Chapter 279: Coincidence (Fifth Update)

That night, Chu Liuyue did not sleep peacefully.

In her hazy state, she seemed to be having a very long dream.

In the dream, many scenes continuously surfaced.

However, in the end, they were all set ablaze, annihilated within a single mass of flames.

When Rong Xiu arrived, he saw Chu Liuyue lying on the bed, her brows tightly furrowed, her body curled into a ball, and her mouth murmuring something in a low voice.

Moonlight spilled from the window, casting his tall silhouette into a long shadow.

Half of his face was in the light, and half was in the dark; his gaze was as deep as the ocean, yet within it, a cold flame seemed to be burning.

He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

Like a traveler in the desert who had finally found an oasis, Chu Liuyue instinctively leaned closer.

Rong Xiu bowed his head and pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

"Don't be afraid. I am here."

Chu Liuyue gripped the lapels of his clothes with both hands, her eyes tightly shut, though a single tear traced a path down from the corner of her eye.

Rong Xiu sucked away that tear.

His tongue tasted bitter.

He pulled back slightly, looking at the person in his arms, his voice low and drifting into the night wind, barely audible

"What is meant to come will always come."

The next morning, when Chu Liuyue woke up, she smelled a familiar, cold fragrance on her body.

She understood immediately—Rong Xiu had been here.

In truth, even without this scent, she could have guessed.

During the first half of the night, her mind had been restless and plagued by nightmares, but by the latter half, she had quietly regained her composure and felt at peace.

Only Rong Xiu could make it so.

Unknowingly, she had long since grown accustomed to Rong Xiu's presence, and a sense of dependence had gradually taken root.

A hint of sweetness overflowed from the depths of her heart.

Chu Liuyue took a deep breath, walked to the window, and looked toward Yifeng Courtyard.

Rong Xiu was not in the courtyard at the moment; she could only see the lush peach trees.

A gentle breeze blew, helping her clear her head.

Since things had already reached this stage, there was only one path forward: to keep going!

"Liuyue?!"

Someone was calling her name from downstairs.

Chu Liuyue tidied herself up briefly and went downstairs to open the door.

The visitor was actually Teacher Bai Chen.

"Teacher Bai Chen? What brings you here?"

Bai Chen's expression was complex, carrying both excitement and worry.

He handed her an invitation.

"This is the invitation for today's palace banquet. His Majesty wishes to hold a welcome feast for that individual. You took first place in the midterm assessment, and your performance at the Qingjiao Assembly was also outstanding, so—you have been invited as well."

This was originally an excellent thing; after all, not everyone was qualified to meet an envoy of the Tianling Empire.

But yesterday, that Vice General Mu seemed to have some issue with Chu Liuyue, and he didn't know if the Vice General would take her defiance to heart.

Chu Liuyue took the invitation

"Thank you, Teacher Bai Chen. I will be there on time tonight."

"Liuyue—"

Teacher Bai Chen spoke up hesitantly.

"You... when the time comes, follow Elder Sun and be careful in everything..."

"Are you worried that Vice General Mu will target me?"

Chu Liuyue guessed Bai Chen's concern instantly.

The corners of her mouth curled slightly.

"Don't worry. A person of his status wouldn't wait specifically for a palace banquet if he truly wanted to do something to me."

Bai Chen thought about it and realized she had a point.

"What you say isn't without reason. However, it is better to be cautious after all..."

Bai Chen gave a few more instructions before leaving.

After thanking him, Chu Liuyue looked down at the invitation in her hand.

She slowly curved her lips into a smile.

She had waited for this day for far too long.

At noon, half an hour before the banquet was officially set to begin, the Jiaowang Hall was already filled with people on both the left and right sides.

Only the seats at the head of the hall remained empty.

A sea of fine clothing and silhouettes, with wine cups clinking and toasts being made.

Everyone was chatting with one another, and the atmosphere appeared very harmonious.

But in reality, everyone's eyes were glancing toward the head seats from time to time.

Today, they had all come for that Vice General Mu of the Tianling Empire!

"Mother, you must help me this time!"

Rong Zhen huddled close to the Empress, pleading incessantly.

"That Vice General Mu is so powerful; he must be able to help me recover!"

She had seen it clearly in the plaza yesterday—that Vice General Mu's strength was greater than anyone she had ever seen before!

The Empress felt a flicker of hope in her heart as well. She patted her daughter's hand and comforted her in a low voice

"Rest assured, Mother will find an opportunity to plead for you. However, that Vice General Mu... he seems quite cold. I don't know if he will help."

"How could he not?! He definitely will!"

Rong Zhen's eyes brightened, her face filled with pure admiration.

"Mother, I actually feel that although he looks indifferent, he is—but..."

A blush crept onto her cheeks.

The Empress's heart skipped a beat.

Looking at Rong Zhen like this, she had clearly fallen for that Mu Qinghe!

She was truly mad!

"Zhenzhen, you... what kind of figure is he? He is not someone we can afford to provoke! You must put this thought out of your mind as soon as possible!"

The smile on Rong Zhen's face vanished instantly

"Mother, what do you mean by that? He—he is the most powerful person I have seen in all these years! Even Imperial Brother cannot compare! Why can't—"

The Empress hurriedly grabbed her arm and scanned the room quickly. Noticing that no one was paying attention to them, she felt slightly relieved.

"What else could it mean?! You know it in your own heart! Mother will only tell you one thing: this time, only ask for help with your recovery. For anything else, you are absolutely not allowed to let your mind wander!"

That Mu Qinghe was clearly a ruthless character. Forget about whether he looked down on Rong Zhen—even if he took an interest in her, he could easily toy with her in the palm of his hand!

Rong Zhen had grown up being extremely willful over the years; being near such a person, a single mistake could cost her her life!

"In short, do not mention it again! If this path doesn't work, then follow Chu Liuyue's method."

The Empress's expression turned stern.

Rong Zhen didn't dare to make a scene anymore and pouted.

"I know! But that Chu Liuyue is truly a vixen! Yesterday she actually dared to seduce—"

The Empress gave her a warning look.

Only then did Rong Zhen shut her mouth completely, but her hatred for Chu Liuyue deepened even further.

If she discovered today at the banquet that Chu Liuyue still dared to act like that, she would definitely not let Chu Liuyue off easy!

After arriving with Elder Sun and the others, Chu Liuyue sat in her seat and waited quietly.

She could feel many gazes falling upon her, but she did not care.

She slowly swirled the wine cup in her hand.

Until—

"Vice General Mu of the Tianling Empire has arrived!"

She turned her head to look.

Mu Qinghe was walking in from the entrance, with Emperor Jiawen following half a step behind, respectfully inviting him to the seat of honor.

For a moment, the hall was so silent that a needle could have been heard dropping.

A moment later, the crowd rose in unison to pay their respects.

Mu Qinghe's gaze swept over the crowd.

Almost uncontrollably, his eyes lingered on Chu Liuyue once more.

Emperor Jiawen thought he was still angry about yesterday's incident, so he said eagerly

"Vice General Mu, did you not come this time to find some outstanding geniuses? Chu Liuyue is precisely one of the best among them! You might also know that she is a rare triple-threat genius in Martial Arts, Mystic Arts, and Divine Medicine!"

Mu Qinghe's eyes flickered

"Oh? What a coincidence. I have an old acquaintance who is also a triple-threat."