Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 128: Chapter 126: Invitation

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”Inviting me for tea...” Xiao Ruoling’s deep and enchanting eyes sparkled, like a secluded pond under the sunlight.

”Elder sister, just refuse.” Xiao Ruoyu said, ”The Ninth Princess of Da Meng definitely has ill intentions.”

”What might her intentions be?” Xiao Ruoling asked.

Xiao Ruoyu snorted, ”Is she trying to outshine you, Elder sister?... There’s been quite a stir outside these days, insisting on comparing you to her.”

Xiao Ruoling looked at him curiously.

She had been focused on cultivation these days, paying little attention to outside affairs, burying herself in cultivation after attending a palace night banquet.

Xiao Ruoyu said, ”Some say you are the number one beauty, others say she is, anyway, they say all sorts of things.”

He pouted, ”That Li Hongzhao is beautiful, but she’s far behind you, Elder sister!”

Xiao Ruoling laughed, ”Little Tiger, you know how to flatter now.”

”I’m telling the truth; I’m not lying!” Xiao Ruoyu snorted, ”Just a glance at her, and you can see she’s some kind of enchantress, not a good woman!”

They attended the palace night banquet a couple of days ago, the Emperor welcomed the Da Meng mission, no different from when he welcomed the Da Zhen mission.

But this time, there were no exchanges between princely heirs, no Heavenly Dragon Divine Horses, just dining and watching dances.

No tension at all, a harmonious atmosphere, seemingly more like an alliance with Da Meng than with Da Zhen.

Xiao Ruoyu saw the Ninth Princess Li Hongzhao of Da Meng.

Indeed, she was an exquisite beauty, breathtakingly beautiful, every expression was like a hook, making one’s heart flutter uncontrollably.

She was not only beautiful and charming but also held a high position, respected within the Da Meng mission, capable of making decisions.

This made her not only beautiful and noble but also overwhelming in aura.

For a time, even Xiao Ruoling couldn’t outshine her.

”Whether someone is a good woman cannot be judged by appearance alone.” Xiao Ruoling gently shook her head, ”Li Hongzhao has a good reputation, and this is Yujing.”

”Anyway, I think she has ill intentions, not deliberately trying to overshadow your presence, Elder sister?” Xiao Ruoyu considered, ”To win the first beauty competition?”

”She’s not that childish!” Xiao Ruoling rolled her eyes, ”Probably has ulterior motives... Since she invited, let’s agree to it.”

”Really going to agree?” Xiao Ruoyu hesitated.

Xiao Ruoling said, ”Even if she’s bold, she wouldn’t harm me, besides, there’s no need to harm me.”

Li Hongzhao, no matter how audacious, wouldn’t dare harm her in Yujing City.

Moreover, she was just a daughter of the State Duke Mansion, and Duke An was only the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, posing no conflict of interest.

”That’s true.” Xiao Ruoyu snorted, ”Why hasn’t the Princely Heir come out of seclusion yet.”

Xiao Ruoling looked in the direction of Prince Qing Mansion.

The two mansions were three streets apart, the location of Duke An Mansion slightly farther from the Imperial Palace than Prince Qing Mansion to the south by three streets.

The small pavilion, though high, was three streets away and couldn’t see Prince Qing Mansion.

Xiao Ruoyu said, ”If the Princely Heir were here, asking him would be best.”

Xiao Ruoling laughed, ”Alright, this trivial matter can still be dealt with, he needs to focus on cultivation and has no time for these matters.”

”Sigh...” Xiao Ruoyu remained worried.

Partly because of deep care, partly because of the Ninth Princess’s renowned sharpness and cunning, making him even more anxious.

Xiao Ruoling laughed, ”Hurry and practice, no slacking off.”

”Alright.” Xiao Ruoyu could only set aside his concerns.

He decided to make a trip to Prince Qing Mansion.

——

Hearing of his visit, Feng Xi personally came to greet him, respectfully welcoming him to the front hall.

Apologizing repeatedly with cupped fists, it was unfortunate timing as the Prince was visiting friends and the Princess had not returned to the mansion yet.

Xiao Ruoyu entered the front hall, took a sip of tea, then waved his hand, ”Chief Steward Feng, I came secretly, the Ninth Princess of Da Meng sent my elder sister an invitation.”

Feng Xi was startled, quickly responding, ”How about temporarily assigning four Grandmasters to the Heir’s Wife? They’ve always been with the Princely Heir, and... the Princely Heir had instructed that when the Heir’s Wife goes out, they can be assigned to help.”

”That would be perfect,” Xiao Ruoyu nodded hastily.

Feng Xi smiled, ”Please wait a moment, Young Lord.”

He soon summoned Guo Chi and the others, informing them they would temporarily serve as the Heir’s Wife’s guards.

Guo Chi and the others readily agreed.

Before going into seclusion, Chu Zhiyuan had instructed that should anything arise at Duke An Mansion, they were to go directly to help without delay.

...

By the morning of the next day, when Xiao Ruoling left Duke An Mansion, she noticed a difference.

Guo Chi and three others stood in brocade robes, solemnly at the steps outside the mansion. Upon seeing her, they cupped their fists in salute, ”Greetings to the Heir’s Wife.”

”Commander Guo, I appreciate your efforts.”

Xiao Ruoling wore a light purple palace gown, her glossy dark hair adorned with a jade hairpin given by Chu Zhiyuan.

This jade hairpin seemed ordinary but was actually carved from Cold Jade, having a calming and soothing effect.

Guo Chi respectfully cupped his fists, ”We are at your service.”

Xiao Ruoling smiled gently, nodded slightly, and entered the purple sandalwood carriage with two young maids.

Guo Chi and three others surrounded the carriage, each standing at a position, forming the Four Spirit Array as they moved forward naturally with the carriage.

They had been diligently practicing the Four Spirit Array and, with occasional guidance from Chu Zhiyuan, progressed rapidly. Now at the second level, they could form the Four Spirit Array anytime without standing in a specific position.

The guards of Duke An Mansion were positioned on the outer perimeter.

Among Xiao Ruoling’s guards was one Grandmaster, the others were Innate Masters.

The Duke An Mansion had quite a number of guards, but few with high cultivation, a total of four Grandmasters, with one each by Duke An, Xiao Ruoyu, and Xiao Ruoling, plus one overseeing the Mansion.

The purple sandalwood carriage slowly proceeded towards a teahouse on Phoenix Avenue — Bilin Pavilion.

Bilin Pavilion was located at the western end of Phoenix Avenue, near the noble area, also within the vicinity of the West Second Hall.

As Xiao Ruoling arrived at Bilin Pavilion and got off the carriage, she saw a group of knights, clad in dark green armor, standing outside.

The dark green armor shimmered with a dark sheen under the sunlight.

Her bright eyes flickered.

She pondered that if this armor were in the grasslands, it might blend seamlessly with the grass, making it difficult to distinguish from afar.

Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry!

Guo Chi and three others surrounded Xiao Ruoling as she got off, their aura immediately enveloping her, dispelling the intimidating presence formed by over thirty Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry.

The two young maids beside Xiao Ruoling looked around curiously as they followed her inside, entering the now-empty teahouse.

Clearly, the teahouse had been cleared.

Upon reaching the second floor, they saw a large group of maids and guards standing outside a room. Seeing Xiao Ruoling approach, they all made way.

Xiao Ruoling walked forward to the room, seeing inside the wide-open door, the elegant and beautiful Li Hongzhao was already seated by the window.

In a peach-red palace gown, leisurely holding a scroll.

Her skin was as white as jade, like a beauty carved from mutton fat jade.

Delicate lips, a prominent nose, phoenix-like eyes, and elegant brows, breathtakingly beautiful.

Setting down the scroll, Li Hongzhao rose to greet Xiao Ruoling with a cupped fist and a charming smile, ”Sister Xiao, sorry for not greeting you further away, please come in.”

”Your Highness.” Xiao Ruoling smiled and bowed, ”I’m flattered by Your Highness’s invitation.”

”You don’t seem flattered, Sister Xiao, let’s sit and talk.”

”Yes.”

The maids soon served tea.

Sitting by this window, one could see the bustling crowds below on Phoenix Avenue, densely packed like ants.

Lively and bustling.

”Sigh...” Li Hongzhao looked outside the city and sighed, ”Our Tianjing isn’t as lively, lacking so much of this prosperity.”

Xiao Ruoling chuckled, ”I hear Da Meng is also quite prosperous.”

Li Hongzhao shook her head, ”The people of Tianjing aren’t as carefree; they’re busy with their own affairs, always running around, unlike the enjoyment here in Yujing.”

Xiao Ruoling smiled and said nothing.

”I heard Princely Heir Yuan is in seclusion?” Li Hongzhao suddenly asked with a smile.

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