The Emperor smiled and motioned for Sun Zhe to come and sit, while also hinting to Xia Shiqing to leave first.
"I didn’t expect it to be you, Divine Doctor Sun."
Sun Zhe walked over and sat opposite the Emperor, scratching his head, feeling a bit awkward.
When he first met the Emperor at the Undying Pavilion, he thought this person was extraordinary, but he hadn’t expected such an extraordinary nature.
The Emperor poured him a cup of tea and said, "The medicine you prepared was very effective. After these days of recuperation, I feel much better."
"Is that so? That’s good."
Sun Zhe took the cup of tea, looking at the seemingly kind and approachable Emperor in front of him, he couldn’t shake a feeling of unease, as if a venomous snake was staring at him.
And thinking of this person often toying with his second and third aunts, in a rightful manner, he felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.
"Little Zhe, technically you should call me second uncle. Your father and I went through life-and-death together."
Sun Zhe looked at him in surprise, with an inquisitive gaze.
The Emperor slowly said, "Before I inherited the throne, I was sworn brothers with your father, but after inheriting the throne, due to my special status, we had to sever that relationship."
"Thinking of the times the three of us traveled across lands and roamed various Spirit Realms... Those were truly unforgettable times."
"Three brothers?" At this time, Sun Zhe couldn’t help but remember Zhou Yao.
"Yes, your father, me, and your third uncle Zhou Yao."
Sun Zhe asked, "Then do you know where third uncle is now?"
The Emperor shook his head, a faint trace of darkness flashed in his eyes, "I don’t know either."
"..."
...
In a lush green courtyard.
Xia Shiqing stood by the fish pond, looking at the koi plump as balls in the water, her delicate body occasionally quivered, her brows occasionally furrowed, her eyes full of resentment.
Suddenly, footsteps approached.
Two figures entered through the courtyard gate.
Xia Shiqing looked up and found it was Jiang Qinglan and Yuan Jinghua, mother and son.
"Aunt!"
Seeing the aunt who had doted on him since childhood, Yuan Jinghua quickly ran over and asked, "What’s going on today? Why do we have to hold a family banquet here?"
Xia Shiqing reached out to ruffle his hair, "You’ll know in a while."
Yuan Jinghua suddenly noticed her odd expression and asked worriedly, "Are you okay, aunt? Are you feeling unwell?"
"It’s nothing, just a slight cold."
Yuan Jinghua was curious, thinking how an expert like his aunt could still catch a cold.
At this time, Jiang Qinglan, dressed in an elegant pink long dress, approached, looking meaningfully at Xia Shiqing’s unnatural expression and said, "Jinghua, go see your father first. I’ll have a chat with your aunt."
"Okay."
Shortly after.
Once Yuan Jinghua left, Jiang Qinglan leaned closer to Xia Shiqing, her eyes teasing, "You really can endure, still haven’t taken it out."
Xia Shiqing glared at her coldly, "Did you apply Ban Jiao Powder on it?"
Jiang Qinglan covered her mouth and giggled, "How could it be? If it were really Ban Jiao Powder, wouldn’t you have gone crazy by now? I just added a bit of other medicine."
Xia Shiqing took a deep breath, steadying her mind, "I didn’t touch Xiao Zhe after going back last night, and still haven’t removed it... I won, from now on Xiao Zhe is under my care, you’ll serve your Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qinglan snorted coldly, "Who knows if you didn’t remove it? I need to check."
Saying this, she grabbed Xia Shiqing’s wrist and pulled her towards the restroom.
...
On the other side.
Yuan Jinghua knocked on the door, and only after the Emperor’s response did he push the door open and enter.
"Dad, what’s the joyous occasion today? We even have to hold a family banquet here, I’m just..."
Unexpectedly, midway through his sentence, Yuan Jinghua suddenly froze.
Because he saw Sun Zhe, and his body involuntarily trembled, instantly recalling that tragic night.
Sun Zhe, upon seeing Yuan Jinghua, also froze, inevitably reminded of that night.
Because of Xie Yunwan that night, this person in front of him suffered a solid beating.
He initially thought this Yuan Jinghua was just another of Kyoto’s playboys, so he didn’t take it to heart.
But unexpectedly, this guy actually called the Emperor ’dad’!
Sun Zhe’s eyelids drooped, suddenly recalling Leng Yueshuang, thinking that this was likely Leng Yueshuang’s fiancé.
"How is it him (How is it him)?"
Their eyes met briefly, with almost the same thought flashing simultaneously in their minds.
But both tacitly pretended not to know each other.
"Dad, who is this...?"
The Emperor introduced, "Hua’er, this is your cousin, Sun Zhe."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Jinghua was shocked, looking at Sun Zhe in disbelief.
"From aunt’s side?"
The Emperor nodded, "You head out first, I have something to discuss with Xiao Zhe."
"Okay."
Shortly after.
Once Yuan Jinghua had left, Sun Zhe took a sip from his cup, and looking at the Emperor across the tea table, bravely said, "Second uncle, actually this time, I’m here to ask you for a favor."
"What favor? Just speak freely, we’re family."
A warmth filled Sun Zhe’s heart, and he said straightforwardly, "I want to borrow the Molting Clothes."
The Emperor smiled and asked, "How did you know I have the Molting Clothes?"
Sun Zhe was suddenly taken aback.
With just this one sentence, the Emperor had him stumped.
The Emperor laughed, "It’s not that second uncle isn’t willing to lend it, but my Molting Clothes are mere fragments and ineffective, it would be of no use to you."
Saying so, he casually waved a hand, and suddenly a heap of blackened jade pieces appeared on the tea table.
Looking at the pile of jade fragments, Sun Zhe felt a deep sense of disappointment.
The Emperor said, "You, being the Martial Hero of the Fourth District, can choose any prize from the Changwu Pavilion Treasure Vault, I’ll have your aunt take you there shortly."
"Alright, thank you, second uncle."
"No need to thank as family, and besides, it’s something you deserve."
"..."
After some polite exchanges with the Emperor, Sun Zhe left to find Xia Shiqing to have her take him to Changwu Pavilion.
The Changwu Pavilion Treasure Vault is also within the Emperor’s Palace, but farther from the Emperor’s personal residence, it takes about ten minutes by car.
"You drive, Xiao Zhe."
After exiting the courtyard gate, Xia Shiqing suddenly tossed the car keys to Sun Zhe and hurriedly opened the front passenger’s door.
Sun Zhe quickly followed, sitting in the driver’s seat, frowning, "Why do you seem off?"
Xia Shiqing gritted her teeth, her face flushed, "Blame your second aunt for this."
As she spoke, she looked at Sun Zhe with misty eyes, "Xiao Zhe... when we get to Changwu Pavilion, could we have a go? I can’t hold back."
"..."
In the antique and grand courtyard.
The Emperor stepped out of the living room, standing with his hands behind him, looking thoughtfully in the direction where Sun Zhe had left.
"Even I can’t discern his power, this boy hides rather deeply."
Lost in thought, Yuan Jinghua approached with a grin.
"Dad, is Sun Zhe really my cousin?"
The Emperor collected his thoughts and nodded, "Once you ascend to the throne, he will assuredly be your greatest support, unlike those frivolous friends you have outside, so choose wisely."
Hearing this, Yuan Jinghua nodded solemnly.
"Yes, I understand, Dad, I’m clear on this."
Recalling Sun Zhe’s display of strength that night, he suddenly felt his buddy Zhao Junwei wasn’t so appealing after all.
Other than indulging, Zhao Junwei couldn’t provide any tangible assistance.
But this cousin was different, he was a powerful Spirit Gathering Realm practitioner!
If he could win him over to his side, he’d undoubtedly be the strongest ally!
"Dad, I’ll go find cousin now, I’ll take him around the palace."
"Alright, go ahead, he and your aunt went to the Changwu Pavilion Treasure Vault."
"..."
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