NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Chapter 9
Happy new year, I hope you had a fantastic year. Let us welcome 2025 with a smile because my mom used to tell me that the way you greet the new year will be your predominant expression for the rest of the year. I hope this chapter put a smile on many of your faces, I wish you, and this novel a good rest of the year.
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As expected, a storm hit the entire nation after the revelation. The news was on every corner of the streets of the capital. Naturally, the emperor also heard it and invited me to the imperial palace to grant me a reward to encourage my hard work. I still need to know why the emperor favored me, even supporting the princess if she married me. Although this entire thing reeked of suspicion it was not an urgent priority so I filed all of this for later consideration. Xion broke off his engagement as promised which was mutual as to what kind of man would bet his wife in a duel.
I first need to find my killer, I can't keep checking everything I eat and drink with my eye to see if there is poison in it. That is just a pathetic way to live, "Alfred, Report on the finding"
"Young master, there seems to be a large influx of servants in the house. When I went to investigate I found that some of the concubines hired them to serve in the house. Although this is suspicious I don't think too much about it since the castle was indeed short of hands before." Alfred said, I put my hand to my chin and thought about it for a while. Then, a light bulb was lit as I asked Alfred.
"Search the origin of these servants and make sure that none of the concubine or servants are getting letters"
He nodded before leaving me alone again, I then decided to cultivate since I was on the verge of breaking through to a higher rank. The speed at which I broke though can be considered genius level, but it is not enough. I need to make up for the time I missed since I started 3 years later than everyone else. Nobel children my age are already at Qi condensation late rank while the true genius is at core formation middle rank. I need to get there fast and close the gap within a month or so.
{3 days later}
I broke through to the qi condensation first rank, I marveled at the strength in my body before I sat back down again bare-chested due to some reason my clothes were desired when I was cultivating. I set that aside and tried to focus on my cultivation.
*knock**knock**knock*
I heard a knock three times, "Come in" a maid walked into the house and bowed respectfully before saying.
"I'm here to remind you of the banquet that is taking place tonight in another 3 hours." I sighed before saying
"OK, I will be there," the maid nodded before leaving. I got up from my position and started preparing for the event. Although I didn't want to attend it, I had to since it was the emperor's order. I need to figure out who my allies and enemies in the political field are, I already know that Xion's family is my number one enemy due to our past transition and I was a key player in their downfall.
Rina's family is mostly neutral and if my relationship is getting worse than it already is, I am most likely going to be enemies with them too. These are all the side missions I need to take up but the main mission is figuring out what the emperor wants from me since he has been continually on my side. This is beyond just love between father-in-law and son-in-law, this has something to do with politics.
{A short while later}
My carriage stopped before the castle which was lit with glorious lights that were casting up to the moon in the sky. I walked into the castle, and the giant doors with a dragon going from the bottom to cover the entire door with its face in the middle. The door opened ways to the noble party, there were a lot of people. Immediately, my social hatred acted up as I wanted to leave right there and then but I forced myself in and went into the corner all under the gaze of the noble.
I just stood there with a drink in my hand, ignoring everything while looking outside the window. "Hi, Nice to see you again" I heard someone say, here comes the nuisance. I looked at the pretty girl with golden hair like a field filled with wheat, those green eyes that had the beauty of the earth in them. She has an hourglass silhouette, with a shapely waist that accentuates her generous curves. Her golden gown is tailored to fit her form perfectly, flowing over her figure in a way that highlights her fuller hips and well-defined bust without compromising her elegance and dignity as a noble lady.
"Hi, Rina long time no see, How are uncle and Anty?" I said with a polite smile, she is a beauty almost contending with that of a model from my previous life. This was a compliment since there is not much makeup product in the market yet.
"They are good, the business has been well too." She said with a smile, and we just stood there standing. This was very awkward, I needed to escape.
"Alright, then. Are you going to participate in the national Talent tournament?" I asked, with a little bit of curiousness. The talent tournament is supposed to be a tournament for talent from all over the world to fight for the winning cup. Winning means a chance at getting into a noble branch in the capital while for nobles it is putting forth prestige and honor to have their child in the top 50. While getting into the top 10 would guarantee an increase in house rank by the emperor, this was a tradition to keep the loyalty of the house even if they were to have a higher talent.
"Umm..hm" She cutely nodded her head before I said
"Alright then, I will be seeing you in the finals" Although the way they do the test has been kept a secret, it has been known that the final 12 are put in a tournament every single year.