The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

Murong Yuan walked slowly along the winding corridor, with no one following behind him.

He took off the bright yellow dragon robe he wore during the day and changed into a black casual dress. His hair was tied up with only a green jade hairpin. He didn't look like an emperor, but rather like an ordinary middle-aged scholar.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the chill of early autumn.

Murong Yuan stopped in front of the Wanshou Palace.

The gates of Wanshou Palace were open, and the interior was dark, like the mouth of a giant beast.

Without the slightest hesitation, Murong Yuan stepped inside.

The hall was dark, with only a heavy curtain hanging in the deepest part, from which candlelight shone faintly, casting a blurry figure on the curtain.

The figure's face was obscured; only an outline could be seen.

She was tall and slender with a slim waist. Her posture was dignified yet languid, with one hand supporting her forehead as if she were resting with her eyes closed.

Murong Yuan walked to the curtain, knelt down respectfully, his forehead touching the ground, his posture so devout it was almost humble.

"Disciple Murong Yuan pays respects to Your Excellency."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly through the curtains.

There was silence for a moment.

A voice came from behind the curtain.

The voice was cold and indifferent, carrying an indescribable pressure, as if it came from beyond the heavens and echoed within the hall.

Get up.

Murong Yuan straightened up, remaining kneeling, and did not stand up.

He was not entitled to sit before this worshipper.

The figure behind the curtain shifted slightly, seemingly changing its posture.

"Why are you here so late? Is something the matter?"

Murong Yuan lowered his head, his voice respectful.

"This disciple...has a question for you, Venerable Master."

"explain."

Murong Yuan hesitated for a moment, but still spoke.

"This disciple wishes to ask the Venerable One, when will this disciple be able to break through to the Grandmaster level?"

There was a moment of silence behind the curtain.

That cool, aloof voice rang out again, tinged with nonchalance.

"How long have you been stuck at the peak of the ninth rank?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it has been three years."

Three years.

The figure behind the curtain let out a soft hum, the emotion of which was unreadable.

"You're getting anxious after only three years?"

Murong Yuan lowered his head even further.

"This disciple dares not be hasty, but..."

"Just what?"

Murong Yuan gritted his teeth and said it anyway.

"However, those aristocratic families have been making frequent moves lately, and there are undercurrents of power struggles in the court. Although I am the emperor, I feel like I am walking on thin ice. If I cannot break through to the Grandmaster level as soon as possible, I'm afraid..."

"I'm afraid he won't be able to control the situation?"

The voice from behind the curtain carried a faint hint of laughter, as if mocking his impatience.

Murong Yuan did not deny it, but lowered his head and remained silent.

"The path of martial arts is about letting things develop naturally; you can't force it."

The offerings were still delivered in a cool, clear tone, but now carried a hint of instruction.

"Your True Dragon Body is inherently slower to advance than ordinary cultivation techniques, but it has the advantage of a solid foundation and profound knowledge."

"Three years is just a blink of an eye for you."

"Once you've accumulated enough experience, a breakthrough will naturally follow."

Murong Yuan nodded, but he still felt somewhat uneasy.

"Your teachings are correct, Your Highness. I will remember them."

After a moment of silence, the offering suddenly changed the subject.

"Back then, I promised your father that I would stay in your Great Qian Kingdom for fifty years, and now, it seems that time is almost up."

Murong Yuan's heart tightened, and he quickly looked up.

"My lord, you..."

"take it easy."

The voice from behind the curtain carried a hint of laughter.

"I have no plans to leave at the moment."

"I have been searching for someone all these years."

Murong Yuan was taken aback.

"Looking for someone? Who is Your Excellency looking for? This disciple can help."

There was a long silence behind the curtain.

So long that Murong Yuan thought she would never speak again.

That clear, cold voice slowly rang out, carrying a complex quality that even she herself couldn't quite explain.

"Searching for my... destined one."

Murong Yuan was stunned.

The destined one?

"Sixty-eight years ago, I cast a divination."

The offering was made very softly, as if it were a soliloquy.

"The divination indicates that my destined person is in the Great Qian Kingdom."

"That person is my destiny in martial arts, and also my... destined fate."

Murong Yuan's pupils contracted slightly.

A predestined destiny?

This honored one is a figure who surpasses even the Grandmaster level; no one in the entire Great Qian Kingdom can rival him.

What kind of destined person is worthy of her?

"All these years, I have been waiting here, searching."

The offering was made in a slightly lower voice, carrying a hint of suppressed exhaustion.

"We've searched for thirty years, but we've found nothing."

"That person's presence appeared once, and then I never sensed it again."

"It's as if... it doesn't exist at all."

Murong Yuan opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

He had never seen the worshipper show such emotion before.

In his memory, this deity was always aloof, indifferent, and unapproachable.

She stood like an iceberg in the Wanshou Palace, unmoved by worldly affairs or politics for decades, only occasionally offering him a few pointers on his martial arts dilemmas.

But today, she actually showed...loneliness.

"My lord, what are the characteristics of the person you are looking for? I can order a search throughout the entire Great Qian Kingdom."

There was a moment of silence behind the curtain.

"have no idea."

Murong Yuan was taken aback.

"have no idea?"

"I can't figure it out right now; it's as if this person is completely obscured by some kind of force..."

The sound of offering was tinged with helplessness.

"I only have a vague feeling that the person is in this country, in this imperial city."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible.

"I have been waiting here for thirty years, just to see him appear."

Murong Yuan was shaken.

It turns out that the Great Qian Kingdom was able to receive the help of the offerings thanks to this destined person.

Murong Yuan took a deep breath and respectfully kowtowed.

"Rest assured, Your Excellency, your disciple will do everything in his power to search the entire Great Qian territory."

"There's no need for a big fuss."

The sounds of offerings returned to their usual cold and serene tone.

"Just let things take their course."

"If we are destined to meet, we will naturally meet."

"If it's not meant to be... there's no point in forcing it."

Murong Yuan nodded, not daring to say anything more.

"Go down."

The sound of offering was tinged with weariness.

"I need to rest."

Murong Yuan respectfully kowtowed, stood up, took a few steps back, and then turned and walked out of Wanshou Palace.

Inside the Longevity Palace.

The candlelight flickered.

Behind the curtain, the blurry figure slowly stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

A night breeze blew in, lifting a corner of the curtain and revealing half a profile.

Her skin was as white as snow, and her features were as beautiful as a painting.

She looked up at the night sky outside the window.

The moon hangs high in the sky, and the stars twinkle in the sky.

Where are you...?

The Marquis of Zhenbei's residence.

"Achoo!"

Wang Long was teaching Qin Minglan sword techniques when he suddenly sneezed.

"Old man, are you alright?"

Qin Minglan looked at Wang Long with concern.

"Don't worry, young lady, this old servant is perfectly healthy. Perhaps someone is just talking about me~"