Chapter 25: Gifts Presented at Huaqing Palace

The sun dipped behind the western hills, and the evening glow bloomed across the sky like a blazing fire, turning half the heavens crimson.
Within Huaqing Palace, sounds echoed continuously from inside.
The favored consort, whose beauty outshone all others in the palace, reclined in the hot spring with her eyes closed, her thoughts filled entirely with Zhao Su.
As for the old emperor and the matter of instructing the eighth prince, she set them aside for the moment.
A glimmer flickered in her eyes...
Previously, Tang Zijin had thought that battling in a pool of blood was merely an embellishment found in works of art. Now, he truly understood what it meant to fight with utter abandon, as blood fell like rain.
The matches were arranged for Li Longji. As an emperor—one who could be considered diligent—Li Longji had little time each day, so there were two polo matches scheduled daily. During the games, not only did the royal family, nobility, and ministers watch, but each military camp was given twenty seats, offering them a chance to observe and learn.
He Yongren and He Guanzhang nodded enthusiastically, agreeing that it was the right thing to do. From now on, they would be as one family—if there was anything he needed, he simply had to ask.
Good fortune brings high spirits, and faced with these seasoned veterans of the wine table, that night, Li Yuyu was once again thoroughly drunk.
And so, alone, Chu began to gather talented people about him, gradually building his own power, and in the end, he even formed an army of two thousand and began to sweep across the land.
The latter’s attitude was, as the saying goes, “If the water is too clear, there are no fish; if one is too discerning, there are no followers.” As long as the rules of the Qingmu Sect were not violated, he welcomed such things.
Thunderous applause erupted from both the audience below and those watching on television, their enthusiasm burning as they expressed their gratitude for witnessing such a miracle.
Seeing that Yang Hao was in no mood to negotiate, Da Feng fell silent and led seven or eight team members off to collect the javelins. He knew well enough the cost of those weapons; if too many were lost, he would have to compensate dearly.
Wang Yi gave a brief explanation, then smiled, saying that he would send his avatar to the imperial capital for some experience, while he himself would first go home to explain matters to his parents before returning to Ting City to oversee the renovations.
Still, Liu Zhongnan’s words suggested that he did not truly lack affection for Lulu; it was more that he was held back by his own concerns.
But now, his state of mind was no longer the same as when he had first arrived in this hidden village with Ye Qi.
The sun finally set, darkness fell, and the world was about to become a battleground of despair and hope. In the shadows, the light was not extinguished—would it prevail once more over the darkness, would another dawn come?
“That’s because every man is destined to have a soulmate,” Chu Nanxuan interjected.
Since the ingredients for the wine were simply distilled from grains and fruit, Li Longfei was reassured. He raised his glass, tipped back his head, and gulped down a large cup of “Fiery Red Lips.” More importantly, this “Fiery Red Lips” was truly delicious.
“He’s still hard to approach. Who knows what happened—Butler Maoqiu hasn’t been in a good mood for half a year,” Ruoli remarked.
Li Longfei shouted for a long time, but Tian Xiao’s face showed no reaction at all; he continued to stare expressionlessly at the screen before him.
“What’s wrong?” Bu Ye Chuanfeng asked, pulling her into his embrace after her turn, concern in his voice.
He lifted the cup of tea the maid had set before him, sipped slowly, pressing his lips together, then scrutinized the cup in his hand as if examining an ancient artifact.
“Of course, of course. Go on,” Ye Hua nodded in agreement, waving to Huang Ming to continue.
This question seemed to touch upon Jia Xingxing’s sorrow once again, so she recounted simply why she had once willingly followed Xiao Tu as her leader, and why she had been determined to become Master Xiao’s apprentice, even if it meant servitude.