Yu Xiyan, who had been working tirelessly due to the recent disasters, increasingly felt how important a capable assistant was. Shen Zhao was truly irreplaceable.
As the saying goes, what you think about by day appears in your dreams at night. That night, Yu Xiyan had a dream.
To be precise, it was a dream of a distant past life experience of Yu Xiyan.
In the dream, she was in a study, with messy papers scattered everywhere, ink splashed all over the place. It was a complete mess, completely out of place with the surrounding environment.
And Empress Yu Xiyan at this moment was disheveled, without any of the emperor's demeanor. She was like a madwoman, crumpling up sheets of paper and throwing them on the ground in anger.
That was ten years after Shen Zhao's death. After confronting Lin Feng and exposing his true colors, Yu Xiyan almost collapsed. Recalling every little thing Shen Zhao had done for her, and then looking at her own situation, it was simply a joke.
She wanted to find some mementos of Shen Zhao to keep her company, especially his face. Only after experiencing loss did she truly understand what it meant to cherish.
However, the irony was that because of Yu Xiyan's inexplicable coldness towards Shen Zhao in her previous life, Shen Zhao never had a portrait of himself in the palace. She also didn't allow the painters to depict his features.
And now, she desperately wanted to find something related to Shen Zhao's appearance.
"I can't paint it, still can't paint it!"
"It doesn't look like him, this isn't him, not him!"
"Why! Why do you treat me like this!"
"Do you hate me so much? You won't even leave me with a single memento!"
Yet no matter how Yu Xiyan tried to depict it, Shen Zhao's appearance was like a phantom, impossible to truly capture.
She was on the verge of a breakdown, painstakingly trying to sketch Shen Zhao's features.
She had clearly depicted his clothes, his figure, and even the surrounding scenery. But his face remained elusive, a hazy blur.
It felt as though something in her mind was restricting her. Every time she started to draw Shen Zhao's face, the paper would remain blank, as if cursed.
Vaguely, she felt a mocking voice in her mind, sneering at her naivety and ignorance.
"God! Is this your punishment for me?"
"Why! I can't even remember your face!"
"Shen Zhao, give me something to remember you by, please? I have nothing left!"
"I was wrong, truly wrong! Please, give me another chance!"
"Impossible, it's impossible! I've reached the Emperor Realm, possessing the ability to remember everything I see. There's no way I could forget your appearance."
"No! Please stop tormenting me! I truly regret it!"
Accompanied by heart-wrenching cries, Yu Xiyan suddenly woke up from a nightmare.
Fortunately, she had set up a small soundproof barrier around her room before sleeping, or else her outburst would have alerted the night watch guards.
The first thing she did upon waking was to quickly run to the study next door.
The moment she pushed open the study door, lifelike portraits hung in every corner of the room, each depicting Shen Zhao's handsome and valiant features.
Seeing the portraits, Yu Xiyan's emotions gradually calmed. She immediately took out a piece of paper and began to focus on sketching.
After a long while, she sighed softly, staring blankly at the "Shen Zhao Slaying the Dragon" painting she had just finished.
Recalling the inexplicable despair and fear from her previous life, she was very grateful that she remembered Shen Zhao's appearance the instant she was reborn.
To prevent herself from forgetting that familiar face again, Yu Xiyan drew one or two portraits of Shen Zhao almost every day, filling her entire study with them.
"Your Majesty, this subordinate has an important matter to report!"
Suddenly, Shangguan Qiuyue's voice sounded from outside the sleeping quarters.
Yu Xiyan immediately composed herself, then changed into casual clothes and said in a low voice, "Wait a moment. Wait for me in the side hall."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Yu Xiyan was already seated in the side hall. "Qiuyue, what is it you need to report?"
Shangguan Qiuyue said, "Your Majesty, the investigation into the fire at the granary by Minister Gu Jingyan has yielded results. The fires in the granaries across the region were all arson. Minister Gu is currently heading towards Yangzhou."
"Hmm! Everything is as I predicted. Inform Gu Jingyan that he must, without fail, uncover the mastermind behind this. He is to report any important matters directly to me, bypassing all others."
"Yes! Your Majesty, there is another matter. The Goddess of Luo, Empress, of the Celestial Que Dynasty, has arrived outside Chang'an City and will reach the Imperial Palace at noon."
"Instruct the ceremonial officials to accord the Goddess of Luo, Empress, the highest possible honors. Ensure all rituals are flawlessly arranged, with no room for error."
"The officials of the Ministry of Rites began preparations a month ago. Please, Your Majesty, be at ease."
"Very well. Prepare a bath and change of clothes for me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At noon, colorful rays of light enveloped the sky above Chang'an City. The air was filled with the fragrance of spiritual flowers, immersing the entire city in a sea of spiritual energy.
At a quarter past noon, the nine gates of the Jade Dawn Palace swung open simultaneously. Civil and military officials all awaited respectfully, a vibrant red carpet stretching five miles from the palace gates to the Jade Dawn Palace's main hall.
At half past noon, Yu Xiyan stood before the palace gates, waiting quietly.
Although also an Empress, the current Yu Xiyan was not yet the Yintian Empress, one of the Ten Great Empresses of seventeen years hence. Compared to the Goddess of Luo, Empress Mu Qiuyao, she could only take the initiative to welcome her.
At three quarters past noon, a Bai Ze, a mythical beast with snow-white fur, pulled a carriage, a Spirit Treasure of Imperial grade, slowly appearing before everyone.
"Greetings to the Goddess of Luo, Empress!"
Civil and military officials, along with the guards and palace maids, knelt on the ground to welcome her.
Only Yu Xiyan merely bowed slightly, her face lowered.
Yu Xiyan was filled with trepidation at Luo Pianhong's arrival.
She didn't know why the Celestial Que Dynasty had become involved with the Great Yin Empire so early in this lifetime.
After a long while, Luo Pianhong's voice came from inside the imperial carriage, "Get up. I am a guest, and you are the hosts. It's not right for the hosts to bow to the guest."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress!"
Everyone quickly stood up, but they didn't dare to raise their heads.
After a long time, the pearl curtain covering the door of the imperial carriage parted on its own. Luo Pianhong, wearing a cyan-green imperial robe that perfectly showcased her figure, slowly stepped down from the carriage.
Coming to Yu Xiyan, and seeing that she still had her head lowered, Luo Pianhong raised her jade hand slightly, "You are the Yintian Empress? Raise your head, let me take a good look."
Yu Xiyan's heart skipped a beat when she heard this.
The title of Yintian Empress was something she wouldn't have for another seventeen years. Now, she was just the ruler of the Great Yin Empire.
But why would Luo Pianhong say that?
Was it a coincidence?
Yu Xiyan didn't dare to dwell on the thought. She slowly raised her head and met a peerlessly beautiful face, along with a pair of eyes filled with profound meaning.
"Hmm, indeed, she's a beauty that could topple a kingdom. The number one beauty of the Eastern Region, truly deserving of the title."
"The Empress flatters me."
"No need for formalities. I've come to visit your country today for a specific reason. Let's dispense with those mundane rituals. I don't want any outsiders to disturb us. Accompany me to a quiet place, and we'll have a good talk."
"I will follow the Empress's orders."
The Celestial Que Dynasty was powerful, with a multitude of experts. Currently, only the Profound Heaven Immortal Dynasty, the Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty, and the Purple Ying Mystic Dynasty could rival them.
And his own Yintian Empress, currently didn't even have the qualifications to be a freeloader.
If you lack strength, you can only be at the mercy of others; this was inevitable.
The ceremonial department didn't dare to utter a single complaint, fearing that offending Luo Pianhong would bring about their destruction.
After all, this Empress, who carried a thousand-year-old legend, could destroy a country with a single gesture.
Inside the Eternal Harmony Palace, Luo Pianhong and Yu Xiyan sat facing each other.
"I wonder why the Goddess of Luo, Empress, has come to our humble nation?"
"I only want to make a deal with you."
"A trade?"
Yu Xiyan was puzzled. She didn't seem to have any dealings with the Celestial Que Dynasty. What was there to trade?
Luo Pianhong waved her hand, and nine spirit pills brimming with spiritual energy instantly appeared on the table.
"These are seventh-grade Shattered Spirit Pills. They were made by the top alchemists of our dynasty, who spent thirty years crafting them. Taking them can greatly enhance one's absorption of ambient spiritual energy and even allow one to break through their own barriers, directly advancing a major realm."
Yu Xiyan frowned. The Shattered Spirit Pill's effects were even better than a Dragon Core. The key was that she was offering nine at once. What did this mean?
Before Yu Xiyan could think further, another spirit tablet appeared on the table.
"This is the Bright Saint Sword Intent, the famed ultimate technique of Nine Luminaries Sword Ancestor Bai Xinian. It's said that this sword intent was created using the sun and moon as a guide. Anyone who can comprehend even a trace of it can become a master of swordsmanship in this era."
As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Pianhong conjured three Emperor-grade divine weapons, radiating the dense spiritual energy of wind, thunder, and water.
"These three spiritual treasures are Xihe, Jiushu, and Qing Shuang. All are Emperor-grade divine weapons, and the Empress should know their value. If I hadn't concealed their Emperor-grade aura, the entire Immortal Martial Continent would probably be in an uproar right now."
After speaking, Luo Pianhong picked up the teacup, took a sip, and continued, "In addition, the Celestial Que Dynasty wishes to form an eternal alliance with the Great Yin Empire. If any external enemy dares to invade your country, it will be considered a declaration of war against the Celestial Que Dynasty. Does the Empress find this level of sincerity satisfactory?"
It must be said that every item Luo Pianhong produced was a treasure that cultivators on the Immortal Martial Continent dreamed of. Moreover, being able to ally with the Celestial Que Dynasty was the lifelong dream of countless emperors in the mortal realm.
But Yu Xiyan still resisted the temptation.
She knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch.
"Your Majesty the Empress, you have brought such a generous gift, I wonder how our country should reciprocate?"
Luo Pianhong put down the teacup, leaned her body slightly, and took on a half-lying posture. Her lively eyes were fixed on Yu Xiyan, making Yu Xiyan very uncomfortable.
After a long while, Luo Pianhong slowly spoke, "My request is very simple. I only want to ask the Empress for one person."
"Who is it?"
Luo Pianhong lowered her eyes slightly, pondering for a moment before saying, "Shen Zhao, the consort of the Great Yin Empire's imperial family."
Clatter—
Yu Xiyan's teacup immediately fell to the ground, allowing the tea to spill and soak her skirt.
"Your Majesty, the Empress? You... want whom?"
She suspected she might have misheard.
However, Luo Pianhong's reply immediately made her feel uneasy.
"The husband of the current Yintian Empress, the imperial family's consort, that is, your nominal husband, Shen Zhao."
"I don't think you'll refuse this request."
Yu Xiyan's face was ashen. Luo Pianhong's words were like a thunderclap in her mind.
Now, Yu Xiyan could confirm that Luo Pianhong, like herself, had also been reborn.
But why?
In her previous life, Shen Zhao had never associated with Luo Pianhong at all. Even if she had been reborn, why would she want Shen Zhao from her?
Luo Pianhong looked at Yu Xiyan quietly, her eyes betraying no emotion.
"What? Is the Empress unwilling, or does she think the stakes I'm offering aren't high enough? If it's the latter, then please, Empress, just name your price. Whatever the Celestial Que Dynasty has, I will satisfy you. But Shen Zhao... I must take him with me no matter what. Please, Empress, don't be stingy."
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