Lou Mu Yan and Lou Mu Bai rode the carriage through the gate of the palace and directly towards Yan’tian Hall. Only once they’ve arrived did they get out of the carriage and walk into the large hall.
On the main seat in the middle of the large hall sat a handsome middle-aged man in bright yellow brocade. With one look, one could tell his identity. On the lower right side sat a radiant and glamorous woman in a red palace dress—she was precisely Lou Mu Yan’s aunt, Lou Mo Zi.
In addition to the two and the palace guards in the hall, there also sat two elderly men with an extraordinary temperament, and who appeared lively and vigorous.
“Formal greetings to the Emperor, Empress.” Lou Mu Bai lead Lou Mu Yan into the hall and raised his hands to respectfully greet the two on the main seats.
Then he turned around and greeted the two elderly men respectfully, “Lou Mu Bai greets Imperial Teacher, Principal.”
When a Sword Master greeted the Emperor, there was no need to bow down like a commoner or ordinary person.
Lou Mu Yan also took a step forward and greeted the several people respectfully, imitating Lou Mu Bai.
“It seems that the rumours are true. The little girl Mu Yan has indeed changed a lot.” Emperor Yun Tian Chen said with a gentle smile to the Empress beside him.
Empress Lou Mo Zi glared at Yun Tian Chen, then with a smile: “However Yan’er changes, she is still our Lou Clan’s treasure.” The implication in her words was to remind Lou Mu Yan that she had a special identity and needn’t tolerate others’ bullying.
Yun Tian Chen revealed a little helplessness in his eyes—Mo Zi was more and more distrustful of him. Did she think he’d eat Lou Mu Yan1?
“Yan’er, come here.” Lou Mo Zi beckoned gently to Lou Mu Yan, her eyes looking at her dotingly.
Lou Mu Yan was naturally able to tell her aunt really loved her, and her heart felt warm. She took a few steps forward, held Lou Mo Zi’s hand and addressed intimately: “Aunt!”
“As long as you, little girl, is fine, then everything’s well. When you were injured by that Gu Yan Ran before, it truly worried aunt.” Lou Mo Zi said with a coldness in her eyes. This debt would definitely be repaid by the Gu Clan.
Lou Mu Yan patted Lou Mo Zi’s hand lightly to show comfort and said nonchalantly: “It’s just an insignificant person, don’t let it affect aunt’s mood.”
There really wasn’t any need to pay attention to a person like Gu Yan Ran. But of course, the ‘repayment’ towards Gu Yan Ran wouldn’t be lacking either.
Seeing that the two involved the Gu Clan now, Yun Tian Chen displayed a somewhat unnatural expression, then changed the subject with a smile, “Little girl, I heard that your Terminal Meridians constitution has been eradicated?”
“Replying to the Emperor, yes.” Lou Mu Yan replied with a faint smile, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“How could you call the Empress ‘aunt’, yet call zhen2 Emperor?” Yun Tian Chen’s eyes revealed a trace of affection, “You used to call zhen uncle.”
“That was because Mu Yan was ignorant before, but now I don’t dare to be presumptuous anymore to save my aunt from experiencing any grievance in the palace.” Lou Mu Yan’s face remained unchanged, but her tone carried a little sarcasm.
Her aunt had given so much to this man, but this man kept accepting one concubine after the other. In recent years, he had even been pampering Gu Yan Ran’s elder sister extensively. She didn’t want to care about whether the structure of the Empire required him to do this or not—she only complained for her Aunt that doted on her.
Yun Tian Chen’s eyes darkened—this girl was even bolder now. He turned his head to look at the emotionless Empress, feeling bitter in his heart. He sighed secretly. He also had his own difficulties, made too many involuntary decisions, but he also let down his most beloved woman.
“You little girl.” Yun Tian Chen’s face revealed a helpless smile, pretending not to understand her insinuations. As Lou Mo Zi loved Lou Mu Yan, then he, too, would adore Lou Mu Yan. If he blamed Lou Mu Yan right now for her words, then he was afraid that his relationship with Lou Mo Zi would be even stiffer.
A sliver of sorrow flashed across Lou Mo Zi’s eyes, but not wanting to mention Imperial Noble Consort Gu, she lifted her head and smiled at Lou Mu Bai, “Mu Bai, congratulations!”
“Thank you, aunt!”
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“Mu Bai, do you have any plans after advancing now?” Yun Tian Chen valued Lou Mu Bai. As the number one prodigy of the Empire, he would definitely be great support in the future to Yan’zhou Country.
Lou Mu Bai’s gentle, handsome face, was still calm and composed, “Replying to the Emperor, I want to continue to stay at the Imperial Academy and participate in the Academy’s annual competition, then the Trials after that.”
“Sounds fine.” Yun Tian Chen nodded.
The Imperial Academy’s annual competition was exceptionally important this time. After the annual competition was the selection Trials. With Lou Mu Bai participating, the safety of the students had more guarantee.
Then, Yun Tian Chen chatted idly with Lou Mu Bai and Lou Mu Yan, all of which were rather simple questions.
Seeing that the topic between the Emperor and the two simply wasn’t entering into the main subject, the white-haired old man in the main hall coughed gently. Then he looked at Lou Mu Yan and asked straightforwardly: “Lou girl, do you still have anymore Marrow Cleansing Pills that you gifted to Yun Lan and Yun Jin?”
“No more.” Lou Mu Yan opened her palms and shrugged.
The two old men in front of them were both Sword Monarch experts, and were important figures within Yan’zhou Country. The white-haired elderly man that spoke to her was Yan’zhou Empire’s Imperial Teacher, Yun Cang, and the green-clothed elderly man who wore a smile beside him was the Imperial Academy’s Principal, Ruan Li. As such, she maintained the respect that they deserved in her attitude towards them.
“Then can you tell us how you obtained the Marrow Cleansing Pill?” Yun Cang didn’t conceal the expectant look in his eyes. The Marrow Cleansing Pill’s effects were simply too amazing, so they must ask clearly.
“My Master gave it to me.” Lou Mu Yan didn’t even blink when lying.
Yun Cang frowned and asked in surprise: “Master? Why have I never heard of you having a Master before?”
“I only became Master’s disciple when I went to the Blazing Mountain Range, that’s why no one knows.”
“Is your Master in the Imperial Capital?” Yun Cang couldn’t help but show excitement. They all thought that there was an expert behind Lou Mu Yan, so the purpose of calling Lou Mu Yan here was to befriend that high-level Alchemist through her.
The Marrow Cleansing Pill was simply too important for Yan’zhou Country. If they could get their hands on a few, then they would definitely be able to raise more Sword Kings with better aptitudes, and perhaps even Sword Monarchs. By then, entering the ranks of a powerful country was only a matter of time. With such an opportunity in front of them, how could they not be tempted by it and take a shot at it.
Yun Tian Chen and Ruan Li also looked at Lou Mu Yan nervously. They weren’t doing it for themselves—everything was for the glory of the Empire.
Lou Mu Yan shook her head: “After Master gifted me the pill, he went to travel. As for when he’ll be back, I also don’t know.”
“Is your Master an Alchemist? Why did you become his disciple?” A trace of disappointment flashed through Yun Cang’s eyes, but he still looked at Lou Mu Yan, unreconciled, and continued asking.
“I heard that there’s a kind of Spiritual Herb in the Blazing Mountain Range that could improve one’s constitution, so I went the Blazing Mountain Range with a Mercenary Party, who took on a mission in there, thinking to at least give it a try. Then we were separated by a group of Fur Crimson Boars, and I accidentally strayed into an underground cave and met Master.” Amongst the commoners, there were indeed rumours of this sort of Spiritual Herb, but no one had ever obtained such a Spiritual Herb. But Lou Mu Yan could still borrow this to conceal the fact that she went to the Blazing Mountain Range to look for the Flame Fruit.
“At the time, he just finished absorbing and refining the Crystal Core of a Demonic Beast. When he saw me break in, he initially wanted to kill me. But who knew that he discovered I had Elemental Energy with wood and fire attributes, said that I had the talent for Alchemy, then inexplicably told me to become his disciple.”
The reason why Alchemists were scarce on this land was because one must have comprehended both the wood attribute element and the fire attribute element to become an Alchemist. The dual Elemental Energy attribute talent was vital.
“Because of my Terminal Meridians constitution, I couldn’t absorb the Spiritual Force of Heaven and earth to use my wood and fire attribute Elemental Energy, so Master threw me a bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills to refine, and eradicate and improve my constitution. He also taught me some alchemy skills, then send me to the peripheral of the Blazing Mountain Range and left.”
Lou Mu Yan slowly said the excuse she had thought of previously. Regardless of whether they believed her or not, if they couldn’t find the Master she spoke of, then they couldn’t do anything about her either.
1the ‘eat’ in this context means to bully, burden, and/or cause suffering to.
2hmmmm, tried to use the royal ‘We’ here but then I think it won’t be too confusing if I just use the pin’yin ‘zhen’. Which is said only by the Emperor in replacement of the less formal ‘I’.