Chapter 171: You’re Thinking Quite Far Ahead

“That must be the Carefree King. If so, that junior sister must be his daughter—the one from the rumors, personally raised by *that* person.”

Ren Xunchun’s gaze followed Liu Chen, landing on the middle-aged man.

The Imperial City was vast, home to countless families. But in another sense, it was small. Any news from the Royal Family could spread like wildfire and become the talk of the town in an instant.

“It is indeed the Carefree King. If my information is correct, he was once a contender to become the Crown Prince. Unfortunately, his cultivation stalled at the Meridian Passage Middle Stage, so he could only become a prince with no real power. If I recall correctly, he’s in charge of regulating the various family businesses within the Imperial City.”

Yang Haichen glanced over. After receiving word that Liu Chen was coming here, he had sent a message to the Yang Family. For the Yang Family, gathering such basic intelligence was child’s play.

“Then it’s no surprise that junior sister doesn’t have a marriage engagement. If the Carefree King had successfully become the Crown Prince, her marriage partner would have been on another level entirely. But now, it seems that’s no longer a concern.”

Ren Xunchun nodded. A woman of the Royal Family with strong cultivation Talent would have become famous long ago. The junior sister accompanying Liu Chen was not well-known before this.

Having unremarkable Talent yet no marriage engagement might be plausible in a common family, but for a member of the Royal Family, it was exceedingly strange.

But if she was the Carefree King’s only daughter, then it made perfect sense. From this perspective, however, it seemed the Carefree King was destined to never reach the throne. After all, the Royal Family required a clear line of succession; they couldn’t possibly cultivate an Empress.

‘What if she eloped with someone? Wouldn’t the Great Xia Dynasty be done for?’

—————–

“Senior Brother, let me introduce you. This is my father.”

Ji Suyao spoke up quickly as Liu Chen approached. She had fantasized about this day for a long time. In the past, her parents were constantly nagging her, telling her to learn how to get along with the scions of the great Noble Families. ‘Now that Senior Brother is here, what can any of them say?’

“Greetings, Uncle.”

Liu Chen bowed slightly. In that instant, he felt a Spiritual Sense at the Meridian Passage Late Stage sweep over his entire body before quickly retracting.

“No need for formalities, my boy. Yao’er has mentioned you a great deal in her letters. Seeing you in person today, you truly have an extraordinary presence.”

Ji Ming quickly helped Liu Chen to his feet. ‘I know exactly who this is,’ he thought. ‘The most sought-after Second Grade Spirit Chef in Purple Cloud Valley. If my daughter hadn’t, by a strange twist of fate, been noticed by the Mo Family Patriarch, my station as a Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty wouldn’t even be enough to grant me an audience with him.’

Hearing Ji Ming’s words, Ye Linglong couldn’t help but glance over. ‘I’m the one who wrote that letter,’ she thought. ‘What kind of letter would Ji Suyao actually write? Shouldn’t her own father know full well?’

However, from the man’s words, Ye Linglong could clearly sense that he very much wanted Ji Suyao and Senior Brother Liu Chen to get together. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have deliberately brought it up.

“You praise me too highly, Uncle.”

Liu Chen glanced impassively at Ji Suyao. Sensing her senior brother’s gaze, Ji Suyao immediately looked to Ye Linglong, her eyes filled with questions. Ye Linglong had written the letter, so she herself had no idea what it actually said.

Ye Linglong shook her head. ‘Back then, I was just trying to use Senior Brother’s status to help us avoid any potential forced marriages,’ she thought. ‘Naturally, that meant I had to paint him in the best possible light. But when a daughter describes how outstanding a man is, her parents will basically start planning the wedding.’

“First, I’ll take you for an audience with my father, the Emperor. Then, this afternoon, I’ll arrange for your visit to the Ye Family.”

Ji Ming pretended not to notice their silent exchange and simply continued laying out the plan.

He was originally responsible for receiving the disciples from the Three Immortal Sects. He had planned to arrange lodging for the contingent from Purple Cloud Valley, but then he saw his own daughter. As for all the other miscellaneous duties, well, the other members of the Royal Family would just have to work a little harder.

‘Besides,’ he reasoned, ‘everyone else handling affairs here is older than me. The most junior among them are from my uncles’ generation. It makes no difference whether I’m here or not.’

“Thank you for your trouble, Uncle.”

Liu Chen had no objection. ‘After we meet this so-called emperor,’ he thought, ‘Junior Sister Suyao’s Spirit Contract issue should be resolved. That’ll be one of my two goals for this festival accomplished.’

The group slowly departed from the center of the square. A short while later, three horse-drawn carriages left the courier station, making their way toward the Imperial Palace at the heart of the city.

Liu Chen rode alone in one of the carriages, using his Spiritual Sense to perceive his surroundings. His main purpose was to observe the Imperial City and compare it to the ruined city he remembered.

Liu Chen’s carriage was at the rear, while Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong shared the one in the middle.

“What on earth did you write in that letter?”

Inside the carriage, Ji Suyao glared at Ye Linglong. She knew exactly what her father was implying, and it was precisely because she understood that she found the whole situation absurd. ‘I have no designs on Senior Brother. Things are perfectly fine the way they are now.’

“It was just some of the things you used to go on and on about,” Ye Linglong said with a half-smile. “Things like ‘Senior Brother is so wonderful’…”

At her words, Ji Suyao’s face turned visibly red. She wanted nothing more than to strangle Ye Linglong on the spot. ‘It’s one thing for you to hear me say things like that, but was it really necessary to write it all down for my parents?!’

“I’m doomed,” Ji Suyao groaned. “Knowing my father and mother, they’ll probably go talk to Senior Brother about it directly.”

Suddenly, as if all her strength had drained away, Ji Suyao collapsed onto the carriage seat. The mere thought of that scenario made her wish she could find a hole to crawl into and disappear.

“How can you say you don’t have feelings for him?” Ye Linglong leaned in, her eyes fixed on Ji Suyao. “We’re talking about a senior brother who’s perfect in every way. He’s taken such meticulous care of you ever since you started your training. Your Cultivation Technique, even all of your Magic—Senior Brother taught you everything…” ‘She desperately wanted to know the answer. If Ji Suyao really did have feelings for him, it would explain why she had been so snippy with her lately.’

“As if you don’t have feelings for him!” Ji Suyao shot back, first averting her gaze but then staring defiantly at Ye Linglong. “You’re the one who wants to promise yourself to him!” She wasn’t sure what kind of feelings she had for her senior brother, but she also didn’t want Ye Linglong to get any closer to him.

“Sigh… what’s the use of the two of us letting our imaginations run wild? It all depends on what Senior Brother wants.”

Ye Linglong sat down to the side, her eyes filled with resignation. ‘Senior Brother hasn’t shown any signs of looking for a Dao Companion. After we boarded the Flying Ship, all the senior brothers from Purple Bamboo Peak looked at him with envy, and all the senior sisters looked at us the same way.’ ‘But our relationship with him is just that of a senior brother and his junior sisters. The Ye Family has likely misunderstood my situation because of the Honored Guest Elder affair, and the Royal Family has misunderstood Ji Suyao because of that letter.’

“But there’s only one Senior Brother,” Ji Suyao said quietly, looking at Ye Linglong. ‘Even if Senior Brother decides he wants a Dao Companion, only one of us can be with him.’

“You’re already thinking that far ahead,” Ye Linglong said, poking Ji Suyao’s forehead. ‘This girl has already thought things through to this point, yet she still claims she has no feelings for him? She’s just lying to herself.’