Hua Jieyu was still in a daze. How did she suddenly become a princess of the Cangye Kingdom?
Hua Fengliu and Nandou Wenyin also froze momentarily. Then, they broke out into a smile. This way, it could be said that they had gained a footing in the Cangye Kingdom. This would solve many of the worries they had.
Many nobles stood to bow at Hue Jieyu. âGreetings, Princess Jieyu.â Even though Hua Jieyu was an outsider given the title of princess and did not equal a real princess, everyone understood the emperorâs intentions. From now on, Ye Futianâs trio was definitely going to be of an extraordinary status. The people must show respect to the emperorâs decisions. Besides, it was very logical for Emperor Ye to confer the title upon Hua Jieyu. Conferring her was equal to conferring Ye Futian. The man a princess was in love with would naturally become a prince in the future.
âWhat should Jieyu call Your Majesty?â Ye Futian asked the emperor.
âItâs just a title, not of importance. For now, she can call me however she pleases. When she gets used to this title, she may even call me Godfather if she is willing,â smiled Emperor Ye.
Hua Jieyu looked at Ye Futian and then at her parents. She was not perfect without proper etiquette. Emperor Ye was so nice to her and had agreed to heal her father. How could she be casual with what she called him? She looked at Emperor and bowed, âGreetings to Godfather from Jieyu.â
Emperor Ye smiled brightly. He went on to say, âTalented young men and women have demonstrated their gifts at the Cangye Kingdomâs Fenghua Banquet. Hua Jieyu has proven herself to be beautiful and capable like no other. I am very happy to have her as my goddaughter.â
âCongratulations, Father,â said the princes and princesses beside him.
âCongratulations, Your Majesty,â the nobles congratulated once again. They stood and held out both hands while they bowed to the emperor. Some people in the crowd looked toward Cangye Kingdomâs number one beauty, Lin Yueyao, who was still standing on the Fenghua Platform.
Emperor Ye had said that Hua Jieyu was âbeautiful like no otherâ. There was no need for explanation. Hua Jieyu was indeed more beautiful than Lin Yueyao. Now, Hua Jieyu had been bestowed the title of princess and was the recipient of everyoneâs unless praises. It seemed like the title of Cangye Kingdomâs number one beauty was going to have to transfer over to someone else.
âJieyu, I donât have a welcoming gift prepared at hand, but I will personally make a request to the imperial advisor for him to help your father,â Emperor Ye said, smiling. Many people looked at Hua Fengliu enviously. He must have been so proud to have such a disciple and such a daughter.
âThank you, Godfather.â The smile on Hua Jieyuâs face was big and bright. The imperial advisor must have been a person of great power, seeing how the emperor said he would âmake a requestâ.
âAs for everyone elseâs rewards, I have already prepared them in the Cangye Kingdom library. According to your placing on the Fenghua Rank, you may choose one out of three things: a treasure, a spell book, or battle tactic book. You may all follow me into the imperial palace.â Emperor Ye stood up and continued, âThe Fenghua Banquet is now officially over.â After he was done speaking, he turned to guide the empress on to the carriage. The princes and princesses followed after them.
Ye Futian and Hua Jieyu looked at each other and smiled. The Cangye Kingdomâs Fenghua Banquet had finally come to an end with great results. They hadnât wasted a trip.
âMaster, letâs head into the palace,â Ye Futian said to Hua Fengliu.
âLetâs go.â Nandou Wenyin sighed loudly and said, âDo you think thereâs a chance they could repair your Life Spirit as well?â
âMy Life Spirit was shattered into pieces. Itâs not that easy,â said Hua Fengliu. He did not have high hopes. As long as they were able to heal his injuries so that he could live like a normal person, he was happy.
A large group of people followed the emperor into the imperial palace. However, there were still some people who remained standing around the Fenghua Platform, not wanting to leave. The Fenghua Banquet was a gathering of cultivators in the Cangye Kingdom but instead, the spotlight had been stolen by the trio from the Nandou Nation. The three of them did not seem to be of any special background but they were all incredibly powerful.
At the Fenghua Banquet, Ye Futian got first place, Hua Jieyu was given the title of princess, and Yu Sheng received high regards from the emperor. They three of them were destined for greatness. Besides that, everyone witnessed just how powerful Ye Wuchen was. He was invincible on the Fenghua platform.
However, Lin Yueyao who was the center of attention and the most outstanding female in Cangye Kingdom before the Fenghua Banquet, was completely outshined by Hua Jieyu. She had received a mere last place on the Fenghua Rank. Even Hua Zhixin had placed higher than her.
Only when they saw the large group of figures disappear slowly, did the people around the platform go their separate ways. Afterward, the news spread rapidly all over the imperial Cangye City.
In the imperial palace, the carriage was moving forward. Just then, an imperial bodyguard beside the carriage came to Ye Futian, âHis Majesty has requested you.â
Ye Futian nodded and headed for the carriage ahead. Lin Yueyao, Bai Qiu, Zuo Qianfan, and the others watched Ye Futianâs silhouette with a mix of emotions. They were all thinking something different.
Ye Futian arrived next to the carriage. âYour Majesty,â he greeted the emperor seated in the carriage.
âThere are still many things you have yet to explain. As talented as you are, what is the Royal Luo familyâs reason for wanting you dead?â asked Emperor Luo.
âYour Majesty, it might have had something to do with a prophecy told by the Nandou Nationâs left minister, Minister Zuo,â answered Ye Futian.
âI know that Minister Zuo is an astrologer. Explain,â said Emperor Luo.
âI once traveled with Minister Zuo. It was then that he might have told my fortune. He bestowed the Decree of the Minister upon me afterward. Then by chance, he also told Jieyuâs fortune. Because of this, the Crown Prince became aware of us. He went all the way to Donghai Academy to see me. He asked for me to follow under his leadership and told me that he would make me his minister once he became the emperor but I rejected. Then came an imperial order from Emperor Luo. He made me the Crown Princeâs study attendant and Jieyu the Crown Princess. Our only choice was to defy the order and flee for our lives,â Ye Futian did not keep anything from Emperor Ye because he could easily find out the truth by sending someone to Donghai City.
The emperorâs eyes brightened. Based on what Ye Futian had said, many things became clear. It was obvious that Emperor Luo gave such an order on purpose as an excuse to get rid of Ye Futian and Hua Jieyu.
âLooks like you and Jieyu were destined to become emperor and empress,â Emperor Ye laughed at Ye Futian.
âBut Iâve never even thought about becoming emperor. I had no intentions of stealing the Nandou Nation throne,â said Ye Futian. He did not mention that he indeed was fated to be emperor but not the emperor of a country.
âYou didnât think of it before but after what happened, thereâs a chance of it happening. This is probably what they call fate,â smiled Emperor Ye. Ye Futian did not say anything. He was not going to become the emperor of a country, those were not his intentions, but the royal family of the Nandou Nation must be eliminated. He was willing to do anything to make sure this happened.
âThe Luoâs found an excuse to kill you and yet you were able to escape?â Emperor Luo was curious. If Emperor Luo gave out such an order, then it would only make sense that he would have made sure that there was no way Ye Futian could make it out alive.
âWe barely made it,â said Ye Futian. âMy grandmaster sacrificed his life to make sure we survived and Yu Shengâs master, Senior Yi Xiang, is still missing.â He did not tell the emperor that even though such grave sacrifices were made, they never would have made it out of Donghai City alive if it hadnât been for the emperorâs will in his body. What Ye Futian didnât know, was that even with the emperorâs will, he almost didnât make it out of Donghai City.
âYour grandmaster is very respectable. As for Yi Xiang, I will send people to find him, but since he is on the run, he may be in hiding. It wonât be easy to find him. Unless you are able to let him know that youâre here,â said Emperor Ye. Ye Futian nodded. He understood what the emperor was trying to say.
They continued through the imperial palace. The empress and others left first. Emperor Ye ordered someone to lead Ye Wuchen and others on the Fenghua Rank to the imperial library while he personally led Ye Futianâs group to another place in the palace. Accompanying them was Princess Ye Lingxi.
Deep within the imperial palace was a mountain. It was quiet on the mountain. The only things on the mountain were the ancient trees and a single residence. Everything was peaceful and quiet. Emperor Ye personally guided Ye Futian and the rest on to the mountain. As soon as they entered the residence, an elder came out to welcome them. The elder had white hair and a white beard. He looked wise, like a sage. However, his eyes were shut tight, even in the presence of the emperor.
On the way up, Ye Lingxi had told them that the imperial advisor could not see.
âYouâre here, Your Majesty,â greeted the imperial advisor. Even though he was blind, it was like he could see who had arrived. He walked directly towards the emperor.
âTeacher, itâs been a while since I came to bother you,â said Emperor Ye. Ye Futian and the others had a look of surprise on their faces. The imperial advisor was Emperor Yeâs teacher.
âYour Majesty, have you come because of him?â the imperial advisor turned in Hua Fengliuâs direction.
âThatâs correct. Teacher, the Fenghua Banquet ended today. This is Ye Futian, Hua Jieyu, and Yu Sheng. The three of them are unbelievably gifted and have a lot of potential. They may even surpass me in the future. Ye Futian ranked first and his request was for his masterâs injuries to be healed. Originally, I did not want to disturb you but then I took Jieyu as my goddaughter. So, the only thing I could do was to ask you to help heal her father,â explained Emperor Ye.
âThey are extraordinary indeed,â nodded the imperial advisor. He turned to Hua Fengliu and asked, âHow are your injuries?â
Hua Fengliu released his broken Life Spirit once again. Then leaned against Nandou Wenyin fatigued. He didnât even have energy to speak. Ye Futian spoke for him. âMaster forcefully summoned his Life Spirit in a battle after it was disabled.â
âI can heal him but itâs not something I can do in a day. Especially since his Life Spirit is shattered. It will take a long time to recover fully,â said the imperial advisor.
âYou can repair his Life Spirit?â asked Ye Futian with a shaking voice. Even Hua Fengliuâs heart skipped a beat. He had never even dared to dream of it.
âThereâs nothing surprising about Teacher being able to do what others canât,â chuckled Emperor Ye. Hearing this, everyone was surprised and happy. All of them bowed to Emperor again. âThank you, Your Highness.â
âYou guys should be thanking my teacher,â laughed Emperor Ye.
The imperial advisor waved his hand. âSince His Majesty has requested, it is only right for me to oblige. He will need to stay here for treatment. As for the rest of you, if you donât mind that there isnât much to offer here, you guys can stay here as well.â
âThank you, Senior,â Ye Futian put his hands together and bowed at the elder with great gratitude. Hua Jieyu was excited. Her fatherâs Life Spirit could actually be healed!
Nandou Wenyinâs eyes were getting red. All these years, sheâd never had any high hopes.
âThen you guys shall stay here with Teacher. If anything happens, you go down the mountains and find someone to report directly to me,â Emperor Ye instructed the group and then departed with Princess Ye Lingxi.
âŠ
Just when the Cangye Kingdomâs Fenghua Banquet ended, in the Nandou Nationâs imperial city, cultivators gathered for their country-wide event.
The Nandou Nationâs Tingfeng Banquet was about to begin!
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