Chapter 104: The Thousand Charms Empress (2)

Chapter 104: The Thousand Charms Empress (2)

“Actually, I haven’t formally become his disciple. The elder just agreed to help me with a favor, and he said you might be able to assist me,” Zhanyue explained truthfully.

“Not his disciple? That makes sense. He doesn’t take disciples lightly,” the Empress nodded, then asked, “What favor does he want?”

“Does Your Majesty know of the Bai family from Alchemy Capital?” Zhanyue inquired.

“As one of the four great pill-making families, of course I know of them. Get to the point,” the Empress said impatiently. She had been sleeping soundly before being suddenly summoned. If there wasn’t something interesting to discuss, it would be a waste.

“As you command.” Zhanyue recounted Baizhi’s situation honestly. The Empress and her maid listened with great interest to this gossip.

“Hmm, Baizhi fled an arranged marriage, met you on the way, and you spent a year together adventuring on Ghost Island. Your feelings must be deep? It’s just like those stories in novels. You’re not trying to deceive me, are you?” the Empress said languidly. These matters were trivial to her.

“I wouldn’t dare deceive Your Majesty. My strength is limited, and I’m no match for the Bai family. I can only seek outside help,” Zhanyue said sincerely.

“But why should I help you? We don’t know each other, and offending the Bai family, while not a big deal, is completely unnecessary,” the Empress asked. “That old fool thinks highly of himself, but his reputation means nothing to me. When I needed him, he was nowhere to be found. Hmph!” Due to her master’s situation, the Empress harbored resentment towards the Alchemy Daoist, who was her master’s junior.

“Uh...” Zhanyue was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected the Empress to dislike the Alchemy Daoist so much. The old Taoist had seemed so confident, but apparently he wasn’t as respected by others as he thought. However, Zhanyue overthought the situation. If the Thousand Charms Empress didn’t respect her master’s junior, why would she summon Zhanyue to her bedchamber in the middle of the night? The Empress’s words were more an expression of her dissatisfaction, standing up for her master.ViiSiit novelbi/n(.)c/(o)m for latest novels

“I’m willing to exchange an eighth-grade pill formula for Your Majesty’s assistance,” Zhanyue offered.

“An eighth-grade pill formula? Another one? While the Bai family values it highly, it doesn’t mean much to me. Fine, present it,” the Empress said after some thought. Though she spoke dismissively, she still had to give face to her master’s junior.

Soon after, the maid brought the imperial edict, brush, and ink to the Empress. After some thought, the Empress immediately wrote out an edict and then took out the imperial seal to stamp it. However, the moment the Empress took out the imperial seal, Zhanyue felt an inexplicable stirring in his heart, just like when he had seen the Goddess statue and the Earth Mother Golden Cauldron. He could sense that the special feeling came from the bed, from the imperial seal in the Empress’s hand!

“No... it can’t be. The imperial seal of the Thousand Charms Empire is my contract object?” Zhanyue’s mind was in turmoil, but he didn’t dare to ask or say anything. He couldn’t very well say, “Your Majesty, this imperial seal is my contract object. It should be returned to me.”

If he dared to ask the Thousand Charms Empress for the imperial seal, he’d likely become fertilizer for the flowers by tomorrow. This matter would require careful consideration.

Soon after, the maid brought the imperial edict to Zhanyue. After reading it, his breathing became rapid. He couldn’t believe the contents of the edict – it seemed too... too frivolous. The conditions given in the edict far exceeded Zhanyue’s expectations, making his efforts worthwhile.

“Well? Will this edict help you?” the Empress asked.

Zhanyue nodded rapidly like a pecking chicken. It would help, it would definitely help. He had secured an immense backer for Baizhi.

“Gong Xiaoyun, see the guest out. I’m feeling tired,” the Empress dismissed him.

After Zhanyue left, the Empress’s excitement hadn’t subsided. She instructed Gong Xiaoyun, “Later, go to Alchemy Capital. After he announces the edict, bring him and that girl called Baizhi back here.” The Empress feared that if Zhanyue suddenly produced the edict, the Bai family might not believe it. So she added an extra layer of insurance by sending her personal maid to support Zhanyue.

“Yes,” Gong Xiaoyun nodded, her beautiful eyes also filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Despite saying she needed rest, the Empress didn’t sleep. Instead, she vanished from her bed in a flash, reappearing in a forbidden area of the imperial palace.