Xunxue led Lu Qiancha into the side hall of the Imperial Palace — Yangxin Hall.
Inside the hall, warmth filled the air, completely shutting out the harsh cold outside.
Memorials.
A middle-aged man, clad in a deep blue Wolf Patterned Imperial Robe with a dignified and profound aura, sat upright behind a broad writing desk, meticulously reviewing the mountain of documents piled before him.
Several palace maids in ornate attire moved carefully about, adding incense, grinding ink, and serving gentle, fragrant tea for the Emperor.
“Xunxue.”
The man didn’t lift his head, his writing paused only for a fleeting instant, and his calm, steady voice echoed through the grand hall: “You’re here.”
He set down the Scarlet Brush, his gaze first sweeping precisely past the “youth” beside Xunxue.
His eyes lingered, utterly devoid of emotion, pausing for half a breath before returning squarely to Xunxue.
“Ling Ze, the thing I asked for?”
Xunxue spoke directly.
“The Back Mountain Secret Realm. The Earthcore Frost Vein has shown new disturbances; the Morphing Stone you want should condense and mature within half a month.”
Ling Ze paused, his voice imbued with iron-clad authority: “You know the rules. You’ll have to retrieve it yourself. I’ll dispatch an elite squad from the Wuwei Battalion to accompany you into the Secret Realm.”
Xunxue’s expression remained calm, nodding slightly. No need for extra words.
Only then did Ling Ze truly shift his gaze to Lu Qiancha, an assessing look in his eyes: “So this young friend…is?”
“My child, Lu Qiancha.”
Xunxue answered crisply. As if offhand, she added with a hint of languid nonchalance, “Her cultivation is about the same as yours.”
For a brief instant, the entire Yangxin Hall seemed to freeze.
Ling Ze’s knuckles tightened noiselessly on the armrest of his chair.
That deep imperial bearing suddenly caught in his throat.
He inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling visibly.
Several breaths later, the calmness finally returned to his face.
Yet in his voice there was a trace of helplessness: “That last sentence…really didn’t need to be added.”
He brushed aside the topic that left him stifled, his tone returning to its steady depth: “I’ve arranged accommodations for you both. If you require anything, instruct the servants—they’ll see to your needs.”
Having finished, he waved his hand as if to dispel some invisible awkwardness.
The two maids standing nearby immediately understood, stepping forward swiftly and with utmost respect.
“Honored guests, please follow us…” Their voices were soft, yet clear enough for Lu Qiancha and her mother to hear.
They passed through lavishly cold, gorgeously carved palace corridors.
The maids guided the two to the Eastern Palace Region, stopping respectfully before a grand, elegant hall.
On the plaque above, the three words Shui Xian Palace were clearly written.
“By His Majesty’s order, this hall is peaceful and secluded; honored guests may choose any room to reside in.” The maid bowed deeply, her manner humble to the extreme.
Xunxue nodded and led Lu Qiancha to push open the heavy palace doors.
Inside, the space opened up grandly.
Intricate balustrades, jade inlays, and a warm brazier sending up thin curls of smoke. Several massive glass windows admitted the vast snowy scene outside, making the hall seem even more spacious.
Lu Qiancha looked around curiously, her small ears twitching ever so slightly with her gaze. It was her first time living in such a grand place; even her breathing was tinged with wonder.
They rested a bit and set down their simple belongings.
Xunxue smiled gently, taking her daughter’s small paw, her eyes glimmering with a pampering light: “Little Qiancha, this is a rare chance. How about Mama takes you out for a stroll?”
“Mm.”
Lu Qiancha nodded. She just so happened to want to buy some spiritual herbs in the city.
Xunxue, in high spirits, stepped lightly out of the palace, leading the way.
Once again, the two set foot on the main street of the royal city. Fine snow drifted down silently, laying a sheer, gauzy white blanket over the flagstones.
Both sides of the street bustled and clamored, hawkers shouting one after another:
“Freshly steamed meat buns—!”
“Top-quality Nine-Times Frosted Snow Ginseng—revitalize and beautify—!”
Wolf-shaped Attendants, of all shapes and sizes—some human, some beastly—rubbed shoulders with the crowd, making the lively scene hardly different from a human city market.
At that moment, Lu Qiancha spotted a figure she vaguely recognized—a head of short grey-blue hair wrapped in a thick snow-white cloak—Grand Princess, Ling Muxue.
Lu Qiancha couldn’t even be bothered to lift her eyelids, keeping her gaze forward as she prepared to walk around her.
Unexpectedly—
Ling Muxue suddenly strode forward.
“Whoosh!” With a swift movement.
She blocked Lu Qiancha’s path with precision.
“Are you looking for trouble again?”
Lu Qiancha’s brows knitted, her voice turning cold. Beside her, Xunxue’s once-smiling face instantly froze, her eyes icy.
“No, no…”
Ling Muxue frantically waved her hands, her face a blend of panic and forced friendliness.
She spoke quickly, voice low: “I-I just wanted to ask…that medicine of yours…is there an antidote? I…I’ll pay a high price in spirit stones!”
“No.”
Lu Qiancha replied with cutting certainty, rolling her eyes at her. It was just a mild sedative, not even a real poison—after sleeping for two days, it would be out of the system. What antidote was needed?
So dramatic.
A flush of angry humiliation instantly lit up Ling Muxue’s face, her fists clenching tight.
But in the next moment, as her peripheral vision caught sight of Xunxue’s arms crossed, those eyes as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice—
That faint spark of anger was instantly doused, “pfft,” gone without a trace.
Ling Muxue could only bow her head in defeat, dragging her leaden feet, step by step, toward the nearby clinic, every movement spelling utter grievance and frustration.
She left behind a back full of suppressed resentment.
With that unimportant interruption behind them—
Lu Qiancha, following directions from a street vendor, bought a good assortment of fine spiritual herbs at the city’s largest shop.
Afterward, Xunxue linked arms with Lu Qiancha, happily weaving between the various food and snack stalls.
Sizzling skewered meats, crispy-on-the-outside, glutinous-on-the-inside frosted rice balls, warm sweet wine emitting tendrils of fragrant steam…though Lu Qiancha skipped the last one—after New Year’s Eve, she had finally realized just how poor her alcohol tolerance was.
Their hands soon filled with all kinds of Paper Wrapped Snacks.
Satisfied, they headed home.
Back in the warm, quiet bedchamber of Shui Xian Palace—
With no outsiders present, Lu Qiancha finally dropped her tense disguise.
With a flicker of the Mirage Arts, there was suddenly a small wolf cub sitting atop a wooden chair, clutching in its arms a half-arm-tall candy sculpture.
Midway through.
The little one stuck out her pink tongue, the tip barely peeking out as she licked the candy sculpture over and over, savoring it gently.
The syrup melted in her mouth, a sweet flavor spreading throughout her mouth.
“Mmm…so good…”
She mumbled indistinctly, eyes narrowing in contentment.
Yet, since she was holding the candy sculpture to her chest with both paws, she had to tilt her head to the side in order to lick the candy with some effort—
So sweet. She liked it very much.
Lu Qiancha licked it a couple more times.
“Crack!” With an almost imperceptibly light sound—
The candy sculpture broke, the upper half landing perfectly on the hem of Lu Qiancha’s Qing Dynasty Gown.
Just as Lu Qiancha reached out her paw to pick it up—
“Don’t!” Faster than thought, Xunxue’s hand flashed out, grabbing Lu Qiancha’s outstretched paw and pulling her back.
There was a trace of helplessness in her voice: “You can’t eat what falls on the ground! It’s dirty.”
“It didn’t fall on the ground.”
Lu Qiancha pointed at the half of the candy sculpture lying on her skirt.
“Still not allowed.”
Xunxue took out a soft white silk handkerchief, nimbly picking up the candy.
“Whoosh!” With perfect aim, she tossed it into the corner’s Bronze Slag Bowl carved with a delicate wolf’s head.
Lu Qiancha wilted, her little ears drooping.
Paid three copper coins and only got to eat half. Such a loss.
Not happy.