Chapter247

The one who awakened the divine meridian is truly her child and can be raised personally by her.

Elara didn't know what to say. But didn't Gyun Yin just say that out of more than twenty children, one had been raised personally by the Empress?

That child had already awakened the divine meridian's blessing? Then why was the Empress still pregnant?

Unfortunately, Gyun Yin stopped speaking at that point. Going further would touch on the Dahlia royal family's secrets.

Elara didn't ask further either. In her mind, she spoke to the System: [System, help me check if anyone in Dahlia has awakened the divine meridian blessing. And which child has been raised personally by the Empress?... We've just heard so much related information, you should be able to find something, right?]

[Should be possible, Master. I'll try.]

The System paused for a few seconds, then spoke again in Elara's mind:

[Got it, Master. But this is only a preliminary search based on the information you know. The results are a bit strange.]

[Dahlia does not currently have anyone who has awakened the divine meridian blessing. The Dahlia Empress also does not personally raise any child at her side. Any child she gives birth to, if they haven't awakened the divine meridian, is sent straight to the Inner Cabinet and might not even see her for years.]

[Also... while searching about the Empress, something strange came up. Although the Dahlia Empress treats all her children without the divine meridian blessing with cold indifference, there's one exception—Mr. Yu.]

The System's voice held some hesitation. [The Empress seems to especially loathe him. According to the relationship data the System found, her hatred for Mr. Yu has almost reached the level of an enemy. The other princes and princesses of the Dahlia royal family also have significantly less affection for Mr. Yu compared to their other siblings. They all seem to reject him.]

Elara stayed silent for a few seconds. The System's findings surprised her too.

Mr. Yu, who holds great power in Dahlia and always wears a smiling face in front of her, Elara truly hadn't expected he would be so hated by his birth mother, to the point of being seen as an enemy?

The princes and princesses of the Dahlia royal family, like the tall and short ones she just encountered who looked so much like him, also had poor relationships with him?

Could it be because he is the Dahlia Crown Prince yet holds all the power in the kingdom?

[Maybe... but Master, even though the Empress hates Mr. Yu, his father, the current monarch of Dahlia, treats him quite well. The Crown Prince title was granted to him by the Emperor himself when Mr. Yu was only nine years old. However, the System's emotional value detection for the Emperor's feelings is also a bit strange... appreciation and pride mixed with some disgust and pity. Very strange.]

Appreciation and pride? But also disgust and pity?

Seeing how much Mr. Yu resembled those two children earlier, he must also be the biological child of the Emperor and Empress. He is the legitimate heir of Dahlia.

But with emotions this conflicted... is this just the usual cold nature of rulers? Proud of Mr. Yu's strength, yet afraid of it?

But Elara still felt something was off. If that were the case, would he really have been personally granted the Crown Prince title at just nine years old?

After thinking for a moment, Elara looked up at Gyun Yin who was standing silently beside her and decided to press down the questions in her heart.

Forget it. This is Mr. Yu's family matter. It doesn't concern her or Plumera very much. What use would it be for her to know so much?

With Gyun Yin accompanying her, Elara continued to stroll through Dahlia's capital.

When she had finished exploring most of the capital, she and Gyun Yin went to the largest restaurant in the northern district. They ate a full table of Plumera dishes, sold through the Bai Family's Business and delivered via Zhaiyun Pavilion, and also sampled some of Dahlia's local snacks and delicacies.

Mr. Yu finished his business and found her on the street.

The corners of his lips still held that familiar curve Elara knew well. When he approached her, he dismounted and closed his folding fan with a crisp snap.

"The rat matter is almost resolved. What's left will reveal itself soon enough."

Now that the matter was handled, Mr. Yu seemed to be in an even better mood.

He tossed the reins to Gyun Yin and walked over to Elara, lowering his gaze to look at her.

"White Three, there's nothing much left to tie us down in the country. Only a bit of preparation remains for the Hundred Nations Banquet. I'll have someone finish it up shortly. We can depart for the Geranium Kingdom tomorrow. How about it?"

Looking at the nearly perfect smile on Mr. Yu's face, maybe because of everything she had just learned, Elara suddenly realized how much he resembled the many people from her previous life who wore a standard smile like a mask.

These people always kept a pleasant smile, no matter what they had gone through or were currently experiencing. Perfect expressions and emotional control had become instinct for them, allowing them to hide their true emotions in most situations, confuse others, and avoid revealing weaknesses to opponents.

Such people were usually strong-willed, hardened through many trials.

Elara paused for a moment and didn't answer right away.

"Your Highness, White Three has one last question."

"Go ahead."

"The Eastern Offering Kingdom isn't that far from us. We're both in the western part of the continent. Why not go directly there instead of making a long trip to the Hundred Nations Banquet to meet the Eastern Offering Crown Prince? Are you sure he'll attend?"

Mr. Yu adjusted his fan and looked into Elara's eyes with a slight smile.

"Because the awakened divine meridian in the Eastern Offering Kingdom belongs to the Crown Prince. Though he hasn't taken the throne, with that divine blessing, he's the true ruler of the nation."

"Also, I did receive word that the Eastern Offering Crown Prince, Dongfeng Hanhé, had gone to a central continent country some time ago and is not currently in the Eastern Offering Kingdom. He began his return journey from the central continent seven days ago. The Hundred Nations Banquet starts in about half a month. His return route happens to pass through the Geranium Kingdom."

Thinking of his friend, Mr. Yu lightly waved the fan in his hand.

"With his personality, he wouldn't miss such a grand occasion. Especially since, I've heard, the reward for the top spot at this year's Hundred Nations Banquet is... quite special."

He dragged out the last words, his gaze turning toward the distance.

Elara asked directly, "What kind of special?"

Mr. Yu withdrew his gaze and looked back at her, pausing a moment before replying,

"It's said to be related to a newly awakened divine meridian item that can be transferred or taken by others."

A divine item that can be transferred or taken? Elara's eyes shifted. That was indeed tempting.

Especially considering how this world worships and desires divine meridian blessings. Just that one piece of news already hinted at how intense and chaotic the Hundred Nations Banquet would be.

The Eastern Offering Kingdom, a second-tier power, was already drawn in. Perhaps other second-tier or even first-tier powers from the continent would also be attracted.

What she might see, hear, and learn there could far exceed her expectations.

And one of Elara's main goals for this journey was to gather and understand such information.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the clarification. White Three is ready to depart anytime tomorrow."

Once Elara got her answer, she agreed without hesitation. Mr. Yu's smile deepened as he looked at her. He turned to face the direction of the Dahlia royal palace, lightly tapping his folded fan against his palm.

"But since the journey ahead is long and time-consuming, I'll need to address my identity issue again. Hmm... and since there are still a few rats too scared to come out, let's give them one last show before we leave tomorrow."

Early the next morning, a piece of news that shocked the entire Dahlia Capital swept through the Imperial City before dawn:

The Crown Prince was suddenly assassinated last night! He is now seriously injured and in a coma. The entire Eastern Palace has been sealed off. Except for the imperial doctors regularly summoned by the Crown Prince, no one is allowed to enter or leave the Eastern Palace.

The entire Dahlia Capital instantly fell into a state of strict lockdown.

Elara and her group, half an hour before the lockdown began, left the Dahlia Capital right on time.

She led Mr. Gong and Emory, who had been moving freely in the Dahlia Kingdom for two days, along with a merchant caravan of two hundred shadow guards disguised as escorts. Ten li outside the Dahlia Capital, they reunited with the "seriously injured" Mr. Yu.

Mr. Yu was still wearing the same disguise and face. Behind him, the long merchant caravan still followed.

Beside him stood a new figure.

When Elara first looked over, she almost thought it was Giles.

But looking more closely, she realized that although this person looked very similar to Giles and was about the same height, his figure was much thinner and more frail, and his skin was much paler, giving off a sickly vibe.

His eye-catching dark red long hair was not tied up with a jade crown but was neatly let down behind him. This made him lack the battlefield general's aura Giles had, and instead gave him the gentle elegance of a scholar.

When Mr. Yu saw Elara arrive, he walked up to her and introduced the man who looked very similar to Giles:

"This is the Duke of Yan from Dahlia, Gareth. He is also Giles's older brother and the current head of the Giles family. Giles will stay behind in Dahlia to deal with the remaining rats. Gareth will travel with us on this journey."

So this was the Duke of Yan... Elara sized up this especially young-looking duke.

When Giles picked her up at Chixuan Pass, he had said that Mr. Yu had gone to discuss matters with the Duke of Yan.

It turned out that the duke he spoke of was his own older brother.

The especially young Duke Gareth gave Elara a slight bow. His movements were unhurried, carrying the reserved elegance unique to scholars.

"Gareth, greets Your Majesty."

Just after finishing his salute, he suddenly covered his mouth and began to cough. His already pale face became even whiter.

Mr. Yu reached out and patted his back, his face showing some helplessness. "Your health truly gets worse year after year. Still no news from your family about the Soul Lotus Root?"

Gareth shook his head, took a silk handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his mouth, then slowly stood upright again and gave Elara another apologetic bow.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. My body is not well and must have made a poor impression."

Elara waved her hand. "It's fine. But this journey is long and bumpy. If you're not feeling well, Duke, you'd best prepare everything necessary in advance. Otherwise, you might suffer greatly along the way."

Before Oswyn adjusted Elara's body, even sitting in a carriage was difficult for her.

This time they were going far to the Geranium Kingdom. The one-way trip alone would take at least half a month. The Duke's body was completely different from his tough-looking younger brother.

So frail—Elara feared he might fall apart halfway through the journey.