Chapter 131 - 124_1

Words : 1880 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

The morning sun ascended, shimmering through the branches of ancient pines and cypresses. Ji Nanjue flew towards the Imperial City, his storage ring holding petals of the Immortal Fate Grass he had acquired from the base of Unrepentant Cliff. This Immortal Fate Grass plant had been deliberately placed by him at that specific location under Unrepentant Cliff, so he could conveniently collect its petals on schedule when the time came. The elixir refined from the petals of the Immortal Fate Grass had functions beyond just concealing one's fate from the heavens. It was precisely because he had been taking this Immortal Fate Pill for hundreds of years that he was never questioned by certain individuals, effectively concealing his own identity. However, he had not expected to witness this scene! "Su Bei? An interesting man!" Ji Nanjue murmured to himself, then stretched out his hand and gently wiped his face. Visibly, Ji Nanjue's feminine traits gradually disappeared, replaced by a prominent Adam's apple. After looking himself over again to make sure he hadn't given anything away, he pushed open the door to the Imperial Study Room. The candlelight flickered dimly, revealing the Empress lightly leaning over the desk, sleeping soundly. Ji Nanjue paused slightly. Had she not slept all night? Waiting here in the Imperial Study Room just for him? The morning breeze blew through the open lattice windows of the hall, stirring Lin Jinyu's somewhat disheveled hair. Observing the Empress's steady breathing and her softly rising and falling body, Ji Nanjue's gaze became more complex, a hint of guilt surfacing in his heart. Because of him, this woman had indeed suffered. Didn't this count as another form of living a widowed life while her husband was still alive, trapped within the deep palace? Perhaps it was due to recently meeting Su Bei, such an interesting character, that Ji Nanjue was in a rather good mood. Unprecedentedly, he stepped forward. Looking at Lin Jinyu's delicate sleeping face, he tentatively reached out and stroked her dark hair. As if sensing Ji Nanjue's gentle touch, Lin Jinyu opened her groggy eyes. Upon seeing it was Ji Nanjue, a spark flashed in her eyes. She hastily got up and said gently, "Has Your Majesty just returned?" Looking at the Empress's slightly darkened eye sockets and the fatigue from a sleepless night evident on her face, Su Bei's tender expression involuntarily flashed through Ji Nanjue's mind. Ji Nanjue reached out to support her. Trying to imitate Su Bei's tone as he looked at the Empress, he said softly, "You should go rest, Empress." Lin Jinyu stared blankly at Ji Nanjue, taken aback by the unexpected tenderness he showed her. Before she could recover, tears began to flow. She gently leaned against his chest, feeling the warmth of his body and inhaling his scent. He seemed to have changed so much. Suddenly, Lin Jinyu sniffed carefully, thinking she detected a very strange scent on his body— —somewhat like the smell of barbecue? A hint of suspicion surfaced on her face. Strange? Could it be that His Majesty went out for barbecue late at night? And who did he eat with?! For some reason, a name he had repeatedly mentioned popped into her mind. At this thought, Lin Jinyu inadvertently gasped, her eyes widening in shock. Don't tell me I actually guessed correctly? Could it be... His Majesty truly fancies men?! As Lin Jinyu was lost in wild, complicated thoughts, she looked up to see Ji Nanjue squinting at the rice paper on the desk. He seemed to ponder for a moment before picking up his brush and drawing two circle-like shapes. Then, Ji Nanjue looked with satisfaction at the drawing under his brush, identical to the silver badge Su Bei had shown him, and asked, "Empress, have you ever heard of this pattern?" Lin Jinyu raised her eyebrows at the horizontal figure-eight (∞) before her, her expression bemused as she blurted out instinctively, "Is this... two eggs?" Ji Nanjue frowned. Didn't I draw it well enough? It's clearly an ancient-looking ring. Right, I should add another stroke. Recalling the appearance of that ancient-looking ring, he carefully added an 'n' to the ∞. Lin Jinyu's eyes widened as she looked at the pattern before her, and then suddenly, something came to mind. Instantly, a blush crept up her ears, her breathing quickened, and she gasped lightly. Looking up, her eyes misty, she gazed at Ji Nanjue. Is he... is he teasing me? Is he hinting at something? Has this man finally figured it out? Ji Nanjue looked puzzled by the Empress's sudden change, but he didn't dwell on it. Silence hung in the air. Just then, a maid entered with her head lowered, breaking the stillness. She respectfully approached Ji Nanjue, holding a gilded invitation, and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, a Sword Sect Disciple gave me this invitation for the Dongfeng Royal Family." Surprise flashed in Ji Nanjue's eyes. He took the invitation, skimmed through it briefly, and nodded slightly. Then, looking at the Empress who was still lost in her own fantasies, he said, "Empress..." "I am willing!" Ji Nanjue: "?" The Empress froze, her eyes wide with panic. Lin Jinyu looked up at Ji Nanjue's questioning gaze, swallowed nervously, lowered her eyes, and nodded in acknowledgment. "I have noticed that the Empress has been confined to the deep chambers of the harem for a long time, and boredom must have inevitably set in," Ji Nanjue said. "This invitation states that the Second Elder of the Sword Sect, Xi Qingyi, is soon to celebrate his eight-hundredth birthday. He has invited all sects under heaven, including our Dongfeng Royal Family." "..." After a pause, he continued, "However, as I am occupied with the affairs of the state, it is not convenient for me to visit the Sword Sect, but it would be inappropriate not to attend." "This time, the Empress shall represent the Dongfeng Royal Family at the Sword Sect." "What does the Empress think?" Upon hearing Ji Nanjue's words, Lin Jinyu's eyes instantly brightened, and she nodded. Ji Nanjue was right. Who wouldn't grow bored staying cooped up in the Imperial Palace for so long? This is a good opportunity to get away and lift my spirits. Besides, it's the Sword Sect... Does that mean I might have a chance to meet this Elder Su Bei, the one His Majesty is so preoccupied with? I really want to see what's so special about that fellow, to make His Majesty so utterly preoccupied by him... ... The cold wind howled through the treetops, sweeping over the vast cherry blossom forest outside the Sword Sect's mountain gate. After enduring several snowfalls, the once lush leaves had withered away, leaving only bare, iron-like twigs. Dan Wulan gently parted her red lips, exhaling warm mist. She lay in Su Bei's arms, feeling his uneven steps as he walked, listening to the soft crunching beneath their feet. Her mind was tranquil. After speeding along on their journey, they finally returned to the Sword Sect's territory. Su Bei breathed a sigh of relief, descending from the sky and moving forward through the thick snow. Sensing something, Su Bei turned his head to see Xiao Ruoching gently lifting her skirt, her brows slightly furrowed as she purposefully stepped in his footprints. Su Bei's feet were large, hers much smaller. Xiao Ruoching's lips curved up slightly, the edges of her embroidered, sword-patterned high-heeled shoes already soaking wet. Throughout the journey, his rebellious disciple had been in a very good mood. No longer wearing her previously cold expression, she occasionally showed him a hint of a satisfied smile. She was so focused on stepping in his footprints, her head bowed low, that she suddenly bumped into Su Bei, who had stopped. "AH!" Instinctively, Xiao Ruoching raised her head and flailed her arms forward to prevent herself from falling backward. For some reason, a mischievous urge rose within Su Bei. His disciple looked so happy; wouldn't it be amusing to make her cry? Because his arms were occupied holding Dan Wulan, he had no choice but to stick out a leg and kick towards Xiao Ruoching. THUMP! Watching Xiao Ruoching lying on the ground, looking up at him with an annoyed expression, Su Bei laughed out loud. Sunlight cast over Xiao Ruoching's face, making it appear incredibly soft. Her fingers flexed slightly, her nails translucent in the light. The sunlight spilled over Dan Wulan's eyes. She squinted, glanced at Xiao Ruoching on the ground, then turned her head away, breathing in Su Bei's scent, refusing to look. She wondered what had transpired between this master and disciple after she had fainted. She could clearly feel that Xiao Ruoching seemed much more at ease than before. Scrambling up from the snow, Xiao Ruoching was about to vent her frustration when she saw Su Bei take out a large Demon Core from his storage ring and hand it to her. After taking it, she heard Su Bei say, "When we get back to the Sword Sect, first deliver this Dao Integration Demon Pill to the Third Elder." "Tell him it's a request from me, your master, to concoct some medicinal pills. Yes, it's best to let the other disciples see it..." "Otherwise, I'm afraid he might try to renege on the deal." "With such a quality Demon Core, he should be able to concoct some pills to replenish qi and blood. Your Ninth Uncle is severely injured and in urgent need, so make it quick!" "I need to pay your Grandmaster Uncle a visit, to discuss this thing called a newspaper." Su Bei arched an eyebrow, looking at Xiao Ruoching, who seemed to want to speak but hesitated. Xiao Ruoching nodded and glanced again at Ninth Uncle in Su Bei's arms, her lips moving as if to say something... but in the end, she said nothing. As they ascended the Han Baiyu Mountain Gate, the Sword Sect disciples guarding the gate cast a surprised glance at Su Bei holding Dan Wulan and hurried forward, one of them asking, "Fifth Elder! Ninth Elder, is she..." Su Bei smiled and tightened the Crane Cloak around Dan Wulan, saying warmly, "It's nothing serious. Ninth Uncle just got a bit hurt. She just needs an injection, some treatment, and she'll be fine." "Thank you for your hard work!" Having said that, he drifted away. The guarding Sword Sect disciples were deeply moved. No one had ever said "thank you for your hard work" to them before! Their noses ran instantly. They carelessly wiped them with their sleeves and said tearfully, "Elder Su truly is... such a good person!" "Yeah!" However, they were immediately puzzled by what Su Bei had just said. "What does 'getting an injection' mean?" "I don't know. Perhaps it's a new form of treatment?" "Wow! Elder Su really is something. Even Ninth Uncle, a woman as cold as ice, is lying in his embrace!" "What's there to envy? Are you half as handsome as Elder Su?" "..."

Chapter 131 - 124_1

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