Seriously, Bro, You Really Dare to Mess with the Emperor?

Liu Hao was the son of a powerful noble, and he usually cut quite an imposing figure in the Imperial Capital.

Everyone his age had to call him "Brother Hao."

If anyone refused to accept his authority, he beat them until they did.

With his formidable strength and powerful backing, throwing his weight around was as routine as eating a meal.

Even the elders of some aristocratic families treated him with great courtesy. That was the sense of superiority a noble scion enjoyed.

Recently, however, that superiority had been trampled into the dirt. The goddess he had pursued for years, without ever so much as touching her hand, had been summoned into the imperial palace.

Liu Hao did not need to think to know how things would develop from there.

For once, he had tasted what it felt like to be bullied and powerless.

His previous rivals had been Xiao Ming, whose strength was unfathomable, and Wu Qi, whose background was mysterious and powerful.

Liu Hao believed himself no worse than either of them, so he had kept competing with them all this time.

And what had come of it? An opponent had arrived who outclassed him on an entirely different plane, leaving him utterly miserable.

No, actually, he did not even seem qualified to call himself the new emperor's opponent.

It was not that Liu Hao could take things in stride. He had no choice but to do so.

What else could he do if he could not let it go? Fight the emperor over a woman?

If he so much as entertained that thought, he was sure his father would finish him off first.

The Liu Family had held its position in the Imperial Capital for centuries precisely because it had latched onto the imperial family's thigh.

If he came into conflict with the emperor, the entire Liu Family would turn to dust overnight.

After taking a day to recover, Liu Hao came to the Imperial Capital's lavish shopping street to buy a few things and console himself.

Instead, he caught sight of his goddess shopping with another man.

In particular, he had never seen Chu Ruoyan act so shy and demure, like a little woman in love.

So this was how his ice-cold goddess behaved before a man with power and influence!

Liu Hao immediately flared with anger and wanted to teach the man beside Chu Ruoyan a lesson.

But he calmed down even faster.

Someone who had attained Liu Hao's level of cultivation was naturally no fool.

Chu Ruoyan had been summoned by His Majesty, and she was acting so bashful before this man. Did that not prove he was the reigning emperor?

Thus, when Li Chen and Chu Ruoyan passed by, Liu Hao could only hide in a corner and nurse his sorrow.

After witnessing Li Chen's almost frenzied shopping spree, Liu Hao understood the gulf between them.

And it was only a matter of time before his goddess was won over.

"So, what are you doing here?"

Liu Hao spoke to the person beside him.

"Didn't I already tell you? My ancestor asked me to buy a few things in the Imperial Capital. Did you think I was joking?"

Wu Qi shrugged helplessly.

He had also been shopping here when he spotted Li Chen and Chu Ruoyan and hid.

Who would have thought he would run straight into Liu Hao, who was likewise watching from the shadows?

In truth, Wu Qi felt just as miserable as Liu Hao.

After competing for so many years, these two favored sons of the Imperial Capital felt, for the first time, that they were fellow sufferers in the same boat.

"I'll probably be heading back soon. You grew up in the Imperial Capital and have pursued Ruo Yan the longest. Are you really content to just stand here watching?"

Wu Qi instinctively fanned the flames with a couple of remarks, only for Liu Hao to actually walk toward Li Chen.

Seriously, bro, you really dare to mess with the emperor?

Meanwhile, after shopping all afternoon, Li Chen was feeling hungry and preparing to get something to eat when a young gentleman in luxurious clothes approached.

"What a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you here. And this gentleman is...?"

Liu Hao greeted Chu Ruoyan quite naturally and asked her who Li Chen was.

For a moment, Chu Ruoyan did not know what to say. She even felt a little panicked.

She was afraid Liu Hao might refuse to let things go and cause trouble in front of Li Chen. If Li Chen became angry, they would be in serious trouble.

After all, she knew Liu Hao had pursued her for so many years that he surely would not give up so easily.

"My name is Li Chen. I'm Ruo Yan's friend."

Seeing Chu Ruoyan stumbling over her words, Li Chen answered for her, giving only his name.

"So it's Brother Li Chen! A pleasure, a pleasure. I've always said that Ruo Yan is as beautiful as a heavenly fairy—how could any ordinary mortal deserve her? Now that I've met you, Brother Li, I'm equally struck by your heavenly bearing. You two truly are a match made in heaven."

Liu Hao's answer left Chu Ruoyan baffled. Wasn't he here to cause trouble? Why is he playing matchmaker for us instead?

Li Chen liked what he heard and formed a favorable first impression of this fellow named Liu Hao.

Liu Hao seized the opportunity to introduce himself as a noble scion and the son of the Liu Family's head.

His manner was that of a perfectly modest gentleman.

Apart from his initial glance at Chu Ruoyan, his attention remained fixed on Li Chen.

Having only recently become emperor, Li Chen knew little about the noble scions. Many recent memorials had also concerned the nobility, so he decided to take this opportunity to ask Liu Hao about them.

Upon learning that Li Chen was about to get something to eat, Liu Hao declared that he knew a place with exceptional food and generously offered to treat him.

To secure the privilege of paying for this meal, Liu Hao let eloquence bloom from his tongue, describing a tableful of delicacies so vividly that he stirred up Li Chen's appetite. Naturally, he won the right to treat him.

They soon settled on a venue: the Drunken Immortal Tower, renowned throughout the Imperial Capital.

In truth, Liu Hao could not normally afford to visit such a place. His father had taken him there occasionally, but today was one of his rare chances to curry favor with the emperor.

Naturally, Liu Hao was prepared to spare no expense.

The Drunken Immortal Tower stood in the heart of the Imperial Capital. Its exterior was classically elegant, while its interior opened into a world of its own.

Its specialty was its unique "immortal brew," said to be painstakingly crafted by the tower's master brewer using a secret recipe, a century-old spiritual spring, and rare herbs. Every drop contained the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, refreshing the mind when drunk and even benefiting one's cultivation.

Every floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower had a different theme, offering everything from traditional Heavenly Strategy Dynasty cuisine to delicacies from countries around the world. High officials, powerful nobles, and wealthy aristocratic families all competed to patronize it.

After the three entered the Drunken Immortal Tower, Wu Qi, who had been watching from the shadows, gave himself a vicious slap.

"Holy shit! Liu Hao is going to lick the emperor's boots! Why didn't I think of doing that?"

Since there was no hope of winning his goddess, using her to ingratiate himself with her man was a cunning approach in its own right.

No wonder Liu Hao's cultivation was so high. His powers of comprehension were no joke.

Watching from the shadows, Wu Qi began to panic. He felt he had accomplished nothing in the Imperial Capital, and the other disciples of his Lineage were still waiting to replace him.

But if he won the emperor's favor, who would dare compete with him once he returned?

He could not miss this chance. Once he passed this village, there would be no other shop like it.

After waiting for Li Chen and the other two to enter the Drunken Immortal Tower, he staged a chance encounter of his own.

Wu Qi went even further. He greeted Liu Hao directly and used that as an opening to meet Li Chen, without so much as glancing at Chu Ruoyan.

Just like that, Wu Qi wormed his way into the gathering as well.

When it came to handling people and situations, Liu Hao and Wu Qi were impeccable.

As Li Chen approached the private dining room, Liu Hao hurried ahead to open the door and lift the curtain, allowing him to walk straight in.

Wu Qi pulled out Li Chen's chair and positioned it where he thought Li Chen would be most comfortable.

During the meal, whenever Li Chen swallowed and seemed thirsty, Wu Qi immediately stood to pour him wine.

Whenever Li Chen's chopsticks hovered over a dish that was nearly empty, Liu Hao immediately asked the waiter to bring more.

Above all, whenever Li Chen asked them anything during their conversation, Liu Hao and Wu Qi held nothing back, telling him everything they knew.

Having spent so many years moving through the Imperial Capital's circles, they did know a thing or two.

Even if some of their views might offend powerful figures, they understood that these were precisely the honest answers the emperor wanted to hear.

Between exchanges, both were exceedingly cautious and humble, their words brimming with eagerness to please.

Throughout the entire meal, Chu Ruoyan was practically an outsider, unable to get a word in.

Only when the meal was nearly over did she finally realize what was happening.

Oh no, these two are here to steal my man!