Chapter 478: Am I persuading her, or am I persuading myself?

The Empress Dowager's trusted palace maid walked in carrying a jade tray: "Your Majesty, the iced plum juice you requested."

The maid looked up and saw Li Chen wearing only a sleeping robe, and she froze on the spot.

The Empress Dowager hurriedly took the jade tray: "Set it down and leave."

The maid retreated in a panic, her heart filled with shock.

She had never seen the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in such an intimate setting.

A subtle silence fell over the bedchamber.

The Empress Dowager coughed lightly, trying to ease the awkwardness: "This plum juice was newly developed by the Imperial Kitchen based on your original recipe. Would Your Majesty like to taste it?"

Li Chen took the jade bowl, took a sip, and felt it was passable.

In truth, the so-called "newly developed" recipe was just the addition of some seasonings the Empress Dowager liked to improve the flavor.

The Empress Dowager lowered her head and began to tidy up the clothes: "I shall alter these garments further."

"I trouble you, Empress Dowager."

Li Chen finished the plum juice and placed the bowl back on the table.

"It is getting late; I should return."

The Empress Dowager nodded, but as he turned to leave, she couldn't help but call out: "Your Majesty!"

Li Chen looked back: "Does the Empress Dowager have another matter?"

The Empress Dowager hesitated, then finally said softly: "Remember to come often to try on the clothes, so I know if the alterations are suitable."

Li Chen smiled gently: "Very well."

After Li Chen left, the Empress Dowager let out a long sigh and collapsed onto the soft couch.

She stroked the fingers that had just touched Li Chen, her heartbeat still unable to calm down.

At this moment, the trusted palace maid entered quietly and asked cautiously: "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

As a trusted maid, there were many things she shouldn't know, because knowing too much might not be a good thing.

But as a trusted confidante, if she didn't know, it would be difficult to serve the Empress Dowager, so she came to probe.

The Empress Dowager shook her head: "I am fine, but there is one thing you must understand."

The palace maid immediately lowered her head respectfully: "Please instruct me, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager stood up slowly, walked to the window, and gazed at the darkening sky outside: "Living in the palace, whoever has a good relationship with the Emperor and whoever can win the Emperor's favor holds the power of speech. Do you understand?"

She wasn't Li Chen's mother, after all; to sit firmly in this position, she had to watch Li Chen's mood.

For example, Li Chen's aunt, Li Xueying, had a very high status in the palace recently, simply because she knew how to train the concubines to please Li Chen and how to take care of him.

Li Chen felt Li Xueying's position in the palace was important, which saved him a lot of trouble.

Li Xueying's status naturally rose with the tide, and with the identity of being Li Chen's aunt, other concubines treated her with great respect.

The Empress Dowager naturally felt a sense of crisis; after all, her relationship with Li Xueying wasn't that good.

It hadn't reached the point of quarreling, but they truly didn't care to interact with each other.

To consolidate her own position, the Empress Dowager was also working very hard.

A flash of understanding crossed the palace maid's eyes: "This servant understands."

She secretly speculated that the Empress Dowager was hinting that the intimate actions just now were merely to consolidate her position in the harem.

As for the Empress Dowager's true thoughts, perhaps even she herself couldn't say clearly.

"Since you understand, you may withdraw." The Empress Dowager waved her hand.

After the maid withdrew, the bedchamber returned to silence.

The Empress Dowager sat alone on the soft couch, her fingers unconsciously stroking the sleeping robe Li Chen had tried on.

Her gaze fell upon the small dragon-pattern embroidery at the collar of the robe, which she had sewn stitch by stitch with her own hands.

"Am I persuading her, or am I persuading myself?" The Empress Dowager whispered to herself, a flash of confusion in her eyes.

Recalling the strange feeling when she touched Li Chen just now, her cheeks grew slightly hot again. Meanwhile, Li Chen had already arrived at the training ground deep within the Imperial Palace.

This was a training ground specifically opened for members of the royal family, surrounded by powerful barriers.

"Imperial Brother!" A crisp voice rang out.

A young girl dressed in a white training outfit was seen running over from the center of the cultivation field; it was none other than Li Chen's younger sister, Li Sining.

Li Chen looked his sister over carefully: "How has your cultivation been lately?"

Li Sining proudly lifted her chin: "I have already broken through to the Mid-Stage Void Realm!"

As she spoke, she condensed a ball of pale purple spiritual power in her palm, tracing a graceful arc in the air.

"Not bad." Li Chen nodded with satisfaction and reached out to tap his sister's brow lightly, checking her cultivation status.

"However, your spiritual power circulation is still a bit sluggish; you need to practice more."

Li Sining stuck out her tongue: "Imperial Brother is so strict. By the way, I heard you took in a new concubine?"

Li Chen raised an eyebrow: "Your news is quite well-informed."

Li Sining blinked: "It's spread all over the palace, saying she is innocent and lively, and very likable. When will you let me see her?"

In the past, whenever a concubine entered the palace, Li Sining would always go to take a look.

But that was only in the past; Li Chen didn't have many concubines then.

Now it was different; Li Chen had far too many concubines, and Li Sining couldn't keep track of them all, nor did she know where they were.

Li Chen ruffled his sister's hair: "Another day. The most important thing for you right now is to focus on your cultivation. In three months, it will be our Li family's Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony, and the younger generation of the royal family will hold a competition. The winners can obtain official positions and enter the forbidden grounds to choose treasures. Don't embarrass the royal family."

Li Sining muttered unconvinced: "I wouldn't!"

But then she asked curiously: "Imperial Brother, what realm has your cultivation reached now?"

In the past, Li Sining had no concept of cultivation, but since she began cultivating and becoming stronger, she gradually began to understand Li Chen's power.

Thus, she became curious about Li Chen's strength.

Li Chen smiled without answering, merely waving his hand lightly.

Instantly, the spiritual energy of the entire training ground shook, and the surrounding barriers emitted a humming resonance.

Li Sining widened her eyes: "This? What is this?"

Li Chen withdrew his pressure and took some elixirs from his robes: "When you reach my realm, you will naturally understand. Take these and continue your cultivation; I will come to see you another day."

Having gone to the Southern Frontier, Li Chen had already completed the mission, and this was the reward.

【System Prompt: Yin-Yang Gu mission completed】

【Obtained rewards: Void-Shattering Pill x1, Yin-Yang Dao Rhyme Crystal x3, Void Positioning Luo Pan (Damaged) x1】

Void-Shattering Pill: Contains the laws of the Yin-Yang Great Dao, can assist cultivators at the peak of the Void Realm to break through to the Shattering Void Realm.

After consumption, it must be paired with Nine Heavens Profound Thunder body tempering; success rate increases to ninety percent.

Yin-Yang Dao Rhyme Crystal: Can be integrated into a life-bound magic treasure to increase its grade; each crystal contains 100 years of Yin-Yang Dao Rhyme insight.

Void Positioning Luo Pan (Damaged): Can sense spatial rifts within a radius of a thousand miles; has special sensitivity to immortal ruins.

【New mission triggered: Search for Lost Immortal Traces】

Mission content: Explore the ancient immortal ruins in the "Falling Immortal Mountain Range" in the eastern part of the May Tian Ce Dynasty; time limit 420 days.

Mission rewards:

1. Immortal Spiritual Root awakening opportunity x1

2. "Grand Void Sword Canon" (Fragment)

3. Spatial Law Fragments x5

【Special Note】

The ruins only appear once every sixty years.

Time remaining for this opening: 419 days and 23 hours.

Please enter the immortal ruins when they open.

Collecting three "Immortal Tokens" can open the area ahead of schedule.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 479 =====