The next morning, at the White Tiger Duke Mansion.
Xu Jiawei's decree was delivered to the White Tiger Duke Mansion by Eunuch Liu.
When the Duchess received the decree, her expression turned extremely unpleasant. The Emperor had personally issued an order reminding her to keep the younger members of the household in line. It wasn't a particularly severe punishment, but word of it would be enough to make her lose face among the noblewomen.
Before leaving, Eunuch Liu told her to send the letter to Dai Hao at the border. If she didn't send it, the Imperial Family would deliver it on her behalf.
"Yes, Eunuch Liu. Thank you for your effort. I'll send it to the Duke." The White Tiger Duchess smiled as she saw Eunuch Liu off.
Once she saw Eunuch Liu leave, the White Tiger Duchess's face darkened. Even so, she still sent a servant to take care of it.
"That damned Huo Yun'er and her son were lucky enough to have Viscount Liu witness what happened." The White Tiger Duchess muttered furiously to herself.
Then she thought of her disappointing second son and sighed, deciding to go speak with him.
The White Tiger Duke Mansion, Dai Huabin's room.
When Dai Huabin heard what his mother had to say, his face twisted with fury, his eyes bloodshot. He wanted nothing more than to find Liu Lin and fight him.
"What right does Liu Lin have? He only started cultivating a few years before me. If I were in his place, I could become the Imperial Family's consort, too."
Seeing her second son so furious, the White Tiger Duchess thought he was still unhappy about what had happened the night before. She couldn't help sighing.
"Huabin, I'm not saying you were wrong. You just have to make sure no one sees you when you do it."
"But we really can't do anything now. This matter has already reached the Emperor."
"Mm, I understand, Mother." Hearing his mother's words, Dai Huabin finally came out of his rage and nodded to her.
"Good. Since you understand, I'll be going now."
With that, the White Tiger Duchess left Dai Huabin's room.
That night, at the Star Luo Empire's border, Dai Hao sat in his military tent and finished reading the letter. He remained silent for a long time.
The letter said that the Emperor was displeased with his second son, Dai Huabin, for making things difficult for his illegitimate younger brother at the mansion.
What shocked him even more, however, was that he hadn't even known he had a son with Huo Yun'er. He couldn't help wondering whether he had been too negligent or his wife had deliberately kept it from him.
Dai Hao then thought of his second son, Dai Huabin, and couldn't help frowning.
He picked up his pen and wrote a reply to his wife. His tone was stern, and he stated plainly that if anything similar happened again, he would send Dai Huabin to the border for training and forbid him from staying at the mansion.
At the same time, he had someone send clothes and food to Huo Yun'er and her son, and ordered the household not to show prejudice against children born to concubines.
Back in Star Luo City, the Duchess didn't dare delay after receiving Dai Hao's reply.
She immediately ordered the kitchen to restore Huo Yun'er and her son's original rations and added a few daily necessities.
Several stewards were also summoned and reprimanded. Afterward, they no longer dared speak coldly to the person living in the side courtyard. As for Dai Huabin, he was confined for three months and forbidden to leave the mansion.
The moment the main gate was locked from the outside, Dai Huabin sat in the darkness, his nails digging deep into his palm. Liu Lin. He gritted his teeth and repeated the name, as if he wanted to kill him right then and there.
Inside the Star Luo Imperial Palace's sleeping quarters.
Xu Jiawei sat at his desk. After listening to Eunuch Liu report how the White Tiger Duke Mansion had dealt with the matter, he nodded slightly and asked nothing more.
He looked at Liu Lin, who had just finished cultivating and been summoned, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Have you taken the Whale Rubber?"
"Mm, it worked well. My physical strength has improved quite a bit." Liu Lin nodded.
"Good." Xu Jiawei leaned back in his chair and began speaking slowly.
"I called you here today because there's something I want to tell you. In six months, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament will be held in Heaven Dou City, in the Heaven Dou Empire."
"I want you to go with Jiujiu. Of course, I'm not asking you to compete. I want you to see the young talents from outside and prepare for when you take part in the future."
"Your Majesty means you want me to watch the tournament and see the younger generation compete."
"Mm. You can't make progress by shutting yourself away all the time. You still need to see the talents from beyond our borders." Hearing Liu Lin, Xu Jiawei nodded.
"Then why are you telling me about this so early, Your Majesty?" Liu Lin asked, puzzled.
"You attended the Dai Family's banquet a couple of days ago, and that gave me the idea. I'm telling you now so you can start preparing." Xu Jiawei began to explain.
A moment later, Liu Lin nodded. "All right."
"Mm. There's no need to rush. You still have six months. I have state affairs to attend to, so go back and cultivate." After speaking, Xu Jiawei waved for Liu Lin to leave. He was about to handle his official business.
"Then I'll take my leave, Your Majesty." Liu Lin bowed and left the Emperor's sleeping quarters, heading back to his own residence.
Time flew by, and six months passed in the blink of an eye.
In a courtyard in the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
Liu Lin sat in a pavilion, absorbed in a book about Soul Tools that he had borrowed from the Star Luo Imperial Family's library.
Suddenly, a pair of hands covered Liu Lin's eyes. Then Xu Jiujiu's playful, sweet voice rang out.
"Guess who I am?"
"Jiujiu, don't tease me. Be good." Liu Lin set the book in his hand on the stone table, turned around, and pulled Xu Jiujiu, who was behind him, into his arms.
"You big pervert! Let go of me!" Xu Jiujiu struggled fiercely in Liu Lin's arms.
Looking at Xu Jiujiu's rosy cheeks, Liu Lin smiled and couldn't help patting her head.
"All right, then, Your Highness, my princess. And next time you come to my courtyard, don't climb over the wall. There's a gate."
Feeling Liu Lin's hand on her head, Xu Jiujiu narrowed her eyes in contentment. But when she heard his words, she replied haughtily, "I like climbing over the wall to come see you. What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing. But you came to see me because of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, right?"
"Mm." Xu Jiujiu nodded. "We'll be setting off in the next few days. I came to tell you."
"Okay, I know."
"Hmph! I'm the captain of the Star Luo Royal Academy's reserve team this time. Hurry up and admire me, Little Lin." Xu Jiujiu lifted her head from Liu Lin's arms and spoke with a proud look.
"Mm, our Jiujiu is amazing. You're already a Level 33 control-type Soul Elder at twelve and a half."
As soon as Xu Jiujiu heard his praise, her little face fell.
"What do you mean, twelve and a half? I'm only twelve! And Liu Lin, stop praising me. It sounds so awkward."
Hearing Xu Jiujiu, Liu Lin couldn't help laughing.
"What's awkward about it?"
"You're already Level 32 and not even ten years old. It feels weird hearing you praise me."
That's right. Over the past six months, Liu Lin had absorbed the Whale Rubber and the Soul Ring of a Soul Beast that was around five thousand years old, successfully becoming a Soul Elder before the age of ten.