Many members of the Chu Lineage had gathered outside the palace gates. Even their patriarch had come.
Without a summons from Emperor Li Chen, they could only wait at the entrance.
When Chu Family Head saw Chu Ruoyan walking rather slowly, he even wanted to shove her inside.
But his wife stopped his rash behavior, reminding him that this was the imperial palace and he needed to conduct himself properly.
Only then did Chu Family Head give up, though he remained anxious and excited.
Their patriarch was getting on in years. Whether the Chu Lineage could maintain its footing in the Imperial Capital hinged on Chu Ruoyan's visit to the palace.
Having navigated the Imperial Capital for so many years, Chu Family Head was naturally an old hand.
In his view, Chu Ruoyan was exceptionally beautiful. If the young new emperor, who had no consorts, summoned her to the palace, there was almost no possible reason other than considering her as a consort.
He actually hoped that once Chu Ruoyan entered the palace, she would never come out.
He had even bribed a few eunuchs to put in a good word with the Empress Dowager and ask her to look after Chu Ruoyan.
From the moment she stepped into the imperial palace, Chu Ruoyan looked as though she had nothing left to live for.
Despite all her diligent cultivation, she still could not escape the fate of being used as a tool.
Every fiber of her being rejected this place. Everything here felt cold to her.
Perhaps the only warmth in her heart came from Xiao Ming's promise that he could take her away in seven days.
As Chu Ruoyan followed a palace maid at a slow pace through the magnificent imperial palace, the maid, who had also just received a bribe from her father, earnestly explained the palace rules to her.
A jumble of emotions churned within Chu Ruoyan, and she could not take in a word. Before she knew it, she had reached the entrance to the Imperial Study.
She knew very little about the emperor inside-so little that she was somewhat afraid.
One thing Chu Ruoyan did know was that she could not offend the emperor.
If she angered him, both she and her family would be implicated.
So Chu Ruoyan forced out the best smile she could and stepped into the Imperial Study after the maid announced her.
At that moment, Li Chen heard someone enter and glanced over.
Chu Ruoyan's arrival was enough to stun everyone with her beauty.
Her long, black hair cascaded like a waterfall of snow, looking airy and lively at first glance.
Her pale purple eyes shone with light as bright as the stars, and her delicate nose had a high bridge.
Her pale pink lips were lightly pursed, giving her an elegant, dignified appearance.
Her snow-white skin exuded a delicate beauty.
There was a slit in her skirt, through which Li Chen could faintly make out a pair of long legs.
Golden sequins adorned the sash at her waist, while her clearly exposed collarbones made her look all the more slender.
The sight made one want to lean in and bite her a couple of times, leaving deep marks of possession.
Even at her age, her bust had already begun to take shape.
If Xiao Ming had seen this, he might have ground his teeth until they bled.
Whenever Chu Ruoyan cultivated with them, she wrapped herself up like a rice dumpling, leaving nothing visible except her hands and face. Why was she wearing a low-cut dress with a slit in front of Li Chen?
Chu Ruoyan’s family had carefully chosen this outfit for her.
Their purpose was obvious: to put all her assets on display.
Even in her usual clothes, she could drive countless talented young men wild, let alone dressed as she was now.
She could already imagine the emperor's leering expression when he saw her.
The thought filled her with disgust.
At first, things went just as she had expected. The moment she entered, she felt a gaze fall upon her.
But who could have guessed that the owner of that gaze would merely say calmly, "I'm still rather busy. Find somewhere to sit for now."
This response caught Chu Ruoyan completely off guard, and she looked at Li Chen curiously.
What met her eyes was an extraordinarily handsome face.
His face had sharply defined contours and strong lines, looking both majestic and striking.
His deep eyes seemed capable of seeing through everything in the world, gleaming with wisdom and decisiveness.
His brow was slightly furrowed as he studied the memorial in his hands, his focused expression inspiring awe.
The instant Chu Ruoyan saw Li Chen, she felt as though the entire world had dimmed.
Only Li Chen remained, the sole radiance in the world.
More astonishing still, vast dragon might emanated from him, while immortal light mists veiled his form.
With such heavenly bearing and divine beauty, he was a breathtaking sight, like an immortal lord descended into the mortal world.
The sight of Li Chen left Chu Ruoyan rooted to the spot in shock.
Disbelief filled her eyes, and she could not help marveling inwardly: So the bearing of a Celestial Person truly did exist!
Among Chu Ruoyan's previous suitors, Liu Hao had the highest cultivation, while Wu Qi was the most handsome. Xiao Ming could only be described as having pleasant features and formidable strength.
Having those three as suitors in the Imperial Capital was enough to show just how beautiful Chu Ruoyan was.
But only today did she truly understand what divine beauty meant!
Judging by the aura Li Chen exuded, even a single hair of his was probably stronger than Liu Hao.
Compared to Li Chen, Wu Qi's looks were no better than a brick on the ground.
As for Xiao Ming, he could only be called her most devoted lapdog.
Chu Ruoyan stared blankly at Li Chen, momentarily at a loss.
She did not think Li Chen was deliberately leaving her hanging. He was the emperor, after all, responsible for handling affairs of state every day and bearing a heavy burden. How could he delay those affairs over something as trivial as meeting her?
He leafed through the memorials with swift precision, as though not a single word could escape his discerning eyes.
His fingers were long and strong, and even the way he held his brush was exquisitely elegant-a sight one could not help finding pleasing.
It was not as though seeing this had suddenly made Chu Ruoyan particularly fond of Li Chen, but at least she no longer felt the same aversion as before.
The face that had looked as though she had nothing left to live for when she entered the palace was now filled with curiosity about Li Chen.
Chu Ruoyan stood in the Imperial Study for a full half hour. It was not that Li Chen had finished his work; rather, someone else had arrived at the entrance.
When Chu Ruoyan saw this person, her eyes widened in surprise.
She had seen him before, at a banquet hosted by a prominent noble in the Imperial Capital.
Back then, she had only glimpsed him from afar, because he had been seated in the innermost section.
Given the Chu Lineage's standing as a second-rate aristocratic lineage at the time, they could only sit toward the outer edge of the middle section. They had no chance of approaching someone of his stature.
Chu Ruoyan still remembered how, even from far away, she had felt the unparalleled dominance radiating from him.
He was none other than Guo Poyun, the Guardian General, a mighty warrior who had won illustrious military honors for the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty.
A legend among the common people, an existence like a war god.
Back then, Chu Ruoyan had thought that if she could rise to the Guardian General's level, the Chu Lineage would surely flourish in her hands.
But that was only a fantasy. Among the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty's billions of people, there had only ever been one Guo Poyun.
The odds were perhaps even slimmer than her chances of reaching the saint realm.
Yet this Guardian General, revered by countless people, was now kneeling before Li Chen like an ordinary old man.
The stark contrast left Chu Ruoyan dizzy, wondering whether she was dreaming.
Wait, I forgot to kneel when I came in. Should I kneel now?
Hiss, that doesn't seem right either. His Majesty told me to find somewhere to sit as soon as I entered. Does standing here count as defying an imperial command?
While countless thoughts raced through Chu Ruoyan's mind, Li Chen closed the tri-fold memorial in his hands.
Then he placed it on the desk and fixed his gaze on the Grand General before him.
In an instant, an imposing aura began to spread.
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