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Chapter 318 – Stir-fried Double Crisp (d)
Translated by Gumihou
Edited by Gumihou
Once the servants left, [1] Ling Xiaoxiao took out the medicinal wine from Shiyu, “This is something my friend asked me to gift to you. In the future, when you have some free time, do drink a sip or two. The things she gives me are all good things.”
Patriarch Ling stared at the simple foot tall wine jar, he squinted at it and said, “Isn’t this the Burning Knife wine from the Chen-Dong family?” he distinctively remembered that the Burning Knife wine sold by them were contained in jars like this one.
Ling Xiaoxiao [1] immediately blushed, “Well, the insides are different. You will know when you taste it.”
Patriarch Ling broke the clay seal from the mouth of the jar and the rich fragrance of wine rushed out. The scent was similar to the Burning Knife but, upon closer inspection, the scent from this jar was mellower.
He [1] touched a finger on the surface of the wine and placed a drop on his tongue. A burst of medicinal fragrance suffused his senses the instant the wine dissipated on his tongue. His entire person suddenly felt that much more aware, as though he had gained great clarity.
“This wine
 daughter, tell me the truth. Just where did you get this wine?” asked Patriarch Ling with a pale face.
The medicine within the wine is very powerful. [1] As a Cultivator, especially someone with a low Cultivation realm, he knew that the body is very important. Therefore he had always been very careful about maintaining his health.
Aside from training, diet was also very important. Therefore, he had always been very healthy and rarely fell ill or even suffer aches or pains.
However, a single drop of this wine seemed to have suddenly set his spiritual energy afire. His physical body also felt more loose and relaxed. This wine was definitely a very good thing.
More importantly, the medicinal properties of this wine were very similar to the rare thousand-year-old medicinal herb he had once taken

He had some idea what kind of friends her daughter was keeping. However, he could not recall anyone with the capability to give such a thing as a meeting gift.
“That’s what I’m going to tell you next,” said Ling Xiaoxiao and proceeded to tell him all about what had happened at Grand Martial City. “Father, [1] I need to go back to Grand Martial City soon. This time, I will not return for a long time.”
“But why? For the sake of this jar of wine? You sold yourself off for this favour?” asked Patriarch Ling.
“No, no, this wine is something she wanted me to give you in thanks for a favour. I am the one who wishes to stay there.”
“If it’s to advance your Cultivation, surely you can do that at the College? Why go elsewhere? The College now has the best condition for Cultivation, if you stay outside, what happens to your Cultivation?”
“Of course, I want to improve my Cultivation. However, I have a feeling a great opportunity is standing right before me right now. This opportunity is not just for me but for the whole of Ling Clan.”
Ling Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up as she said, “Though I’m not sure what Shiyu is doing in Grand Martial City, I have a feeling that she’s planning something big. Before I came here, she had already convinced Luo Dongting to fall in with her. I’m sure she’ll be getting others too. Father, haven’t you always wanted to expand the Ling Clan? This could be our great opportunity.”
Patriarch Ling had never seen such a light in his daughter’s eyes. For a moment, he was too stunned to say anything.
Looks like, his daughter had really grown up and knew exactly what she wanted in life.
After a long while, he said, “But why are you so sure we will profit from it? What if everything goes wrong?”
“Father, aren’t you the one who always says that risks and benefits co-exist? If I lose, we’ll hole up in the Eastern Empire a little poorer but still intact. However, if we win
 the Ling Clan will achieve a great leap forward! Father, I’m too inspired! Even if you stop me, I will still go. By going with Shiyu and supporting her unconditionally, I’m sure that this will result in the best business decision of my life.”
Ling Xiaoxiao did not back down, her eyes bright with eagerness as she waited for her father’s blessing.
Patriarch Ling was unable to say a word of rejection in the face of her sparkling eyes.
In the end, he gave up trying to persuade his daughter.
“Aih, the reason I struggled to earn so much money is especially for you to waste it as you like. Go, go, go, just make sure to leave some retirement money for me. You can throw the rest however you like. After all, I am getting old soon. I shall have to rely on you to support me.”
Hearing her father’s compromise, Ling Xiaoxiao was overjoyed. She was about to say something when a sudden Spiritual energy fluctuation caught their attention. The energy flowed over them like waves along with a powerful coercive aura.
Someone is breaking through!
Excited, Ling Xiaoxiao hurried out of the house and leapt onto the roof to take a better look. The energy was coming from the College!
[2a] Surely, the one breaking through should be Qing Chen?
Looks like that Water Essence worked very well

Within the College, the Dean was currently keeping watch. [2b] There was a look of relief on his face.
In fact, this was not Qing Chen’s first attempt to breakthrough after the initial failure. However, he had not been able to recapture the sensation from back then and the Divine Transformation realm had eluded him until now.
Unexpectedly, there was positive movement today, making the Dean feel relief for him.
Perhaps he had been tethering on the edge of breakthrough for too long. This time, Qing Chen’s breakthrough happened very smoothly with no surprises in the middle. Not long now, they will usher in another Divine Transformation powerhouse.
Qing Chen’s breakthrough was considered a great event. Even Dong-Fang came to the College to offer his congratulations.
Right now he had ascended the throne of the Eastern Empire. With him was the Empress he had married not long ago.
Thus, Ling Xiaoxiao, who arrived just a little behind them, had the opportunity to see the empress who had accidentally stuck a foot between former [3] Crown Prince Dong-Fang and Xuan Yin’s relationship.
This was her first meeting with the new empress and Ling Xiaoxiao’s impression was
 tall, too tall, ah!
The Emperor’s [3] height is above average but the empress was only an inch shorter than His Majesty the King [3]

Could those Song people were all giants? Even the women were super tall!
Ling Xiaoxiao did some mental calculation and realised that her head only reached the empress’ chest

Still, the empress was a great beauty. Especially those peach blossom eyes, seven parts beauty and three parts coldness which made it difficult for people to approach. However, her beauty was such that one could not help but look at her even more. Even as a girl, Ling Xiaoxiao could barely keep her eyes away.
The empress looked very slim. Ling Xiaoxiao was not sure whether it was an illusion brought on by her height but the gorgeous clothes looked a little loose on her. Still, it gave her an air of elegance.
Perhaps mesmerised by her beauty, Ling Xiaoxiao took a long time to return to her senses and quickly gave her greetings.
However, the only reply she received was a faint smile.
“The empress is unwell. The imperial physicians say she should not speak at the moment. Since we are now at the College, there’s no need to keep to courtesy,” said Dong-Fang with a smile before he changed the subject. “You must have just returned from the Sacred Universe Empire. Why don’t you tell me about the people and customs there? Is Xiao Shi well?”
Ling Xiaoxiao subconsciously flashed a glance at the empress but saw no negative emotion on her face. In fact, the empress did nothing but drank her tea calmly. Therefore, she suppressed the wariness in her heart and answered Dong-Fang Zhen’s questions

[Gumihou: 
this is probably a futile hope but please be a nice person, empress. Also, Dong-Fang Zhen are you the emperor or crown prince?]
We now have Glossaries for Character , Cultivation Terms , Clan Names, Restaurants & Places
[1] Some small adjustments for smoother delivery
[2] Deleted stuff:
[a] Privately in her heart she thought

Skipped the above since the whole thing was pretty much her POV anyway.
[b] 
at the same time

Er, why this? Statement A followed by Statement B, so why ‘at the same time’?
[3] 
didn’t he already ascend the throne? Why is he still ‘Crown Prince’? If you’re still Crown Prince why is your wife ‘Empress’?
Gumi is not at fault here!!