White Tiger Duke Mansion, Attending the Banquet.

"It hurts, Jiujiu, don't bite me." Liu Lin felt the hand he was using to cover Xu Jiujiu's mouth get bitten, and he hurriedly pulled it away.

"And you say you're not a total pervert? At the very least, you should have let go of my hand when you changed the subject, you idiot." Xu Jiujiu looked at Liu Lin with an expression of utter disdain.

"Besides, I only bit you lightly just now because I wanted you to let go. Don't pretend it hurt that much."

"Uh, got it." Liu Lin scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Alright, enough fooling around. Let's hurry and find my Imperial Brother."

"I'm not sure either. Eunuch Liu told me this morning to come find him with you." Xu Jiujiu shook her head, indicating she didn't know the reason.

"Hmm, then let's go. We'll head to his bedchamber and see what he wants with us."

Xu Jiujiu nodded, and the two walked side by side toward Xu Jiawei's bedchamber.

When they arrived at the bedchamber, they saw Eunuch Liu standing outside the palace doors, watching them with a beaming smile.

"Eunuch Liu, why are you here?" Xu Jiujiu looked at him in confusion.

"His Majesty saw that it was already afternoon and guessed that the two of you would be arriving soon, so he specifically ordered this old servant to wait here for you," Eunuch Liu said respectfully.

Upon hearing this, Xu Jiujiu nodded.

"Princess, Viscount Liu, His Majesty has been waiting for quite some time. Please, follow me." With that, Eunuch Liu stepped aside and gestured for them to enter the palace.

Liu Lin and Xu Jiujiu nodded and followed Eunuch Liu inside.

Once they entered, Eunuch Liu addressed Xu Jiawei, who was sitting at his desk: "Your Majesty, Princess Jiujiu and Viscount Liu have arrived."

As they were led into the hall, Xu Jiawei, who had been busy with state affairs, heard the eunuch's voice and set down the book he was holding.

Xu Jiawei waved his hand at Eunuch Liu, signaling for him to leave.

Seeing the gesture, Eunuch Liu bowed respectfully and retreated from the bedchamber.

After Eunuch Liu left, Xu Jiawei stood up from his desk and walked toward the pair with a smile.

"Jiujiu, Little Lin, you're here."

"Yes." Xu Jiujiu nodded and got straight to the point: "Imperial Brother, is there something you needed us for?"

"Indeed, there is a matter I need your help with. Tonight, the mistress of the White Tiger Duke Mansion is hosting a gathering for the noble families, and I would like you two to attend in my stead," Xu Jiawei said slowly in response to her question.

"The White Tiger Duke's wife? What is she up to?" Xu Jiujiu asked her brother, her eyes filled with confusion.

"It's all because of her eldest son, Dai Yueheng. He became a member of the Shrek Academy reserve team for the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition, and she wants to show him off." Hearing his sister's confusion, Xu Jiawei gave a helpless smile as he explained.

"But the White Tiger Duke's wife doesn't have enough influence to command our presence, does she, Imperial Brother?"

"She certainly doesn't have that kind of influence. If it were Dai Hao himself, I would give him that face."

"I am sending you two primarily so that Liu Lin can make an appearance. Otherwise, if they don't know who you are in the future, what will you do?" After saying this, Xu Jiawei gave Liu Lin a meaningful look.

Seeing Xu Jiawei's gaze, Liu Lin couldn't help but twitch his mouth. So, it was all for him.

For the past three years, Liu Lin had lived a reclusive life, rarely leaving the imperial palace; he was either cultivating or growing closer to Xu Jiujiu and the Three-Eyed Golden Ni.

The only time he had left the palace was to hunt for his second soul ring.

Watching her fiancé's awkward expression, Xu Jiujiu couldn't help but laugh.

"Ahem, Your Majesty, I understand. I will be sure to represent us well." Liu Lin scratched his head sheepishly.

"Good, just showing your face is enough." Seeing that Liu Lin agreed, Xu Jiawei nodded with satisfaction.

"Also, the whale glue you asked me to procure for you a while ago has arrived." As he spoke, Xu Jiawei took a storage soul tool ring from his person and handed it to Liu Lin.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Liu Lin took the ring and said respectfully.

Some time ago, Liu Lin had wanted to improve his physical fitness to increase the age limit of the third soul ring he could absorb.

He had asked his brother-in-law for some whale glue, never expecting it to arrive so quickly.

"Little Lin, this whale glue won't do much to increase your soul ring's age limit. Perhaps I should find you some other heavenly treasures instead."

As the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire and a member of the Star Crown Sect, Xu Jiawei naturally knew the effects of whale glue, but he felt it wouldn't be enough for Liu Lin, especially since Liu Lin's second soul ring had already come from a sub-dragon beast of around 2,000 years.

"No need, Your Majesty. This whale glue is enough." Liu Lin shook his head, indicating he didn't need other rare treasures.

"Very well, then. I still have matters to attend to. You and Jiujiu should go back and prepare; you'll be heading to the White Tiger Duke Mansion tonight."

"Understood, Imperial Brother. We will go and prepare now." With that, Xu Jiujiu took Liu Lin's hand and left the palace.

"Sigh, a daughter grown is like water spilled," Xu Jiawei said with a chuckle, shaking his head as he watched their retreating figures.

At dusk, by the side gate of the Star Luo Imperial Palace.

A black carriage departed from the side gate, heading in the direction of the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

Inside the carriage, Liu Lin looked at Xu Jiujiu, who sat across from him, his eyes filled with admiration and affection.

Xu Jiujiu was dressed in a pale gold gown, the hem adorned with intricate patterns. Her long golden hair was tied into a high ponytail, with a few stray locks framing her face, making her delicate features look even more beautiful.

Liu Lin stared at her for several minutes, causing her face to flush with a deep red, until she couldn't help but speak up: "Liu Lin, have you seen enough yet?"

"Not yet. My wife is so beautiful, how could I ever see enough?" Liu Lin replied with a straight face.

"Hmph, glib-tongued." Xu Jiujiu's lips curled upward slightly upon hearing Liu Lin's praise. "But you're right; this Princess is naturally beautiful. You should be secretly thrilled to be my fiancé."

"Mm, I am honored to be your fiancé," Liu Lin said with a nod.

While the two were chatting, the carriage slowly came to a halt at the entrance of the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

Seeing the carriage stop at the gates of the White Tiger Duke Mansion, Liu Lin stepped out first and gallantly helped Xu Jiujiu down.

A steward at the entrance hurried over the moment he spotted the carriage bearing the insignia of the Star Luo Imperial Family.

"You two must be the honored guests from the Star Luo Imperial Family. Please, follow me inside," the steward said respectfully after bowing to them.

Liu Lin, walking in the lead, nodded and said, "That's right, we are indeed from the Star Luo Imperial Family."

"Then please follow me, both of you." Upon hearing Liu Lin's confirmation, the steward led the two of them into the banquet hall of the White Tiger Duke Mansion.