Chapter 70 If Li Xianshen were willing to share even half a fraction of his sword intent with me, he would be my very life

Imperial Palace of Heaven Dou.

"Your subject pays respects to His Majesty."

Xue Qinghe reported the outcome of the four-academy exchange to Emperor Xue Ye.

"The Royal Heaven Academy narrowly lost to the Blazing Flame Academy."

"However, the Gold-Badge Sword Wine of the Imperial City Soul Arena swept through the Blazing Flame Academy's captain, Feng Xiaotian."

A smile appeared on Emperor Xue Ye's pale face.

"Very good."

"Bestow upon Sword Wine a thousand bolts of brocade and ten thousand taels of gold."

"Such talent ought to be utilized by the imperial family."

A trace of helplessness surfaced on Xue Qinghe's face.

"Reporting to Your Majesty..."

"That Sword Wine possesses an unrestrained disposition, much like a solitary crane drifting through the idle clouds."

"Your subject once offered him a lofty position, yet he remained completely unmoved. I fear it will be difficult to summon him to the palace."

Emperor Xue Ye made no attempt to hide his regret.

"What a pity indeed, then let it be."

"Qinghe, you have handled the matter of the four-academy exchange exceptionally well."

"Ever since you assumed regency, you have toiled from dawn till dusk with unflagging diligence."

"Both I and my ministers have witnessed it all. What reward do you desire?"

Xue Qinghe was slightly startled.

Her gaze drifted toward the towering red walls outside the hall.

The thought of "how to repay Li Zhexian," which had crossed her mind yesterday, surfaced clearly once more.

Perhaps...

the most precious gift she could offer at this moment was to cast aside this disguise and spend a few more days in his company.

A myriad of thoughts flowed through her heart.

Xue Qinghe lowered her head, her voice carrying just the right measure of fatigue:

"Your subject has recently... felt deeply exhausted in both mind and body."

"I boldly implore Your Majesty to grant your subject a few days of leisure, to temporarily step away from the toil of official documents and restore peace to my mind and spirit."

Emperor Xue Ye laughed heartily.

"Can this even be considered a reward?"

"You have indeed worked hard throughout these days."

"Since Qinghe wishes to rest, I shall grant you a ten-day leave."

"During these ten days, there is no need for morning greetings, no need to attend court, and all affairs of state are entirely exempted."

This time.

The smile blooming at the corners of Xue Qinghe's lips was genuine and radiant.

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for this grace."

...

The Crown Prince's Chambers.

Xue Qinghe was tending to the morning glow flowers placed along the windowsill.

Pufferfish Douluo and Serpent Lance Douluo exchanged glances, both seeing a trace of worry in each other's eyes.

"Your Highness..."

Serpent Lance finally couldn't help himself. He stepped forward and said in a low voice:

"The grand plan of the Spirit Hall, and even the Angelic Legacy..."

"Your Highness's identity cannot afford a single mistake. Do not let trivial matters overshadow the monumental ones!"

The movement of Xue Qinghe watering the plants paused imperceptibly. Without raising her head, she said calmly:

"What is trivial? What is monumental?"

Serpent Lance's throat bobbed, but the words stuck in his mouth.

Xue Qinghe's fingertips brushed against the petals of the morning glow flower, her gaze seeming to pierce through the halo of light before her, drifting toward an unforgettable scene.

"When I first met Li Zhexian..."

She murmured softly, as if confiding in the flowers, or perhaps sorting through her own feelings.

"I merely admired his carefree and unrestrained nature."

"He made me realize that living in this mortal world could actually be so uninhibited and joyful, making one... yearn for it."

"I regarded him as a mirror, hoping to learn a measure of that freedom from him."

"Yet now..."

In Xue Qinghe's eyes, deep and tranquil as an abyss, a shimmering golden light quietly bloomed, like the first rays of dawn.

"If Li Zhexian only recognizes me as Xue Qinghe, then he is my dearest confidant in this life, as well as the teacher of my heart."

"But if Li Zhexian is willing to share with me..."

"A fraction of the sword intent in his heart, half a cup of wandering rivers and lakes wine, and a wisp of untethered spirit."

"Then he is my life."

"The Heaven Dou Crown Prince, the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, the throne of the Angelic God—I can cast them all aside like worn-out shoes."

Xue Qinghe's voice gradually lowered.

Carrying an imperceptible tremor.

"The day he went missing..."

"Nothing remained in my heart but panic and regret, regretting that he never got to see my true appearance."

"I do not wish to taste that feeling ever again."

Pufferfish and Serpent Lance looked at each other in silence.

Their faces were filled with sorrow and helplessness. In the end, they simply lowered their heads in silence and said no more.

The heavy air lingered in the hall for a long time.

Xue Qinghe suddenly raised her gaze and asked:

"Where is Li Zhexian?"

Pufferfish replied:

"According to recent intelligence, all four teams have gone to look for him."

"At this hour, he should be drinking heartily inside the Fragrant Banquet Pavilion."

The corners of Xue Qinghe's lips curved upward.

She stood up abruptly, flicked her sleeves, and walked out of the hall.

"Your Highness is leaving the palace now?"

Xue Qinghe's pace did not slow down.

"If I don't go, who is going to pay Li Zhexian's tab?"

...

Fragrant Banquet Pavilion.

"Hahahaha—!"

Li Zhexian's cheeks were flushed red as he pointed at Feng Xiaotian, who was curled up under the bench, laughing so hard he doubled over.

"Feng... Feng Xiaotian... with your pathetic look... *hiccup*..."

He let out a drunken burp.

"You still wanted to drink this young master under the table?"

"Come, come, come! Who is next?"

His gaze swept disdainfully, pointing in turn at Yu Tianheng, Huo Wushuang, and Huyan Li.

You? You? Or... you?"

Yu Tianheng's face was pale, clutching the edge of the table and panting heavily, saliva still stained at the corner of his mouth—evidently he had already thrown up several times.

Huo Wushuang sat blankly on the floor, his eyes completely unfocused from drinking.

Huyan Li was the most stubborn, struggling to grab a wine flask and stumbling as he tried to walk toward Li Zhexian, muttering incoherently.

"Battle... battle again..."

However, his steps were unsteady, and after taking only two steps, he collapsed heavily.

He crashed directly onto the six members of the Pachyderm Clan who were already lying flat in all directions.

Li Zhexian looked at the fallen opponents all over the floor and proudly tilted his head back to gulp down a large mouthful of wine.

The liquor spilled wantonly, soaking the pristine white collar at his chest.

Fairly speaking, the fine wine of the Fragrant Banquet Pavilion was far inferior to his own wine martial soul.

Yet, the true essence of wine extended far beyond the wine itself.

It lay in the people.

Today, friends filled the room, and even mortal wine tasted of a rare and joyous abandon throughout his life, thanks to this clamorous camaraderie.

"Sword Wine!"

A sharp, coquettish cry rang out.

Huo Wushuang—no, Huo Wu—wrapped one arm around Dugu Yan and the other around Ye Lengleng, stumbling as she closed in on Li Zhexian.

"Cease... cease your arrogance!"

"We sisters... will drink with you!"

Li Zhexian turned away none who came.

"Good!"

Snatching up a wine bowl, he clinked it heavily against Huo Wu's and drained it in one gulp.

Huo Wu's already hazy, intoxicated eyes instantly grew even more misty.

She released Dugu Yan, hooked her arm around Li Zhexian's neck, breathed her alcohol-laden breath onto his face, and brought up old grievances.

"Bef... before... why didn't you admit... that you were Sword Wine?"

"Was it... because hearing us praise you... made you feel immensely pleased inside... hmm?"

Li Zhexian pointed at the tip of her nose.

"Heh, you... guessed it."

Hearing this, Huo Wu tightened her grip around his neck fiercely.

"Fine you... Sword Wine!"

"Today... I am going to knock you down!"

"Dugu... Lengleng... help me pour drinks into him!"

Amidst this clamor.

The door of the private room was pushed open silently.

Xue Qinghe stepped into the room, thick with the chaos of alcohol fumes.

What met her eyes was the sight of Li Zhexian surrounded in the center by Huo Wu, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lengleng—three women of vastly different styles yet all possessing peerless beauty—laughing merrily and exchanging cups.

Xue Qinghe's delicate hands clenched tightly within her sleeves.

The admonitions of Pufferfish and Serpent Lance, along with the trace of hesitation lingering in her heart, vanished into thin air the instant she beheld this scene.

A trace of indescribable urgency welled up in her chest.

She was, in fact, quite good-looking herself...

This thought flashed through her mind.

At that very moment.

Li Zhexian seemed to sense something. He looked over with hazy, drunken eyes, raised the wine bowl in his hand, and flashed a blindingly bright, brilliant smile.

"Qinghe! You're finally here! Come quickly... come quickly!"

Xue Qinghe suppressed the tumbling thoughts in her heart and stepped forward with a smile.

"I'm here."