Princess Changping

Princess Changping . . .

Within the sprawling expanse of the Evergreen Immortal Empire's royal palace, a magnificent array of immortal estates sprawled like a thriving city unto itself.

This palace served as the abode of the empire's dukes, marquises, and kings—an epicenter of the nation where the most formidable immortal kings and emperors resided.

Each edifice within was the sanctuary of important figures, with elite sentinels stationed and a predominant majority of residents boasting immortal king statuses.

Kings, dukes, and marquises were even granted their own legions. Their imperial residences sprawled across vast expanses, akin to small cities, spanning hundreds or even thousands of miles. It was only in the presence of the grandeur of the Evergreen Immortal Empire's royal palace that one grasped the sheer magnitude of the empire's expert populace.

It could be said that the elite of the empire congregated here.

However, the most splendid and highly regulated sector within the royal palace was none other than the Emperor's Palace—an edifice ensconced at the heart of all. It housed the Evergreen Immortal Emperor, his progeny, kin, and dedicated troops. Even an immortal king required rigorous vetting for access.

In the space where the spatial transference array was positioned, a brilliant flare heralded the arrival of two figures. Guards in the vicinity swiftly knelt, voices resounding, "Princess Qing'er, welcome back."

"Princess Qing'er's return to the royal palace is a celebrated occasion!" echoed the troops. Qing'er nodded in acknowledgment, summoning her spatial leaf boat with a graceful sweep of her hand. She and Qin Wentian embarked upon it, charting a course through the palace. Although they had reached the royal palace, considerable distance still separated this region from her abode in the Emperor's Palace.

"Princess Qing'er's return is most welcome!" The jubilant voices reverberated even as Qing'er and Qin Wentian traversed the spatial expanse. Qin Wentian marveled at the empire's royal palace, the grandeur of its estates, and the formidable troops guarding them—all in reverence of the empire's most influential figures.

For those like the Everpeace Marquis, though they held grand official titles, they lacked the prestige to reside within this exalted realm. Instead, they were assigned to govern regions of the empire.

Word of Princess Qing'er's return quickly coursed through the palace. While she and Qin Wentian continued their journey via the spatial leaf boat, many were already aware of her arrival.

"Princess Qing'er has returned, standing on the precipice of the ninth level of Celestial Phenomenon. Immortal foundation is within her grasp."

"Ye'er, the Princess has returned. You should make more frequent visits to the Emperor's Palace in the future."

"Son, Princess Qing'er has returned, and she's brought a young man with her, roughly your age. This is a golden opportunity, so you better seize it."

"Grandson, the Princess has never shown any interest in a man before. If you can win her favor, it would greatly benefit our clan."

In the midst of the grand estates, a chorus of voices filled the air. Many were urging the young men to pursue Qing'er and speculating about Qin Wentian.

Princess Qing'er was the Evergreen Immortal Emperor's beloved youngest daughter. While the Emperor would undoubtedly choose an exceptional genius as her future spouse, the final decision rested largely with Princess Qing'er. Until her father officially selected a son-in-law, everyone had a chance. Those who didn't make an effort wouldn't stand a chance at all, so everyone was determined to try.

The Evergreen Immortal Emperor was aware of this but couldn't be bothered with such matters. No one had ever captured his daughter's heart before, not a single one.

The spatial leaf boat eventually slowed its pace after covering a significant distance, coming to a stop in front of a majestic residence. Guards approached the boat, and upon seeing its occupants, they knelt mid-air, showing their respect. "We pay our respects to Princess Qing'er."

"Is my aunt in the palace?" Qing'er inquired.

"Princess, Princess Changping is in the palace," the leader of the guards replied respectfully.

"Very well," Qing'er responded, dismissing them. The occupant of this residence was Qing'er's aunt, her father's younger sister, Princess Changping.

Qin Wentian didn't say a word or ask questions. He simply followed Qing'er as she led the way, moving deeper into the heart of the royal palace. Many experts they encountered bowed in reverence to Qing'er, knowing she had very few close associates. Princess Changping was one of the rare few with whom Qing'er had a strong bond, and she often visited her.

Approaching from a distance, a group of figures came into view, led by an elegant woman in white robes. She appeared to be in her early thirties, radiating not only beauty but also a transcendental aura. Her fair, flawless skin and slender figure left a profound impression. Qin Wentian couldn't help but silently admire, "It seems that all the women in Qing'er's family are extraordinary beauties."

"Young Qing'er, you've finally returned," the white-robed beauty greeted Qing'er with a warm smile. Despite her youthful appearance, there was a fondness in her eyes, much like an elder looking at her junior. In reality, she was likely many times older than Qing'er.

"We pay our respects to Princess Qing'er," the guards behind Princess Changping respectfully greeted.

"Aunt!" Qing'er's melodious voice rang out as Princess Changping reached her. She smiled and then glanced at Qin Wentian. "What's this? Have you brought back a prospective son-in-law for your father?"

Princess Changping possessed wisdom and foresight. She could deduce a lot from the fact that Qing'er had brought this young man with her, walking so closely that there was barely a step between them. She knew her niece inside out, and ordinary men wouldn't stand a chance, let alone be permitted to get this close. With Qing'er's actions, the unspoken message was crystal clear.

Her gaze locked onto Qin Wentian, as if she could peer into his very soul. She was genuinely curious about the man who had earned the admiration and love of her beloved niece, Qing'er.

What truly surprised Princess Changping was that, after her playful teasing, Qing'er didn't refute her words. Her silence spoke volumes, signifying a level of closeness between her and Qin Wentian that Princess Changping hadn't initially imagined.

"Young Qin Wentian pays his respects to Senior," Qin Wentian said, attempting to maintain his composure under the scrutiny. He offered a bow that balanced respect with self-assuredness. Qing'er had chosen to introduce him to her aunt first, which clearly indicated the importance of this meeting.

"Junior, to win the heart of my dear niece, Qing'er? Impressive! How did you manage that?" Princess Changping smiled as she continued her inquisitive examination. She was genuinely curious about how this young man had managed to win over her niece, who was known for her icy demeanor.

"Senior, please stop teasing me. I've known Qing'er for a very long time," Qin Wentian replied with a hint of warmth in his eyes.

Princess Changping's interest was piqued by his response. "In the particle world?"

"Yes," Qin Wentian affirmed.

"Following her from a particle world to our Evergreen Immortal Empire in the immortal realms?" Princess Changping's eyes sparkled with approval. Such unwavering determination could only stem from deep-seated enmity or genuine love.

"I first met Qing'er when I was 16," Qin Wentian began, recounting his story. "After Qing'er was escorted back to the Evergreen Immortal Empire, I had a stroke of luck. An immortal-foundation senior opened a spatial tunnel for me, which brought me to the immortal realms. Later, I attended the once-per-hundred-year immortal banquet of the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect and met Princess Glaze, who informed me that Qing'er was in the City of Ancient Emperors. With the help of another senior, I made my way there to search for her."

Qin Wentian had a clear motive for sharing his story. He understood the importance of having allies in the royal palace and hoped to gain Princess Changping's support for any future challenges.

Princess Changping chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Childhood sweethearts, perhaps?"

Qin Wentian's mention of Princess Glaze did not go unnoticed. Princess Changping could deduce much from these details. It was clear that Qin Wentian possessed exceptional talent to have been sent to the City of Ancient Emperors. Additionally, someone of great power, likely an immortal king or emperor, supported him.

"Aunt, I'll leave him in your care for now. I need to meet with father," Qing'er said to Princess Changping, acknowledging the timing wasn't ideal to introduce Qin Wentian to the Evergreen Immortal Emperor.

"Of course, I'll take good care of him," Princess Changping agreed with a warm smile.

Qing'er turned to Qin Wentian and spoke softly, "Stay with my aunt for the time being, alright?"

Qin Wentian nodded. "Qing'er, go ahead with your matters."

As Qing'er departed, Princess Changping turned to Qin Wentian, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Let's go. I have many questions for you. To start, are you a disciple of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor?"

Qin Wentian shook his head with a wry smile. "The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor probably despises me."

Princess Changping leaned in, her interest piqued. "What do you mean? 'Hate' is a strong word. What did you do to earn his enmity?"

Qin Wentian began to recount his experiences, summarizing the events. "When Qing'er was escorted back from our particle world to the immortal realms, she asked a favor from the Evergreen Immortal Emperor. She requested that the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor accept a disciple from our particle world. I ranked first in the recruitment test but was offered only one period of freedom every thousand years. I declined, and he insulted me, labeling me as having a bad character. Later, I discovered it was all intentional..."

He continued, "Afterward, I went to the City of Ancient Emperors to search for Qing'er. Along the way, I faced off against his personal disciple, Que Tianyi, in front of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor."

Princess Changping couldn't help but smile. "You certainly have courage. It's no wonder Qing'er holds you in such high regard."

Meanwhile, inside the Cloud King Manor within the royal palace, the Cloud King's anger soared as he gazed at his granddaughter's lifeless body. His voice echoed thunderously, "Lian'er, I will seek justice for you, even if I must bring this matter before his Majesty."

The Cloud King was furious in his manor, and news quickly spread throughout the Evergreen Immortal Empire's royal palace that Xia Lian, the Cloud King's granddaughter and the Everpeace Marquis's daughter, had been killed by Princess Qing'er. Shockingly, it was because of her actions on behalf of a man.

Recently, Princess Qing'er had also brought a young man into the royal palace, causing a stir in the Evergreen Immortal Empire's royal palace. The commotion was far from over.