Hearing Hua Wanru address him that way, quite a few people cried out in surprise.
"Hua Wanru actually praised someone as a fine-looking talent. That's quite an unusual compliment."
"Usually, when the Empress praises someone, she only commends their talent and strength. She never praises anyone's appearance, does she? Could Sect Master Hua have taken a liking to this Yang Chen?"
"Shh, don't spout nonsense. How could the Empress tolerate such blasphemy? Sect Master Hua is like an immortal!"
Yuan Cheng's expression immediately turned ugly when he witnessed this scene. Though he was outstanding, with achievement after achievement to his name and countless people acknowledging him, he had always found it difficult to earn such lavish praise from an Emperor.
Why? Why could Yang Chen receive the Emperor's praise again and again, time after time?
It would have been one thing if it were merely the Emperor of his own Northern Territory Sect. But now, even Hua Wanru of the Ling Nü Sect was praising Yang Chen so highly. It truly made him unable to sit still.
As the discussions grew louder, even He Tan was bewildered by Hua Wanru's praise. Still, it was praise after all, and he was delighted. He slowly said, "Thank you for your high regard, Sect Master Hua. Yang Chen, why haven't you thanked Sect Master Hua for her praise?"
Yang Chen calmly said, "Yang Chen thanks Sect Master Hua."
"It's nothing." Hua Wanru tossed out those words, then closed her eyes and said no more.
He Tan noticed that Yang Chen's thanks toward Hua Wanru seemed to lack much courtesy. He was puzzled. Yang Chen usually placed great importance on etiquette, so what was going on today?
Still, he did not dwell on it.
Yang Chen would never truly believe that Hua Wanru bore