EFB Chapter 2649 Private Meeting
Chapter 2649 Private Meeting
Chapter 2649 Private Meeting
But he had already changed into casual clothes, which were whiter than the snow on the mountain. The chest and shoulders were embroidered with gold thread, the waist was adorned with a black gold belt, and the head was covered with a jade crown. With his broad shoulders and strong waist, he looked handsome and dashing.
Shuangye strolled into the small pavilion and saw that the table was already set with wine and dishes.
In this Crimson Heaven Golden Palace, he was facing the Nine Nether Emperor, therefore Shuangye had to first bow to He Lingchuan:
"Your Majesty."
He Lingchuan pointed to the table and said, "Please sit down."
Shuangye flicked the back of her skirt and sat down steadily, saying with a smile, "This stove is interesting."
It turns out that the table itself was originally a half-person-high dark gold bronze furnace, with exquisite and beautiful patterns, and gemstones inlaid on the furnace body. Only a stone slab was added to the top as a tabletop, and a hole was cut in the middle to expose the furnace mouth as a stove.
"The Illusion Sect has too many alchemy furnaces; it's a waste to keep them all in the old warehouse." He Lingchuan placed an iron mesh over the furnace opening, warming fine wine while roasting a few red dates and peanuts.
Shuangye warmed her hands by the fire, then took out a jar of wine from her bosom:
"Want to try my wine?"
"Okay." He Lingchuan took it and placed it on the edge of the wire mesh to keep it warm.
The furnace was burning brightly, and the heat was even, warm but not dry. It was cozy to be around the furnace, and no cold air could get in.
Otherwise, staying in this drafty little pavilion would make you freeze to death.
Shuangye exclaimed, "The scenery here is truly beautiful."
Liufangjian is located halfway up the mountain, hundreds of feet above the ground, from where you can overlook a large part of Jucheng.
Black walls, white snow, a silver-clad landscape.
He Lingchuan gently swirled the wine pot, releasing a rich aroma: "How does it compare to Xushan?"
From the Ruins Mountain, one can also overlook a large part of Lingxu City.
"Not far behind."
"I hope the Imperial Preceptor Shuangye will visit often." The cup was warmed and the wine was heated. He Lingchuan personally poured him a cup of wine. "The scenery of Jucheng is not limited to this."
They both laughed during the question-and-answer session.
The last time the Frostleaf Grand Preceptor infiltrated Cangyan, he manipulated others to act as his mouthpiece and meet with the Nine Nether Emperor.
This time, the person sitting in the small pavilion was the real Frostleaf Imperial Preceptor himself.
He Lingchuan raised his glass and took a small sip; the wine was just the right temperature.
"Good wine. So sweet and refreshing, it feels like I've had it somewhere before."
"It's the Forget-Heart Pavilion craft beer near the Imperial Academy in Lingxu City, do you remember it?"
He Lingchuan suddenly realized: "Oh! It's the fine wine from Wangxinlou. No wonder it feels so familiar. Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye."
As the special envoy of Chi Yan in Lingxu City, he often wandered around the Imperial Academy, where he made friends with a large group of students and drank at almost every restaurant around the academy.
The dishes at Wangxinlou are so-so, but their homemade wine is quite famous in the Imperial Academy.
The wine itself wasn't expensive, but the journey it took for the Imperial Preceptor Shuangye to bring it here from Lingxu City was quite costly.
“We’ve known each other for over twenty years.” The Frost Leaf Grand Preceptor rubbed his hands together, warmed by the furnace. “Back then, I was the Grand Preceptor, and you were just an ordinary person using the name of Chi Yan; now I am still the Grand Preceptor, but you are already the renowned Nine Nether Emperor.”
Back then, He Lingchuan held him in high esteem; now, the Nine Nether Emperor is both hated and respected by the gods.
“That’s different.” He Lingchuan exhaled a puff of white steam, turned slightly to the side, and looked at the icicles of Liufangjian. “The value of your position as Imperial Preceptor has also been rising.”
Originally, the position of the Imperial Preceptor of Shuangye was below that of Qingyang. However, after Qingyang fell from power, he seized the opportunity to take control and quickly became the Imperial Preceptor with the most unique status in the Bejia court.
This morning, a heavy snowfall not only blanketed the entire city of Jucheng in white, but also turned the distant river surface into a vast expanse of white, with a chill permeating the air.
He Lingchuan then looked at the Frost Leaf National Preceptor: "You don't like Han Tian, do you?"
“I hate the freezing cold.” The Frost Leaf National Preceptor is not afraid of the cold, he just doesn’t like it. “When I was born, the weather was particularly cold; the place where I was born was dark and damp. Since then, I have hated cold and dampness the most.”
He Lingchuan touched his nose. He had heard that the place where the Frost Leaf National Preceptor lived was always warm and cozy. Every autumn and winter, the Autumn Palace used more than twice as many heat-preserving formations and charcoal fires as the other three palaces combined.
Isn't this considered overcompensation?
He remembered the enormous cave in the Demon Nest Swamp. Being born in a cave in the swamp, it was bound to be dark, cold, and damp.
"Your visit to Ju City this time isn't just about these superficial matters, is it?" According to the internal information He Lingchuan had previously received, the official in charge of the Imperial Household Department was supposed to lead the delegation to Cangyan, but in the end, it was the Imperial Preceptor of Shuangye who came.
Did this guy fight for it himself?
The Frost Leaf Grand Preceptor smiled and said, "My presence here is the result of a power struggle among all parties. Neither Lingxu City nor the Heavenly Palace wants this opportunity to be sent as an envoy to Cangyan to be wasted, so after careful consideration, I am the best candidate."
Compared to its vicious treatment of other countries and regions, Lingxu City's attitude towards Cang Yan is now quite amiable. After all, it's too far away to interfere, and business is booming, so it's not worth wasting this opportunity to go on a diplomatic mission. However, the Heavenly Palace doesn't want to see it flirting with Cang Yan and secretly signing some agreement behind the Heavenly Palace's back, so it wants to send its own people over.
After this back-and-forth and wrangling, the best candidate has emerged.
Lingxu City understood that the Frost Leaf National Preceptor harbored ulterior motives and did not completely obey the Heavenly Palace's orders;
The Heavenly Palace was well aware that, given the background of the Frost Leaf National Preceptor, the Demon Emperor could not truly trust or give him important responsibilities.
And he was truly very capable. So, both sides were surprisingly in agreement on choosing him.
He Lingchuan shook his head and laughed heartily.
It's utterly ridiculous that Shuangye, a guy with such ulterior motives, is the best candidate that Bega would send as an envoy to Cangyan!
It is evident that the internal conflicts within Bega have escalated to such an extent that they have already affected external affairs.
"You are indeed the best candidate, but you're not here purely for business, are you?" In any case, this guy has taken his official duties seriously.
The Imperial Preceptor of Frostleaf shrugged: "Official business has been settled, let's talk about something else."
"Here it comes," He Lingchuan said calmly, "For example?"
"For example, in recent years, especially in the last few months, the hot topic on earth is the descent of the gods."
The descent of the gods is a matter of great urgency, a consensus reached by insightful people in various countries long ago.
As far as He Lingchuan knew, Lingshan was also making active preparations.
"Oh?" He leaned forward in interest. "Do you have any latest news about the Spiritual Palace?"
He destroyed Lingyun Palace once, and also stole the body of the Hidden God Lord; if he could do it again, tsk tsk tsk, would the plan of the Heavenly Demon Descending into the World go bankrupt?
"You have quite the appetite," the Frostleaf Grand Preceptor said irritably. "If I were to offer you the latest location for the Spiritual Essence Palace, would you dare to go?"
This fellow brought up the Spiritual Palace right off the bat—it's a negotiation tactic. It means he's not interested in secrets less important than this matter, and Frost Leaf can keep quiet.
He Lingchuan laughed and said, "Take it out first, whether I go or not is my business."