558: Chapter 558 Xuan Qingzi Goes to Tianlong

Li Xuan stood on the watchtower, watching that white figure vanish into the horizon, a sinister smile slowly curling at the corners of his mouth.

"The State Preceptor has left,"

He whispered to himself, his voice filled with irrepressible excitement:

"In this Royal Capital, finally, no one can suppress me!"

He turned and strode down the watchtower, his footsteps incredibly light, as if he had laid down a heavy burden, his entire being exuding a sense of relief.

Returning to the Imperial Study, Li Xuan immediately summoned his personal eunuch, Li Fu, dismissed the attendants, leaned into his ear, and whispered detailed instructions, his eyes sinister and his tone icy.

Li Fu's expression was grave; he nodded repeatedly, and after receiving the order, he quietly withdrew.

Li Xuan sat alone on the Dragon Throne, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest, emitting a steady, light sound, his eyes flickering with greed and resentment.

"State Preceptor, you told me to prioritize state affairs and not to cause unnecessary complications."

"But have you ever considered that as the Emperor of a nation, if I do not personally exact revenge for these great humiliations, I will never be able to sleep or eat in peace for the rest of my life, and I would be unworthy of being an Emperor!"

"Situ Jun, you just wait."

"I will make you fully understand that the Tianqi imperial domain is, in the end, the Li family's world, not something a City Lord with an outside surname can act recklessly in!"

… Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in the Northern Frontier City, inside the study of the City Lord's mansion.

Situ Jun stood before the wall hung with a map, his fingertip gently touching the location of the Heavenly Dragon Dynasty's Imperial Capital. His gaze was cold as frost, and his entire being exuded a composed aura.

The Heavenly Dragon Dynasty's Qintian Division, which managed the observation and control of Cultivators throughout the Imperial Dynasty's territory, was also the core institution guarding the channel to the Ascension Realm and presiding over affairs related to the Ascension Realm; its authority was immense.

His personal journey to the Imperial Capital this time was not only to resolve the crisis of accountability after his Cultivation was exposed, but also to pave a safe and secure path for the Northern Frontier, for Tianqi, and for everyone he deeply loved in his heart.

Widow Ya, Luo Yu, Mo Chenggui, Withered Bone Ascetic, Bai Qingtian, Li Zhong... he had to make proper arrangements for every one of the Nascent Soul Cultivators under his command.

He needed to ensure that after he left, the Northern Frontier would not fall into chaos, Tianqi would remain peaceful, and his wife and children at home would not suffer the slightest harm.

This was his inescapable responsibility as a husband, a father, and the City Lord of the Northern Frontier.

Situ Jun withdrew his gaze. In his palm appeared a bead, entirely translucent white with a warm, flowing luster; it was the spatial spirit pearl.

After refining, the repair of the spirit pearl was complete. Although it could no longer contain living things, a thousand years later, if Su Yunniang and the others had not yet reached the Mid-stage Soul Transformation, they could use this spirit pearl to enter the Otherworld and reunite with him sooner.

After pondering for a moment, he put away the spatial spirit pearl and pushed open the door to walk out of the study.

In the courtyard, the warm sun poured down, and time felt still and peaceful.

Su Yunniang was holding their young son, Situ Fengyan, basking in the sun in the courtyard, gently teasing the child. The warm light fell upon the mother and son, making the scene extremely heartwarming.

Jiang Yan and Xia Wei were gathered nearby, softly teasing Situ Qingyin and Situ Xingyu. The two little girls were smiling with their eyes curved like crescents, and little Xingyu, still in swaddling clothes, was also babbling, making crisp, childish sounds.

Ye Nianrui walked over carrying a plate of freshly washed Spiritual Fruit, the clear, sweet fragrance of the fruit instantly filling the entire small courtyard.

Embroiderer was holding her young son, Situ Ping'an, sitting side by side with Li Danying and Shen Xingwan under the veranda, chatting and laughing softly. Their eyes were filled with gentle smiles, and the years were peaceful.

Situ Jun stood at the doorway, watching this warm and harmonious scene before him. A hot, warm current instantly surged in his heart; all the political scheming and worries about parting were temporarily set aside at this moment.

He strode forward, took his eldest son, Situ Fengyan, from Su Yunniang's arms, and lifted him high. The child immediately let out a crisp "giggle" of laughter, his little hands waving happily, his round, big eyes curving into adorable crescents.

The women gathered around one after another, their laughter and joy filling the entire courtyard, warm and beautiful.

… On the other side, the Tianqi Royal Capital.

Zhou Mei sat alone in the pavilion in the middle of the lake, her fingertips gently caressing the slightly cool celadon teacup. A faint trace of sorrow gathered between her originally gentle and soft brows.

She raised her hand to gently smooth the stray hair scattered by her temples, her fingertips brushing across her translucent, delicate cheek, as if brushing over flower petals.

In the pavilion, there were only two maids serving her, so she no longer maintained the dignity of the Empress Dowager. She slowly leaned back against the bluestone stool, her waist slightly turned, and her light purple cloud-patterned silk dress draped along her graceful figure, outlining smooth and voluptuous curves.

The orchid embroidery on the hem of her skirt swayed gently with the wind, making her appear even more gentle and delicate.

"The tea has gone cold; bring a new pot of pre-rain Spiritual Tea."

Zhou Mei spoke, her voice still lazy and melodious, the tail of her words rising slightly, carrying a hint of alluring softness.

The maid quickly responded, carefully removing the cold tea from the table, and turned to go to the back kitchen to brew new tea.

In just a moment, the steaming Spiritual Tea was brought up. Boiling water was poured into the celadon teacup, and the clear, faint fragrance of the tea instantly permeated, lingering around Zhou Mei.

She did not pick up the tea immediately but narrowed her eyes slightly, raising her head to face the warm spring sun.

Sunlight spilled onto her face, her delicate skin glowing with a warm, moist luster, without a single blemish. Her long, dense eyelashes cast shallow, fan-shaped shadows under her eyelids, fluttering gently with each blink, like butterflies flapping their wings.

Her brows smoothed out slightly, and the trace of worry she had originally carried was crushed by this warm light, leaving only a natural, innate charm.

She raised her hand slightly, her fair fingers gently picking up a willow bud that had fallen onto the stone table.

The bud was tender and dripping with green. She placed it to the tip of her nose and sniffed lightly, her cherry lips pouting slightly, her breathing shallow. Her eyes curved into crescents, carrying a bit of a young girl's naive charm, yet because of her mature face and figure, it gave rise to a unique allure that made the attending maids unable to help but look away, their heartbeats inexplicably quickening.

The Empress Dowager was truly too beautiful; such inadvertent little actions were enough to make people lose their composure.

After admiring the willow bud, Zhou Mei slowly picked up the teacup, her fingertips gently pinching the edge of the cup, her posture elegant.

She took small sips of the warm Spiritual Tea. As the tea liquid moistened her throat, the Spiritual power in her body slowly circulated, her Mid Golden Core Stage Cultivation quietly nourishing her body, allowing her to always maintain the appearance and skin of her prime.

With every swallow, her neck formed a soft, beautiful arc, her skin translucent and moist, her throat moving slightly, fully displaying the charming posture of a woman.

After drinking half a cup of tea, she stood up and walked slowly down from the lake pavilion, stepping in soft brocade shoes as she strolled along the path by the lake.

The maid quickly followed, holding up her floor-length skirt hem for her. The light purple hem swept across the grass on the ground, leaving faint traces.

She gazed at the ripples spreading across the lake with the wind. After a long time, she slowly stood up, her figure graceful. Every step she took was lazy and beautiful, her light purple cloud-patterned silk dress brushing against the bluestone by the pavilion, leaving behind a faint scent of orchids.

The weeping willows on the shore brushed against her shoulders, and her hair became entangled with the willow branches. She stopped, tilted her head slightly, and raised her hand to gently untangle her hair from the willow branches.

Her movements were slow and gentle. The profile of her face was exquisitely beautiful, her jawline rounded and soft, her red lips vibrant. Between her brows was a hint of lazy weariness. It was clearly a very simple action, yet it was as beautiful as a carefully drawn painting of a lady, full of charm and captivating to the soul.