Chapter 47 The Visitor is Not Friendly
Chi Li gradually got used to Tang Lu's daily routine of "going out to explore" and "returning home on time," and even began to find a unique kind of enjoyment in it.
She started guessing every day what strange and wonderful "treasure" the little one would bring back that day, or listening to her excitedly describe those things that seemed insignificant to Chi Li but were full of novelty to her.
On this day, Chi Li was listening to a report on the reconstruction of the border trade line in the council hall when a palace attendant hurried in and presented a visiting card with simple and elegant patterns that exuded a faint bamboo fragrance.
"Your Majesty, an envoy from the Qinglinze Wood Spirit Clan has arrived with a visiting card and requests an audience."
"Qing Linze?" Chi Li paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her crimson-gold eyes.
Qinglinze is located on the southeastern edge of the demon realm. It is a large settlement of the wood spirit demon clan. Most of its people are transformed from plant spirits. They are gentle in nature and have always lived in seclusion in a corner of the world, with little interaction with the royal capital.
Why would they suddenly send an envoy?
She accepted the visiting card and scanned it with her spiritual sense.
The letter was written in a respectful tone, stating that it had heard that there was a unique and extremely pure wood spirit by His Majesty the Demon King's side, and the Qinglinze clan longed to meet him, so they specially sent an envoy to pay their respects.
There was no other intention than to express affection and to present local specialties as a sign of respect.
The reasoning sounds reasonable, and the attitude is very humble.
But Chi Li frowned.
Tang Lu's existence, and her special healing abilities, are no secret among the high-ranking officials in the capital and some members of the demon race.
But the news spread so quickly that even Qinglinze, located in the far southeastern border region and historically isolated from information, knew about it and sent envoys so swiftly…
Is it really just about "expressing closeness"?
She recalled Tang Lu's pure, almost translucent, wood spirit essence, and her magical ability to soothe old wounds that even she found troublesome, and even purify lurking filth.
What does such an existence mean for the Qinglinze clan, who are also wood spirits and may be encountering bottlenecks or difficulties in their cultivation?
Temptation... a tremendous temptation.
Chi Li tapped her fingertips lightly on the visiting card, her eyes deepening in color.
She never hesitated to assume the worst about others, especially when it came to Tang Lu.
"Where is the messenger now?" Her voice was calm and even.
"Your Majesty, the envoys have been accommodated in the Welcome Garden and are awaiting Your Majesty's summons."
"Tell them that I am busy with state affairs recently, and will host a banquet for them in the Hundred Flowers Palace in three days."
Chi Li casually placed the visiting card aside and said indifferently, "Also, send a team of secret guards to keep a close eye on them. Every move they make must be reported."
"Yes!" The eunuch acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Chi Li dismissed the ministers who were giving their reports and sat alone in the empty council hall, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold lines on the armrest of the throne.
Qinglinze...the Wood Spirit Clan...
She is not afraid of any overt challenges; with her power, she could wipe out the entire Qinglinze in the blink of an eye.
What she was worried about was another possibility, a more covert approach and... seduction based on shared aura.
Tang Lu has a pure heart and a natural affinity for beings who are also wood spirits.
If Qinglinze's envoy harbors ill intentions and takes advantage of this shared origin...
A cold, fierce glint flashed in Chi Li's eyes.
She would never allow anyone, in any form, to take her little tree spirit away from her or to use her in the slightest.
Over the next two days, Chi Li appeared normal on the surface, but secretly intensified her monitoring of Tang Lu's activity area and even adjusted Tang Lu's "exploration" route to ensure that she stayed away from the direction of Yingbin Garden.
She was also observing Tang Lu's reaction discreetly, trying to determine whether she was aware of or looking forward to the upcoming arrival of her "kind."
Tang Lu was completely unaware of this and continued to go out happily every day, returning with sunshine and fresh, interesting stories.
During one of her "explorations," she even discovered a "bellflower" she had never seen before that made a pleasant bell-like sound. Excitedly, she dug it up and insisted on planting it under the windowsill of the Crimson Glass Palace, saying it was "to cheer up Lili."
Looking at her busy little face, covered in mud but with a bright smile, Chi Li felt the gloom that had risen in her heart because of the Qing Linze envoy dissipate a little.
She's here, no matter what.
Her happiness, her dependence, were so real.
Three days later, at the Palace of a Hundred Flowers.
The banquet was arranged with exquisite detail and a grand ceremony.
Chi Li sat regally in the main seat, dressed in a red and gold phoenix-patterned palace gown, exuding natural majesty.
She did not allow Tang Lu to attend, but only ordered her trusted female official to keep her company in the bedroom.
The three envoys from Qinglinze entered the hall, led by their attendants.
Leading the group was an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a blue-green robe, and a kind face. He held a gnarled wooden staff and exuded a gentle and mellow aura, which was the unique vitality of the Wood Spirit Clan.
Behind him were two relatively young clansmen, a man and a woman, both with delicate features and respectful manners.
"Qinglin Zemu Weng, along with his clansmen Qinglin and Qingye, pays respects to His Majesty the Demon King." The old man bowed respectfully, his voice aged yet full of vigor.
"Envoy Mu has come from afar, there's no need for such formalities." Chi Li nodded slightly, her gaze unchanged, but her divine sense had already thoroughly examined the three of them inside and out several times.
The one with the highest cultivation level is Namu Weng, who is roughly equivalent to the late Nascent Soul stage of the demon race. The other two young clansmen are around the Golden Core stage.
The aura is pure, indeed the orthodox path of wood spirit cultivation, and no malice or hidden aura has been detected so far.
The banquet proceeded in a seemingly harmonious atmosphere.
The old man spoke earnestly, expressing Qinglinze's respect for the Demon King. He presented several treasures unique to the swamp, containing pure wood spirit energy, and reiterated that he only admired the shared energy and had no intention of offending the Demon King.
Everything seemed impeccable.
However, just as the banquet was drawing to a close, and Chi Li was preparing to give them a perfunctory reward before sending them away, the young female envoy named Qing Ye suddenly raised her head, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping in a certain direction outside the hall, and she sighed softly:
"Your Majesty's palace is full of spiritual energy and vitality, especially the extremely pure wood spirit aura, which seems to nourish all things, making us, who live by the lake, feel refreshed and happy."
I wonder... I wonder if I will ever have the chance to perceive its source and witness its splendor?
Her voice was soft, carrying just the right amount of curiosity and admiration, as if it were just a casual remark.
The hall fell silent instantly.
Chi Li's fingers, holding the cup, tightened for a moment.
She looked up at the female envoy named Qingye, who was bowing her head and behaving respectfully, as if her words just now were truly unintentional.
But in Chi Li's heart, alarm bells were ringing loudly!
The target, as expected, was Tang Lu.
Moreover, it is in this seemingly harmless but actually precise way that the instincts of mutual perception between wood spirits are utilized!
Mu Weng promptly rebuked Qingye: "Qingye, how dare you be so rude! How can you be so disrespectful before His Majesty!"
Qingye immediately lowered her head in fear: "This servant misspoke, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Chi Li watched the scene unfold before her, a cold smile curving her lips.
She put down her wine glass, her voice calm yet carrying an air of authority:
"My palace is filled with many spiritual plants, and their auras are mixed. The messenger's perception is incorrect."
She paused, her crimson-gold eyes sweeping over the three people below before finally settling on Mu Weng.
"As for the audience, she is still young and does not like to meet strangers, so it will be cancelled."
"I have received the messenger's message."
If there's nothing else, we can return to Qinglinze in three days.
They directly asked them to leave.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Mu Weng's face, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty's will. We shall take our leave."
Watching Qing Linze's departing figure as he left the Hundred Flowers Palace, the chill in Chi Li's eyes lingered for a long time.
She was certain that Qing Linze was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.
Their target is Tanglu.
This seemingly peaceful visit is probably just the beginning.
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