Chapter 20: Finding a Backer for the Su Family

Su Xi spent every day facing Rong Shou, so her aesthetic standards could no longer be stirred by ordinary top-tier beauties.

Yet, this person still made her heart tremble.

Rong Shou possessed a refined, elegant, and otherworldly immortal appearance; he was high above, someone one could only view from afar and dared not profane—a grace that belonged only to the heavens.

Before her, however, was a man of dragon-like bearing and phoenix-like grace, possessing imperial dominance and a sharp, intimidating gaze that could instantly pierce through a person's Soul, as if the radiance of the sun and moon would have to crawl at his feet and bow in submission.

【Host! He is the Human Emperor Dao companion of Xue Fuyi; he was the one who ordered the writing of "Yuan Jun Zhuan".】

【You're still alive?】

It had been nearly ten years since Su Xi had heard Er Miao's voice. Then, suddenly one day, she could no longer use the System Map, and there was no response when she spoke to Er Miao.

She had thought Er Miao had left her. Just like when she first arrived, silently and without a trace.

【Forgot to tell the Host: as long as no plot mission is triggered for 150 days, I will enter a temporary dormant state until a plot point is triggered again.】

【So that's how it is. In the future, if there is anything I need to pay attention to, tell me in advance.】

【Understood, Host.】

Su Xi performed a half-bow with cupped hands, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Zhou Chuchen put down the letter and sized Su Xi up.

It was just that Su Xi had defensive magic left by Rong Shou on her, so anyone with a cultivation realm lower than his could not see through her.

Zhou Chuchen stood up and gestured politely, "Young Sect Master, please sit."

"Many thanks." Su Xi noticed his height was almost reaching the top of the carriage, and she joked with a smile, "Your Majesty's precious carriage should be built taller to be appropriate."

"There is no need to waste manpower and money; making do is fine." Zhou Chuchen ordered, "Return to the palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the palace attendants outside replied.

Su Xi said, "Wait a moment. My mother and I still have things to do. If Your Majesty has any instructions, please feel free to say them."

Zhou Chuchen looked at her, his expression gradually becoming serious, "In the Huang He Nan Yu, which is our dynasty's border, a large number of commoners have disappeared. The latest news reported that more than two thousand five hundred people are missing. This matter is related to the Ghost Clan."

"..." Su Xi was silent for a moment, then replied, "I only have two days for this trip home to visit my family; I'm afraid I cannot help Your Majesty."

Besides, her cultivation was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining; in Da Miao's words, she was so weak she couldn't even beat a wild pheasant spirit.

【Host, agree to him. Try your best to be on good terms with him and ruin his relationship with Xue Fuyi.】

【But my strength is so meager, other than annoying Master... Ah, I almost forgot, Da Jin came with me, and his cultivation is equivalent to a Spirit Severing stage cultivator.】

【Yes, Host. At a critical moment, you can let him step in to help.】

Su Xi couldn't help but feel tempted, 【But Master has given orders.】

【Is the Host an obedient disciple?】

【Well said, that is exactly what I think!】

Su Xi took a Talisman from her storage jade bracelet, "This is my sound-transmission Talisman. If Your Majesty can come to drink a cup of my younger brother's wedding wine tomorrow, we can discuss the details then, how about it?"

Zhou Chuchen took the sound-transmission Talisman, "Very well, I will certainly come."

Su Xi stepped out of the precious carriage, performed another half-bow toward the half-open window, and then headed toward Su Mu.

Su Mu looked at her with eyes full of worry, "Is Xi Niu alright?"

"His Majesty said he would come to attend my younger brother's wedding feast," Su Xi replied.

"Oh my, oh my~ This is a supreme imperial favor." Su Mu immediately pulled Su Xi, intending to kneel.

Su Xi hurriedly supported her, "No need, no need. His Majesty is actually quite a good person; he won't care about these vulgar formalities."

"That won't do. We are on the main street; we can't let others say our Su family doesn't understand the rules." Su Mu tugged at Su Xi, trying to kneel.

From inside the precious carriage came Zhou Chuchen's clear, gentle voice, carrying a hint of a smile, "Su Furen, please forgo the formalities. I will be troubling you tomorrow."

Su Mu was so excited she could barely speak, "Thank you for the imperial favor, long live the Emperor, long live, long live."

【Host, why did you want the Feng Yan Di to attend your brother's wedding?】 Er Miao asked curiously.

Su Xi replied, 【Although my mother brushed over the past imprisonment in a few words, and they only said they made money and bought a big house when talking about opening their business, she didn't mention a word of the hardships involved.

But I grew up in these streets and alleys; I know all too well how those local ruffians and thugs bully people.

The Feng Yan Di doesn't look like someone short-lived. If they can obtain his protection, my father, mother, and brother will have something to rely on. I can also be more at ease while cultivating at the Southern Dao Sect.】

【The Host is truly good to her family.】 Er Miao's voice was exceptionally gentle.

Su Xi watched the precious carriage turn around and head in the direction of the Huang Gong.

And Su Mu, until she got into the carriage, remained in a distracted, disbelieving state, "Xi Niu, is it real? I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"It's not a dream, let's go buy clothes." Su Xi took Su Mu's hand and helped her massage the acupoints on her hand to relax her mind.

Su Mu was about to agree, but then said, "No, we must go back first. We need to hurry and tell your father and brother about this great piece of news. Also, we need to hurry and ask at the residence of Cui Tongling about how to welcome the imperial carriage."

"Mother is right." Su Xi felt much more relaxed seeing her happy.

"With this, tomorrow will definitely be bustling. Even if the Xue Fu wants to cause trouble, they wouldn't dare cause trouble for His Majesty."

"What? The Xue Fu is causing trouble?"

Su Mu hurriedly raised her hand to cover her mouth, "No, our family and the Xue Fu have kept to ourselves these years, living in peace."

"Mother, tell me the truth, otherwise I'll go around asking everyone." Su Xi's face darkened.

Only then did Su Mu sigh, "It's just that when the Xue Fu fell on hard times, the eldest young master of the Xue Fu caught a fever in prison. He burned for three days and four nights, and though he barely survived, his constitution was ruined. Later, after he was released from prison, for some reason the illness recurred, and he passed away not long after.

You also know the young master of the Xue Fu; he was born with a refined and handsome appearance, full of noble spiritual aura. While in prison, he was seized and teased by those jailers, and he was ruined too.

The direct line of the Xue Fu can be considered extinct.

Your brother's wedding—I don't know how it reached the ears of Lady Xue. She sent people to our shop to smash everything up. Our relatives and friends who were close to us were afraid of offending the Xue Fu, so they declined the wedding invitations and didn't come to drink. Otherwise, how could such a big event be handled by just a few people in the family?

Look at me, I've only been telling you upsetting things."

"Daughter should know." Su Xi narrowed her eyes slightly; this Xue Fu was truly annoying when they were young, and the old ones didn't stop either.

After Su Fu and Su Zhangqing found out, they had a similar reaction to Su Mu, excited and at a loss for what to do.

Before they could even calm their emotions, Cui Heng arrived again.

He brought the palace servants and Imperial Guard from Huang Gong, along with boxes of all sizes, to prepare for tomorrow's wedding banquet.

Su Xi said to Cui Heng, "His Majesty is truly thoughtful; we were just saying we didn't know what to do and were about to disturb your residence to ask about the customs."

Cui Heng laughed and said, "You can go to my home anytime. It's just that for places where His Majesty is coming, the palace will arrange everything in advance, so you don't need to prepare a thing. Even the food and wine will be prepared by the palace."

?? Begging for votes to have more motivation to type, love you babies, goodnight~