Chapter 287 Mu Jiu is willing to give everything to help her brother, His Majesty (4000 words)

The Zhou Dynasty royal palace held a Taoist altar.

Xiao Mo was practicing the Grass Character Sword Technique.

The sword moves as the heart desires.

As Xiao Mo seemed to sense something, he unleashed a sword strike, and a warm current flowed through all parts of his body.

Sheathing his longsword, Xiao Mo exhaled deeply.

When he opened his eyes, he was overjoyed!

I have already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining!

Moreover, compared to the obscurity he felt when practicing swordsmanship before, Xiao Mo felt that after using the Heavenly Dao Marrow Cleansing Liquid to temper his body, his practice of the Grass Character Sword Technique was much smoother.

This feeling is very mysterious.

What may seem like ordinary moves can lead to unique insights when practiced, and can be mastered quickly, even to the point of applying them to other situations.

This shows that my talent has indeed improved a lot compared to before.

Xiao Mo didn't know where his talent would rank in the real world of cultivation.

However, in the Book of a Hundred Generations, his talent was enough to make him an inner disciple of a major sect, and even above average.

Of course, compared to his fourth incarnation, this is definitely not enough.

However, Xiao Mo accepted it calmly.

After all, the fourth incarnation was playing on the "Genius" ship, which was very likely to be one of the top geniuses since ancient times.

This is something you're born with; you can't envy it.

In comparison, it is already quite remarkable that my talent has reached this level today, and I am very satisfied with it.

"Speaking of which, why didn't we see Jiang Rou today?"

Xiao Mo looked around the Dao Asking Altar with some confusion.

Whenever Xiao Mo practices swordsmanship, Jiang Rou would usually come over and offer him some guidance.

But Jiang Rou didn't show up today, and nobody knows where she went.

"His Majesty……"

Just as Xiao Mo was considering whether to go to the Imperial Preceptor's residence to see what Jiang Rou was doing, Wei Xun's voice came from outside the altar: "The welcoming banquet for the Qin envoy is about to begin."

"I understand."

Xiao Mo put down his long sword and strode out of the Dao Asking Altar.

Xiao Mo went to Lingquan Palace, and after bathing and changing clothes with the help of maids, he walked towards the front hall of the palace.

At this time, the Four Directions Hall was already filled with officials from the Zhou state and envoys from the Qin state.

The Qin envoy arrived in the Zhou capital early in the morning.

However, considering the Qin envoys' long journey, the welcoming banquet was arranged for the evening.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

As Wei Xun's hoarse voice filled the hall, officials from both Qin and Zhou rose to greet him, shouting in unison, "Your Majesty, we respectfully welcome you."

Xiao Mo walked to the front of the main hall and scanned the crowd, but he did not see the Qin Princess Qinyang.

"My esteemed ministers, there's no need for such formalities. Please rise," Xiao Mo said to the crowd.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The officials straightened up, especially the envoys from Qin, who looked at the legendary "puppet emperor of Zhou" with curiosity.

However, the image of this puppet emperor of the Zhou Kingdom was completely unexpected by all of them.

In their minds, the puppet emperor of Zhou should be the kind of person who is obsequious and subservient.

Even subconsciously, they had already associated the image of the Zhou monarch with negative words such as "short" and "cowardly".

But after seeing it with my own eyes, I never expected that the Zhou ruler would be so handsome and upright.

Judging from his appearance alone, this Zhou ruler was definitely a handsome man.

Moreover, his every move exuded the elegance of a scholar.

This doesn't look like someone who's obsessed with Taoist practices at all.

What puzzled them most was the sense of unease that arose within them as they looked at the Zhou emperor.

This is a kind of imperial majesty.

They had only felt this before when they saw their own king.

This imperial majesty even made some of them afraid to look directly at him.

Is this really a puppet emperor?

Can a puppet emperor possess such charisma?

Let alone these Qin envoys.

Even Yan Shan'ao, who was standing on the other side, couldn't help but feel uneasy.

I have been very busy lately and haven't seen Xiao Mo for over a month.

But why does he seem to be exuding more and more imperial aura?

What kind of cultivation is he practicing?

"Please, everyone, have a seat." Xiao Mo gestured for them to sit.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After bowing, everyone took their seats.

"I have long admired Princess Qinyang's reputation. May I ask where she is?"

Xiao Mo asked the envoy from Qin.

When Yan Shan'ao heard Xiao Mo mention the name "Princess Qinyang," his brows furrowed.

"Your Majesty, Her Highness the Princess passed away this afternoon."

Just as an envoy from Qin stepped forward to explain to Xiao Mo, a maidservant hurried in and knelt before him, saying, "Your Majesty, Princess Qinyang has arrived and is requesting an audience outside."

"Please invite Princess Qinyang in," Xiao Mo said calmly.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The maidservant quickly withdrew.

Soon after, a young girl, accompanied by several maids, walked gracefully into the main hall.

The girl was dressed in a crimson palace gown with gold phoenixes, the wide sleeves embroidered with layered cloud patterns in dark gold thread.

The high collar of the palace dress is slightly open at just the right moment, revealing the graceful lines of the collarbone, like a jade comb gently resting on ice silk. Every turn exudes exquisite and noble elegance.

Her long skirt trailed behind her, the pearls adorning it jingling softly as she walked.

The girl's waist was extremely slender, and a white jade belt accentuated her graceful curves.

Her jet-black hair was styled into an elegant bun, with a light blue hair ornament tucked into it, swaying gently with each step she took.

"Her eyebrows are like verdant spring mountains, and her eyes are like rippling autumn waters."

This seems to be the best description.

Moreover, the corners of her eyes naturally carried a touch of the blush of a begonia in the sun, her nose was delicate and straight, and her lips were like newly blossoming cherry blossoms, with plump, dewy lips.

Her snow-white skin glowed with a warm, jade-like light under the palace lanterns, and the ruby ​​dewdrop pendants hanging from her earlobes swayed gently on her alabaster neck as she nodded.

"Tsk."

Upon seeing Princess Qinyang, Yan Shan'ao on the other side secretly clicked his tongue.

Putting everything else aside, in terms of appearance alone, Princess Qinyang is indeed no less beautiful than Ruxue.

The young woman walked up to Xiao Mo and bowed to him, saying, "Qin Mujiu of the Qin Kingdom greets Your Majesty."

"Princess Qinyang arrived at the banquet later than I did," Xiao Mo said with a smile.

Qin Mujiu's clear and melodious voice echoed in the hall: "Your Majesty, I have long admired the talent of the Yan family in your country. Upon arriving in the capital, I wished to meet Sister Ruxue. We had a very pleasant conversation and forgot the time. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

"Hahaha, I see. But there's no need for punishment. Since ancient times, how could a host punish a guest?" Xiao Mo laughed loudly. "On the contrary, it was I who disturbed the princess and Miss Yan's elegant mood. I should be punished with a few drinks."

“Since Your Majesty has said so,” Qin Siyao raised her head, her eyes crinkling, and said playfully, “then Your Majesty will drink a few cups, and I will drink a few cups with Your Majesty.”

Hearing Qin Siyao's words, Xiao Mo was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, alright, then Princess, you must keep me company for a few drinks. Princess Qinyang, please take a seat."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Qin Siyao nodded and sat in the first seat on the left, only a foot away from Xiao Mo.

As the banquet began, the maids brought out the dishes and drinks one after another.

Qin Siyao's lateness did not give Zhou Guo an impression of arrogance; on the contrary, her playful words inadvertently brought her closer to Xiao Mo.

However, Qin Siyao's mention of "meeting Yan Ruxue" made the officials of Zhou Kingdom uneasy.

After all, who doesn't know that the King of Qin wants to marry his sister to his own emperor?

But His Majesty is about to marry the talented Lady Yan.

Now that these two people have met, what can they possibly talk about?

Could this be a mutual show of force?

"The Princess of Qin met with the most talented woman in Zhou. I'm quite curious about what the two of you talked about?" Xiao Mo asked with a smile.

"Your Majesty, Mu Jiu and Sister Ru Xue didn't say anything. They just discussed some poems and songs, and asked Sister Ru Xue about some Zhou etiquette," Qin Siyao replied cheerfully. "After all, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Mu Jiu can't be ignorant of the rules, or people will gossip about her."

As she spoke, Qin Siyao sighed softly, her eyes filled with genuine admiration, and remarked:

"However, Sister Ruxue's talent is truly admirable to Muji. Moreover, Sister Ruxue is as beautiful as an angel and has an extraordinary temperament. After meeting Sister Ruxue, Muji kept thinking, how could there be such a perfect woman in the world?"

"."

Everyone was momentarily at a loss after hearing Qin Siyao's words.

What's going on?

Shouldn't the two of them be competitors?

After all, the Zhou Kingdom could only have one empress.

But now, Qin Siyao is praising Yan Ruxue? It even seems like she's willingly admitting defeat and wanting Yan Ruxue to become the boss while she herself becomes the subordinate?

Xiao Mo was also taken aback, unable to understand what the eldest princess of Qin was thinking.

However, Xiao Mo knew that even if Princess Qinyang really wanted to become a concubine, it was impossible.

Because the ruler of Qin would never agree to that.

But let me tell you...

At first, Xiao Mo thought that Princess Qinyang might be a strong, willful, or even somewhat domineering woman.

But now, she gives me the feeling of being a gentle, harmless little white rabbit, even a bit naive and innocent.

However, it must be said that Princess Qinyang's lively and playful demeanor at the banquet made Xiao Mo feel quite comfortable.

Xiao Mo couldn't help but think, "If she were empress, I would be able to control things better, and she wouldn't cause me any trouble."

However, reason quickly brought Xiao Mo back to his senses.

A single encounter is not enough to make a complete judgment about a person.

Who knows if this Princess Qinyang has another side?

An hour later, the welcoming banquet was about to end. Just as Xiao Mo was about to leave, Princess Qinyang stood up, looked at Xiao Mo expectantly, and said:

"Your Majesty, I have heard that there is a garden in the palace called the Firefly Garden, which was built by the founding ancestor of the Zhou Kingdom for the Empress. Every night, hundreds and thousands of fireflies fly all over the sky, as if you are in the Milky Way. Would you be so fortunate as to see it?"

"Why not? I happen to have nothing to do anyway, so you can come with me."

Xiao Mo didn't mind this small request.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Upon hearing Xiao Mo's agreement, Qin Siyao bowed and happily exclaimed.

Upon hearing the words "Your Majesty Brother," Xiao Mo couldn't help but gasp, feeling a shiver run through his body.

No wonder I heard that the King of Qin doted on his sister and granted her almost every request.

This personality is so endearing, it's impossible not to like her.

It was a matter of mutual consent between the two parties.

The Qin envoy and the Zhou officials naturally couldn't say anything.

Moreover, Princess Qinyang is very likely to move into the inner palace soon, so what's the big deal about going to a garden in the inner palace now?

Xiao Mo prepared his carriage and led Princess Qinyang to the outside of the Firefly Garden.

Wei Xun tactfully waited outside, while Xiao Mo led Qin Siyao inside.

It was already past midnight, and the moment the two stepped into the Firefly Garden, their eyes lit up instantly.

Hundreds and thousands of fireflies danced in the courtyard, like stars adorning the earth, echoing the stars in the night sky.

Being in the courtyard feels like being in a fairyland.

"So beautiful!" Qin Mujiu exclaimed, her eyes sparkling, as she stood beside Xiao Mo.

"It is quite beautiful."

Xiao Mo nodded.

Actually, Xiao Mo had never been to this place before, even though he had been in the palace for so long. This was mainly because Xiao Mo wasn't interested in such things.

But now, Xiao Mo feels that it might not be so bad to come here occasionally in his spare time.

Watching this lively young girl flit among the flowers, clutching her skirt as if dancing with fireflies, is especially delightful.

"Thank you for accompanying me during my bath, Your Majesty."

After playing in the firefly garden for a while, Qin Siyao ran up to Xiao Mo and bowed.

"Your Highness is too kind." Xiao Mo smiled slightly. "Seeing how happy Your Highness is makes me feel much better too."

"Was Your Majesty in a bad mood before?" Qin Siyao tilted her head and asked. She didn't know when, but calling him "Your Majesty" had become more and more natural for her.

"I suppose so," Xiao Mo said with a slight smile. "Everyone has their troubles, after all."

"Is Your Majesty's troubles because of Yan Shan'ao and Empress Dowager Yan?" Qin Siyao said softly, her beautiful eyes scanning her surroundings warily, as if afraid of being overheard.

"."

Hearing Qin Siyao's words, Xiao Mo did not answer, but just looked at her quietly.

"Your Majesty, there is no need to be so wary of Mu Jiu."

Qin Siyao stepped forward, looking at Xiao Mo with an innocent expression.

"The royal families of Qin and Zhou have long maintained diplomatic relations. Now that Your Majesty's brother is trapped by powerful ministers and the Empress Dowager, Qin should help him."

Mu Jiu knows that His Majesty doesn't trust her.

After all, Mu Jiu and His Majesty were only meeting for the first time.

However, her father always told Mu Jiu that if there was a chance, he would make sure Mu Jiu fulfilled the marriage agreement made by the ancestors of the two countries.

Moreover, my elder brother also felt great sympathy for His Majesty's brother's plight.

so."

Qin Siyao reached out and nervously but bravely gripped Xiao Mo's sleeve.

"If Your Majesty is willing to believe in Mu Jiu, Mu Jiu is willing to do anything to help Your Majesty."

(End of this chapter)