Chapter 59: Very Important

Lin Xun took a bit long to change his clothes.

And although Jiang Nongqin really wanted to have dinner with Her Highness, since a guest had arrived and she had seen what just happened, she returned to her own courtyard to avoid causing trouble.

Melodious zither music drifted slowly from the neighboring courtyard; the sound was soft, yet against the backdrop of the evening’s red clouds, it carried a hint of sorrow.

In the courtyard, Xia Xiaomeng sat alone on a stone stool, listening to the melodious zither music and watching the tightly closed door.

For some reason, she felt a slight tightness in her chest.

It was as if her beloved was having a wedding night with another woman, while she was outside the bridal chamber playing “The Phoenix Seeks His Mate.”

*Click.*

Finally, the door opened, and Lin Xun and Jiang Qingshang walked out together.

“Ahem.”

Lin Xun also knew that he had indeed taken quite a long time to change his clothes.

After all, the woman’s sister was still waiting in the courtyard, while he had been flirting with his wife in the room.

Even with Lin Xun’s thick skin, he felt embarrassed, let alone Jiang Qingshang.

“I forgot to buy soy sauce. Husband, why don’t you go with Sister? You can take her for a stroll while you’re at it. I’ll go start cooking first.”

After realizing it was a misunderstanding, Jiang Qingshang felt relieved and hurried to the kitchen with a blushing face.

Although Lin Xun really wanted to say, “How the hell are you going to cook without soy sauce?”

…he held it back.

Besides, Qinger looked really beautiful when she was shy.

“Shall I show Miss Xia around?”

Lin Xun asked tentatively.

“Ah, yes.”

Seeing the rouge on the corner of Lin Xun’s mouth, Xia Xiaomeng bit her lower lip and nodded with a complicated expression.

Just as the two stepped out of the courtyard, Lin Xun felt several Divine Senses from the Upper Five Realms lock onto him.

These Divine Senses all came from the palace’s Enshrined Experts; they bore no ill will and were meant for protection.

However, they were primarily protecting Xia Xiaomeng; Lin Xun was merely incidental.

Within the Nine Provinces of the known world, there were countless Empires and dynasties, and many emperors enjoyed traveling incognito.

Normally, an emperor traveling incognito would only bring Mortal martial art masters; only in rare cases would they bring Qi Refiner Enshrined Experts from the palace.

This was because no Cultivator would be bored enough to provoke an emperor.

It wasn’t because they couldn’t win—an emperor was just a Mortal, and most were even physically weak from overindulgence—so there was nothing they couldn’t handle.

It was mainly because an emperor was the ruler of a nation; their actions affected hundreds of millions of people, and the resulting Karma was far too immense.

If one were to kill an emperor, that heavy Karma would cause endless trouble for a Cultivator; such Karma was very mysterious.

It wouldn’t manifest in a concrete way.

But it was quite possible that one day, while you were Undergoing Tribulation, you might accidentally be struck dead by heavenly lightning.

Or perhaps you’d be walking down the street and inexplicably bump into a Little Girl, only for her to be some powerhouse who, finding you annoying, slaps you to death.

So, bringing martial artists was enough, let alone for the Empress of the Qianye Continent’s foremost Dynasty.

Those Cultivators wouldn’t even dare to harbor lustful thoughts; they would run away as soon as they saw her. This was all heavy Karma—if something went wrong, whose head would it fall on?

But that was only for Mortal emperors.

For Xia Xiaomeng, simply bringing martial artists was definitely not enough!

Xia Xiaomeng was both an emperor and a Cultivator, and since Cultivators bore their own Karma, the Karma incurred from harming her would be much smaller.

Plus, Xia Xiaomeng possessed the special Imperial Immortal Dual Cultivation Physique!

Even with a billion karmic retributions, this top-tier Dual Cultivation physique was enough to tempt any expert of the Upper Five Realms!

Although Xia Xiaomeng wore a jade pendant that blocked Divine Sense probes from anyone below the Immortal Realm…

…what if, just what if, she really encountered someone in the Immortal Realm?

Then if Xia Xiaomeng were captured to be used as a Cauldron, screaming for help would be useless.

Therefore, having the palace’s Enshrined Experts come out in full force for close protection was standard procedure, and they had to remain vigilant at all times!

Those experts were probably quite annoyed too.

If possible, Lin Xun felt that these experts wished the Empress would stay in the inner palace forever and never come out!

After all, coming out just gave them more work; being on edge all day was very mentally taxing.

In Luo City, the sky was now draped in a thin black veil; as evening met night, a faint darkness spread across the world, dotted with starlight.

Various street vendors hung up lanterns, and the wine shops were decorated with gemstones unique to the Qian Kingdom, shining like neon lights.

The girls at the Spring Breeze Tower were still dressed just as scantily. Some scholars and refined men would say “Please show some self-respect, miss” while walking into the building; if you got close, you could almost feel the entire building vibrating.

Luo City didn’t have a curfew, and its nightlife was just beginning.

Lin Xun and Xia Xiaomeng walked side by side on the street, maintaining a distance of about four fist-widths.

Lin Xun clearly felt Xia Xiaomeng looking at him from time to time, as if she were observing and thinking.

And the more Xia Xiaomeng looked, the more flustered Lin Xun became.

Lin Xun didn’t dare to look back at all, because that sense of familiarity was growing stronger and stronger.

Even though Lin Xun knew the Empress of Qian Kingdom couldn’t be her, the figure in his heart was indeed overlapping more and more with the Empress!

It was as if a demonic voice in his heart was constantly whispering in his ear: “Stop lying to yourself! This Xia Xiaomeng is her! Just admit it!”

He couldn’t stay alone with her any longer!

After buying the soy sauce, he bought some fruit and scented tea, then quickened his pace, wanting to get back quickly.

To keep up with Lin Xun, the Empress had no choice but to stride with her long, elegant legs and quicken her pace.

However, just as they passed a teahouse, Lin Xun felt his sleeve being gently pulled.

“I’ve heard that Luo City’s teahouses and flower arrangement are unparalleled. I wonder if the Young Master could accompany this humble girl to the teahouse for a cup of tea before we head back?”

“Um, Miss, it’s getting late. Why don’t we come back tomorrow? Qinger is still waiting for us to return for dinner,” Lin Xun declined.

Xia Xiaomeng smiled with narrowed eyes. “It’s fine, it’s just a cup of tea. It won’t take long.”

The girl’s smile was very sweet, with a hint of charm, but to Lin Xun, it felt like a demon’s whisper, full of danger!

“Miss Xia, how about we wait until tomorrow to—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Xia Xiaomeng’s skirt fluttered as she stepped forward.

The girl stood lightly on her tiptoes, her hands resting on Lin Xun’s shoulders, her warm breath brushing against the fine hairs on his ear as she whispered:

“If Young Master Lin refuses, I can’t guarantee what might happen later.”

Lin Xun: “???”

Three question marks had already popped up over Lin Xun’s head, but the girl had already stepped back two paces, her hands behind her back, smiling with narrowed eyes.

Her crescent-like eyes were as intoxicating as Peach Blossom Wine, yet they held a lethal danger!

Half an hour later.

Inside the teahouse, Xia Xiaomeng and Lin Xun had taken a Private Tea Room.

Lin Xun and Xia Xiaomeng sat opposite each other.

Xia Xiaomeng simply rested her chin on her fair palm, smiling as she looked at Lin Xun, as if she could never tire of seeing him.

As for Lin Xun, he had long been sitting on pins and needles, as if there were a brazier under his seat!

The tea had been served long ago, but neither of them touched it.

Or rather, she only wanted to look at him and didn’t care about drinking tea at all.

Lin Xun, on the other hand, didn’t dare move, fearing that any action on his part would trigger her next move.

“Is there something on my face? Why do you keep staring at me, Miss?”

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Lin Xun spoke up.

No matter how thick-skinned Lin Xun was, being stared at so directly by such a world-class beauty felt strange.

“The Young Master reminds Xia Meng of someone.”

Xia Xiaomeng smiled, but her gaze didn’t shift away from Lin Xun for a second!

A slight cold sweat broke out on Lin Xun’s forehead. He reached out, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

“Is that person very important to you, Miss?”

“Very important.”

Xia Xiaomeng didn’t avoid Lin Xun’s gaze; her eyes were like water, seemingly capable of softening anything.

“Before, I was ignorant and didn’t realize it. It was only after we parted that I understood… he is more important than even this Empire.”

…【There’s only one chapter today~~~ I’ll make a note of it~~~ I’ll definitely make it up after the official release at the latest~~~】