Chapter 16: Invited to the Imperial Palace as a Guest, Meeting Xue Qinghe for the First Time!

Chapter 16: Invited to the Imperial Palace, First Encounter with Xue Qinghe

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Moon Pavilion, Xu Yan noticed a carriage waiting there for quite some time. It was a luxurious and spacious royal carriage of the empire’s aristocracy.

A royal servant saw Xu Yan approaching and bowed respectfully. “Young Master Xu, please come inside.”

Xu Yan nodded. “Thank you!”

As Xu Yan was boarding the carriage, his spiritual senses detected someone watching him. A dark figure lingered in a nearby corner, observing him intently. However, when Xu Yan looked in that direction, there was nothing to be seen.

Once inside the carriage, the bustling avenue quickly receded behind him. After a moment, the shadowy figure emerged slowly from the darkness. These days, he had been covertly watching Xu Yan—not merely for protection but essentially surveillance.

Since Bi Bidong had instructed that Xu Yan must not leave the Martial Soul Hall at any cost, this watcher’s mission was to ensure he remained within their control. Nearly a month had passed, and Gui Douluo’s chances to observe Xu Yan were limited. He dared not get too close, especially noticing how rapidly Xu Yan’s soul power level was rising.

“In such a short time, he’s already reached level thirty-eight Soul Sovereign. Xu Yan, you truly are someone the Pontiff values greatly,” Gui Douluo murmured.

With that thought, Gui Douluo did not linger further and followed at a distance.

Inside the carriage, Xu Yan sat opposite Princess Xue Ke. The young girl kept staring at him, making Xu Yan somewhat embarrassed. She was clearly a lovestruck little girl.

Princess Xue Ke was probably only about fifteen or sixteen years old, and she seemed quite infatuated with Xu Yan.

“Um, Your Highness, please don’t look at me like that,” Xu Yan said awkwardly.

“There’s no one else here, so don’t call me princess. Just call me Xue Ke,” she said in a clear voice. “Besides, I like looking at you this way.”

“Well, okay then,” Xu Yan replied helplessly.

After these days of interaction, they had become somewhat familiar. Xue Ke would occasionally come to chat with him.

As for the other female students, Xu Yan regarded them with disdain. Even some haughty girls tried to get close to him, but Xu Yan only spoke with Xue Ke.

The male students who had provoked him learned to behave after a few beatings. Possibly because of Tang Yuehua’s influence, no imperial minister dared to cause trouble for her.

After all, Tang Yuehua was someone the imperial family treated with considerable respect. Many knew her true identity.

Xu Yan believed that Xue Ke’s admiration was merely infatuation and had no intention of taking advantage of her. First, she was still too young; second, his current focus was on Tang Yuehua.

Even if he succeeded with Tang Yuehua, he would wait until Xue Ke was older before making any move.

Before long, they arrived at the imperial palace of the Tian Dou Empire.

After stepping out of the carriage, Xu Yan followed Xue Ke to a certain palace hall—a place reserved for entertaining distinguished guests.

Outside the hall, imperial guards marched with heavy steps, their armor clinking with each movement.

Inside, a grand feast was already laid out. The scene resembled a gathering of high society.

The maids here were all well-built and sweet-faced. Upon seeing Xu Yan and Xue Ke, they smiled warmly and bowed courteously, displaying impeccable manners.

Xue Ke, however, disregarded decorum and pulled Xu Yan’s hand as she led him to a seat. “Xu Yan, I only invited you here for a meal, so don’t be nervous.”

Xu Yan nodded. “I’m not nervous, but holding my hand like that might make others misunderstand.”

Realizing this, Xue Ke immediately let go. “Sorry, I forgot for a moment.”

Xu Yan shook his head, thinking it was no big deal, and glanced around the surroundings.

“Xu Yan, are you really Auntie’s nephew?” Xue Ke asked after a long pause.

“Yes,” Xu Yan replied. It was simpler to just agree than to explain in detail.

“Oh, Auntie never mentioned it before. If you had come earlier, we could have gotten to know each other sooner,” Xue Ke smiled.

Xu Yan smiled faintly but said nothing.

“Xu Yan, you’ve mastered the harp so well in such a short time. It’s really impressive. How about we have a little exchange here?” she suggested.

She then walked toward a nearby harp. Xu Yan looked on in surprise and saw the instrument carefully placed there.

In this palace, when hosting nobles and dukes of the empire, music was often part of the entertainment—a kind of high-society ball.

Xu Yan had no choice but to approach. “I learned a piece from my aunt. Let me play it for you.”

He then performed a pure instrumental rendition of “The Butterfly Lovers.”

As the music filled the air, Xue Ke’s eyes lit up. Every movement Xu Yan made while playing seemed especially captivating, as if he were glowing with radiant light.

At that moment, a golden-haired youth approached, his demeanor elegant and approachable.

This was Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Tian Dou Empire.

Hearing the beautiful music, Xue Qinghe stopped in his tracks. An elder behind him also looked surprised by the melody.

“No wonder the proud sister is so enamored,” Xue Qinghe said with admiration, gazing at Xu Yan.

When the piece ended, Xue Ke’s cheeks flushed, and her eyes glistened with tears. The music had drawn her into a world of unwavering love.

Xu Yan stood and took a few steps before hearing the sound of clapping.

“Well deserved, Young Master of Moon Pavilion. You truly have impressive talent,” Xue Qinghe said with noble grace, slowly approaching with a gentle smile.

“No wonder that girl, Xue Ke, holds you in such high regard.”

“Brother,” Xue Ke blushed and lowered her head shyly.

Xu Yan thought to himself, so this was Xue Qinghe, the goddess Qian Renxue’s brother.

Looking at Xue Qinghe, he resembled a typical masculine youth, handsome and refined. Yet when dressed as a woman, he was exceptionally beautiful.

Qian Renxue, you really know how to keep secrets. If I didn’t know the story, I might have thought you were a man.

“Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words,” Xu Yan responded politely, smiling.

“You are Xu Yan, correct?”

“Yes,” Xu Yan replied without arrogance or submission.

“Good.”

Xue Qinghe was quite approving of Xu Yan’s appearance, demeanor, and even his background.

“Moon Pavilion Auntie really has an outstanding nephew,” he thought to himself.

“Brother, why don’t you sit down and talk?” Xue Ke said, noticing how intently Xue Qinghe was watching Xu Yan, while Xu Yan also stared back.

This made Xue Ke unhappy; it was as if she did not exist at all.

(End of Chapter)