Ao Yin’er returned to her seat, excitedly shaking Xu Ming’s arm.
“Xu Ming, Xu Ming! Her Majesty is so stunning! And standing next to her, I felt this overwhelming sense of authority—I could barely speak!”
Having seen the Dragon Empress up close, Ao Yin’er was eager to share her feelings with Xu Ming, much like a child who had witnessed something truly remarkable and couldn’t wait to tell their best friend.
Xu Ming could understand her excitement.
The first time he laid eyes on the Dragon Empress, he too had been utterly captivated, unable to look away for a long time.
Setting aside her beauty, just her presence alone was unmatched by anyone.
Especially her deep, enigmatic eyes—eyes that made one wonder just how much she had been through, how many times she had experienced both hope and despair, to develop such a gaze.
In those eyes, you could see more than just power and majesty. There was also a profound loneliness, the kind that evoked an involuntary sense of sympathy.
And that sympathy could easily turn into something else—an overwhelming impulse, a willingness to give up everything just to erase even a fraction of that solitude in her gaze.
For a moment, Xu Ming was at a complete loss for words.
What on earth was this girl saying?
You? Become someone like the Dragon Empress? You actually asked that out loud?
Putting aside looks and figure for a moment, if you want to be on the same level as the Empress of the Northern Sea, you’d at least have to become the Empress of the Eastern Sea first.
The problem is—do you really think your brothers would let you take the throne?
Because you’re a girl, they don’t see you as a threat. But if you ever became a serious contender for the throne, they might not treat you as kindly as they do now.
And even if, by some miracle, you did become Empress—given your personality—you’d probably get played without even realizing it. No, scratch that—you’d get sold off and still help count the money.
You just don’t have what it takes, okay?
And let’s not even get started on the Dragon Empress’s tragic yet formidable aura. You’d need to fall deeply, desperately in love with someone, then be unable to let go for ten thousand years, endlessly searching for them without success.
Forget it, the more I think about it, the more tragic the Dragon Empress seems.
“Xu Ming, say something! Why aren’t you answering? Do you think I can become like the Dragon Empress?”
Seeing Xu Ming remain silent, Ao Yin’er kept shaking his arm.
For some reason, she had a feeling he was thinking something terribly impolite, as if he had no faith in her at all.
“I think… you don’t need to become like the Dragon Empress.” Xu Ming began skillfully dodging the question, trying to steer this innocent girl away from such thoughts. “You are you—not anyone else. You don’t need to be anyone else. Just being yourself is already the best version of you.”
“Huh?” Ao Yin’er blinked in surprise at his words. Her big, round eyes widened as she stared at him. Then, as if realizing something, she lightly punched Xu Ming, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
“W-what are you even saying? Don’t talk nonsense!” she mumbled, lowering her head while rubbing her hands over her thighs nervously.
Watching his little sister act shy in front of this pig-headed fool, Ao Jin downed two cups of wine in frustration!
Xu Ming suddenly felt a gaze locked onto him from his right. When he turned his head, the first thing he saw was Zhu Cici’s sorrowful, almost resentful eyes.
Xu Ming: “Miss Zhu? What’s wrong? Is there something you need?”
“Nothing!” Zhu Cici huffed, turning her head away before taking a sip of her drink—only to accidentally choke on it, coughing violently.
Watching these young ones interact, Lu Xiaoliu chuckled to himself, unable to stop a wave of nostalgia from washing over him.
The future belongs to them.
But as they grow older, will these young people who sit together so casually today still stand side by side in the future?
Or will they find themselves on opposing sides?
And if they do, what will they feel when that day comes?
“What’s this, Junior Brother Lu? Feeling nostalgic about youth?” Mister Liu glanced at Lu Xiaoliu, raising his cup as if he had already seen through his thoughts.
“Of course. What’s not to like about being young?” Lu Xiaoliu lifted his own cup and clinked it against Mister Liu’s.
Mister Liu set down his teacup and downed his drink in one go. “Back then, when you, Mo Chi, and Wen Mo were always together, I had the same feeling. I thought the world belonged to you three—that you would undoubtedly become the ones shaping its course.
And yet, look at you now.
One of you, reckless and naive, insisted on chasing after that mortal dynasty.
One of you, trapped by love, unable to let go no matter what.
And one of you, wasting away in White Deer Academy, idling your days away.”
“My apologies, my apologies. I must have truly disappointed you, Mister Liu.” Lu Xiaoliu chuckled as he poured another drink for the old man. “But you’re not entirely right—between the three of us, I’m the only one who’s completely given up.”
“You three…” Mister Liu sighed, taking another sip of his drink. “When will you finally wake up?”
“I’m awake, I’m awake.” Lu Xiaoliu answered lazily, brushing the comment aside. Then, from within his sleeve, he pulled out a long, slender box.
“Ci Ci, get ready. It’s your turn to go up,” he called out to Zhu Cici.
Zhu Cici snapped out of her thoughts, realizing that the envoy from the Yin-Yang Sect of the Western Regions had just finished presenting their tribute. Now, it was White Deer Academy’s turn.
She rose to her feet, cradling the long box in her arms, and walked up the steps.
“Zhu Cici of White Deer Academy presents a tribute on behalf of the Academy, wishing prosperity and peace across the four seas.”
Standing before the Dragon Empress, Zhu Cici held the box as if it were a pipa, bowing gracefully.
The Dragon Empress gazed at her and spoke slowly:
“White Deer Academy has always prepared the most unique and thoughtful gifts. I look forward to them every time.
But this time, what I anticipate the most is not the tribute itself.”
Zhu Cici was slightly taken aback. She hadn’t expected the Dragon Empress to say something like that.
Lowering her gaze, she bowed again. “I do not know, Your Majesty. I would be honored if you could enlighten me.”
The Dragon Empress looked straight into the young girl’s eyes.
“What I look forward to the most—”