Lou Guan Xue was a person whose thoughts were difficult to guess. Anyway, Xia Qing still didn’t know his thoughts and intentions.
The only thing clear was that he wasn’t interested in many things.
He wasn’t interested in the power overshadowed by Yan Lan Yu; he wasn’t interested in the discussions on the streets and alleys of Ling Guang; he wasn’t interested in men and women who wanted to climb into his bed like crucian carp crossing the river.
Power, money, fame, lust… Everything that people eagerly sought, he carried with him an almost divine indifference.
However, Xia Qing himself wasn’t interested in these things either, so he couldn’t draw any conclusions.
When Yan Lan Yu said she wanted to help choose a consort, it was naturally not just for fun.
Those kites in the Imperial Garden were all minor characters—some palace maids who tried to climb up the ranks or common-born girls whose aspirations exceeded their abilities. The real eligible candidates from prestigious families of suitable age were quietly waiting for their parents to arrange marriages.
This was where Xia Qing wanted to vent.
The Imperial Garden of the Chu Kingdom’s palace, could they just walk in like that?!
Upon hearing this, Lou Guan Xue lazily smiled, “Yan Lan Yu, in order to continue the line of the Lou family, has gone to great lengths. She would love to present all the women in the world to me and see if I would favor any.”
“…” Oh, I see.
The list of candidates was quickly sent to the emperor’s bedroom.
During court sessions, the courtiers mostly talked about the cultivators who had come to Ling Guang from all corners of the country recently.
Prime Minister Wu respectfully said, “Your Majesty, the High Priest has sent word that he can return at the beginning of next month. Currently, all the cultivators in Ling Guang City, regardless of their sect or cultivation level, have been arranged together at the Wu Fang Inn, managed by the Taoist disciples.”
Lou Guan Xue assumed a relaxed posture as he sat on the dragon throne, his chin propped up with a smile as he inquired, “Hmm? The High Priest is returning early next month?”
Minister Wu’s eyes brightened with joy as he nodded, “Yes, and the High Priest also mentioned that he has discovered a method to completely vanquish the demons! May the heavens bless our Great Chu! Now we can finally eliminate the century-old shame and wash the pagoda with blood!!”
The smile on Lou Guan Xue’s face deepened, but he remained silent.
The Regent cast a glance at Minister Wu, stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and addressed, “Your Majesty, the headmaster of the Xuanyun Sect has left seclusion ahead of schedule and come here specifically for the matter of subduing the demons. Would Your Majesty like to meet him?”
The Xuanyun Sect was undoubtedly the foremost cultivation sect in the world today. Its leader was said to be a legendary immortal who could soar through the clouds on a sword.
Lou Guan Xue lazily lowered his eyelids and inquired, “Is the Xuanyun Sect known for its swordsmanship?”
The Regent Prince replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lou Guan Xue smirked, casting a glance at the beam above, and remarked, “Oh, then let him in.”
Every day, Xia Qing rose before dawn to ensure he didn’t keep Lou Guan Xue waiting too long. Having slept poorly the night before, he grew increasingly drowsy as he listened to the various reports from the courtiers. Sitting on the beam, he began to doze off.
When the eunuch loudly announced the end of the court session, he immediately woke up.
Then, he floated down from above to Lou Guan Xue’s side.
The imperial robe of the Chu Kingdom was pure black, with a layer of blood-red borders on the cuffs and collar, and dark golden threads subtly forming cloud patterns, making the young emperor look elegant and noble.
“Are you awake?” Lou Guan Xue looked at the tuft of hair on his head and smiled.
Xia Qing sluggishly replied, “Yes, I am awake.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Lou Guan Xue said, “Hmm, I’ll take you to see the excitement.”
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So, in Lou Guan Xue’s eyes, he is now someone who loves to meddle and seek excitement? Speechless. In fact, he really didn’t like to watch the fun, he just liked to watch people in a daze.
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Since the last time Zhang Shan was scolded by Xia Qing, Zhang Shan had been much more obedient, holding the dustpan and shrinking to the side, speaking much less.
A gentle breeze brushed by, causing ripples on the azure water.
“What’s the fuss all about?” Xia Qing landed on the opposite side of the chess table, looking around.
Lou Guan Xue idly moved the chess pieces with his fingers. “You’ll see in a moment.”
Sure enough, Xia Qing soon saw it.
A group of people approached, looking like cultivators, but much more dignified than those seen on the street. Their robes fluttered, giving them a somewhat celestial appearance. They were dressed in formal blue and white robes, adorned with green jade crowns on their heads, each with a sword neatly fastened to their waist.
The leader was probably a disciple of a major sect and appeared to be the most formidable among them.
In their early twenties, accompanied by junior disciples, they knelt and saluted Lou Guan Xue in unison before standing up confidently.
Right after that, the chief disciple started rattling off an introduction.
First, he introduced the sect, Xuanyun Sect, located in Huaijin Changzhou, talking about its long history and the many talents it had produced.
Then he introduced the senior elders, such as how certain individuals had made profound contributions, or how others had accompanied the founding emperor on his expedition to the Sea of Heaven, earning great military achievements.
Next, he introduced himself, the 18th generation disciple of Xuanyun Sect, proficient in the Xuanyun Sword Technique, and devoted to the Path of Ruthlessness.
Lou Guan Xue didn’t interrupt or respond.
Xia Qing glanced at Lou Guan Xue oddly, then back at the group of people, but he didn’t see anything interesting to watch.
Instead, he found himself getting sleepy listening to the endless chatter of the senior disciple. Rubbing his eyes, he muttered, “Are you trying to fool me? I’m going to sleep. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.”
Lou Guan Xue smiled faintly.
He was smiling at Xia Qing, but the senior disciple of Xuanyun Sect mistakenly thought that the Emperor of Chu was very pleased with him! So he became even more enthusiastic in his speech!
Nowadays, cultivators were no different from Taoists in ordinary temples; they couldn’t perform miracles like those described in books, moving mountains or fasting to transcend the world.
Spiritual power was weak, swordsmanship mediocre, destined to be unable to cut ties with the secular world. So for them, the Emperor of Chu was also someone to be revered and pleased.
Lou Guan Xue listened absentmindedly as the person boasted, his gaze drifting to the opposite side.
Because Xia Qing was sleeping on his stomach, his line of sight appeared to be focused on the chessboard.
Xia Qing’s sleeping position hadn’t changed in ten years.
His hand emerged from the gray robe and rested on the table, the wrist unusually slender, as if it could be encircled with just one hand.
Black hair fell quietly against his face, his breathing steady.
With his eyes closed, the sense of tranquility became even more pronounced. It emanated from the depths of his soul, a transcendent calmness.
In truth, Lou Guan Xue had never paid attention to Xia Qing’s appearance.
Now, he realized that Xia Qing’s eyelashes were actually quite curly, with a shade of dark brown.
His features still had a hint of youthfulness, but every line from his brows to his nose bridge and lips was graceful, hinting at a future beauty.
The chief disciple of Xuanyun Sect spoke of the Xuanyun Sword Technique, describing it as follows: “warm sunlight, beautiful spring, drooling jade, spitting pearls”
Lou Guan Xue smiled, and with a hint of ambiguity, he muttered, “Drooling jade, spitting pearls?”
The chief disciple’s eyes lit up with surprise, “Yes! Your Majesty, you may not know, but my Xuanyun swordsmanship…”
Lou Guan Xue didn’t bother to listen to the rest of his words. He was looking at Xia Qing’s exposed neck.
It was very fair, but also very fragile. It could easily be lost with a light touch.
He held a chess piece between his fingers, his eyes downcast, deep and cold, with emotions unreadable to anyone.
Xia Qing slept soundly, and when a gust of wind swept some leaves from the lake onto his forehead, the cold sensation stirred him awake.
Just waking up, he felt a bit dazed.
He was drawn to the movement across from him and stared straight at it—What is going on over there?
He saw someone dancing on the high platform built of jade stones opposite him.
In a blue dress, she moved as gracefully as if she were touching the floating flowers and the moon.
With a sword in hand, she moved horizontally, turned, and cut, light and graceful. Her wrists, neck, and waist were slender, and when she bent down, she seemed delicate and fragile, unable to bear any pressure.
The beauty danced with the sword, and when she reached an emotional climax, she shyly glanced towards the pavilion by the lake.
Xia Qing rubbed his eyes again, looking bewildered.
Immediately after this girl in the blue dress stepped down from the stage, another disciple in blue robes took her place.
Upon reaching the platform, he closed his eyes to gather his energy, then shouted loudly before swiftly drawing his sword.
The sword techniques were varied and magnificent, with complex and intricate patterns that dazzled the onlookers.
But upon closer inspection, one could see how chaotic and disorderly they were.
Xia Qing tilted his head and asked Lou Guan Xue, “Are you trying to summon rain?” Is that why you called him over here to watch someone perform miracles?
At the same time, the voice of the chief disciple, sounding somewhat self-satisfied, rang out, “Your Majesty, what you are witnessing now is the sixth form of our Xuanyun Swordsmanship, ‘Hundred Blossoms in Spring!'”
Lou Guan Xue, who had always been inscrutable, suddenly chuckled lightly.
The chief disciple’s eyes lit up, thinking he had piqued the emperor’s interest, “Hundred Blossoms in Spring is also one of the most famous techniques of our sect! It has always been invincible wherever it goes!”
Xia Qing: “…………” What’s this all about!
Lou Guan Xue nodded: “Hmm.”
It was unclear whether he was referring to his “summon rain” or “invincible” remark.
Later, an ethereal and elegant old man came and exchanged a few words with Lou Guan Xue before ending the commotion.
Xia Qing followed him back to the bedroom.
Lou Guan Xue smiled and asked him from the carriage, “How was it?”
Xia Qing ran his hand through his hair in frustration: “You made me watch them dance with swords. You might as well have had me choose a concubine for you.”
He just said it casually, mocking the current fame-seeking and reputation-chasing Taoists—
But then this lunatic, Lou Guan Xue, is actually having him help choose a concubine!!!!
That night, Xia Qing sat at the desk, bewildered by the pile of albums and lists of names sent by Yan Lan Yu.
“You really want me to choose a concubine?”
Lou Guan Xue nodded, sitting across from him, reading a book that looked like gibberish to Xia Qing, saying, “Wasn’t that what you asked for…”
Xia Qing: “…” What am I even asking for!
Xia Qing felt so frustrated that he couldn’t even speak.
But he had just told Lou Guan Xue last time, “If there’s anything you need me for, just let me know.” Now, even for such a trivial matter, he had to fulfill his promise.
However, Xia Qing felt unsure about helping Lou Guan Xue choose a concubine. Flipping through the albums repeatedly, he couldn’t help but ask, “What kind do you like?”
Lou Guan Xue replied, “Whatever suits you.”
Xia Qing gets irritated at the topic: “Choose based on what I like? Come on, Lou Guan Xue, give it up. I won’t be assisting you in having an intimate relationship with any concubine.”
Don’t ask why; he himself doesn’t know.
Lou Guan Xue closes the book, glances at him, and asks with a smile, “Isn’t there anyone you like in here?”
Xia Qing choked.
Then he remembered the humiliation of being labeled as “virgin” at the Zhai Xing Tower.
That absurd sense of competitiveness reared his head again.
After some thought, Xia Qing gave what he thought was a pretty cool answer: “No, I personally prefer something more exciting. Of course, I can’t find that in here.”
Lou Guan Xue stared at him for a long time, with a slight smile. “Okay, then let’s go find something exciting.”
Xia Qing: “???” What’s going on?
Lou Guan Xue put down the book, took off the jade crown, and said lightly, “Follow me out of the palace.”
LGX being nice? Very suspicious.
Don’t tell me they are going to go to the red district! XD or worst I can’t imagine it hahah so cute
To the red light district the check on the most beautiful mermaid? Hehehehe…
Oh xia qing, don’t be difficult. Just admit u r a virgin and everything will end up well, i think. Ahhahaha.
LGX definitely will resurrect xia qing with or without his consent 😂
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