Xue Qinghe

In the early morning, sunlight filtered through the window curtains into the palace. On an extravagant, luxurious bed slept an exceedingly young man.

"Your Highness, are you awake, Your Highness?"

At the servants' soft calls from outside the door, the man opened his bleary eyes and woke up.

Upon closer inspection, his features were as picturesque as a painting, his skin pale as ancient jade, and his face breathtakingly beautiful. Even though his phoenix eyes were still slightly hazy, their radiant brilliance could still be seen.

After waking up, the man lay in bed for another half minute. Only after a difficult struggle against gravity did he finally sit up on the edge of the bed.

As if gravity were making one last stand, a corner of his sleepwear quietly slipped down after he sat up, revealing shoulders as smooth as ice and pure as jade—shoulders that could make even women envious.

"Come in."

The man's voice was equally gentle and magnetic, making it impossible not to be drawn in as it gradually approached.

After receiving his reply, a head housekeeper led twelve servants inside.

Among the twelve servants, three carried pillows, bedsheets, and a quilt, while another three held a washbasin, towels, and clothes.

With three servants attending to him, the man washed up and changed clothes. Meanwhile, the three servants carrying the bedding replaced every part of the bed with fresh ones.

Clothes made the man, as a saddle made the horse. Once he had changed, he appeared with snow-white hair, a gentle jade-like demeanor, tender eyes, a warm smile, and an aura of serene comfort surrounding him.

A gentleman was like jade upon the road, unmatched beneath the heavens. That saying seemed to have been created precisely to describe this man.

The housekeeper instructed the servants to continue cleaning the room, then followed behind the man toward the dining hall. As they walked through the magnificently decorated corridor, she began listing his tasks for the day one by one.

"Your Highness, according to the schedule, after you finish breakfast in half an hour, you will spend one hour studying etiquette and one hour studying calligraphy and painting this morning. After that, there will be half an hour for lunch and half an hour for rest. In the afternoon, you will have one hour of theoretical studies and one hour of cultivation.

After half an hour for dinner in the evening, there will be the weekly court banquet, which requires your attendance.

There will also be a late-night meal after the banquet, but you will need to complete today's assignments as well. Then it will finally be time for you to rest."

Faced with a schedule so packed that it did not leave him even a moment of free time, the man remained calm without even blinking. After all, he had lived this way for thirteen years—at least, that was how it appeared to everyone else.

"Has anything important happened recently?"

Taking advantage of the time on the way, the man asked about recent events.

"Your Highness, the Pope of Spirit Hall has issued an order for this year's Martial Soul Awakening to begin one day early. She said it was to give more people equal opportunities to change their fate. However, the awakening on that extra day will be conducted only for orphans."

When the housekeeper mentioned the Pope of Spirit Hall, an almost imperceptible change flickered in the man's eyes before quickly fading.

"Martial Soul Awakening across the entire continent, one day early. Spirit Hall certainly knows how to make a grand gesture. If I remember correctly, this year's Martial Soul Awakening begins in three days. We can make arrangements then and steer some of the credit toward the empire."

The housekeeper immediately took out a pen and began writing, using her hand and forearm as a surface.

After catching from the corner of his eye that she had finished writing, the man continued, "Anything else?"

The housekeeper then spoke of matters concerning the Upper Three Sects and the Star Luo Empire. Finally, she took out a sheet of paper and said, "The last item is the latest intelligence from this morning. Near midnight last night, Spirit Hall's Ghost Douluo arrived at our nation's Spirit Main Hall with a boy."

"Oh? Ghost Douluo and a boy? Is the information reliable?"

"It came from our informant. Mainly because Ghost Douluo did not conceal his tracks. Salas personally received them last night as well."

"Do we know the boy's identity?"

"Your Highness, that boy is likely the disciple of the Pope mentioned in the rumors."

In truth, many high-ranking figures among the continent's forces had heard a little about Wu Ling's identity. Moreover, Bibi Dong had personally spread that information back then.

However, over the past four years, they had only heard of his status. They knew nothing about who this disciple actually was, what he looked like, what Martial Soul he possessed, or what level he had reached. Even the spies they had planted in Spirit City could not uncover the slightest trace of him, as though he never left his home.

"The Pope's disciple... That woman actually took a disciple? And a male one, too..."

Seeing the man deep in thought, the housekeeper did not disturb him and simply followed quietly at his side.

After a while, the man said, "Adjust the schedule. Shorten both the afternoon study time and cultivation time to half an hour, freeing up one hour. I want to meet this rumored fellow. Oh, and remember to send an invitation in advance."

The housekeeper said nothing upon hearing this, because she knew her place. Whatever her status, she only needed to do what was appropriate for that status. So she took out her pen again and silently recorded the matter.

After the housekeeper finished writing, they arrived at their destination. The words "Dining Hall" were engraved upon a brilliant golden signboard.

Once the man reached the dining hall, the housekeeper behind him left his side and stood to one side of the corridor outside, waiting for him to finish breakfast.

As the attendants on either side opened the doors for him, a luxurious dining room appeared before the man.

At the center of the dining room stood a long table, surrounded by several chairs. Seated at the head of the table was the current emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire—Xue Ye!

Facing the emperor of the empire, the man calmly said, "Your son pays his respects to Father Emperor."

"Mhm. Qinghe, you're here. Come sit."

From their exchange, it was clear that this man was Xue Ye's eldest son, the Heaven Dou Empire's First Prince, Xue Qinghe!

As usual, Xue Qinghe walked to his seat. After sitting down, he began eating breakfast and thus began the day's schedule.

Meanwhile, Wu Ling was sitting beside a small roadside noodle stall.

"Boss, give me a bowl of fried sauce noodles. Remember, extra scallions and extra sauce. Mm, I want cilantro too.

"Oh, and bring two steamed buns while you're at it. Add a small plate of pickled vegetables too. If you have porridge, bring me a bowl—make it thin."