Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies Chapter 408 18: Attending the Meeting

Shen Qing took the invitation and opened it to see the flowing, cloud-like calligraphy that read, "Recently, the chrysanthemums in Beihai are in full bloom; I sincerely invite Lord Chief Officer Shen Qing to the gathering to discuss the Path of Immortality. Signed—Princess Yuzhen."

The writing on the invitation revealed a spirited elegance, pleasing to the eye and the heart.

"Princess Yuzhen?"

Shen Qing closed the invitation, contemplating internally,

"Ever since my days in Yongzhou, I had heard of her reputation as 'The Most Beautiful of Great Zhou,' and at not even thirty years old, she broke through to the cultivation of the Spirit Void Realm. Among the many princes and princesses of the Imperial Family, she is indeed extraordinary and has a good reputation among the elite of Great Zhou."

"This Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival will surely have many disciples from notable families participating; they are well-inford, and my participation might lead to unexpected gains."

Ji Bochu's recent actions have left restless, eager to understand what's going on.

This Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival might just be the rare opportunity I need.

As for why Princess Yuzhen would invite ...

"Though the Huangfu family has declined, a skinny cal is still bigger than a horse. Plus, the Mountain Sea Departnt holds a sowhat special position in Great Zhou. This must be the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival that Huang Furo spoke of; she must have recomnded ."

Shen Qing quickly made up his mind; he would attend this Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival.

He carefully stored the invitation next to his heart and ordered, "Prepare the carriage for tomorrow; I will be attending the banquet."

"I understand, Boss."

There were rules in the Capital City that forbade martial masters like them from roaming freely, with severe penalties for violators.

Although many martial masters like him disregarded this rule, given the troubleso tis, he did not wish to draw unnecessary attention to himself.

The next morning.

Tian Xiaohu, having ticulously prepared, a lavishly decorated carriage stood impressively in front of Shen Mansion's gates, its presence magnified in the morning light.

With the assistance of his servants, Shen Qing, dressed in brocade and fine garb with a Treasure Blade at his waist, walked up to the carriage and sat inside.

The carriage was suffused with a light fragrance of sandalwood and incense, refreshing and pleasing to the senses.

Shen Qing gently took his seat and imdiately closed his eyes to feign sleep, entering a state of ditation to not waste a single mont.

"Giddyap!"

The carriage shook.

The wooden wheels rolled with a rumble.

In no ti at all, the carriage entered the bustling street market.

It was the early market, and the streets were filled with a cacophony of sound.

The calls of the vendors were incessant, and the aroma of pancakes wafted into the carriage...

The air was thick with the scent of earthly life.

Shen Qing's luxurious carriage passed through, and pedestrians on the street stepped aside.

After the ti it took to drink a pot of tea, the noisy sounds of the street ca to an abrupt halt.

Shen Qing felt a shift in his attention and looked outside to find no vendors on the street, with passersby hurrying past this area.

He glanced at the appearance of the street and recognized this place belonged to the Xue Mansion.

The carriage rolled swiftly past.

As it inadvertently skimd by the entrance of the Xue Family's estate, a desolate scene quietly entered his view.

Beneath the gate of the Xue Family's mansion, the white silk still fluttered listlessly in the breeze, swaying gently with a desolate and lancholic air.

Where once carriages and horses had thronged a bustling scene, now stood silent emptiness that hinted at decay, her gloomy silence a stark contrast to bygone liveliness.

It made sense, after all.

The Family Head of the Xue Family had perished not long ago, following the mysterious deaths of two young masters.

Such consecutive blows had plunged the Xue Family into silence.

However, Shen Qing didn't believe that the Xue Family would collapse from this adversity.

As a grand noble family, even if recently risen, their depths were unfathomable.

In the eyes of a martial master, it was likely that many old mbers of the Xue Family, their longevity yet unspent, were hidden in the shadows.

In the dragon's den that was the Capital City, Shen Qing dared not be the slightest bit careless.

He withdrew his gaze, no longer dwelling on it.

Beihai was not a true sea, but a man-made lake located outside the Capital City.

It was said to be a pit created by a punch from a Unity Realm Great Power during enlightennt, which, over the years, along with human intervention, turned into the vast lake now known as Beihai.

Because of its stunning scenery and the stories of Martial Arts cultivation, it was a favored destination among the young masters and ladies of the Capital for discussing their cultivation experiences.

By the bank of Beihai, a ship as magnificent as a true dragon was docked at the shore.

This was Beihai's largest boat, and the restaurant atop it, the Tianwai Lou, was renowned throughout the Great Zhou—where spending a fortune was an everyday affair.

Today, this Tianwai Lou had been reserved by Princess Yuzhen for hosting the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival, placing diverse chrysanthemums across the entire boat.

Young nobles of note, from within and outside the Capital, gathered here, seizing the opportunity to exchange insights on cultivation.

Such a high-profile gathering was off-limits to the common populace.

Even so, nurous youths eager to cling to power congregated nearby, forming a sizable market in their wake.

So longed for a glimpse of Princess Yuzhen's beauty, others hoped to catch the eye of the elite with their charms to change their fate, and so spent a small fortune, navigating through connections to board the boat under false pretenses.

The atmosphere was lively and bustling.

"The Princess loves bustle on regular days and enjoys making connections with the young talents of the land. Today's Chrysanthemum Viewing is an annual grand event, highly valued by Her Highness—it must not encounter any issues."

On the spacious deck of the boat, Su Qiaoqiao, a lady of the Su Family tasked with preparing the event for Princess Yuzhen, was supervising the day's readiness for the Chrysanthemum Viewing Festival.

From the arrangent of refreshnts to the order of the main seats, from the staffing for receiving guests to the security patrols, not a single detail could afford to be amiss in external dealings.

After all, today's eting included individuals from prominent families such as the Cui, Wang, Xie, Zhao, Li, Zhang, and Su, all of significant standing in the Great Zhou. Even Su Qiaoqiao wouldn't dare offend them lightly.

Let alone the fact that this was a grand event specially organized by Princess Yuzhen, gathering distinguished figures—an oversight on any minutiae could lead to unpredictable consequences.

Su Qiaoqiao was dressed in a light yellow dress, her porcelain-like arms exposed, and with the swaying of her skirt, a glimpse of shapely legs could intermittently be seen, exuding grace and allure.

Her hair, black as a waterfall, cascaded down to her waist, adorned at the forehead with floral ornants, enhancing her transcendent and beautiful visage.

As she moved with light steps, the strings of colored beads dangling from her dress jingled, drawing many gazes.

Su Qiaoqiao entered a room on the boat, where people were busy organizing the guest list and seating arrangents.

A steward-like man was continuously directing the staff at work.

"First, separate those who received the Princess's invitation, and rank them by family background, reputation, status, and position."

Upon noticing Su Qiaoqiao, he quickly paid his respects, "Su San pays respects to the young lady."

"People will arrive shortly; how are the preparations coming along?"