Firmament Sword

If it weren’t for the occasion, Xu Jie and the others would have clapped their hands and shouted with satisfaction!

This was so satisfying!

It wasn’t just Xu Jie’s group. Many people who disliked Leng Ping, including the Seventh Princess, had schadenfreude-filled smiles on their faces.

Even Wei Ziting, who was standing there, wore an expression of vindicated pleasure.

”Today is a joyous occasion. A few days ago, an auspicious sign descended from the heavens. The Seventh Princess’s virtue is unparalleled, and this sign was a blessing upon our Cangqiong, a gift for her coming-of-age ceremony.”

Lianyi’s ruby lips parted, her voice like a warbler’s song, ringing through the silent banquet hall.

”The Second Young Master of my Xu Mansion, Xu Luo, received the Seven-Turn Foundation Establishment Pill that Madam Xu procured from her sect. He has already cleared his meridians, established his foundation, and improved his constitution. Before leaving for his recent training, he declared, ’Once I have succeeded in my cultivation, I will serve the Royal Family in the future.’”

Lianyi’s words made many in the banquet hall nod repeatedly. They couldn’t find a single fault with what she said!

Of course, Xu Luo had never said that, but who would dare question it now?

Even the Emperor, who had been watching the drama unfold from the second floor with narrowed eyes, raised an eyebrow slightly at her words. A thoughtful expression crossed his face. ’Was I... a little too harsh on Xu Luo before?’ he thought.

Lianyi continued, ”My adoptive father, the Grand General of National Guardian Xu Ji, currently guards the Border Region, deterring villains and preventing our enemies from daring to invade Cangqiong’s territory. His contributions are indeed immense and hard-won! My adoptive brother, Xu Su, now serves in the army, repaying the Royal Family. May I ask, Young Master Leng, what have you done? Where do you get the nerve, and what gives you the right, to sling this mud at my Xu Family!”

DRIP. DRIP.

Beads of sweat the size of beans trickled from the bowed head of Leng Ping, dripping onto the floor.

The banquet hall was still deathly silent!

The way many people looked at Lianyi had completely changed!

’This adopted daughter of the General’s Mansion... is formidable!’

”You said the Xu Family sent no one to offer congratulations. Then what do you take me, this Commandery Princess, for?” Lianyi’s cold rebuke made Leng Ping’s body tremble slightly.

”But enough. Today is the joyous occasion of the Seventh Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony. Let’s not have me spoil everyone’s mood. I presume Young Master Leng simply did not see this Commandery Princess. I forgive your slip of the tongue, but please remember this, Young Master Leng: in the future... watch your words!”

With that, Lianyi didn’t spare Leng Ping another glance. She turned, her movements graceful and elegant, and slowly walked back toward the corner where she had been sitting. Deep in her eyes was a mixture of sorrow and determination. ’The Young Master can’t be here, so I must hold the line! I will never let anyone look down on my Xu Family!’

”The Commandery Princess’s lesson is well-received. Leng Ping knows his mistake. In the future... I will certainly watch my words!”

Leng Ping said in a hoarse, deep voice. Ignoring everyone’s stares, he gave Lianyi a deep bow, then took a deep breath and sat back in his seat as if nothing had happened.

CLAP! CLAP!

Just then, two claps suddenly echoed from the second floor of the banquet hall.

Someone looked up and saw the Emperor standing by the railing, clapping with a smile.

”Long live Your Majesty! May the heavens bless Cangqiong!” Wei Ziting shouted, leading the applause and clapping vigorously.

”Long live Your Majesty! May the heavens bless Cangqiong!” Everyone in the banquet hall joined in the applause.

The strange and tense atmosphere instantly dissipated, and countless people breathed a sigh of relief.

Many of the young noble masters and ladies who had previously paid Lianyi no mind were now looking at her with warm gazes, preparing to go and build a connection.

After today’s events, who would dare to disrespect the Princess of Vulture, personally ennobled by the Emperor?

Who would dare?

The Seventh Princess sat quietly in her wheelchair, looking with some envy at Lianyi’s long, straight, beautiful legs. ’Perhaps... Sister Lianyi is the right match for Brother Xu Luo after all...’ she thought to herself.

”Ahem... apologies, my apologies. I’m late.”

A lazy, somewhat weary voice suddenly came from the entrance of the banquet hall. On the stage, the Seventh Princess’s eyes instantly lit up. She stared intently at the doorway, and when she saw the figure she had dreamed of appear, she was completely captivated.

The banquet hall, which had just returned to a lively atmosphere, gradually fell silent again. Everyone stared at the tall young man standing at the entrance.

The young man was travel-worn and looked exhausted. He hadn’t even changed his clothes!

Just like that, wearing dusty, close-fitting attire, he strolled in with a casual air!

”Xu Luo!” Lianyi stood up from her seat in disbelief, watching the travel-worn young man walk in. She could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face.

”Aha, I told you! Third Brother would give us a miracle!” Little Fatty Liu Feng stood up and said with an excited expression.

Xu Jie, Sui Yan, and the usually composed Eldest Prince Huangfu Chongzhi all stood up as well, looking in disbelief at the young man walking in through the doorway.

”It really is Xu Luo. He looks... different from before.”

”The Seven-Turn Foundation Establishment Pill! Don’t you get it? Even if you fed it to a pig, that pig would turn into a powerful exotic beast!”

”I never thought Madam Xu truly loved her son this much, to be able to obtain such a Spirit Medicine!”

”Even after taking the Seven-Turn Foundation Establishment Pill, it’s probably not much use for Xu Luo. With his congenitally deficient constitution, it’ll be hard for him to achieve much!”

The people in the banquet hall murmured amongst themselves.

Xu Luo slowly walked toward the high platform, looking at the beautiful figure.

”Sorry, Qiqi, I’m late.” Xu Luo walked past Wei Ziting to the foot of the stage. He looked up at the peerlessly beautiful young woman sitting quietly in her wheelchair and a happy smile spread across his face.

The young woman’s eyes were moist and her eyelids were red. She fought to keep her tears from falling in public and smiled. ”I’m so happy you could come!”

Wei Ziting, standing behind Xu Luo, had a flash of astonishment in his eyes the moment he saw him.

Then, the glint vanished, and he said with a faint smile, ”Xu Luo, I hear you’ve changed your constitution. Congratulations!”

Xu Luo turned around and smiled. ”Thanks.”

”Hehe, for the Seventh Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony, Xu Luo, did you... prepare a gift for her?” Wei Ziting was all smiles. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he and Xu Luo were the best of friends.

”Damn it!” Xu Jie clenched his fist, looking at Wei Ziting with fury.

”What a malicious heart. He knows perfectly well that Third Brother just got back from his training, all travel-worn. What kind of gift could he have prepared?” Little Fatty Liu Feng also said coldly.

”He clearly wants to make Third Brother look like a fool.” Sui Yan’s gaze was also extremely cold.

Huangfu Chongzhi frowned, looking at Wei Ziting with displeasure.

Lianyi was about to speak. She had also prepared a gift today. The Xu Family might not be as wealthy as a nation, but they were by no means without fine treasures. She just hadn’t had a chance to present it yet.

But Xu Luo just smiled and said, ”I was out training and came back in a hurry, so I don’t have much of a gift. A flower will have to do.”

”Hahaha.” The banquet hall immediately erupted in roaring laughter.

Although Lianyi’s words had made people afraid to look down on the Princess of Vulture or the Xu Family...

...how could the impression of Xu Luo they’d built up over many years change so quickly?

They couldn’t mock Xu Luo as brazenly as before, but who could they blame when Xu Luo himself was so disappointing?

’You’re just giving a flower for the Seventh Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony?’

’Do you think this is some boring story where a farmer’s son gives a flower to a princess and wins her heart?’

’Dream on!’

’Could you be any more insincere?’

Hearing this, Wei Ziting’s eyes filled with ridicule as he looked at Xu Luo with a smirk.

”He dares to show off a single flower? Isn’t he ashamed?”

”Exactly. I think Xu Luo has really lost his mind. It’s like he’s afraid of not embarrassing himself enough, hahaha.”

”I wonder if he’ll get the nickname ’One Flower’ to go with his ’Civil Servant’s Rice Bowl,’ haha!”

”This banquet today is so lively, I’m having a great time!”

The group of young nobles, who had been suppressed by Wei Ziting and Leng Ping, had finally found a target for their ridicule and began mocking Xu Luo one after another.

Even the Empress, watching the spectacle from the second floor, said with a smile, ”This child is certainly unconventional.”

The Emperor couldn’t help but sigh softly. ’This lump of mud... can’t be plastered onto a wall after all,’ he thought.

But the Seventh Princess, on the stage, was beaming. Completely ignoring the others’ ridicule of Xu Luo, she said with an expectant look, ”I’ll love whatever you give me!”

At this, many people suddenly felt awkward, their mocking smiles freezing on their faces.

Anyone who wasn’t blind could see the affection in the Seventh Princess’s eyes as she looked at Xu Luo. Earlier, when Young Master Leng presented such a precious gift, the Seventh Princess had only offered a simple ”thank you.”

When Young Master Wei catered to her interests and presented an incredibly precious ancient Divine Text codex, the Seventh Princess had merely said a demure, ”I like it.”

And now here was Xu Luo with just a flower... he hadn’t even taken it out yet. For all they knew, it could be a foxtail weed.

But the Seventh Princess... she said, ”I’ll love whatever you give me!”

’This is too much!’

The eyes of many who looked at Xu Luo were filled with raw jealousy!

Leng Ping, who had been sitting there in silence, now looked at Wei Ziting with a gaze full of ridicule.

’Wei Ziting, oh, Wei Ziting, did you really think you could win the Princess’s heart by setting me up? Hahahaha, dream on! He beat you with just a flower!’

Leng Ping’s mindset at this moment was simple: ’If I can’t have her, you, Wei Ziting, you backstabbing bastard, can forget about it too!’

The Seventh Princess looked at Xu Luo expectantly. Although she didn’t say anything, her posture and the look in her eyes made her meaning clear to Xu Luo, who had known her well since they were children.

’Hurry up and give it to me!’

’It’s been three years. She... hasn’t changed!’

Xu Luo smiled and, from his pocket, pulled out a... flower. It was as crystalline as jade and shimmered with a seven-colored light.

CRASH!

With a crisp sound, the wine cup in the Eldest Prince’s hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces!

On the second floor, the various great figures watching the show all frowned. The Emperor also looked at the Eldest Prince with displeasure, fuming inwardly: ’Wasn’t Leng Ping losing his composure enough? What are you adding to the commotion for?’

”Seven-Colored Light... That’s a flower with the Seven-Colored Light, a Seven-Colored Flower!” Huangfu Chongzhi mumbled. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried throughout the entire banquet hall.

CRASH!

Another crisp sound.

This time, the sound came from the second floor.

Everyone followed the sound and saw the Empress standing there, looking utterly distraught, her wine cup shattered on the ground.

Yet the Empress, the mother of the nation, seemed completely unaware, her eyes fixed on the flower in Xu Luo’s hand... the flower that shimmered with a seven-colored light and glowed like jade.

At that moment, the mocking smiles of everyone in the banquet hall froze on their faces!

Wei Ziting and his cronies, who had been laughing the loudest, looked as if they had been brutally slapped across the face.

They were all stunned.

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After reading this chapter, are you and your buddies stunned? If so, please vote and add this to your collection... If not, well, just add it to your collection and vote anyway. -_-#