Chapter 24: Host, I Have an Idea

Xue Mengying replied, "I don't really like drinking herbal tea." She planted spiritual herbs every day at the Profound Heaven Sect and had long since grown sick of this scent.

"If you won't drink it, I'll pack it away." Yu Baishuang pulled a gourd made of pure gold from her sleeve. Her family had just sent it to her, telling her to find an opportunity to fill it with some tea, but this tea was in such high demand that the cup she wanted was still in line, and she didn't know when her turn would come.

Xue Mengying looked at the emerald-green tea soup, which faintly radiated spiritual energy, and felt very displeased. Furthermore, she had noticed that these ladies and misses all seemed to love drinking it.

How could mortals easily consume such a thing? They were just waiting for their spiritual energy to cause their bodies to explode.

"Shuang'er~" Bai Shi came over, and seeing the gold gourd in Yu Baishuang's hand, a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Yu Baishuang gave the gold gourd to her, "Mother, the Fourth Miss Xue won't drink it, so she gave it to me."

Xue Mengying hadn't actually said she would give it to her; she just hadn't refused when the tea was poured.

"Thank you, Fourth Miss Xue. My little grandson's throat hasn't been well these past two days, so I was thinking of letting him have a sip; perhaps it might get better." Bai Shi signaled her personal nanny to hurry and send it back.

Xue Mengying bowed slightly and replied, "Bai Shi is too kind. If Sister Shuang'er had said so earlier, I would have given it to her long ago."

"Thank you again, Fourth Miss Xue. Shuang'er, keep her good company." After exchanging a few pleasantries, Bai Shi returned to her own table.

Yu Baishuang asked Xue Mengying with great curiosity, "Sister Xue, is cultivating immortality fun?"

Xue Mengying replied, "It's very boring, there's no point to it. However, I have these spiritual herbs too; I'll give you some later."

Yu Baishuang immediately took Xue Mengying's arm and said very intimately, "Thank you, Sister Xue."

After Su Xi finished teasing at the bridal chamber, she came to the study in Yayuan under Su Fu's repeated urging.

As soon as she entered, she saw Zhou Chuchen looking at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall.

"Your Majesty has waited a long time."

"Not long." Zhou Chuchen pointed to a piece of calligraphy on the wall, "Although it is unsigned, this is the handwriting of the late Emperor. May I have it?"

Su Xi walked over, took the painting down from the wall, rolled it up, and presented it to Zhou Chuchen with both hands, "I heard from my younger brother that Su Zhai used to be an official residence. Because a mass murder occurred there, the house was sold cheaply as a haunted house. While renovating the residence, a treasure room was discovered. Most of the treasures had been cleared out, and only some discarded items were scattered about, which he cleaned up. This should be one of them."

"Many thanks." Zhou Chuchen put the painting away, then looked down at Su Xi, who reached his shoulder, "Has the Young Sect Master made up her mind?"

"Your Majesty is truly direct, asking for the result right away." Su Xi took a small red clay jar from her storage jade bracelet, "The fruit wine I brewed has been approved by my Master."

"Sect Master Rong?" Zhou Chuchen took the small red clay jar.

"Actually, my Master told me to return to the sect today, or tomorrow at the latest." Su Xi put her hands behind her back and looked up at Zhou Chuchen.

"If you are looking for a helper, I fear I am not a suitable candidate, because my cultivation is not high."

Zhou Chuchen was surprised, "There is a rumor in Mo Yu that the Young Sect Master of the Southern Dao Sect is gifted and entered the Golden Core stage ten years ago."

"...... Who spread that?" Su Xi was speechless.

"What is the Young Sect Master's true cultivation?"

"Qi Refining Middle Stage."

【Host, you are already at the Qi Refining Late Stage.】

【When did I advance?】

【Last night, you advanced while you were asleep, Host.】

【You can cultivate while sleeping?】

【Yes, Host. Da Jin and Da Miao, they cultivate by sleeping.】

【That is truly enviable!】

Su Xi said to the door, "Da Jin."

A fat, round golden cat staggered in, drunk, "Young Sect Master, the strong liquor of the human world is quite potent."

"He is at the Deity Transformation stage." Su Xi said to Zhou Chuchen, "How about lending him to Your Majesty?"

"Hm? Why should I be lent to the Human Emperor?" Da Jin stopped swaying, his golden eyes staring at Su Xi.

"The food in my house isn't eaten for free." Su Xi put her hands on her hips and said to Da Jin, "Today my family owes a favor to His Majesty, so you shall repay it on our behalf."

*Hiccup~* Da Jin twitched his ears, "But the Sect Master told me to bring the Young Sect Master back. If we are late, he will definitely be unhappy. Also, Da Miao is about to give birth; I have to protect her."

"Da Miao told me that spirit beast cubs have a longer gestation period than ordinary cats, and the due date is still far off. She said she's nearing the due date because she doesn't want you bothering her all the time. It's not easy for me to come home, so I'm staying for a while longer." Especially Xue Fuyi; how could she let the luck value on her go to waste?

"Then I must ask the Sect Master." Da Jin immediately sent a sound transmission talisman to Rong Shou.

Zhou Chuchen looked at the two of them, a faint smile on his handsome, peerless face.

Su Xi caught a glimpse and returned the smile.

【Host, I have an idea, I don't know if I should say it.】

【Then don't say it.】

【Ga~】

By the window of the study, there was a chess table with a rosewood chessboard on it, and black and white jade pieces lay quietly in the chess bowls.

"A game of hand-talk?" Zhou Chuchen said to Su Xi.

Su Xi had only practiced for a few days with Rong Shou, and later Rong Shou went into seclusion and didn't teach her anymore.

"Alright."

【Host, you are playing chess with an Emperor; won't you lose without a chance to win? People like them are best at deploying troops and playing political schemes.】

【It's just chess, it's not that complicated.】

When Su Xi and Zhou Chuchen were halfway through their game, a sound transmission talisman arrived.

It was for Su Xi.

Su Xi opened it—【Decide as you wish, just don't let your cultivation slide.】

Su Xi immediately sent a transmission—【Thank you, Master. After I accompany my parents and repay His Majesty's favor, I will return.】

Rong Shou did not reply again.

Zhou Chuchen put down the chess piece in his hand, "Then it is settled. In two days, Commander Cui will accompany the Young Sect Master to the Huang He border."

"Are we not finishing the game?" Su Xi looked at the board where she had a high chance of winning.

Zhou Chuchen smiled and said, "It is I who have lost. If it were not for the memorials still waiting to be reviewed, I would certainly play a few more games with the Young Sect Master."

"State affairs are important, so I shall not keep Your Majesty." Having won the chess game, Su Xi was in an excellent mood and personally saw Zhou Chuchen off.

Just as they stepped out the door, they saw Xue Mengying coming out of Cui Fu.

Upon seeing Zhou Chuchen beside Su Xi, a joyful expression appeared on her face, and she immediately used Teleportation to arrive.

She bowed to Zhou Chuchen, her graceful posture fully displayed, "Your subject's daughter, Xue Mengying, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"Rise," Zhou Chuchen said, making a gesture with his hand.

"Sister Xi, it has been a long time." Only then did Xue Mengying look at Su Xi, though the corners of her eyes still darted toward Zhou Chuchen.

Hearing her call her sister, Su Xi felt goosebumps rise all over her body.

Suppressing her nausea, she exchanged pleasantries, "It has been ten years since we parted at the Southern Dao Sect. It is truly a pity that you and Fuyi were unable to pass the entrance examination."

Xue Mengying's expression stiffened, and she almost lost her composure, "Sister Xi, you must have remembered incorrectly. We were captured by demonic cultivators, so the examination was suspended; it was not that we did not pass."

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