Chapter 994: Refusing the Toast

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Main text:

“Is there any etiquette or taboo to observe when paying homage to the Empress? For example, proper rituals or things to avoid?”

In the corridor, Luo Quan asked Ji Qingyue about the precautions.

Although the Sheng Tang Heavenly Dynasty isn’t a purely feudal society, the Empress remains a being higher than heaven; if one accidentally offends her, who knows whether they’ll be dragged out and thrown into the Heavenly Prison.

Yet online, she rarely sees anyone punished for offending the Empress—she doesn’t know if it’s because the Empress has a good temper or because everyone simply knows the rules.

The Empress has a bold, carefree personality; there are no special taboos—just maintain the proper ruler-minister relationship.

Ji Qingyue’s answer eased Luo Quan slightly; if the Empress was this kind of person, she certainly wouldn’t punish subordinates for random, absurd reasons.

“By the way, how have Bai Xiaowei’s parents been lately?” Ji Qingyue asked, shifting the topic to Bai Xingwei as they walked.

“They haven’t returned home in a long time, but they contact me every so often; from their demeanor, they seem to be doing well enough.”

Bai Xingwei spoke calmly—she rarely mentioned her parents to outsiders, but Ji Qingyue’s status was special, so she answered.

“Do you know Starwei’s parents, Director?” Luo Quan grew curious, then quickly added: “If it’s confidential, you don’t have to say—I’m just asking out of curiosity.”

“There’s no such thing as that much secrecy,” Ji Qingyue smiled faintly. “Bai Xiaowei’s mother and I were colleagues; we worked together for a while and developed some rapport.”

“Speaking of which, since her mother left the Divine Martial Hall, I haven’t seen her in nearly fifty years.”

Hearing “fifty years,” Luo Quan nearly blurted out, “How old are you, ma’am?”

But then she remembered that Yuanyu residents generally live over two thousand years, and cultivators easily surpass ten thousand years—fifty years meant nothing to them.

“After leaving the Divine Martial Hall and entering the palace, Bai Xiaowei’s mother gained the Empress’s deep trust, rising swiftly through the ranks until she became Deputy Commander of the Empress’s Guard, commanding eight hundred thousand imperial troops.”

“Had she advanced one step further, she would have become the youngest Imperial Guard Commander-in-Chief in Sheng Tang Heavenly Dynasty history—this favor made countless former colleagues in the Divine Martial Hall envious.”

As Ji Qingyue spoke, her eyes shimmered—Luo Quan couldn’t tell if it was envy for the official fortune or the Empress’s favor.

Luo Quan suspected it was the latter; after all, the Empress’s prestige was so immense that even Ji Director, usually so cold and aloof, would instantly turn into a fangirl before her.

“What about your father?” After learning about the aunt’s job, Luo Quan asked about the uncle’s.

“He’s the Right General of the Dongshan Military Camp.” Seeing Luo Quan’s confused expression, Bai Xingwei rephrased: “Think of him as the third-in-command of the Sheng Tang Heavenly Dynasty’s Eastern Military Region—the first is the Empress, the second is the Eastern Extreme Qingyun Great King.”

“I understand your father’s position, but who is this Eastern Extreme Qingyun Great King?” Luo Quan smiled awkwardly; in this new environment, new concepts kept popping up one after another.

Bai Xingwei showed no impatience, patiently explaining: “The Sheng Tang Heavenly Dynasty has countless dukes, marquises, counts, viscounts, and barons, but only five hereditary non-imperial kings exist:”

“Eastern Extreme Qingyun Great King, Yun Feipeng.”

“Southern Extreme Changsheng Great King, Xu Tianheng—Xu Zimo, who came looking for you before, is his son; do you still remember?”

“Central Extreme Xuantian Great King, Luo Tao—fifty thousand years ago, he should have been part of your family.”

“Northern Extreme Qumó Great King, Li Daoxin.”

“Western Extreme Lifeng Great King, Ji Huangyue…”

As she spoke, Bai Xingwei glanced at Ji Qingyue, hesitating slightly.

Luo Quan instantly realized and turned: “Director, you’re also surnamed Ji—could you be related to this Western Great King?”

“Precisely, he’s the Pacifying Western King,” Bai Xingwei corrected Luo Quan. “The Eastern Expedition King, the Southern Pacifying King, the Pacifying Western King, the Northern Protecting King—only the central one is the Central Great King.”

“Exactly right,” Ji Qingyue nodded with a smile. “I am indeed the younger sister of Pacifying Western King Ji Huangyue, but I severed ties with the family long ago—we haven’t spoken since.”

“Everyone seems to have a bad relationship with their birth family,” Luo Quan muttered inwardly.

Bai Xingwei was like this, Ji Qingyue was like this—people with complicated backgrounds always had stories.

“What are you thinking about?” Ji Qingyue asked softly as Luo Quan fell silent.

Luo Quan smiled: “Nothing—I just think the Sheng Tang Heavenly Dynasty has too many interpersonal relationships to remember. I might have to go through another round of the Divine Protection Federation someday—just thinking about it gives me a headache.”

Ji Qingyue’s lips curled slightly: “As the Dawn Holy Mother, you’ll inevitably attend various noble and royal banquets and interact with all kinds of powerful figures—consider this practice for the future.”

As they spoke, the three had walked out of the long corridor.

The corridor seemed to possess teleportation effects—there was nothing blocking the view ahead, yet Luo Quan, squinting hard, couldn’t see the corridor’s end.

With her eyesight, this shouldn’t have happened.

After leaving the corridor, a massive door slowly opening came into view.

Four stunningly beautiful maids stood beside the door; upon seeing the three, they immediately bowed deeply: “Welcome, Director Ji, Princess Xingwei, Holy Mother Luo.”

“Holy Mother Luo…” Luo Quan nearly fainted at the title.

The first two titles sounded fine, but why hers sounded so lame? If you heard it quickly, you’d think it was Los Santos from GTA.

Just call her Holy Mother—no need to add the surname.

But in public, Luo Quan couldn’t complain, so she gritted her teeth and accepted it.

After entering, Ji Qingyue glanced upward at the highest dais, where sat an exquisite red jade throne—but no one was seated; four masked guards stood behind it.

Judging by the bulge on their chest armor, Luo Quan guessed they were female guards.

“The Empress hasn’t arrived yet—let’s each have our meals first,” Ji Qingyue said, walking toward familiar colleagues, leaving Luo Quan and Bai Xingwei to look around the gilded hall.

Yet their arrival drew attention from many guests at the banquet.

Some openly stared at Luo Quan, eyes filled with surprise.

Others, restrained by their companions, dared only to sneak glances with their peripheral vision—but were quickly noticed.

If this weren’t the Empress’s banquet, the couple would’ve already started arguing.

Luo Quan, oblivious to the attention, was gazing lovingly at the lavish dishes on the long wooden tables.

The Empress’s banquet surpassed Bai Xingwei’s Yuanyu Banquet by another tier—just smelling the aroma was enough to tell.

Moreover, many dishes here were unfamiliar to her; clearly, Bai Xingwei’s previous Yuanyu Banquet wasn’t the full version.

Though she wasn’t a gourmet, the delicacies on the table radiated irresistible allure, compelling her to pick up a plate.

“You’re already eating?”

Bai Xingwei smiled at Luo Quan’s action, then took two cups from a passing maid: “These are the real treasures—why not have a sip first to whet your appetite?”

“What’s this?” Luo Quan set down the plate and leaned forward.

The cups were filled with ink-green liquid—unimpressive in appearance, yet possessing an aroma so overpowering it dominated the entire sense of smell; “ Qinrenxinpi ” was the perfect description.

“This is the national brew, Immortal Jade Dew, available only in the Empress’s palace—brewed entirely from Immortal Fruit. The Immortal Fruit Tree blooms once every ten years, fruits once every ten years, and each fruit yields only ten drops—production is so low it’s outrageous.”

“Thus, this divine liquor can only be tasted at the Empress’s banquets; otherwise, you’d never even catch a whiff of its unparalleled fragrance.”

As Bai Xingwei spoke, she eagerly drained the cup of Immortal Jade Dew, then let out a fragrant burp, her cheeks flushed pink.

After drinking, Bai Xingwei smiled blissfully: “The best thing about Immortal Jade Dew is that though it reddens your cheeks, it doesn’t make you drunk—only pleasantly tipsy.”

“Your mind stays clear, yet the world feels dreamlike—like a lucid dream. What a wonderful thing.”

“If it’s this good, then drink more,” Luo Quan said, pouring her own portion into Bai Xingwei’s cup.

“You’re not drinking?” Bai Xingwei stared in disbelief. “So after all that explanation, you just wanted me to drink it?”

“It’s not that I won’t drink.”

Luo Quan smiled helplessly, then whispered close to Bai Xingwei’s ear: “I’m naturally unable to tolerate alcohol—even one sip will knock me out cold; I won’t wake up until the next day.”

“That’s exaggerated,” Bai Xingwei smirked. “So if someone secretly slipped you a sip, you’d be completely at their mercy?”

“If you don’t tell, no one will know—and no one will force me to drink,” Luo Quan glanced at her. “I’m telling you because I trust you—don’t let anyone else find out.”

“Do you think I’m that kind of person?” Bai Xingwei crossed her arms. “Rest easy—I’ve got the tightest lips. It’s just a pity you can’t taste this delicacy.”

With that, she downed the second cup of Immortal Jade Dew.

After drinking, Bai Xingwei smiled even more blissfully.

Though curious about the taste, Luo Quan knew this pleasure wasn’t hers to enjoy—she’d better stick to the food on the table; it wasn’t much worse.

But after taking two bites of an unknown breed of chicken leg, a very tall man approached her.

The man stood at least 2.1 meters tall; Luo Quan, barefoot at 1.75 meters, had rarely encountered someone she needed to look up to—today, finally.

Though tall, the man wasn’t bulky—lean and slender, his face ordinary, neither ugly nor handsome, yet radiating a peculiar aura of authority.

“Miss Luo, I’ve heard of you for a long time—I’ve long admired you, and your real appearance is even more beautiful than your livestream.”

The tall man pulled out a box from his robe: “I am Li Tinghao, the legitimate son of the Northern Protecting King. A small token of respect—please accept it, Miss Luo.”

Luo Quan quickly waved her hands: “We’ve just met—how could I possibly accept your gift? Young Master Li, please keep it. I deeply appreciate your kindness, but friendship doesn’t require gifts.”

“My rule is: friendship begins with a gift,” Li Tinghao smiled calmly. “And I’ve never taken back a gift I’ve given.”

His words made the atmosphere tense. Bai Xingwei frowned, preparing to intervene.

But Li Tinghao laughed heartily: “Still, for Miss Luo, I’ll make an exception this once—this gift will be held for now; I’ll give it to you later when we’re better acquainted.”

“For now… how about this—I’ll toast you.”

He took two cups of Immortal Jade Dew from a maid’s tray.

“Oh no.”

Seeing this, Luo Quan cried inwardly—luckily, Bai Xingwei stepped forward: “Young Master Li, Luo Quan can’t handle alcohol—why not choose another drink?”

“Can’t drink alcohol?” Li Tinghao looked puzzled. “This is the Empress’s own Immortal Jade Dew—a rarity few ever encounter.”

“She really can’t,” Luo Quan replied helplessly.

“You can’t drink with me?”

Li Tinghao noticed the empty cups beside them and sneered: “You just drank one cup a moment ago—your cheeks weren’t even flushed. Is this really ‘can’t handle alcohol’?”

“You refuse a gift and reject a toast—Miss Luo, you clearly look down on me.”

“But it doesn’t matter—this toast, you’d better drink it. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe.”

“Young Master, you misunderstand,” Luo Quan sighed. “That cup was drunk by Starwei—I didn’t touch a drop.”

“Why explain so much to him? She won’t drink—what are you going to do about it?”

Bai Xingwei had a fiery temper; hearing Li Tinghao speak like this, she instantly exploded—if this weren’t a banquet, she’d have already punched him.

“What will I do?” Li Tinghao’s smile grew colder. “I don’t need to tell you who I am—no one who crosses me has ever had a good outcome.”

“What exactly will be his fate?” Luo Quan asked seriously.

Even clay figures have a bit of temper; she was no passive doormat. This prince, with his inflated self-image and excessive self-awareness, had clearly become impossible to get along with.

If that’s the case, she no longer bothered pretending to be a gentle, virtuous lady.

Just as Li Tinghao’s eyebrows twitched upward, on the verge of exploding from Luo Quan’s question, the maid by the door spoke up:

“The Holy Maiden of the Dawn Church, Fafreya, has arrived!”