Chapter 55 Vina's Preparations, Liu Yuan Meets with Emperor Tianhun.
After leaving the palace where Emperor Tianhun was located, Vina did not rush back to the Body Sect to find Liu Yuan as usual.
At this moment, although her steps remained steady, her state of mind had undergone a subtle change compared to before.
Since the Emperor has personally issued the decree, and the Poison-Undying Sect Master has already set the tone in a secret letter, Liu Yuan will not only be her fellow disciple and the cornerstone of the empire, but also her husband in the future.
Vina has always been a serious and opinionated person.
She knew very well that for a political marriage to be long-lasting and stable, simply relying on the bond of interests was not enough.
Now that things have been decided, we should take the initiative to put in the effort to manage them.
Cultivating feelings is not something that can be done overnight; it requires gradual and subtle nuances.
Therefore, before leaving the city, Vina directly instructed her servants to summon all the most renowned and skilled old tailors in the Heavenly Soul Imperial City to her palace.
When she was on a mission with the Body Sect, she secretly memorized Liu Yuan's clothing size thanks to her keen observation skills.
Inside the hall, Vina described Liu Yuan's temperament and physique in detail to the tailors, instructing them to use top-quality fabrics specially supplied by the royal family and to quickly produce several sets of outfits and casual clothes that would both exude nobility and allow the martial spirit to move freely.
"These outfits must have tight stitches and subdued colors, not too flashy." Vina stood aside and personally selected several pieces of brocade with understated colors but subtle shimmering luster.
After the craftsmen worked through the night, several sets of luxurious clothing were presented to Vina.
After comparing several options, Vina personally selected a dark blue long gown with silver thread trim.
She was most satisfied with this outfit, and then signaled to Muxue to put it away carefully.
"Let's go back to the sect." Vina then led Muxue on their journey back to the Body Sect.
Seven days have passed in the blink of an eye.
When Vina and Muxue returned to the Body Sect, Liu Yuan was still in the secret chamber.
The faint flow of soul power, like a tidal wave, through the cracks in the stone door of the secret chamber indicated that he was in a deep state of seclusion.
Seeing this, Mu Xue originally thought of going up directly to knock on the stone door. After all, this was the emperor's personal edict, a summons representing the highest power of the empire, and in principle, every second should be of the essence.
However, Vina gently raised her hand and stopped Mu Xue's movement.
"Don't disturb him," Vina said calmly, looking at the tightly closed stone door.
"He is breaking through a bottleneck, and the most taboo thing on the path of cultivation is to be startled midway. The Emperor's summons is important, but Liu Yuan's cultivation is equally related to the future of the empire."
She turned and instructed the maids guarding the door, her tone calm yet authoritative: "You stay here and wait until Liu Yuan wakes up from his meditation, or until the fluctuations in his soul power subside and there is a break, then tell him about the Emperor's summons."
"I will wait in the front hall. There's no need to rush him. Let him cultivate in peace."
Vina waited for two whole days.
Two days later, at dawn, the oppressive vortex of soul power in the secret room finally dissipated slowly.
Liu Yuan solidified his level 38 cultivation and pushed open the stone door to exit.
After hearing the maid's account, he learned that Vina had been waiting for a long time and even carried the emperor's edict. He immediately had a thought and instructed the maid to invite Vina to his reception room.
"Vina, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Liu Yuan walked into the living room and immediately saw Vina sitting at the table quietly drinking tea.
Vina put down her teacup and looked up at Liu Yuan.
In her perception, Liu Yuan's soul power was more condensed than it had been half a month ago. Even without releasing his martial soul, the restrained brilliance in his double pupils made her feel a faint sense of pressure.
"You've gotten even stronger," Vina said with some emotion, a genuine look of amazement in her eyes.
Liu Yuan smiled faintly, not dwelling too much on the topic of cultivation, appearing quite indifferent: "It was just luck. Since His Majesty summoned me, it must be for important matters. Shall we set off now?"
Vina did not get up immediately, but instead gestured to Muxue to open the bundle she had brought back earlier.
She took out the new dark blue outfit from inside, walked slowly to Liu Yuan, and said softly:
"I've noticed that you usually wear the same few sets of uniform outfits issued by the sect. Although they're neat and tidy, meeting the Emperor is different from everyday life."
"I memorized your size beforehand, and this time when I returned to the capital, I specially found the best tailor in the capital to make several sets of clothes for you."
"Why don't you try this outfit on and see if it fits?"
Liu Yuan was slightly taken aback.
He looked down at the exquisitely crafted and exceptionally made clothes, then looked up at Vina, who had a composed expression.
Under the gaze of those two pairs of eyes, Vina's expression carried just the right amount of concern, without excessive flattery, yet revealing a sense of closeness.
"Thank you for your trouble." Liu Yuan did not refuse the kindness. He took the clothes and went into the side hall to try them on.
A moment later, when Liu Yuan came out again, Vina's eyes lit up.
The dark blue robe perfectly accentuated Liu Yuan's tall and straight figure, while the silver threads on the collar and cuffs shimmered in the light, complementing his dark red double pupils.
Compared to his previous pure ferocity, Liu Yuan now possessed a more noble and composed air befitting a person in a superior position.
"Very good." Vina nodded slightly, a smile playing on her lips. "You look even more handsome than usual."
Liu Yuan cupped his hands in thanks to Vina: "Thank you, this dress fits perfectly."
"It's just a small gift, I'm glad you don't mind." Vina didn't take credit for it, and then signaled everyone to set off.
They continued to chat happily throughout the journey.
The two talked about the sect's cultivation techniques and the current situation on the continent.
However, during their time together, Liu Yuan keenly noticed Vina's changes.
Although Vina was easy to get along with in the past, as a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire, she always subtly maintained a sense of propriety when talking to Liu Yuan, a kind of reserve and etiquette belonging to the royal family.
This time, while Vina still didn't put on any royal airs, she became more approachable in this regard.
She would proactively inquire about the trivialities of Liu Yuan's cultivation, and would also carefully take care of some details that Liu Yuan usually didn't pay much attention to during their journey.
Although Liu Yuan sensed this change, he did not feel any aversion to it.
On the contrary, in this natural intimacy, he felt a kind of kinship that he only felt with his family.
It was afternoon seven days later.
Led by Vina, Liu Yuan finally stepped into the power center of the Heavenly Soul Empire—the Heavenly Soul Imperial City.
The streets are wide and orderly, and the buildings on both sides are ancient and dignified, showcasing the heritage of this empire.
Although Liu Yuan had no desire for power itself, a hint of interest couldn't help but appear in his double pupils as he looked at these magnificent buildings.
Seeing this, Vina said softly, "This is the imperial city."
"After you've met with your father and things are over, if you're not in a hurry to return to your sect for seclusion, I can take you around the city some more. There are many places worth visiting here."
"Then I thank you in advance, Princess." Liu Yuan nodded in agreement.
The two walked through layers of corridors and past heavily guarded imperial guards, finally arriving before the solemn palace hall.
Vina stopped, tidied her appearance, then turned to look at Liu Yuan and gave him an encouraging look.
As the official announced the arrival, the heavy doors slowly opened, and Liu Yuanmai stepped inside, ready to be scrutinized by the man who held the highest authority in the Heavenly Soul Empire.
(End of chapter)