Chapter 369 - 367: The Banquet
"Please speak freely."
The Empress’s tone softened considerably, seemingly not wanting to put too much pressure on Qin Yu.
"Your Majesty, though I possess some modest means and hold certain efficacies regarding bodily injuries, the Princess’s condition differs somewhat from Yan Yu’s..."
Qin Yu dared not claim he was confident in healing, much less boast before this Great Yan Empress.
He did not wish to die at the Empress’s feet.
"I can promise you that if you can cure Ling’Er’s hidden ailment, any condition... you may name it."
The Empress interrupted Qin Yu and, after a brief pause, added, "Do not feel pressured; you may give it a try."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yu’s expression slightly changed, his voice instinctively lowered, filled with hesitation and struggle: "This... doesn’t seem appropriate."
It’s not about pressure.
It’s a matter of whether it can be done!
How is Ling’Er now any different from Lin Shuishui back then?!
Such a pure and endearing little one might be ruined if tried.
She’s still so young!
Seeing Qin Yu’s frightened appearance, the Empress couldn’t help but slightly furrow her elegant brows.
Could it be that this guy only knows one method... to heal?!
Though she hadn’t asked Yan Yu,
the Empress could guess what that method entailed.
But.
This was too absurd.
If there were a method, but it specifically required...
Where on earth are there such things?!
Utterly unheard of.
Or was Qin Yu afraid of bearing the consequences of failure?!
"Your Majesty, Qin Yu is merely at the Golden Core stage, even with some means... however, the force inside the Princess is the Power of Dao Rhyme, so I am not very confident."
Qin Yu’s words held some reason.
He was quite unique, able to purify Malice Spirits and Death Qi... hence, capable of eliminating the Death Qi clinging to Leng Ruyu, even Yan Yu.
This was entirely normal.
Just as he himself stated, Ling’Er’s situation was different. He lacked full confidence, and this was quite reasonable.
The Empress internally sighed softly and refrained from further troubling Qin Yu.
She could see that Qin Yu wasn’t being evasive but speaking his true thoughts.
Thus.
The Empress found Qin Yu even more trustworthy.
If it were in the past, she might have been eager for quick results.
But now, Ling’Er’s condition had evidently improved. As long as Qin Yu remained, there wouldn’t be significant issues.
Let’s observe for a while longer.
"Today, I have come personally for another matter I wish to share with you."
The Empress spoke leisurely, with a hint of significance in her gaze.
"A tributor banquet is set to be held in seven days."
Having said that, she slowly rose, accompanied Little Ling’Er for a while, then left Jade Flower Palace.
"Qin Yu, what did the Empress... say to you?"
The Empress Dowager seemingly discarded the Empress’s repeated reminders, asking with a curious look.
"The Empress came specifically to inform about the tributor banquet in seven days and also briefly discussed the Princess’s hidden ailment."
Qin Yu held nothing back but maintained the appropriate decorum and deference in his words.
As it’s a grand banquet, surely, imperial capital’s nobility would all attend.
There was excitement, though not much; more so, a sense of anxious reverence.
He was accustomed to caution.
For Qin Yu, such events were too high-profile.
Currently, he had little self-preservation capability.
Nevertheless, residing in the imperial capital meant he couldn’t stay cloistered within the Imperial Palace forever, could he?
Once exposed to the imperial capital’s elite, his travels there would encounter fewer hindrances, with less peculiar peopling involving themselves.
"Did the Empress mention allowing you to take Little Ling’Er out to play?"
The Empress Dowager’s focus seemed particularly unusual; her upper body nearly lay over the stone table, and the Great Phoenix formed a breathtaking curve.
"No."
Qin Yu kept his gaze directly forward, quietly bending himself to avoid any disrespect toward the Empress Dowager.
"Such stinginess, after returning for a few days, yet still not allowing Us to go out and play!"
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager slumped like a deflated ball, resting her head on the stone table, muttering discontentedly.
Under the weight of her body, the clothes seemed ready to burst at any moment, leaving those watching on edge.
Little Ling’Er, holding Qin Yu’s hand firmly, clearly sensed his grip suddenly tighten.
She too seemed to find the Empress Dowager’s behavior somewhat improper.
Yet, parting her small lips, she ultimately said nothing.
...
Within the Imperial Palace, all was calm and quiet.
Qin Yu’s life remained unaffected.
After all, each time he emerged from his Lifebound Space, Yan Yu was always with him.
That was the Flame Guard!
Holding a significant status within the Imperial Palace.
That very day, a mind-blowing piece of news rapidly spread to every corner of the Great Yan Imperial Capital.
Announcing—Qin Yu as the Great Yan Tributor, with a grand banquet to celebrate in the Imperial Palace seven days hence!
In less than a day, Qin Yu’s name became a hot topic in streets and alleys, known by all.
Forces from all sides were startled into action, dispatching spies to investigate the origin of this new royal court tributor, but no matter how much effort they expended, digging as deep as they could, they found no trace of Qin Yu’s past deeds.
Even the deep-rooted, historically longstanding ancient families of the imperial capital were no different.
As if this tributor named Qin Yu had appeared out of thin air.
Consider that every tributor of the Great Yan Royal Family was a well-known presence long before their conferment.
Someone like Qin Yu was utterly unprecedented!
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
Since it was an evening banquet, Qin Yu, adhering to the Empress’s command, left Jade Flower Palace, returned to Huayang Hall, and led a group of his already prepared fair wives toward the grand banquet venue.
On this day, he donned the tributor’s robe meticulously tailored by the royal family.
On the chest of the robe, the golden totem representing the Great Yan Royal Family stood out brilliantly; the cuffs and hems were delicately embroidered with golden thread, each detail exuding an air of distinction and nobility.
Qin Yu stood tall. Though not as imposing as a mountain, he possessed an inherent charming poise.
In that robe, his demeanor was accentuated perfectly. His face was handsome, his side profile’s contours radiating a unique masculine allure.
However, behind him, his fair wives were somewhat anxious. Among them, Yan Yu was the calmest.
Having once been a Flame Guard, her psychological prowess was outstanding. Still, the idea of presenting herself as Qin Yu’s Dao Companion unsettled her heart somewhat.
Besides her, only Su Xihe, a former Sect Leader, could remain extraordinarily composed.
She wore a splendidly elegant coronet dress, exuding grace and elegance, with an ethereal aura in every move, intolerant of infringement.
Her captivating visage resembled a tranquil lake, serene and aglow, seemingly transcending the mundane, stunning and peerlessly beautiful, engendering reverence, forbidding any offense.