My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Chapter 84 The First Meeting Between the Two

In the royal garden.

Faced with Chu Lengyu's sudden disappearance, Princess Jin'an was both surprised and confused, and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Just now, she seemed to see a faint black smoke rising and spreading from the Imperial Lake. Thinking back to what Chu Lengyu had just said, could there really be something unclean hidden down there?

Thinking of this, Princess Jin'an felt a chill and quickly moved away.

The palace is rife with secrets and rumors, including tales of ghostly revenge. There are also many gossips surrounding the Imperial Lake.

Princess Jin'an used to just listen to these stories and never took them to heart, but now she couldn't help but feel a little scared.

If Chu Lengyu were to chase after it, wouldn't she be risking her life alone? She wondered if she could catch up with it or deal with it. She thought she probably could.

While she was still lost in thought, Chu Lengyu reappeared in a moment, looking completely unharmed. The princess's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and she felt a great weight lifted from her shoulders.

"It was just a small, wronged soul, and I've already gotten rid of it," Chu Lengyu explained regarding her disappearance.

Princess Jin'an felt somewhat relieved, but a sense of curiosity arose within her, and she asked, "Is the story of ghosts true?"

Upon hearing this, the palace servants around them exchanged glances, curious about the answer to the question.

"Humans have souls, but ghosts are difficult to create," Chu Lengyu replied briefly.

This evil spirit's body is solidified and does not disperse, indicating that it has already reached a certain level of power. Even if there are other evil spirits and vengeful ghosts in the palace, they would probably have been devoured by it long ago, and there would be no second one left.

"Oh, I see..." Jin'an had no doubt about the truth of what she said.

At the same time, she realized that being by her side presented both opportunities and risks, but what they had in common was that everything was new and exciting.

If it weren't for Chu Lengyu, even if she had strolled along the shores of the Imperial Lake a thousand times, she would have been nothing more than an ordinary passerby, unable to discern the mystery within.

If that monster continues to hide in the palace, it may secretly harm the lives of palace servants and concubines, and even the safety of himself, his mother, and his father will be threatened. Just thinking about it now, Jin'an's fear deepened.

She was very grateful and bowed to Chu Lengyu to express her thanks, saying earnestly, "Thanks to Sister Chu's righteous help in eliminating the scourge in the palace, Jin'an is deeply grateful."

"It was nothing," she said casually.

After saying that, she looked into the distance, through the layers of palaces, and landed on the nine-story tower in the distance. She said softly, "It's getting late, let's go."

"Mm." Jin'an followed closely behind, but couldn't hide her excitement.

So she mustered her courage and said, "Sister Chu's supernatural powers are so great that even if others only learn a little bit about them, they can benefit from them for a lifetime."

Chu Lengyu understood the meaning behind her words and saw through her thoughts. She calmly replied, "My path is based on fate."

Some things don't need to be said too explicitly. Hearing this, the princess naturally understood that she was not destined to be with him. Although she felt disappointed, she also understood that many things in this world cannot be forced.

Moreover, Chu Lengyu's methods are nothing short of divine, and in Princess Jin'an's heart, she is already ranked number one in the world.

If someone like that wants to take on apprentices, they will definitely be very selective, choosing the most talented one. How could they possibly get one so easily just by asking?

She said no more, but silently made up her mind.

……

Wangxing Tower.

The emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, slowly ascended the tower.

He stood tall and straight, his eyes deep and unfathomable, overlooking the entire imperial city.

His mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts, including the grand ambition of ruling the world, as well as the loneliness of being at the top.

Just as the emperor was lost in thought, a series of light footsteps broke the tranquility.

Princess Jin'an ascended the Star-Gazing Tower first, curtsied to him, and smiled sweetly: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

She immediately stepped aside, revealing Chu Lengyu following behind her.

Her arrival seemed to brighten even the solemn pavilion, as if she were embodying the phrase "bringing glory to a humble abode."

The emperor's gaze was instantly drawn to Chu Lengyu, his eyes filled with admiration, tinged with a barely perceptible anticipation and satisfaction.

He smiled slightly, thinking to himself: I've finally met you.

From initial shock and doubt, to curiosity and anticipation, and now to acceptance, the emperor was filled with emotion.

In just over ten days, it seemed to be more exciting than his entire life.

Chu Lengyu bowed slightly, then looked up at the emperor, a hint of curiosity flashing in her clear eyes.

The man before her was the emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty, and also her target for this trip.

He was thirty-five or thirty-six years old, and looked tall and imposing, but he had nothing special about him; he was just an ordinary mortal.

But his eyes were not unfamiliar; there was no probing or wariness that one would expect upon first meeting. Instead, they seemed to be welcoming a long-lost friend, filled with gentle appreciation.

But neither had the original owner of this body ever met the emperor.

Chu Lengyu was puzzled by his attitude and, while remaining secretly wary, hoped to get a satisfactory answer today.

"Come here, the scenery here is exceptionally beautiful," the emperor invited, stepping aside.

She did as instructed and walked over, looking out of the building.

Under the sunlight, the imperial city appears even more solemn and beautiful, with every brick and tile seemingly telling the story of its historical vicissitudes and glory.

"It is indeed beautiful."

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with reminiscence, and slowly said, "More than two hundred years ago, this was the capital of the Sheng Kingdom. Unfortunately, Emperor Sheng was immoral, and the kingdom collapsed in its later years. Warlords carved up the land, and there was more than twenty years of chaos and fighting, until the Great Xia Dynasty reunified the Central Plains, renamed it Shenjing, and established its capital here..."

"Since I ascended the throne, I have considered myself diligent, but in recent years, we have been constantly harassed by barbarian tribes, coveted by various states of the Great Qian Dynasty, and plagued by frequent disasters within the country. It can be described as a situation of both internal and external troubles..."

At this point, the emperor's brows furrowed, and a look of worry settled between his brows.

Chu Lengyu had thought that the emperor might use the strange phenomenon she had caused to launch an attack and hold her accountable, or even interrogate her about the origin of her methods.

Or perhaps they feign acceptance of the offer of amnesty while secretly plotting against us.

Unexpectedly, the emperor talked to her about the history of the Great Xia Dynasty and the current predicament it faced.

Is this something I can say to her? What is his purpose in saying these words?

Chu Lengyu was puzzled. She wasn't one to beat around the bush, so she asked directly, "Why are you telling me all this?"

Upon hearing her words, the emperor's tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed.

He said with absolute certainty, "Because you are the one who can solve all the problems!"