It wasn’t a joke—her cultivation was genuinely improving. Though subtle, for someone at her realm, it was a remarkable leap.
Even when I’m serious, I don’t cultivate this fast!
Suddenly—
Su Chen grabbed Ying Qingge’s hand.
“Senior Sister, I don’t think this is appropriate. Besides, I’m not injured, so you don’t need to check.”
“You’ve only been cultivating for a short time and don’t know much.”
“You might seem fine on the surface, but if your opponent used some sinister technique, you could have hidden injuries. Let Senior Sister take a thorough look!”
Ying Qingge’s words undeniably made sense.
But Su Chen, with his Imperial Dragon Physique, could hardly be harmed by opponents like Duan Yicheng or the Prince of Yan’s Heir.
You really think I don’t know you’re making this up?
However—
What could he do?
Faced with his revitalized Empress Senior Sister, Su Chen could only helplessly let her “inspect” him.
Fortunately, her hands stayed proper.
A little fussing was fine—he was used to it by now.
Yes, used to it was the key point.
Under Ying Qingge’s relentless teasing, Su Chen was starting to develop a tolerance.
Moments later—
Feeling her cultivation speed surge too quickly, Ying Qingge could no longer contain the rushing spiritual energy within her and had to leave briefly to refine it.
Su Chen let out a sigh of relief.
Then, in his free time, he took out the Supreme Marrow-Cleansing Liquid rewarded by the system.
“Supreme Marrow-Cleansing Liquid: Capable of cleansing and strengthening the body, fortifying bones, and greatly enhancing the limbs, meridians, and entire physique.”
The method to use the Supreme Marrow-Cleansing Liquid was simple.
By holding it in his palm and circulating his cultivation technique, Su Chen could integrate the liquid into his body to unleash its effects.
As he began circulating his technique, wisps of white mist rose around him.
His limbs and meridians felt a tingling sensation.
With each breath, his physique grew stronger, his meridians widening and becoming more resilient.
His cultivation progressed visibly, advancing steadily!
If any powerhouse saw Su Chen’s state, they’d lament his recklessness.
The Supreme Marrow-Cleansing Liquid was a supreme treasure for cleansing and strengthening, coveted even by Golden Core cultivators, who might hesitate to use it.
Yet here was Su Chen, a mere Body Tempering cultivator, extravagantly using it for his practice!
It would break the hearts of many!
For the next two days, everything was calm.
With Duan Yicheng injured and the Prince of Yan’s Heir dead, and Su Chen emerging victorious, no officials dared bring up the matter of the Imperial Consort’s husband again.
The civil and military officials thought the matter was settled.
But unexpectedly, Empress Ying Qingge announced a grand banquet to celebrate Su Chen’s victory and his appointment as her Imperial Husband.
“Her Majesty is holding a grand banquet for all officials and granting amnesty to celebrate Su Chen becoming the Imperial Husband?”
Upon hearing this, the Left Chancellor and his allies felt as if they’d swallowed flies.
“This old man planned for years, only to pave the way for someone else!”
The Left Chancellor’s face was grim.
The surrounding officials silently cursed the “foolish ruler” in their hearts.
In truth, no matter how extravagant or wasteful Ying Qingge’s arrangements were, it didn’t affect them much.
But the fact that their candidate failed to become the Imperial Husband was deeply frustrating.
Wasn’t this blatant gloating?
To attend or not to attend?
Not attending would be disrespecting the Empress; attending felt like asking for a slap in the face.
“Establishing an Imperial Husband is a significant matter. Arrange everything to the standards of a state banquet.”
In the palace hall, Ying Qingge’s jade fingers lightly tapped the table as she addressed the officials in charge of the banquet.
Hearing her words, the officials could only offer wry smiles.
Ying Qingge was the supreme ruler, the Empress of Great Qin. Her orders had to be followed.
As for making the Imperial Husband’s appointment a grand affair with state banquet standards, the officials felt it was unnecessary.
Since ancient times, no ruler had ever held a state banquet or granted amnesty when appointing a consort or empress.
Such extravagance and waste—what was this if not the act of a foolish ruler?
Fine, they admitted they were jealous.
Very jealous.
But considering Su Chen’s dazzling performance that day and the colossal figure backing him, many officials began to have other thoughts.
Surprisingly—
Though everyone was displeased, the state banquet was smoothly arranged.
As it was a state banquet, it was held in the grandest and most luxurious Qingming Palace.
All civil and military officials were invited.
Seeing the lavish arrangements by Empress Ying Qingge, some officials marveled at the high status of the Imperial Husband, while others sighed in lament.
Year after year, I toiled, only to make a wedding dress for another.
Undoubtedly, this described the Left Chancellor and his allies.
Even this cunning old fox forced a smile uglier than a cry.
He was relatively fortunate—his son, though defeated, had survived.
But the Prince of Yan’s mansion?
The Prince of Yan’s Heir, a prodigy with limitless potential, was dead beyond dead.
This was an immense loss.
Even if he failed to become the Imperial Husband, given twenty more years, the Prince of Yan’s mansion would have surely risen to prominence.
But now?
Time to eat at the funeral!
If possible, the grieving Prince of Yan would have loved to trade his life for Su Chen’s.
Yet Su Chen was backed by an unfathomably powerful figure. Even without knowing her identity, they knew her cultivation was beyond measure.
They couldn’t afford to provoke her!
This was beyond frustrating.
…
In the sleeping chambers—
Su Chen had fewer concerns. He had already changed into the new clothes his Senior Sister picked out for him.
Though he initially refused, he couldn’t resist Ying Qingge’s pleading.
It was all in the name of “making Senior Sister look good.”
The outfit, snow-white as always, didn’t overshadow his presence but instead highlighted his ethereal, unmatched charm.
Like a jade-like gentleman, a peerless young master.
The surrounding palace maids blushed, stealing glances but too shy to stare.
“Senior Sister takes forever to change, as always…”
Feeling the maids’ fiery gazes, Su Chen wasn’t too bothered—he was used to it by now. He just sighed at how slow his Senior Sister was.
In the time it took, he could’ve changed into ten outfits, yet she hadn’t even finished with one.
Was the difference between men and women really this stark?
Even after living so long, he couldn’t understand it!
Suddenly—
With the creak of the door, a graceful figure appeared, causing Su Chen to momentarily lose himself.
Ying Qingge’s sly smile rang out,
“Junior Brother, how do I look?”