As night fell, the imperial palace of the Heaven Dou Empire was already ablaze with lights.
To show how much importance he placed on Spirit Hall, Xue Ye personally arranged a grand banquet of the highest order.
Music from strings and pipes filled the great hall without pause, while dozens of graceful dancers twirled across the red carpet at its center.
The long rosewood tables were laden with rare delicacies and fine wines seldom seen anywhere on the continent.
The sole purpose of the banquet was to entertain Gu Qing, the Martial Soul Hall Holy Son, who had come from afar.
The ministers of the Heaven Dou Empire stood in two rows along either side of the hall, all wearing ingratiating smiles and raising their wine cups from time to time to toast the seat of honor.
Xue Ye sat high in the place of honor, holding a golden cup and looking radiant with joy.
As the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe had naturally been seated beside Gu Qing.
After three rounds of drinks, the banquet had reached its peak.
The ministers wore tipsy smiles as they leaned close to one another and chatted.
Xue Ye slowly set down his golden cup and turned his gaze to Gu Qing, who had been drinking with unruffled composure.
"Your Highness the Holy Son is young and accomplished—a rare talent among the youth of the entire continent."
At the ruler's words, the ministers in the hall immediately fell silent, then chimed in with one voice.
Gu Qing merely swirled the wine in his crystal glass, watching the crimson liquid circle around inside.
"Your Majesty flatters me."
Xue Ye stroked his grizzled beard, a hint of gossip suddenly flashing in his eyes.
He leaned forward slightly and spoke in the tone of an elder showing concern for a younger person:
"I've heard that Your Highness the Holy Son and Miss Qian Renxue, that exceptionally gifted young lady from Spirit Hall, have been betrothed for some time."
The moment he said this, the already noisy hall fell utterly silent.
Everyone pricked up their ears, curious about the mysterious young lady of Spirit Hall, who rarely appeared in public.
The smile on Xue Ye's face deepened.
"I wonder, how are things between the Holy Son and Miss Qian Renxue?"
At this exceedingly sensitive question, Xue Qinghe, seated to the side, abruptly lifted his head.
Those piercing eyes fixed on Gu Qing.
They held an undisguised warning, as if to say, "Say one word out of line, and I'll fight you to the death."
Meeting that warning gaze, Gu Qing's lips curved slightly, and amusement quickly spread through his eyes.
He leisurely set his crystal glass on the table, his movements unhurried.
"Since Your Majesty has asked, I'll answer honestly."
Gu Qing deliberately paused, thoroughly pleased to see Xue Qinghe's breathing grow more rapid beside him.
"My relationship with her is naturally very good."
Xue Qinghe's fingers tightened sharply around his wine cup, his knuckles turning white.
Gu Qing acted as though he hadn't seen the murderous look and continued:
"At Spirit Hall, I usually call her Xue'er."
A minister nearby, who had been drinking, suddenly choked and burst into a fit of coughing.
The ministers exchanged stunned looks, their faces full of disbelief.
The fabled, lofty, heaven-blessed young lady of Spirit Hall was actually being called "Xue'er" to her face?
Xue Ye grew even more interested, his eyes shining.
"Oh? It seems the Holy Son and Miss Qian Renxue truly love each other and share a deep affection."
Gu Qing casually crossed his hands on the table, his tone turning very serious.
"Of course."
"Although Xue'er is stern with outsiders, she's incredibly gentle and considerate with me."
Xue Qinghe's chest had begun to heave uncontrollably.
It was as if countless flying knives were shooting wildly from his eyes.
Without so much as a blush, Gu Qing loudly regaled the entire Heaven Dou Imperial Family with what he claimed were the details of their romance.
"In the back garden of the Pope Palace, she often takes a jade comb and does my hair herself."
"Her touch is so gentle, you wouldn't believe it."
"Every night before bed, she insists on coming to my room herself and softly saying good night before she'll leave."
The ministers' jaws nearly hit the floor.
Was this really the ruthless, frosty heir of Spirit Hall from all the rumors?
She sounded like a lovesick young woman who'd fallen head over heels!
The more Gu Qing spoke, the more carried away he became. He even let out a long sigh, as if weighed down by his troubles.
"Sigh, what troubles me most is how clingy she is."
"She's always declaring everywhere that she'll marry no one but me, and nothing anyone says can change her mind."
"Crack!"
The crisp sound of porcelain shattering rang out in the silent hall.
Every conversation stopped at once.
The ministers' gazes were drawn like iron filings to a magnet, all turning toward the source of the sound.
They saw Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's right hand, still holding his wine cup, frozen in midair.
His hand was trembling violently.
Just a moment earlier, he had crushed an extremely precious white jade cup into powder.
Red wine trickled between his fingers, dripping onto his luxurious python-embroidered robe.
The atmosphere in the hall turned deeply strange.
Seeing Xue Qinghe's flushed face, everyone finally noticed the crown prince's slight loss of composure.
The crown prince, who usually kept his expression unchanged even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, now had veins faintly throbbing on his forehead.
Feeling the countless strange looks from those around him, Xue Qinghe finally snapped back to his senses.
He hurriedly pulled a gold-threaded handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the wine and porcelain fragments from his hand in a haphazard fashion.
"I... I've caught a slight chill lately and can't hold my liquor. My hand slipped, that's all."
The ministers all gave knowing looks and turned their heads away in perfect unison.
After all, no one dared to provoke the crown prince just then.
Watching this scene, Xue Ye wore an extremely bemused expression.
He was thoroughly entertained by such curious tales of the younger generation.
He turned his gaze back to Gu Qing, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.
"But I've heard that Miss Qian Renxue is very cold and aloof."
Xue Ye slowly shook his head, his voice plainly puzzled.
"According to the rumors, she gives every young talent the cold shoulder."
"That's nothing like the person you just described, Holy Son."
Gu Qing waved his hand nonchalantly, as if it were only natural.
"Your Majesty doesn't understand a woman's heart."
"That's just a front she puts up to keep the bees and butterflies away."
"Though she seems unapproachable, she's actually burning with passion inside."
Xue Qinghe clenched his back teeth, a faint grinding sound coming from his mouth.
But Gu Qing still smiled brightly, his clear voice ringing through the hall:
"If Your Majesty knew what happened when we first met, you'd understand."
The ministers' curiosity had been roused to the utmost. Every last one of them wished they could press their ears closer.
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