Therefore, it must be clarified.
[Do not worry, just go ahead, and if there’s a problem, I will let you know.]
State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao’s reply was very brief.
Before 15 p.m., Xu Jin had already arrived inside the Imperial Palace at the Waiting Hall.
Then, it was a matter of waiting.
15:15 passed, 15:30 passed, 15:45 passed, officials came to and fro within the Waiting Hall, but no summons for Xu Jin.
This made Xu Jin sarcastically complain to himself.
The appointment was for 15:15, but it was nearly 16:00 now, delayed by almost an hour.
If there were comments scrolling by, "Wasting time is akin to robbing and harming life," Xu Jin wanted to smear it on Emperor Qian’an Gao Ye’s face.
Xu Jin could only wait patiently until 16:45, almost two hours later, when the summons finally came.
Meditation Pavilion summoned Xu Jin.
The rituals, he had been previously trained.
Upon entering the Meditation Pavilion, Xu Jin first glanced at the man sitting high behind the desk, wearing mystic golden clothing with a composed air, with two young men on either side. Xu Jin didn’t recognize them.
The Dachen color of prestige was dark, covered in mystic hues. That person must be Emperor Qian’an Gao Ye.
Before Grand Steward Chu’s gaze, sharp as a blade, could strike him, Xu Jin stepped into the Meditation Building.
But the moment he stepped in, the Mingji Star Pattern of his Lower Star Palace and the Guicang Star Pattern of his Upper Star Palace both reacted.
The Guicang Star Pattern from the Upper Star Palace immediately started operating at its peak, concealing its aura to the utmost.
However, the Mingji Star Pattern of the Lower Star Palace flashed a warning brilliance at lightning speed.
The feedback was startling to Xu Jin.
The Grand Steward of the Inner Court was powerful; he had seen this last time.
But according to the feedback from the Mingji Star Pattern, Emperor Qian’an Gao Ye was also powerful, especially in his Divine Soul Cultivation, extremely potent, at least at the level of the Star Condensing Realm.
In Xu Jin’s perception, the Emperor’s Divine Soul Cultivation was even stronger than that of the State Preceptor.
However, his Cultivation Level was not very high, around the Fifth Tier.
At the same time, the Divine Soul Cultivation of those two young men was also strong, one at the Star Casting Fourth Layer and the other at the Third Layer, but their Star Power Cultivation was merely at the Star Condensing Realm.
This was very rare indeed.
In the National Daoist Institute, many disciples at the Star Condensing Realm had not even started Star Casting yet.
Not to mention reaching the Third or Fourth Layers.
While Xu Jin was surprised, he bowed deeply to pay respects to Emperor Qian’an, and under the direction of Grand Steward Chu from the Inner Court, he also greeted the two young men.
Prince Jing, the Third Prince, and Prince Xin, the Fourth Prince.
While Xu Jin was surprised, he also paid his respects one by one.
"Our top scorer of the National Daoist Institute’s autumn exam indeed has an impressive appearance and carries himself extraordinarily well!" Emperor Qian’an Gao Ye appraised Xu Jin up and down for several moments before opening his mouth to shower Xu Jin with praise.
Prince Jing and Prince Xin also showered Xu Jin with compliments.
Chief Chu followed suit, vigorously extolling Xu Jin.
Xu Jin, however, was very calm, quietly listening.
"Li’er, haven’t you apologized to Xu Jin yet?"
As soon as these words came out, Prince Xin, Gao Li, stepped forward to apologize to Xu Jin, saying that the previous incident was due to the instigation of evildoers, hoping Xu Jin would hold no grudge and that he had prepared a modest gift.
Xu Jin hesitated whether to accept it or not?
Apologizing in front of the Emperor, this Prince Xin was certainly not good news.
As Xu Jin hesitated, the voice of the State Preceptor rang in his head.
"Take it! This Prince Xin is getting more and more presumptuous."
Xu Jin did not decline and directly accepted the gift list, prompting Prince Xin’s complexion to change momentarily.
Even Emperor Qian’an, seated high, revealed a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Has Minister Xu been married off?" suddenly inquired Emperor Qian’an.
This question made Xu Jin’s heart tighten, could it be that he was being arranged to marry?
Does Dachen actually proceed this directly?
Although he had his thoughts, Xu Jin could only answer honestly, "Your servant is still young and not yet married."
"Eighteen years old is not really that young; many men in Dachen are fathers by eighteen," Prince Jing said with a laugh.
"Indeed." Prince Xin echoed.
Suddenly, Prince Jing added, "Father Emperor, my sixth sister is of similar age to Xu Jin, and Xu Jin is also the leader of the autumn exam, having recaptured the Second-tier Fire Radiant Star Domain for Dachen, contributing a Great Merit.
Previously, in the battle to select the most outstanding, he led his fellow disciples to victory over the Star Hall disciples, all returning to Dachen!
Such Great Merit, Father Emperor might well reward with a marriage to show gratitude, which would indeed be a wonderful tale."
Xu Jin was astonished.
Emperor Qian’an, however, stroked his beard with a smile and looked towards Xu Jin.