The Star Luo Emperor

After saying goodbye to Huo Yuhao, Xu Jiujiu hurried toward the Core Zone of Star Luo City with Man Yi.

Star Luo Imperial City stood at the heart of Star Luo City, covering more than ten thousand mu. It was divided into two sections. The front half consisted of imposing palaces where the Star Luo Emperor and his ministers usually handled affairs of state.

The rear half was the harem, made up of buildings where the emperor, his consorts, and his children lived and enjoyed themselves.

From the moment Xu Jiujiu entered the imperial city, she had to pass through one security check after another. The guards did not make things too difficult for her because she was a princess, but the checks still took time.

She passed through lavish palaces and bedchambers before finally reaching a rather unremarkable study.

The study's exterior was plain, at odds with the opulent palaces around it.

"Your Highness, what brings you to His Majesty so late?"

The man who stopped Xu Jiujiu was an elderly eunuch named Gui Hao, who served the Star Luo Emperor. He was over ninety and had attended three generations of emperors. He was highly respected in the palace, and even Xu Jiujiu treated him with deference.

"Sorry for the trouble, Eunuch Gui. I have an important matter to discuss with Imperial Brother."

"Allow me to announce you first."

Before long, Eunuch Gui emerged from the study. "Your Highness, His Majesty is waiting inside."

He added, "Please enter quietly, Your Highness. His Majesty hasn't had a proper rest in days."

"I understand."

The study was simply furnished. Apart from an imperial desk piled with files and a bookshelf crammed with official documents, it had no decorations. When Xu Jiujiu entered, she could not even spot her imperial brother at first. Only after looking carefully did she find him behind a mountain of paperwork, dark circles under his eyes and exhaustion written across his face.

He was an imposing middle-aged man with golden hair, dressed in a golden imperial robe with a purple cloak draped over his shoulders. Were it not for his weary expression and heavy dark circles, he would have looked quite handsome. This was Xu Jiujiu's imperial brother, Xu Jiawei, the current emperor of the Star Luo Empire.

"Greetings, Imperial Brother."

Without looking up, Xu Jiawei said, "All right, there's no one else here. What is it, you little rascal?"

With her brother's permission to dispense with formalities, Xu Jiujiu went straight up to him and said with a grin:

"Brother, guess what news I've brought you?"

Xu Jiawei finally looked up from the sea of documents. "I'd say it has to do with that boy you picked up."

"How did you know, Imperial Brother?"

Xu Jiawei pulled a fresh-looking document from the mountain of paperwork and handed it to Xu Jiujiu.

"Li Jun already reported that he and the boy returned today. The boy must have had an extraordinary encounter on this Soul Hunt. He didn't tell Li Jun, but he told you, didn't he?"

"Tch. You're no fun."

"All right, just tell me. Stop keeping me in suspense."

Xu Jiujiu had no choice but to tell Xu Jiawei everything about Huo Yuhao's Soul Hunt and the effects of his Second Martial Soul.

When he heard her account, Xu Jiawei shot to his feet. "Is that true?"

"Would I lie to you, Imperial Brother? Deceiving the emperor is a serious crime."

"That's not what I meant."

As he spoke, he pulled another document from the pile and handed it to Xu Jiujiu.

"Look. This boy couldn't have appeared at a better time!"

Xu Jiujiu took the document and began to read.

It had been sent by the lord of Yuming City, a key city on the Mingdou Defense Line overseen by Dai Hao.

In it, the city lord repeatedly accused the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, of allowing his brother-in-law, Imperial Knight Yipu, to bully the people of Yuming City. Knight Yipu had even reached into the city's armory.

Since Yipu had taken charge of the armory, the lords of many smaller cities around the defense line had submitted reports of bandits appearing near their cities armed with standard Empire weapons.

Bang! After reading the document, Xu Jiujiu slammed it onto the desk.

"Brother, why is scum like this still in the army? Why haven't you dealt with him?"

"I'm working on it! Dealing with Yipu is easy, but dealing with the man behind him isn't."

Recalling what Xu Jiawei had said earlier, Xu Jiujiu suddenly realized what he had in mind.

"Brother, you aren't planning to have Yuhao take over the Mingdou Defense Line someday, are you?"

"Exactly!"

"I've had that thought since the day you brought the boy back."

Xu Jiawei rose from behind the imperial desk and walked over to a huge map on the study wall.

"The boy is exceptionally talented. Reaching Titled Douluo shouldn't be a problem for him. More importantly, he has a grudge against the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao!"

His words all but confirmed that he intended to bind Huo Yuhao to the Star Luo Empire. As for how to do it, he turned to his sister.

"Jiujiu, what do you think of the boy?"

After a moment's thought, Xu Jiujiu said, "Yuhao is resilient and kind. Most importantly, he's devoted to his mother. All in all, he's a wonderful child."

"And how do you feel about him?"

"What do you mean?"

At first, Xu Jiujiu did not understand. Then it dawned on her. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she felt as if steam were rising from her head. Her whole body tingled as though a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon had shocked her.

"Brother, what are you saying? Yuhao is only six and a half! I only think of him as a little brother."

Seeing his sister bristle, Xu Jiawei hastily backtracked. "I'm joking! It was just a joke!"

Xu Jiujiu patted her burning cheeks and complained, "Who jokes about his own sister like that?"

Yet, without her noticing, Xu Jiawei's words took root in her heart like a seed, waiting for the day it might sprout.

Once she had calmed down, Xu Jiujiu held out a hand to Xu Jiawei.

"What's this?"

"You want Yuhao to take Dai Hao's place one day, don't you?" Xu Jiujiu said matter-of-factly. "Where are the resources?"

Xu Jiawei wanted to ask whether his sister really thought of Huo Yuhao as a little brother. Nothing had even been settled between them, and she was already taking his side.

Still, her reaction eased some of Xu Jiawei's guilt. Children of the imperial family generally had to marry for political alliances, but he wanted both his younger sisters to find good partners.

Having made up his mind, he gave a rueful laugh. "Fine. Have old Gui take you to the imperial treasury later and pick out a few good things for the boy."

"Hmph. That's more like it."

Having wrung a promise out of her brother, Xu Jiujiu turned to leave his study. Then she seemed to remember something, and her expression abruptly darkened.

"What's wrong?"

Xu Jiawei watched his sister's expression change and asked curiously. Surely he had not offered too little?

"Brother, before Yuhao went on his Soul Hunt, I promised I'd find him a Soul Tool teacher."