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Chapter 205, Page 204: The New Emperor Ascends the Throne, and a Night of Desire with Miliearde.

The solemn atmosphere in front of the palace gates has been replaced by a deliberately created enthusiasm.

The eldest prince personally came out to greet them, his face beaming with an almost scorching smile.

"Hero! You're finally back!"

He strode forward, his voice loud and clear, brimming with undisguised joy.

"The demon king's defeat was truly a monumental achievement! Now, throughout the capital, everyone sings your praises! You are the benefactor of all humankind, the true hero who illuminates this era!"

Gu Yuan stood still, listening to these fervent words of flattery.

He remained calm, only raising his hand slightly and making a simple yet powerful gesture during a brief pause in the eldest prince's impassioned speech.

"That's fine."

The voice was calm, yet contained a powerful force that brought the eldest prince's passionate speech to an abrupt halt.

Gu Yuan looked directly at the eldest prince and asked the question that truly concerned him: "Is the old emperor really gone?"

The smile on the eldest prince's face faded like the tide, quickly replaced by a sorrowful and grief-stricken expression. He nodded heavily: "Yes, Father Emperor—when he heard the news of your victory over the Demon King, he was extremely excited. Perhaps the emotional fluctuations aggravated his old ailment—and he passed away that very night."

Gu Yuan's heart stirred slightly; this news was indeed somewhat sudden.

But then I thought about the old emperor's frail and aged appearance, and how he passed away under the influence of extreme joy and relief, which seemed quite reasonable.

"Preparations for the funeral are already underway," the eldest prince continued, his tone regaining its composure. "The election of the new emperor is also proceeding in an orderly manner."

"Although the final choice is still unknown, I believe that whoever succeeds will lead the empire to a more prosperous future."

As he spoke, his gaze returned to Gu Yuan, filled with sincere praise, "After all, humanity's greatest threat, the Demon King, has been completely eliminated by you, Hero."

Gu Yuan listened quietly, understanding dawning on his mind.

This gesture is nothing more than a common tactic used by imperial families to win over powerful individuals.

However, when he met the seemingly sincere eyes of the eldest prince, a trace of doubt flashed through his mind—perhaps it wasn't entirely a scheme.

A brief silence fell over the air.

The eldest prince seemed unwilling to let the silence continue, so he immediately put on a warm smile again and turned to the side in an inviting gesture: "Look at me, I've been so busy talking, Your Excellency, and the two noble elf lords."

"I have prepared a banquet in the palace to welcome you and celebrate this historic victory! I urge you to attend!"

His attitude was overly enthusiastic, and his actions conveyed a sense of giving his all.

Gu Yuan glanced at him, said nothing, and followed him into the depths of the palace.

Celia and Millie Alde exchanged a glance and silently followed.

The banquet was of extremely high standard, with a dazzling array of delicacies.

Gu Yuan was placed in the main seat, with the eldest prince personally accompanying him. The conversation revolved around the details of defeating the Demon King and the prospects for the future of the empire.

Milie Alde sat quietly beside Gu Yuan, sipping her glass of royal wine, but her eyes were unfocused, as if she were not paying attention.

After several toasts and formulaic questions and answers, the atmosphere inevitably fell into a slightly dull silence.

Just then, Milialde suddenly spoke softly, her voice like clear spring water dripping onto jade, breaking the silence: "How long will it take to reach a result in the election of the new emperor?"

The eldest prince paused slightly in his wine glass, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, before he seemed to understand something.

His gaze swept quickly between Gu Yuan and Miliald, assuming that this was Gu Yuan's intention, merely being brought up through the elf's mouth.

He immediately adopted a more solemn expression and replied, "According to ancestral rules and after consultation with all parties, it will take at least seven days."

"Seven days—" Milie Alde repeated softly, her furrowed brows seeming to relax a little, as if some invisible pressure had been relieved.

She stopped touching the imperial wine cup and instead naturally took the wine flask that Gu Yuan had given her from her waist, uncorked it, and gulped down several large mouthfuls.

The rich aroma of the wine quietly filled the air, a stark contrast to her previous half-hearted attitude. Her face revealed the first truly satisfied and relaxed expression since the start of the banquet, even with a hint of anticipation.

Gu Yuan took in her series of actions, a knowing glint in his eyes, but he didn't point it out.

For the next seven days, the capital appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging beneath, with various factions vying for the ultimate fate of the new emperor.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. As the bells rang at dawn, the eldest prince ascended the throne as emperor, a victory that everyone had anticipated.

When the news arrived, Gu Yuan didn't seem too surprised, as if it were a matter of course.

He was currently in the quiet room of his residence, carefully nurturing the Heavenly Vein Dragon egg with magical potions.

Just then, someone knocked on the door and respectfully delivered a gold-embossed invitation.

The new emperor, formerly the eldest prince, invited Gu Yuan and his companions to attend his formal enthronement ceremony that evening, followed by a grand court banquet.

Gu Yuan informed Celia and Millie Alde of the contents of the invitation.

Celia's expression remained unchanged, and she simply gave a faint "hmm".

She had little interest in the rituals of power transition among humans, but she was well aware that the ascension of the new emperor to the throne after the Demon King's defeat was undoubtedly an important historical juncture.

As someone who experienced it firsthand, it's not unreasonable to go and observe.

Milie Alder's reaction, however, was calm with a hint of something unusual.

She nodded slightly to indicate that she understood, then silently turned and went back to her room.

When she reappeared in front of Gu Yuan, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashed across Gu Yuan's eyes.

Millie Alde changed into an extremely exquisite outfit—one of the antique-style clothes that Gu Yuan had given her.

The gorgeous fabric accentuated her slender and exquisite figure, perfectly blending with her ethereal and otherworldly temperament as an elf, creating a breathtakingly beautiful appearance.

Her bright eyes held an indescribable brilliance that was even more pronounced than usual.

Seeing her so solemnly dressed, Gu Yuan understood the reason, but said nothing. He simply sighed inwardly, thinking:

I hope you won't be too disappointed then.

He understood that Milield's anticipation for the banquet, and even her elaborate attire, was not for a power transition ceremony.

Instead, they were there for the legendary "exquisite wine"—Emperor's Wine—that was to be served at the banquet.

The name "exquisite wine" is unknown, as to who first spread it and how much exaggeration it has undergone.

However, "Gu Yuan's thoughts stirred, remembering the Soma Divine Wine he had once obtained; I am not entirely unprepared."

As a divine wine, just one drop, after dilution, can be transformed into ten liters of top-quality wine with a rich aroma and unparalleled taste.

This was enough to soothe Milie's disappointment at the "Emperor's Wine" not living up to its name, allowing her to drink to her heart's content all night and return home satisfied.

And so, each of the three, with their own thoughts, left their residence and slowly made their way towards the palace once more.

The palace was brightly lit at night.

This will be a night of power, glory, and desire.

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