C16 Please Teach Me!

"The Third Prince and the Empress have arrived!"

Echoing through the hall, these words prompted everyone to immediately rise to their feet, their eyebrows lifted in anticipation.

"The Third Prince and the Empress? Here?"

"Why have they come to this place?"

"If Eunuch Liu has already arrived, then the Empress isn't representing the Emperor on this occasion..."

Amidst the murmurs, the Third Prince and the Empress, led by the disciples of the Mysterious Immortal Sect, made their entrance into the hall.

The Third Prince was clad in a light yellow brocade robe, exuding his usual gentle and refined demeanor.

The Empress, a figure of commanding beauty, had skin so delicate it seemed she could be mistaken for a maiden. Her phoenix eyes radiated a captivating allure combined with an air of authority.

Qi Libai had not expected the Empress's visit and hastily rose from his seat to welcome her.

"Third Prince? Empress? Forgive me for not greeting you sooner. It was remiss of me, truly."

The Empress offered a slight smile and replied, "No harm done. Thankfully, I am not too late. There's still time."

Qi Libai, puzzled, inquired, "Not too late? What does Your Majesty imply?"

The Empress didn't mince her words. She gestured towards Liu Xingchang and declared, "My visit is specifically for him. This young man and my son are sworn brothers, and I have come to regard him as my adopted son. I've heard that my adopted son has found himself in grave danger today, and as his foster mother, it is my duty to look after him."

Her statement sent shockwaves through the crowd.

Initially, they were taken aback by the bombshell the Empress had dropped, but it quickly dawned on them that there was a deeper shock to be absorbed.

Clearly, the Empress was not Liu Xingchang's foster mother, nor was the Third Prince his sworn brother. If they were, the Third Prince would not have treated Liu Xingchang like a stranger all these years.

It didn't take much thought to realize that the Empress was merely using these claims to shield Liu Xingchang.

But why would the Empress go to such lengths to protect Liu Xingchang?

With the Fourth Princess engaged to Liu Xingchang and her connection to the esteemed Dragon Saliva Sect, even the Emperor was pleased with the prospect of her marrying into such a powerful alliance. Surely, the Empress was aware of this.

The Empress had come to Liu Xingchang's aid, even risking opposition from the Emperor himself!

Everyone was astounded.

They marveled at what methods Liu Xingchang had employed, and what sacrifices he had made, to secure the support of both the Empress and the Third Prince.

People had thought they were already giving Liu Xingchang too much credit, yet it turned out they had underestimated him.

This upstart was proving to be far more formidable than anyone had anticipated!

Xia Changge rose abruptly from her seat, her eyes alight with excitement.

She had been waiting for Liu Xingchang's strategies to run their course.

Indeed, once the Southern King and the Prime Minister had backed down due to the Dragon Token, Xia Changge was at a loss to predict Liu Xingchang's next move.

She had considered many possibilities, but none seemed feasible.

Now, the unfolding scene elicited an enthusiastic response from her.

"Liu Xingchang, what a masterstroke!"

"In the entire Great Pine Kingdom, only the Emperor and Empress can disregard the Dragon Token. And Liu Xingchang has managed to enlist the Empress!"

"How did he accomplish this?"

"Even I wouldn't know how to persuade the Empress. How did he, the head of a declining family, achieve such a feat? It's inconceivable, utterly inconceivable..."

Not just Xia Changge, but also the Southern King and the Prime Minister were visibly taken aback.

The Southern King was both surprised and pleased, while the Prime Minister realized he had still underestimated Liu Xingchang's capabilities.

This young man seemed to have a knack for turning the impossible into reality, just as he had done at the Phoenix Restaurant and within the Mysterious Immortal Sect.

Liu Tairen and other neutral powers began to entertain a curious notion: the Liu Family seemed to be recapturing its former glory.

The sheer talent displayed by Liu Xingchang alone appeared to have propelled the entire Liu Family to new heights.

Their stance of neutrality started to waver, recognizing that Liu Xingchang was now undoubtedly a worthy investment.

A flicker of intrigue passed through Princess Qingyuan's lucid gaze.

Since the moment she first witnessed Liu Xingchang's capacity to astonish on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant, he had consistently managed to surprise her.

Liu Xingchang was like an endless treasure trove; no matter how much you excavated, the wealth seemed inexhaustible, and the deepest treasures remained elusive.

Such a mysterious and exceptional man invariably possessed a unique allure for women.

Princess Qingyuan, an embodiment of grace and detachment, had turned down numerous suitors of high birth. Yet now, she found her heart stirred by Liu Xingchang.

She made no attempt to conceal her admiration and affection for him.

Though they had not exchanged a single word or spent any time together, she could acknowledge to herself that she had indeed fallen for this enigmatic, remarkable, resolute, and formidable man.

At this moment, the most astonished, disheartened, infuriated, and incredulous individuals in attendance were Lee Yan and Qi Libai.

Qi Libai had no real intention of sparing Liu Xingchang; his plan was simply to pass the proverbial hot potato to Lee Yan.

Lee Yan, relieved of his previous concern, was nonetheless perturbed by the unexpected intervention of the Empress.

He cleared his throat and began, "Your Majesty, the situation is as follows: Liu Xingchang, accompanied by Liu Yichang, came here to publicly break off the engagement, which is a direct affront to Sect Master Baili. Such disrespect is unbecoming, especially from a junior, despite his position as head of the Liu Family."

The Empress responded coolly, "Oh? The Mysterious Immortal Sect can dissolve an engagement with the Liu Family, but the reverse is unacceptable?"

Lee Yan, attempting to continue, was cut off by the Empress's icy interjection, "Lee Yan, is this the Li Family's domain or the Mysterious Immortal Sect? I am here to rescue my foster son. What concern is that of yours?"

Lee Yan's retort was stifled, a venomous glint passing through his eyes, leaving him speechless.

Qi Libai coughed lightly, his plump face breaking into a smile as he said, "Your Majesty, while it's reasonable for Liu Xingchang to come here to annul the engagement, it's quite another matter for him to harm a member of the Mysterious Immortal Sect in my presence. True, my people insulted him, and that reflects poorly on my leadership. But for Liu Xingchang to strike him in front of me is akin to slapping me in the face. After all, one must consider the master before punishing the dog, wouldn't you agree?"

Lee Yan raised his voice emphatically, "Exactly! Sect Master Bai Li has held his title for eighteen years, and his influence extends far and wide. In the Royal Capital, he is a man of considerable standing who values his reputation. Now, he's been publicly humiliated by a junior. If he doesn't address this affront, how can Sect Master Bai Li maintain his position in the Royal Capital?"

The two were in perfect harmony, deftly shifting the blame onto Liu Xingchang.

The Empress narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

Noticing the Empress's silence, Lee Yan quickly saw an opportunity and turned to Eunuch Liu, who was seated nearby. "Eunuch Liu, you represent His Majesty here and certainly have the authority to speak. Regarding the issue at hand, we need your judgment. How should this be handled?"

All eyes instantly turned to Eunuch Liu.

With a wry smile, Eunuch Liu responded, "Though I am here on behalf of His Majesty, I am merely a servant at His Majesty's side. How could I possibly weigh in on such a significant issue?"

Lee Yan dismissed the concern with a wave of his hand, "This is hardly a significant issue, just a minor disagreement. All we need is your opinion on how to resolve it."

Eunuch Liu, walking a tightrope in the emperor's court, dared not speak out of turn on behalf of His Majesty. As a powerless eunuch, he also couldn't afford to alienate Lee Yan. He cleared his throat, opting for a diplomatic approach that would offend neither side.

After clearing his throat again, Eunuch Liu said, "Since Master Li insists on my judgment, I shall give it straightforwardly, and I ask for your understanding. Firstly, the Empress, as the mother figure to the nation, should strive for fairness and justice and must not show favoritism. Secondly, the Mysterious Immortal Sect is a major sect, while the Liu Family has been in decline for some time. For the Mysterious Immortal Sect to mobilize such force against Liu Xingchang does seem excessive."

Though his words appeared to admonish both parties, in reality, he was strategically retreating to maintain neutrality.

However, Qi Libai seized upon a subtle nuance in the words, his eyes brightening as he said, "Eunuch Liu's implication is that the Empress can no longer shield Liu Xingchang, and the Mysterious Immortal Sect should not deploy such formidable forces against him. In other words, the Mysterious Immortal Sect need only scale down their response to settle the score with Liu Xingchang?"

Lee Yan had a moment of clarity and exclaimed, "Exactly, exactly, exactly. It does seem a bit unfair for six elders to gang up on Xingchang. In that case, let the Sect Master of the Mysterious Immortal Sect send one elder to have a fair match with Xingchang."

This interpretation was derived from Eunuch Liu's words, who represented the impartial Emperor. Thus, when this proposal was put forward, even the Empress found herself unable to object.

Qi Libai chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, reducing it from six elders to one, a one-on-one battle, surely doesn't constitute bullying Xingchang, does it? If Xingchang emerges victorious, then we of the Mysterious Immortal Sect will have lost face, with no way to recover our honor. But if Xingchang is defeated..."

Qi Libai left the sentence hanging, but the implication was clear to all present.

The Empress clenched her teeth and said, "One-on-one is acceptable, but I have a condition."

Qi Libai responded, "Please state your condition, Your Majesty."

The Empress declared, "The Mysterious Immortal Sect has long been known for its seven esteemed Vajra Elders. Given their prestigious status, it would be unfair for them to confront Xingchang. I've heard that the Mysterious Immortal Sect has recently appointed three new elders... The battle can proceed, but the Mysterious Immortal Sect must send one of these three new elders!"

To pit a Protector Disciple against Xingchang, given his status as the head of the Liu Family, would be inappropriate. If the Empress had suggested such a match, it would have looked like Xingchang was the one taking advantage of the lesser status.

Considering Xingchang's age and position as the Patriarch, this was the most the Empress could do to support him.

Qi Libai's expression was one of feigned disappointment, but inwardly he was overjoyed, for he had already decided on the perfect candidate.

He turned to the middle-aged elder who had stepped forward and asked, "Xuan Le, as the eighth elder of the Mysterious Immortal Sect, are you willing to restore some honor for our sect?"

Xuan Le stepped forward confidently and declared, "I am willing!"

Qi Libai then provocatively turned his gaze to Xingchang and asked with a smirk, "Now, I wonder, is the Liu Family Master prepared to rise to this challenge?"

The Third Prince clenched his jaw and abruptly stepped forward, placing his hand firmly on Liu Xingchang's shoulder. "Brother Liu, if all else fails, I have an imperial amulet from our father that grants immunity from death. It could be used to secure your escape from the Mysterious Immortal Sect!"

Lee Yan and Qi Libai's faces shifted at once.

Qi Libai barked, "Even if Liu Xingchang might slip away, Liu Yichang won't be able to make it out!"

"Sect Master Qi Libai, there's no need for threats. Have I ever refused a challenge? Now that it's come to this..." Liu Xingchang slowly turned to Xuan Le, spreading his long, slender hands, and declared, "Please, enlighten me."

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