Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
"Your son greets Imperial Father."
Xue Qinghe reported the results of the four academies' exchange to Emperor Xue Ye.
"Huangdou Academy narrowly lost to Shenfeng Academy."
"However, Jian Jiu, the gold badge holder of the Royal Fight Soul Arena, swept through Shenfeng Academy's captain, Feng Xiaotian."
A smile appeared on Emperor Xue Ye's pale face.
"Excellent."
"Grant Jian Jiu a thousand bolts of brocade and ten thousand taels of gold."
"Such a talent should be used by the Imperial family."
Xue Qinghe showed a hint of helplessness.
"Reporting to Imperial Father..."
"That Jian Jiu is free-spirited, like a wild crane among the clouds."
"Your son once offered him a high position, but he was unmoved. It may be difficult to summon him to the palace."
Emperor Xue Ye's regret was evident.
"That is indeed a pity, then let it be."
"Qinghe, you handled the matter of the four academies' exchange very well."
"Since you began overseeing the state, you have worked diligently from dawn till dusk."
"Both I and the ministers have seen it. What reward do you wish for?"
Xue Qinghe paused slightly.
Her gaze drifted towards the towering red walls outside the hall.
The thought of "how to repay Li Dixian" from yesterday clearly resurfaced.
Perhaps… the most precious gift she could give at this moment was to shed this disguise and spend a few more days with him.
A myriad of thoughts swirled in her mind.
Xue Qinghe lowered her head, her voice carrying a perfectly measured weariness:
"Your son recently… feels utterly exhausted."
"I boldly implore Imperial Father to grant your son a few days of leisure, to temporarily step away from the arduous work of official documents and recuperate my spirit."
Emperor Xue Ye laughed heartily.
"What kind of reward is that?"
"You have indeed worked hard these past few days."
"Since Qinghe wishes to rest, then Imperial Father grants you a ten-day holiday."
"During these ten days, you need not pay respects, need not attend court, and all government affairs are excused."
This time.
The smile that bloomed on Xue Qinghe's lips was genuine and bright.
"Your son thanks Imperial Father for his grace."
...Crown Prince's bedchamber.
Xue Qinghe tended to the Dawn Radiance flowers placed on the windowsill.
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of worry in the other's eyes.
"Young Master..."
Snake Lance finally couldn't hold back, stepping forward and whispering:
"The Spirit Hall's grand plan, and even the Angel's inheritance..."
"Young Master's identity cannot be compromised. Do not lose sight of what is important for something trivial!"
Xue Qinghe's watering motion paused almost imperceptibly. She did not look up, speaking calmly:
"Which is trivial? Which is important?"
Snake Lance's throat bobbed, but the words caught in his mouth.
Xue Qinghe's fingertips brushed over the petals of the Dawn Radiance, her gaze seemingly piercing through the halo before her, looking towards an unforgettable scene.
"When I first met Li Dixian..."
She murmured, as if confiding in the flower, and also as if sorting out her own thoughts.
"I simply admired his unrestrained nature."
"He made me realize that living in this world, one could truly live so freely and joyfully, making one... yearn for it."
"I saw him as a mirror, wanting to learn a few points of his ease."
"But now..."
In Xue Qinghe's deep, calm eyes, a shimmering golden light quietly spread, like the first bloom of dawn.
"If Li Dixian only recognizes me as Xue Qinghe, then he is my lifelong best friend, and also the teacher of my heart."
"But if Li Dixian is willing to share with me..."
"Half a sword intent in his heart, half a cup of Jianghu wine, a wisp of carefree spirit."
"Then he is my life."
"Heaven Dou Crown Prince, Spirit Hall Saintess, the position of Angel God, I can abandon them all like worn-out shoes."
Xue Qinghe's voice gradually lowered.
Carrying an almost imperceptible tremor.
"That day he disappeared..."
"All that remained in my heart was panic and regret, regretting that he had never seen my true appearance."
"I don't want to taste that feeling again."
Porcupinefish and Snake Lance looked at each other, speechless.
Their faces were filled with gloom and helplessness. Finally, they silently bowed their heads and said no more.
Heavy air lingered in the hall for a long time.
Xue Qinghe suddenly looked up and asked:
"Where is Li Dixian?"
Porcupinefish replied:
"Just now we found out that all four battle teams went to look for him."
"At this moment, he should be drinking heartily in the Shanxiang Workshop."
Xue Qinghe's lips curved upwards.
She suddenly rose, flicked her sleeves, and walked out of the hall.
"Young Master is leaving the palace now?"
Xue Qinghe's steps did not falter.
"If I don't go, who will pay Li Dixian's wine bill?"
...Shanxiang Workshop.
"Hahahahaha—!"
Li Dixian's cheeks were flushed, and he pointed at Feng Xiaotian, who was curled up under the long bench, laughing so hard he swayed back and forth.
"Feng... Feng Xiaotian... with your pathetic state... hic..."
He let out a hiccup.
"Still want to drink this young master under the table?"
"Come, come! Who's next?"
He looked around disdainfully, pointing at Yu Tianheng, Huo Wushuang, and Hu Yanli in turn.
"You? You? Or... you?"
Yu Tianheng's face was pale, and he was gasping for breath, clutching the edge of the table, with un-wiped drool still on the corners of his mouth, clearly having vomited several rounds.
Huo Wushuang sat blankly on the ground, his eyes unfocused from drinking.
Hu Yanli was the most stubborn, struggling to grab a wine pot and stumbling towards Li Dixian, muttering incoherently.
"Again... again!"
However, his steps were unsteady, and he crashed down after only two steps.
He landed directly on the six Elephant Armored Academy members who were already lying haphazardly on the ground.
Li Dixian looked at the defeated opponents scattered across the floor, and triumphantly tilted his head back, taking a large gulp of wine.
The wine flowed freely.
Soaking the plain white front of his robe.
Honestly, the fine wines of this Shanxiang Workshop were far inferior to his Wine Spirit.
But the true taste in wine, is it only about the wine itself?
It's about the people.
With friends gathered today, even common wine, because of this boisterous camaraderie, was drunk with a rare and exhilarating taste.
"Jian Jiu!"
A delicate shout came.
Huo Wu, with one arm around Dugu Yan and the other around Ye Lingling, stumbled towards Li Dixian.
"Stop... stop being so arrogant!"
"We sisters... will drink with you!"
Li Dixian refused no one.
"Good!"
He picked up a wine bowl and clinked it heavily with Huo Wu, then tilted his head back and drained it.
Huo Wu's already hazy drunken eyes instantly became even more blurred.
She let go of Dugu Yan, hooked her arm around Li Dixian's neck, her breath heavy with the smell of wine on his face, and brought up an old grievance.
"The other... the other day... why didn't you admit... that you were Jian Jiu?"
"Was it... because you heard us praise you... and you felt very happy inside... hmm?"
Li Dixian pointed at her nose.
"Heh, you... you guessed it."
Upon hearing this, Huo Wu's arm around his neck tightened sharply.
"You... Jian Jiu!"
"Today... I must drink you under the table!"
"Dugu... Lingling... let's all drink him under!"
Amidst this clamor.
The door to the private room was silently pushed open.
Xue Qinghe stepped into the room filled with the messy scent of alcohol.
What met her eyes was Li Dixian surrounded by Huo Wu, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling—three women of distinct styles, yet all of stunning beauty—chatting, laughing, and exchanging cups of wine.
Xue Qinghe's slender hand in her sleeve clenched.
The earlier admonitions from Porcupinefish and Snake Lance, the trace of hesitation lingering in her heart.
The moment she saw this scene, it vanished like smoke.
An ineffable sense of urgency welled up in her heart.
She, too, was actually very beautiful... This thought flashed through her mind.
Just then.
Li Dixian seemed to sense something, and his hazy, drunken eyes looked over, raising the wine bowl in his hand, his smile dazzlingly bright:
"Qinghe! You're finally here! Come quickly... come quickly!"
Xue Qinghe suppressed the thoughts in her heart and walked forward with a smile.
"I'm here."
💎 Power Stone Bonus: Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter
🌟 5-Star Review Bonus: Every 5 (5-Star) Reviews = +2 Extra Chapters
💬 Comment Speed-Up: If any chapter reaches +10 Comments = The Next Chapter Will Be Released Faster!
🔥 Want to Read Ahead? If you want to read advanced chapters, check out my buymeacoffee(.)com/Oyunbozan