“This man is Xu Ming.”
As soon as Minister Turtle’s words fell, Zhu Cici, who was walking beside him, was montarily stunned.
That na was like a sudden clap of thunder, stirring ripples in the once-calm lake of the young girl’s heart.
Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily.
A complex emotion flickered in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, not letting it show.
The other scholars from White Deer Academy, upon hearing the na “Xu Ming,” exchanged glances. Aside from Yu Wenxi and Miao Feng, who were genuinely happy to be reunited with a friend, the rest turned to look at Zhu Cici.
So believed that Zhu Cici still harbored feelings for Xu Ming, and that was the reason she had turned down one marriage proposal after another.
Others, however, thought that Zhu Cici rely used Xu Ming as an excuse, a shield to avoid marriage.
After all, Zhu Cici and Xu Ming had only t once in their childhood.
They had been so young back then—what could they possibly have understood about love? Even if the poem Xu Ming had given Zhu Cici at the ti had been incredibly moving, its effect shouldn’t have lasted this long.
So many years had passed.
It wasn’t as if they had gone through so undying love story together. Back then, they were just children.
“Judging from Lady Zhu’s reaction, do you know this Lord Xu?”
As he spoke, Minister Turtle suddenly patted his own forehead and laughed.
“Oh dear, Lady Zhu, my mory is failing ! How could I forget? Even in Beihai (North Sea), there is a famous poem from the human world, and I heard that it was written by Lord Xu for you when you were children.”
A faint smile curled Zhu Cici’s lips. She naturally knew which poem Minister Turtle was referring to.
“Even Beihai has heard of that poem?”
“But of course,” Minister Turtle chuckled, his expression cheerful.
“Not only has it spread to Beihai, but quite a few won among the sea folk are very fond of it.
Lord Xu himself probably has no idea how popular he is among the sea folk.
There are even won who envy you, Lady Zhu, for having received such a poem.
If Lord Xu were to visit a brothel and reveal his identity, he wouldn’t have to spend a single coin. In fact, the courtesans of every brothel would compete to offer themselves to him!”
Zhu Cici only nodded with a faint smile, saying nothing more.
“Uh… what I ant was that Lord Xu is very well-liked, nothing more.”
Minister Turtle quickly tried to clarify, realizing that he might have spoken inappropriately.
“I understand, Lord Turtle, no need to explain,” Zhu Cici said with a gentle smile.
In her eyes, there was a subtle glimr of pride, as if she was honored by Xu Ming’s popularity.
Minister Turtle was montarily dazed by her expression.
For a brief mont, he felt that this Lady Zhu resembled a devoted wife, feeling proud of her husband’s achievents.
“Could it be that Lady Zhu and Lord Xu really have sothing between them? More than just a childhood encounter?” Minister Turtle wondered, thinking that there might be so truth to the rumors.
He quickly composed himself and smiled at Zhu Cici.
“Since Lord Xu happens to be here as well, Lady Zhu, you can take this opportunity to catch up. Right now, Lord Xu is at the outer palace, and the residence of the Wu Kingdom is quite close to White Deer Academy. You two can visit each other anyti.
I’m sure Lord Xu will be delighted to see you. You can reminisce about old tis, though after so many years, I fear much of the past may have been forgotten.”
Minister Turtle chuckled. Though rumors suggested that Xu Ming and Zhu Cici shared a special connection, he personally didn’t think much of it.
After all, it all happened in childhood.
And what could one truly understand at such a young age?
“If I have the ti, I will certainly visit Lord Xu to catch up,” Zhu Cici said calmly.
Yet beneath the wide sleeves of her robe, her slender fingers were already clenched tightly.
—
Minister Turtle led the group into the imperial palace.
The palace maids guided the scholars from White Deer Academy away to bathe and refresh themselves after their journey.
Zhu Cici was alone in a private bath, while three palace maids entered the water to assist her in washing.
As they bathed her, they couldn’t help but marvel at the delicateness of this human woman’s skin—it was even smoother than that of the sea folk.
They found Zhu Cici truly beautiful, her looks almost rivaling those of their own empress.
Her waist was so slender, her figure so perfectly proportioned.
She had the kind of physique that looked elegant in clothing yet revealed subtle curves when undressed.
While her chest wasn’t exaggeratedly full, her narrow waist only made her curves appear even more pronounced.
Zhu Cici, of course, had no idea what was running through the maids’ minds.
Her own thoughts were still lingering on Minister Turtle’s words.
Xu Ming… was here, in this very palace.
If she wanted to see him, she could—today itself.
“My lady, would you like to soak a little longer?”
Lost in her thoughts, Zhu Cici was brought back to reality by the soft voice of a maid.
Only then did she realize that they had already finished bathing her.
“No need,” she replied, shaking her head slightly. “Thank you.”
The maids responded politely, “You are too kind, my lady. Allow us to dress you.”
After bathing, Zhu Cici changed into a brand-new outfit of Northern Sea attire.
The mont she donned the traditional robes of the Dragon Palace, the maids’ eyes lit up in admiration.
She already carried the refined elegance of a scholar, but now, dressed in Northern Sea’s garnts, she exuded an added touch of ethereal grace.
It was as if the scent of ink and literature had been infused with the gentle fluidity of water.
After dressing, the maids led Zhu Cici to another palace hall for a al.
Once lunch was over, she and her companions were assigned their accommodations.
Though the White Deer Academy had only sent a small delegation, they were given exceptionally high treatnt.
The envoys from the Wu Kingdom, despite arriving with dozens of people, were mostly housed in groups of five or six per room, with only the main officials receiving private quarters.
But for the White Deer Academy, accommodations were much more generous—two people per room.
And as the only woman among them, Zhu Cici was given her own private chamber.
Seated in the courtyard, she lifted her gaze toward a particular direction.
She had heard that it was where the envoys from the Wu Kingdom were staying.
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