gaze of those eyes were actually showing a tinge of….. liking? !]
Yu Xiao Ning just could not believe her own eyes. [This woman who had only ever shown interest in cultivation was actually capable of showing such an expression as if she had just seen her sweetheart?]
Yu Xiao Ning took a deep breath and then asked cautiously:
Little Ning, I am talking to you here. Who are you looking at?
Yan Ning Luo seemed to have only just heard Yu Xiao Ning saying something and she then turned her gaze back, her sparkling eyes looking a little joyful. She looked at Yu Xiao Ning and then slowly revealed a smile.
I have finally….. seen him again, and I will never be left clueless on how to find him again.
What did you say?
Yu Xiao Ning was a little shocked as her eyes flared wide, her heart seemingly having realized something but just did not dare to believe it.
.3 : Water Edge Kingdom Visits
The smile at the corners of Yan Ning Luo’s lips then deepened a little.
You remember that I told you before that there was a person I liked?
Yu Xiao Ning blinked her eyes, struggling to recall. Digging down deep into her memories, she then finally found a faint impression.
I seem to have come to like someone.
Yan Ning Luo had only been seven or eight years old then, her young and puerile voice had said to the similarly young and tiny Yu Xiao Ning then that she had found someone she liked.
And that liking had blossomed, slowly growing deeper, to become love.
To think that such a small little girl had already known how to like a person, and that liking had gone on for eight whole years!
Yu Xiao Ning was a little startled.
Little Ning, you’ve got to be kidding. Tell me who is this person that you have come to like?
Yan Ning Luo’s gaze grew gentle.
He told me his name is Qing Ye Li. A long time ago, I only knew his name, but I was not aware that he is actually the Duke of Vast Seas.
The name of the Duke of Vast Seas was indeed Qing Ye Li, but no more than a handful of people dared to call him by his name, and as time passed, the people had almost forgotten what his name was, but only knew him to be the Duke of Vast Seas.
[That god of slaughter had even told her his name. Could he possibly be interested in Little Ning as well?]
Yu Xiao Ning was in shock as her thoughts raced. That man was just too terrifying! And Little Ning is actually in love with him?]
[Although he is very powerful indeed, and you wouldn’t be able to find more than a few who would be able to stand up against him. But wouldn’t Little Ning then have to suffer under that unpredictable temperament and the eccentric mood swings of that man?]
Just thinking about it and Yu Xiao Ning could not help but worry for her good friend. But the most crucial point was…..
Little Ning, have you forgotten that you have a marriage engagement with the Crown Prince? By doing this, aren’t you making him…..
[A cuckold now?] But she did not dare speak those last few words aloud.
He doesn’t like me anyway, so does it even matter?
Yan Ning Luo smiled indifferently.
Wait till he has someone he likes, we will then go to His Majesty to annul the marriage engagement.
Yu Xiao Ning knitted up her brows.
His Majesty will definitely not agree to it. Little Ning, don’t forget. The Duke of Vast Seas is an enemy of the Green Wave Kingdom.
So what? At most, I will just give up being a princess and go to the Water Edge with him.
Yan NIng Luo had said those words very lightly, but it had clunked heavily in Yu Xiao Ning’s heart. [It seems like she was really very much in love with that Duke of Vast Seas fella. But with just one look, it was clear that that man was not easy to get along with. Can’t help but wonder what kind of bewitching brew that man had given Yan Ning Luo.]
No matter what she said at that moment, Yan Ning Luo would not listen. Yu Xiao Ning then just clamped her mouth shut.
Soon, the Water Edge Kingdom’s delegation were assigned their lodgings. It was a unique structure, grand and magnificent, a non permanent palace situated on the west side of the Imperial Palace. It was said the place was constructed only one year ago, used specifically only to receive delegations from other kingdoms, and the Water Edge Kingdom’s emissaries were the first people to stay in that annex.
As they had come a far and long distance and were all travel worn, the Green Wave Kingdom then allowed the delegation some time to rest and organize themselves, by setting the welcome banquet to start later after nightfall.
The Water Edge Kingdom had said that they were sending the Ninth Princess here for matchmaking, but it was in fact just provocation. It must be known that in the Green Wave Kingdom’s Imperial Family, besides the Crown Prince Xuanyuan Che and the denounced Sixth Prince Xuanyuan Chi, they did not have any other princes they could bring out that was considered worthy of this Ninth Princess.
Unfortunately, among those two, one already had a Crown Prince Consort already decided upon, and they couldn’t possibly ask a highborn princess of another kingdom to be a concubine could they! ?
As for the other Sixth Prince, although denounced, he was still a direct disciple in the inner circle of the Limitless Sect’s Sect Leader, which was one of the Three Great Sects, and his maternal clan was the Constellation Lands’ top Family Clan of medical cultivators, his identity rather extraordinary. But the most crucial point was that his relationship with the current reigning Emperor was on rather bad terms and it was impossible for them to reconcile.
