98: Chapter 98 The Emperor's Banquet: A Show of Brilliance, A Hidden Intention!

Chu family main peak.

Imperial Daughter's bedchamber.

Chu Wanqing took a bath and changed into clean clothes.

She felt completely refreshed.

She sat before the bronze mirror and smiled at herself in the reflection.

"Hee hee."

She was truly happy today.

Her father had come personally to pick her up.

All the clan Disciples had paid their respects to her.

Even Ningshuang was being so kind to her.

She picked up a comb and hummed a little tune while combing her hair.

It was the same off-key melody she had hummed on the imperial carriage.

As she hummed, her hand suddenly stopped.

A face involuntarily appeared in her mind.

White clothes cleaner than snow, eyes sharp as lightning.

And that voice, filled with laughter, from when he had patted her head.

"I will come to see you in a few days."

Chu Wanqing buried her face in her sleeves and giggled quietly for a good while.

Her ears turned bright red.

"Brother Lin Yi..."

She whispered, her voice so sweet it seemed like it would drip honey.

Suddenly, rapid footsteps sounded outside the window.

A maid hurried in, looking somewhat nervous.

"Imperial Daughter, I just heard some news."

Chu Wanqing raised her head.

"What news?"

The maid hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice.

"Third Elder Chu Canglan said in the Elder council hall that while it is indeed a good thing that the Imperial Daughter obtained an imperial weapon this time..."

"However, an imperial weapon is a matter of great importance and should not be monopolized by one person; it should be kept by the clan to avoid bringing about disaster."

Chu Wanqing's smile froze on her face.

"What?"

"The Third Elder also said... that the Imperial Daughter has been getting too close to the Holy Son of Tianxuan, Lin Yi, during this trip to the Secret Realm."

"He fears it may damage our imperial clan's reputation and suggests that the Patriarch impose some restrictions."

Chu Wanqing's fingers gripped the comb tightly.

Her knuckles turned white.

She sat before the bronze mirror, the smile on her face fading bit by bit.

The joy of being supported by the whole clan and having everyone's hearts turned toward her vanished.

It instantly became somewhat awkward.

Extremely awkward!

She lowered her head, looking at the comb in her palm.

She remained silent for quite a while.

Outside the window, the night wind carried traces of imperial might from above the Chu family main peak.

It pressed down heavily, stifling enough to make one unable to breathe.

Chu Wanqing raised her head and looked at herself in the mirror.

The joy in the girl's eyes in the reflection had completely faded.

In its place was a hint of stubbornness.

And a trace of inexplicable unease.

She picked up the imperial zither and held it tightly in her arms.

"This was a gift from Brother Lin Yi."

"No one is allowed to take it away."

Her voice was not loud.

But she enunciated every word clearly.

The wind outside the window grew stronger.

It blew the candle flames in the bedchamber, making them flicker.

The Chu family main peak was brilliantly lit.

Sounds of laughter and joy were endless.

The victory banquet was currently being prepared.

The scale of it was outrageously large.

The main hall of the main peak had been temporarily converted into a banquet hall.

Thousands of glass lamps hung from the dome, with spiritual light flowing, illuminating the entire hall as bright as day.

The hall was filled with banquet tables.

A total of three hundred and eighty tables.

They were arranged from inside the hall all the way to the square outside.

Each table was covered with a golden silk tablecloth exclusively supplied to the imperial clan.

They were set with delicacies cooked from rare Spirit Beasts, as well as imperial wine brewed from ten-thousand-year spirit springs.

Even the wine cups were carved from top-grade spirit jade.

Selling just one cup would be enough for an ordinary Cultivator to live on for ten years.

When the banquet began, Chu Wanqing sat at the seat to the right of the head table.

Second only to the Patriarch, Chu Chengdao.

She had changed into a deep purple imperial ritual dress, with golden Imperial Phoenix patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs.

The entire outfit made her look bright and stunning.

The imperial zither was placed on the zither stand beside her, emitting faint fluctuations of the imperial Dao.

Every so often, an Elder would come over with a wine cup to toast her.

"The Imperial Daughter is a talent of heaven's choosing. Since you have brought glory to our clan this time, I shall toast you a cup!"

"The Imperial Daughter is heroic; in the future, you will surely become a pillar of our Chu family!"

"The Imperial Daughter's strength and vision truly command my admiration."

"That Saint Lin Yi is also a dragon among men; he and the Imperial Daughter are truly a perfect match!"

Chu Wanqing smiled and responded to them one by one, the smile on her face so radiant she could hardly stop.

The feeling of being praised was too good.

Especially that comment about them being a "perfect match".

She picked up her wine cup and took a small sip, using the rim of the cup to hide the corners of her mouth that were secretly curling upward.

A perfect match.

Hee hee.

Chu Chengdao sat in the main seat, looking at his daughter being surrounded like the stars around the moon, and revealed a rare smile of a loving father.

He raised his wine cup and said in a clear, resonant voice.

"Everyone!"

The hall fell silent instantly.

Thousands of eyes looked toward the Patriarch.

Chu Chengdao stood up, his voice thick and powerful.

"In this trip to the Imperial Fall Valley Secret Realm, my daughter Wanqing performed excellently."

"Not only did she achieve a Breakthrough to the Venerable Realm, but she also obtained the imperial weapon with which the Ancient Desolate Emperor attained his Dao — the world-suppressing imperial zither!"

"This is the most worthy event of celebration for our Chu family in ten thousand years!"

He scanned the entire hall, his gaze majestic.

"Starting from today, Wanqing's resource allocation within the clan will be tripled."

"She may enter and exit the six main peak cultivation Holy Lands at will."

"At the same time, I have decided that at next month's Imperial Daughter ceremony, I will officially grant the core Legacy of the imperial clan to Wanqing."

As soon as these words were spoken.

A low commotion arose in the hall.

Core Legacy.

That was something only the most core heirs throughout the history of the Chu family had been qualified to access.

The Patriarch was making his stance clear.

Chu Wanqing was the future heir of the Chu family.

Chu Wanqing herself was stunned for a moment.

She looked at her father, her eyes slightly warm.

"Dad..."

Chu Chengdao nodded slightly at her, his gaze gentle.

The meaning was clear — you deserve it!

Chu Wanqing pursed her lips and nodded forcefully.

Applause and congratulations echoed through the hall.

The scene was one of harmony and joy.

Chu Ningshuang sat at a side table, smiling, elegantly raising her glass, and clapping along with the crowd.

Her movements were standard, her expression appropriate.

Not a single flaw could be found.

But her left hand, placed under the table, had already dug her fingernails into the flesh of her palm.

Core Legacy.

She had been operating in the Chu family for so many years and hadn't even touched the edge of the core Legacy.

Chu Wanqing went out for a trip and came back to get it directly.

Why?

Just because she has a good father?

Just because she latched onto Lin Yi's thigh?

Chu Ningshuang raised her wine cup and downed the imperial wine in one gulp.

The wine was spicy.

It burned her throat.

But her face still wore that gentle and appropriate smile.

After three rounds of drinks.

The atmosphere in the hall became more and more lively.

The young Disciples of the Chu family began to go on stage to perform.

Some performed sword dances, some demonstrated techniques; for a time, it was bustling with excitement.

Chu Wanqing was also infected by the atmosphere, drank several cups of wine, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her laughter crisp.

Just at this moment.

A somewhat slurred voice came from the side.

"Niece Wanqing!"

Third Elder Chu Canglan walked over from a side table, swaying while holding a wine cup.

His face was flushed red, his steps were unsteady, appearing as if he had drunk too much.

Chu Wanqing raised her head and smiled politely.

"Third Elder."

Chu Canglan chuckled and stood still in front of her.

"Good things, good things indeed! The imperial weapon has returned home, a grand, wonderful thing!"

He swayed as he raised his cup.

"I shall toast the Imperial Daughter a cup!"

Chu Wanqing smiled and raised her cup, clinking it with his.

Chu Canglan looked up and downed a large gulp of wine, then wiped his mouth.

"However..."

He suddenly leaned in closer, his voice neither loud nor soft, just right for people at the surrounding tables to hear.

"I have something to say, I just don't know if I should say it."

Chu Wanqing's smile stiffened slightly.

"Please speak, Third Elder."

Chu Canglan hiccuped, tilted his head, and stared at her.

"Niece Wanqing has indeed brought great glory to our family this time, that goes without saying."

"But why do I feel..."

He frowned, putting on a puzzled look.

"The aura of your Imperial Phoenix Bloodline seems... a bit impure?"