He hastily stepped back, his spear slamming heavily into the ground. "This humble general was blind and did not recognize your greatness! Please forgive me, Young Master Yu!" He then turned and shouted to those behind him, "Quickly! Inform His Highness the Crown Prince!"
With a series of hurried footsteps, the copper ring on the side door was knocked three times. The palace gate slowly opened, Yu Tianheng caught a glimpse of the shadowy figures of guards flashing through the crack in the door—at least seven faint auras were locked onto them from the eaves and on the wall.
They were all Soul Master, and their cultivation levels were not weak; they were at least Soul King.
"Young Master Yu, please come in." The knight stood up, his forehead already beaded with cold sweat. "His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting in the Eastern Palace." He gestured for the other guards to make way, clearing a path straight to the palace gate.
Yu Tianheng strode towards the East Palace with his hands behind his back, while Mu Qing swallowed hard, his body stiff and his expression somewhat excited.
He had never seen such a scene before. Back then, he was just a street urchin, with no status, no strength, and not even Martial Soul. He was just an ordinary person. If it weren't for Yu Tianheng teaching him Martial Dao, Mu Qing would have lived the same life without any achievements.
But now she is qualified to enter the palace and even meet the crown prince. Such an honor would have been unthinkable for Mu Qing in the past.
In my excitement, I forgot to move forward.
Seeing this, Yu Tianheng slowed down and looked at Mu Qing: "Relax, it's not some big deal, there's no need to get excited."
"Head up, chest out, eyes forward! Don't embarrass me."
Mu Qing nodded, and then followed Yu Tianheng into the palace gate, but every step felt like walking on ice.
The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace is very large, covering an extremely vast area, even more than twice the size of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Although Yu Tianheng knew that Xue Qinghe was currently in the Eastern Palace, he did not know her exact location.
So they proceeded along the wide corridor, led by their attendants.
Finally, after walking for a quarter of an hour, Yu Tianheng and Mu Qing arrived at Xue Qinghe's residence.
A room located in the main hall of the East Palace.
The room's doors were made of precious wood, carved with exquisite patterns and designs, while the doorknobs were crafted from pure gold and inlaid with various gemstones, exuding ultimate luxury.
Upon entering the room, one finds the furniture neatly arranged, each piece meticulously crafted by renowned artisans using the finest materials, such as soft Swan, smooth leather, and sturdy mahogany.
The furniture boasts a unique design style, blending Baroque and Rococo elements. Its flowing lines and beautiful shapes, along with exquisite carvings and decorations, showcase an exceptionally high level of artistry.
Behind it is a beautiful garden, planted with various precious flowers, trees and shrubs, blooming in all seasons and exuding fragrance. The garden paths are paved with pebbles, winding and turning, leading to every corner of the garden.
Along the path are rows of exquisite sculptures, some depicting mythological figures and others animals, each so lifelike that they seem to have stepped out of a mythological world.
In the center of the garden was a huge artificial lake, its waters crystal clear, reflecting the beautiful silhouette of the palace. In the middle of the lake was a small island with a pavilion. Inside the pavilion were tables and chairs, and Xue Qinghe was sitting in the pavilion, slowly sipping a cup of red tea.
Upon seeing Yu Tianheng arrive, Xue Qinghe put down her cup and rose to greet him, "Young Master Yu, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for quite some time."
Yu Tianheng bowed slightly to Xue Qinghe, "Your Highness, please forgive me. I was delayed by something earlier."
"It's alright, it's alright. I'm just glad you came."
"Young Master Yu, please sit down!" Xue Qinghe pointed to the seat opposite him, gesturing for Yu Tianheng to sit down and talk.
Yu Tianheng did not refuse and sat down opposite Xue Qinghe without any hesitation, while Mu Qing stood behind Yu Tianheng.
"Your Highness, there's no need for such formality. You keep calling me Young Master Yu. To be honest, I'm not a nobleman at all. There's no need for such an address. Just call me by my name, Yu Tianheng."
Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe laughed heartily, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Alright! From now on, I'll call you Tian Heng. You don't need to address me as Your Highness anymore. My name is Xue Qinghe, you can just call me ' Qinghe '. We've known each other for a while now, if we always stick to these formalities, it'll only make us feel distant." As he spoke, he reached out and patted Yu Tianheng's shoulder, the gesture natural and familiar, as if the two were already close friends of many years.
Yu Tianheng initially wanted to refuse, but seeing that Xue Qinghe had said so, he said no more.
Beside him, Mu Qing stood with his hands at Yu Tianheng sides, his fingertips unconsciously stroking his belt. His tense nerves relaxed quietly when Xue Qinghe smiled and said, "Let's call each other brothers."
He watched as Xue Qinghe personally pushed the cup and saucer filled with tea toward Yu Tianheng, and couldn't help but sigh softly. It was said that the imperial family was arrogant, but this Crown Prince was as gentle as a spring breeze, making people feel a sense of closeness for no reason. Such demeanor truly made people admire him.
Afterwards, Yu Tianheng and Xue Qinghe began to chat, and when they had finished talking, they finally got to the main topic of the day.
Xue Qinghe put down his teacup, gazed sincerely at Yu Tianheng, and slowly said, " Tian Heng, the situation on this continent is currently turbulent and fraught with undercurrents. Although the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has a deep foundation, it cannot stand alone."
"My Heaven Dou Empire welcomes talented individuals. If you can lend me a hand, we can work together to create a prosperous era. Your bravery is exactly what I need. I am willing to treat you as a national hero, offering you high office and generous rewards so that you can fully realize your ambitions. In the future, when Heaven Dou rises, we will stand side by side and be remembered in history. What do you say?"
Yu Tianheng smiled after hearing this and looked at Xue Qinghe: " Qinghe, you just mentioned working together to create a prosperous era. I have a question that I must ask you: Now the continent is in a three-way standoff, with the Star Luo Empire stationed on the border in the north and the Spirit Hall eyeing us covetously in the south. Do you really have the ambition to unify the world?"
"As the saying goes, a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. If Qinghe, you are only content with your current situation, then I, Yu Tianheng, am unwilling to follow you."
The atmosphere froze instantly as soon as the words were spoken.
The atmosphere inside the pavilion suddenly became tense.
After a moment of silence, Xue Qinghe spoke up, " Tian Heng, you can't say things like that carelessly. If outsiders hear it, you'll be in big trouble."
Yu Tianheng chuckled lightly, "What's so unspeakable?"
"You are the Crown Prince, the Heir Apparent, and the future Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire. If you do not possess the ambition to encompass the world and conquer all, you are not worthy of my, Yu Tianheng's, following. On the contrary, if you have such ambition, then I am willing to lend you a helping hand!"
Xue Qinghe's fingers tightened slightly as he held the teacup, causing the scalding tea to ripple gently in the cup.