Chapter 168: Meeting Emperor Xue Ye
Shi Lin had just entered a meditative state when a sound came from outside.
"Young Master! Prince Xue Xing has sent someone to invite you to the palace for a chat." Shi An's voice came from outside.
Upon hearing Shi An's voice, Shi Lin slowly exited his cultivation state and then walked out of his room.
Shi Lin had expected Prince Xue Xing to meet him, but he never imagined that Prince Xue Xing would actually meet him in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Could it be that besides Prince Xue Xing, Emperor Xue Ye also wants to see me this time?
As soon as Shi Lin came out of his room, he saw Shi An and a middle-aged man in his forties standing in the courtyard. He guessed that this man was the messenger of Prince Xue Xing.
However, this man was pale and beardless, and his movements were somewhat effeminate. Shi Lin felt that this guy looked a bit like a eunuch.
"Greetings, messenger of Prince Xue Xing." Shi Lin bowed slightly to the person in front of him.
"By order of Prince Xue Xing, I invite young friend Shi Lin to the palace for a chat." The middle-aged man straightened up and said to Shi Lin, his voice clearly indicating that he had been castrated.
No wonder he doesn't have a beard!
"Yes, sir!" Shi Lin replied with a slight bow.
"Alright, come with me." The eunuch waved his hand, then turned and left the courtyard.
Shi Lin could tell that this guy seemed to dislike this place, or perhaps he disliked Shi Lin and his group.
"Brother An, guard the house well and wait for me to come back." Shi Lin instructed Shi An, then followed the eunuch out of his courtyard.
At this moment, a magnificent golden carriage stopped at the entrance of the courtyard.
This carriage is pulled by four horses, is made of solid materials, and is carved with many reliefs and patterns. More importantly, its surface is inlaid with gold, silver and gemstones.
"Young master, please!" The eunuch extended his hand, gesturing for him to enter.
Shi Lin didn't stand on ceremony and climbed the ladder directly into the carriage.
The interior of the carriage was even more luxurious than the exterior, made entirely of the finest fragrant wood. Shi Lin estimated that the carriage cost at least 200,000 gold soul coins.
The eunuch ignored Shi Lin's envious expression and took out a cup of tea to drink.
The next second, the carriage slowly started moving, and Shi Lin, sitting inside, did not feel any bumps.
Shi Lin glanced at the eunuch but said nothing. He closed his eyes slightly, sat cross-legged in the carriage, and began to cultivate.
After all, he and the eunuchs really didn't have much in common.
...
Two hours later, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
"Alright, get down now." The eunuch called out to Shi Lin, then lifted the curtain and climbed out of the carriage.
Upon hearing this, Shi Lin slowly exited his cultivation state and got off the carriage.
After stepping out of the carriage, Shi Lin saw a magnificent palace. The palace was predominantly red, giving it a profound and dignified atmosphere.
There were many eunuchs and guards in the palace, but he didn't see any of the beautiful palace maids.
"Once you're in the palace, stop looking around. This way." The eunuch snorted, looking at Shi Lin with a disdainful expression as he reminded him of his curious, childlike gaze.
"Thank you for reminding me." Shi Lin didn't know what eunuchs were called in this world. He couldn't just call them eunuch thieves, so he didn't use that term.
Then, the eunuch led Shi Lin around several bends and arrived at a palace.
This place is relatively remote, with not many guards or eunuchs around, and the palace walls are somewhat dilapidated.
"Go in, Prince Xue Xing is waiting for you inside," the eunuch said to Shi Lin, then turned and left.
Shi Lin stared blankly at the eunuch. He had been invited by the prince, and now he was being abandoned like this. It seemed that it was time to train the eunuchs in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
However, Shi Lin did not hesitate. He went straight to the palace gate, pushed it open, and went inside.
There were only two people in the palace at this moment: a middle-aged man dressed in luxurious clothes sat on a large chair, while Prince Xue Xing stood beside him.
Shi Lin revealed an expression that said it all.
If it were just Prince Xue Xing summoning me, I could stay at the Prince's residence; why bother going to the palace?
Since they've let me into the palace, it means someone else wants to see me.
And that person must be Emperor Xue Ye.
"This humble subject, Shi Lin, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Emperor! May Your Majesty enjoy a long and prosperous reign, shining brightly throughout the heavens." Shi Lin bowed deeply, offering his respects to Emperor Xue Ye.
After all, it's never wrong to be overly polite, and saying a few flattering words won't lower your status.
"Haha, a clever child. No need for formalities, rise." Emperor Xue Ye's voice was steady and powerful, full of energy.
Shi Lin could tell from the sound that Emperor Xue Ye was still in good health.
Then, Shi Lin slowly stood up, but still kept his head down.
Shi Lin didn't know what the rules were in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, so he could only say that he was trying to be as cautious as possible.
"This gift you gave me is very interesting. It's worth 100,000 gold soul coins. Can you sell me the prescription?" Emperor Xue Ye said to Shi Lin with a smile.
"Your Majesty, the prescription is simple, but to make this concentrated pill, it still requires my martial soul to refine it; otherwise, the effect will only be half." Shi Lin stood up and smiled at Emperor Xue Ye.
Shi Lin looked up and finally saw what Emperor Xue Ye looked like. At this moment, Emperor Xue Ye was wearing a snow-white cloak, with a square face, full of majesty, and sharp eyes, which brought great pressure to Shi Lin.
"Haha, you're quite honest, kid. How about this: my Heaven Dou Empire will provide the materials, and you can refine them for me. The processing fee for a first-tier healing pill is one silver soul coin, and the processing fee for a second-tier healing pill is five silver coins. If there are third-tier healing pills in the future, I'll give you twenty silver soul coins for processing. Is that alright?" Emperor Xue Ye said seriously to Shi Lin.
Upon hearing that Emperor Xue Ye was participating, Shi Lin's lips twitched violently. Prince Xue Xing hadn't promised him this price back then.
However, since Emperor Xue Ye had quoted this price, he did not give Shi Lin a chance to object.
After all, Shi Lin was just an ordinary citizen, and it was already quite generous of Emperor Xue Ye not to arrest him directly.
"Your Majesty is so generous! This price is perfect. Here is the list of materials. I would be grateful if Your Majesty could find someone to purchase some or cultivate them." Shi Lin nodded in satisfaction, then picked up a piece of paper and held it up above his head.
Prince Xue Xing approached Shi Lin, took the list from Shi Lin's hand, and then went to Emperor Xue Ye.
Emperor Xue Ye merely glanced at the materials and then nodded. These materials were quite common; the Heaven Dou Empire's army also carried some medicines, and these medicinal herbs were easy to find within the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Aren't you afraid I'll imprison you in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace and make you refine pills day and night?" Emperor Xue Ye suddenly said to Shi Lin in an icy tone, his eyes filled with undisguised killing intent.
"Your Majesty is magnanimous and ambitious. I have come to Heaven Dou City to obtain an official position and serve the Heaven Dou Empire. Your Majesty's imprisonment of me is not worth it," Shi Lin said to Emperor Xue Ye, bowing his head.
"Calm in the face of adversity, decisive in handling matters, excellent, excellent. Prince Xue Xing, from today onwards, he will be your advisor, and you will also be in charge of procuring medicines for the army," Emperor Xue Ye said to Prince Xue Xing.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Prince Xue Xing quickly took a step back, then bowed to Emperor Xue Ye and accepted the task.
"Shi Lin, you've given the Heaven Dou Empire such a generous gift, is there anything you'd like to receive?" Emperor Xue Ye asked Shi Lin.
"This humble subject desires a title." Shi Lin made no attempt to conceal his true intentions and directly told Emperor Xue Ye his most fundamental request.
Upon hearing Shi Lin's words, Emperor Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing were visibly taken aback.
But in an instant, the two of them burst out laughing.
It's not that we're afraid of talented people being greedy, it's that we're afraid of talented people having no desires.
People are easy to control as long as they have desires!
"Your merits are not yet enough to be rewarded with a territory. I make you a promise: one year from now, I will grant you the title of baron, and five years from now, you will be promoted to viscount." Emperor Xue Ye's eyes were filled with oppressive force.
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty." Shi Lin bowed deeply to Emperor Xue Ye once again.
"There's a palace banquet today. I'll arrange for someone to take you there later. Eat and drink well, and then get back to work," Emperor Xue Ye said with a hearty laugh.
As soon as Emperor Xue Ye finished speaking, a guard walked in from outside and led Shi Lin to attend the palace banquet.
After watching Shi Lin walk away, Emperor Xue Ye turned his head and glanced at Prince Xue Xing.
"Third brother, what do you think of this kid?" Emperor Xue Ye leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and asked Prince Xue Xing with some weariness.
"Neither humble nor arrogant, young and promising, fearless in the face of danger, with a bright future." Prince Xue Xing pondered for a moment, then said to Emperor Xue Ye.
"It's rare to see such a talented young person receive such praise from you these days. What should we do with him?" Emperor Xue Ye said, pursing his lips.
Upon hearing Emperor Xue Ye's words, Prince Xue Xing lowered his head and pondered for a moment.
"I have a daughter who is nine years old this year, about the same age as Shi Lin. How about…" Prince Xue Xing suddenly thought of something and bowed to Emperor Xue Ye.
Upon hearing Prince Xue Xing's words, Emperor Xue Ye remained silent, only his eyes flickered as he pondered.
"No, Xue Ke is not yet married either. We can let the two of them get to know each other." Emperor Xue Ye suddenly thought of something and smiled as he spoke to Prince Xue Xing beside him.
"This...isn't this a bit too grand!" Prince Xue Xing stared wide-eyed at Emperor Xue Ye in disbelief.
Prince Xue Xing never expected that Emperor Xue Ye would suddenly decide to betroth Shi Lin to the princess.
This is far too much of a courtesy.
"Go ahead and do it. I will make the decision." Emperor Xue Ye shook his head and said to Prince Xue Xing.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will take care of it immediately!" Prince Xue Xing bowed to Emperor Xue Ye once again before leaving the palace.
Emperor Xue Ye simply stared coldly at Prince Xue Xing's back.
Healing pills are indeed important, but not as important as Shi Lin's talent.
A ten-year-old Spirit Master of over twenty levels—if this talent doesn't die young, he's destined to become a Title Douluo in the future.
If someone with such talent can win over the royal family, then Heaven Dou will have made a huge profit.
"Even the small Heaven Dou City is rife with undercurrents," Emperor Xue Ye said with a sigh, pursing his lips.
Emperor Xue Ye arranged for some people to hide Shi Lin's information and background.
After all, you can't let others discover your precious treasure.
...
In the banquet hall of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, young men and women dressed in fine clothes came and went. These people were children of the Heaven Dou royal family and various nobles, and most of them had talent for cultivation.
Shi Lin had no connections or background, so he found a place to eat and started eating. Besides, none of them were from the same circle, so there was no need for Shi Lin to try to be friendly to them.
Just then, Shi Lin discovered that the wine served at the banquet was actually Yunmeng wine brewed by his own family.
"It still tastes just like home." Shi Lin shrugged and said with a smile.
However, it must be said that the food in the Heaven Dou Palace was indeed delicious, and Shi Lin was stuffed in no time.
And so, Shi Lin ate from the afternoon until the first half of the night.
The palace guards announced the end of the banquet, and the people were escorted out of the palace.
...
At dawn, a horse-drawn carriage arrived at the gate of Shi Lin's courtyard.
A guard in golden armor helped Shi Lin down from the carriage.
"Thank you for escorting me, Brother Guard." After getting out of the carriage, Shi Lin clasped his hands in a fist salute to the golden-armored guard, then took out a bag of gold soul coins and handed it to him.
"Now that I've escorted you home, I'll head back." The golden-armored guard clasped his hands in a fist salute to Shi Lin before turning and leaving, taking the money pouch with him, of course.
Although they earn a lot, they still need to bribe their superiors and subordinates, and their salaries are mostly not enough.
After watching the carriage leave, Shi Lin returned to his own courtyard.
At this moment, Shi An was still waiting for Shi Lin in the courtyard.
"Greetings, young master!" Shi An bowed respectfully to Shi Lin.
"You're still awake? I brought you some food and drinks from the palace, have a taste." Shi Lin smiled, then took out some food from his personal space and handed it to Shi An.
"Hehe, thank you, young master!" Shi An chuckled upon hearing this, then sat down in the courtyard and began to eat.
"Have breakfast and get some rest. I'm going back now." Shi Lin patted Shi An on the shoulder, then turned and went back to his room.
As soon as he opened the door, Shi Lin discovered a deep pit, two meters in diameter, in his room.
"Oh dear! I forgot about the Earth-Escape Gu!" Shi Lin slapped his forehead and then used his spirit power to contact the Earth-Escape Gu, quickly summoning it back.
Then Shi Lin took out a light-ball Gu and crawled into the hole.
The cave was pitch black, but fortunately, Shi Lin had only been gone for half a day. Although the underground space was large, it was still under control.
Shi Lin used the light from the light-ball Gu to take a look at the space and estimated that it was several hundred square meters in size and five meters in height.
"Get to work." Shi Lin sighed helplessly.
Next, Shi Lin summoned back the other earth-burrowing Gu, and then began to use various building materials to lay the floor, pillars and furnishings in the room.
The materials Shi An bought were all pre-cut; all he had to do was assemble them.
Shi Lin spent a few hours setting up the secret room with the materials.
Loving Book So Far Check Out 80+ Chapters In Advanced At Pa Treon:
patreon.com/FicTonic1
[end of the chapter]