"It hurts, Jiujiu, don't bite me." Liu Lin felt her bite his hand where he was covering Xu Jiujiu's mouth, and hurriedly let go.
"And you say you're not a huge pervert. When you change the subject, at least take your hand away, you idiot." Xu Jiujiu looked at Liu Lin with undisguised disdain.
"Besides, I only gave you a little nibble just now to make you let go. Don't pretend it hurt that much."
"Uh, got it." Liu Lin awkwardly scratched his head.
"All right, quit fooling around. Hurry up and come with me to find my imperial brother."
"I don't know either. Eunuch Liu told me this morning to go with you to find my imperial brother." Xu Jiujiu shook her head, indicating that she didn't know either.
"Mm. Then let's go to your imperial brother's chambers and see what he wants with us."
Xu Jiujiu nodded, and the two walked side by side toward Xu Jiawei's chambers.
When the two reached Xu Jiawei's chambers, they saw Eunuch Liu standing outside the palace, smiling at them.
"Eunuch Liu, what are you doing here?" Xu Jiujiu asked, looking at Eunuch Liu by the entrance to the chambers in confusion.
"His Majesty saw that it was already afternoon and expected the two of you to come, so he specially asked this old servant to wait here." Eunuch Liu spoke respectfully.
Xu Jiujiu heard Eunuch Liu's words and nodded.
"Princess, Viscount Liu, His Majesty has been waiting for some time. Please follow me." After saying this, Eunuch Liu stepped aside and made a welcoming gesture, inviting the two into the palace.
Seeing this, Liu Lin and Xu Jiujiu nodded and followed Eunuch Liu into the palace.
Once they had entered the palace, Eunuch Liu addressed Xu Jiawei, who was seated at the desk:
"Your Majesty, Princess Jiujiu and Viscount Liu have arrived."
After Eunuch Liu led the two into the palace, Xu Jiawei, who had been handling official business at his desk, heard his voice and set down the book in his hand.
Xu Jiawei waved Eunuch Liu away, signaling for him to leave.
Seeing Xu Jiawei's gesture, Eunuch Liu bowed, then withdrew from Xu Jiawei's chambers.
After Eunuch Liu left, Xu Jiawei rose from his desk and walked toward the two with a smile.
"Jiujiu, Little Lin, you're here."
"Mm." Xu Jiujiu nodded and got straight to the point. "Imperial brother, did you have something you wanted Liu Lin and me to do?"
"Mm, there is indeed something I'd like you to do for me. Tonight, the Duchess of the White Tiger Duke's estate has invited the noble families to a gathering at her home. I'd like you to go in my place." Xu Jiawei heard her question and spoke slowly.
"The Duchess of the White Tiger Duke's estate? What is she up to?" Xu Jiujiu asked her imperial brother, her eyes full of confusion.
"It's because her eldest son, Dai Yueheng, became a reserve-team member of Shrek Academy's All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. She wants to show off her son." Hearing his younger sister's question, Xu Jiawei smiled helplessly and explained.
"The Duchess of the White Tiger Duke's estate doesn't have enough influence to get us to attend, does she, Imperial brother?"
"She certainly doesn't. If it were Dai Hao, I would do him this favor."
"The main reason I want the two of you to go is for Liu Lin to show his face. Otherwise, what will you do if they don't recognize him later?" After saying this, Xu Jiawei gave Liu Lin a meaningful look.
Seeing Xu Jiawei's gaze, Liu Lin couldn't help twitching his mouth. So this was all for him.
Liu Lin had kept a low profile for the past three years and had hardly ever left the imperial palace. He had either been cultivating or spending time with Xu Jiujiu and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
The only time he'd left the imperial palace was to hunt for his second soul ring.
Seeing her fiancé's awkward expression, Xu Jiujiu couldn't help laughing.
"Ahem. Your Majesty, I understand. I'll make sure to put on a good show." Liu Lin awkwardly scratched his head.
"Mm, you only need to show your face." Seeing that Liu Lin agreed, Xu Jiawei nodded in satisfaction.
"Also, the whale glue you asked me to buy 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 spoke respectfully.
A while ago, Liu Lin had wanted to improve his physical constitution so he could absorb a third soul ring with a higher age limit.
So Liu Lin had asked his brother-in-law for a few pieces of whale glue. He hadn't expected them to arrive so quickly.
"Little Lin, whale glue won't do much to raise the age limit of your soul ring. I could find you some rare treasures instead."
As the emperor of the Star Luo Empire and a member of the Star Crown Sect, Xu Jiawei naturally knew what whale glue did. He just felt it wouldn't do much for Liu Lin, since Liu Lin's second soul ring came from a 2,000-year-old sub-dragon.
"No need, Your Majesty. This whale glue is enough." Liu Lin shook his head, indicating that he didn't need any other rare treasures.
"Mm, very well. I still have matters to attend to. You and Jiujiu should go back and get ready for tonight's visit to the White Tiger Duke's estate."
"Mm, Imperial brother. Liu Lin and I will go back and get ready." After saying this, Xu Jiujiu took Liu Lin's hand and left the palace.
"Ah, daughters really don't stay once they're grown." Xu Jiawei watched Xu Jiujiu and Liu Lin walk away, smiling as he shook his head.
Evening, side gate of the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
A black carriage left through the side gate and headed toward the White Tiger Duke's estate.
Inside the carriage, Liu Lin looked at Xu Jiujiu, seated across from him, his eyes full of admiration and affection.
Xu Jiujiu wore a pale golden gown, its hem covered in intricate patterns. Her golden hair was tied in a high ponytail, with a few loose strands falling by her face, making her delicate features look even lovelier.
Liu Lin stared at her for several minutes, until her face flushed red. Unable to bear it any longer, she said, "Liu Lin, have you looked enough?"
"No. My wife is so beautiful. How could I ever get my fill of looking at you?" Hearing Xu Jiujiu's words, Liu Lin replied with a straight face.
"Hmph, you're such a smooth talker." Xu Jiujiu heard Liu Lin's praise and curled her lips slightly. "But you're right. This princess was born beautiful. You should be over the moon that you get to be my fiancé."
"Mm, I'm honored to be your fiancé." Liu Lin nodded.
As the two chatted, the carriage slowly stopped at the entrance to the White Tiger Duke's estate.
Seeing that the carriage had stopped at the entrance to the White Tiger Duke's estate, Liu Lin got out first, then gallantly helped Xu Jiujiu down.
When one of the stewards at the entrance saw the carriage bearing the insignia of the Star Luo imperial family, he hurried over.
"You two must be the honored guests from the Star Luo imperial family. Please come inside." The steward bowed, then spoke respectfully to them.
Liu Lin, walking in front, nodded and said, "That's right. We're from the Star Luo imperial family."
"Then please follow me." Hearing Liu Lin's reply, the steward led the two into the banquet hall of the White Tiger Duke's estate.