Free Web NovelChapter 618: Chapter 243: I’d Like to Get to Know My Senior Sister
Ye Wuyue maintained her composure, smiling gracefully, "Thank you for your efforts."
"It is our duty."
At the banquet, delicacies were endless, music and dance unceasing, immortal tunes and divine dances...
The Shangjing Immortal Dynasty had invited top Immortal Chefs from Fengdeng Tower to cook, and renowned performers from Pear Immortal Garden to sing cloud immortal tunes and perform the Flower Picking Play. They used the highest standards for entertaining foreign guests, lavish and bustling beyond compare. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Although the Immortal Emperor did not appear, the current Immortal Queen, Fairy Yu, graced the event to accompany the guests in conversation.
Even though the specifications were so high, Gong Tianrui’s main aim was to showcase the grandeur of the Immortal Dynasty outwardly, yet he also had to demonstrate respect towards the distinguished guests from the Heaven-Questioning Sect. He even prepared the subsequent publicity, having already hired some masterful writers to extol the splendid collaboration between the world’s first sect and the first dynasty in exterminating demons, to facilitate future recruitment by the Demon Extermination Bureau.
Outside Qinxin Hall,
Gong Tianrui observed Ye Wuyue, engrossed in conversation with the Immortal Queen, Fairy Yu, feeling deeply conflicted.
In terms of etiquette and expression, Ye Wuyue, as a princess of the Dynasty, was impeccable, maintaining the perfect balance respecting the face of Shangjing Immortal Dynasty. Yet that was not the point.
The crux was, she was just a new disciple of the Heaven-Questioning Sect!
What right did she have to represent the Heaven-Questioning Sect on the matters of the Demon Extermination Bureau?
With so many eminent figures in the Heaven-Questioning Sect, surely they could have sent someone more seasoned than a young girl?
Of course, Gong Tianrui wouldn’t truly think that way. Since the Heaven-Questioning Sect had sent the Fourth and Fifth Elders to accompany her, it indicated that they weren’t just going through the motions. But why? Why was it Ye Wuyue? What was the Heaven-Questioning Sect trying to convey? Was it to train this brilliant disciple?
He couldn’t wrap his head around it, truly he couldn’t.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites noticed and asked, "Right Minister, should the external publicity be adjusted?"
Just thinking about it made Gong Tianrui feel stuffy.
The Heaven-Questioning Sect and the Shangjing Immortal Dynasty joining forces to slay evil demons—a perfect angle for publicity.
Even if the representative from the Heaven-Questioning Sect wasn’t the Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable, nor the First, Second, or Third Elders, but one of the Fourth or Fifth Elders present, it would still be worth a good promotion ahead of time.
Yet, the Heaven-Questioning Sect’s representative was a disciple, a newcomer!
The most crucial point, this new disciple was a princess of the Great Li Dynasty. If it weren’t for this status, those masterful writers could still pen it elegantly.
But for external publicity, "Ye Wuyue" was a name that couldn’t be hidden.
Once people investigated and found out Ye Wuyue was a newly crowned princess of the Great Li Dynasty...
It’s over,
A newly crowned princess of the dynasty interfacing with the Right Minister of the Shangjing Immortal Dynasty.
This disparity in identity and status cannot be avoided even by masterful wordplay.
Then where would the face of the Shangjing Immortal Dynasty go? Where would the face of Right Minister Gong Tianrui go?
At this moment, Gong Tianrui wished Ye Wuyue were of commoner birth; that way, they could lavishly praise her as they liked. But she is a princess from another country!
What on earth is the Heaven-Questioning Sect doing! Is this intentional!
Gong Tianrui paced back and forth. Serving as the Right Minister of the Shangjing Immortal Dynasty for over a thousand years, he was the longest-serving in history, undoubtedly second only to the Immortal Emperor, a top-tier adept in the Immortal Dao, and a political machine in human form.
But even he encountered such a situation for the first time.
The Heaven-Questioning Sect couldn’t be offended, the tasks entrusted by Wenxin Heaven must be fulfilled, the face of the Immortal Dynasty must not be tarnished, and the Immortal Emperor should be unburdened... a perfect solution must be found.
After pondering for a while, Gong Tianrui stood still, eyes serious, turning his gaze to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and said:
"Publicity must proceed. But we can’t let external focus dwell on Ye Wuyue’s identity as a princess of the dynasty. We need a more shocking piece of news to rationalize Ye Wuyue’s representative identity."
"Shocking... a princess of the dynasty interfacing with the Right Minister of the Immortal Dynasty—isn’t that shocking enough." The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites also felt helpless.
Gong Tianrui glanced at him, saying solemnly, "Then imply externally that Ye Wuyue was personally appointed by the Divine Phoenix Celestial Venerable, representing the Divine Phoenix Hall of the Heaven-Questioning Sect. This must not be stated outright—just imply it slightly, and those who fancy themselves clever will naturally think of this connection. Do you understand?"
"Understood, I will get on it immediately."
Gong Tianrui sighed with relief.
This is how political publicity works, but what about the practical issues with the Demon Extermination Bureau?
Has Ye Wuyue, having just survived a heavenly tribulation, truly the capability?
Gong Tianrui held no hope, shifting most of his attention to the Fourth Elder, Celestial Venerable Taihe, and the Fifth Elder, Chu Ming Xuan Nu.
During the banquet, Gong Tianrui conversed with the two elders, leaving Ye Wuyue to be entertained by the Immortal Queen, Fairy Yu.
With such arrangements, Ye Wuyue saw through their intentions.
Before coming, she anticipated likely being treated as a mere decoration.
On the way, she discussed this with the two elders, but they said the Grand Elder instructed that all decisions were hers to make and that they were just there to back her up.
This left Ye Wuyue quite helpless, unable to fathom the sect’s intentions, so she simply resolved to diligently study and learn, striving not to embarrass the sect.
After the banquet ended, it was the middle of the night.
After maintaining an image of composure and elegance at the banquet, Ye Wuyue went for a stroll in Changning City to unwind.
"The world of adults..."
She sighed inwardly. Never again could she roll on the floor, acting spoiled and pitiful towards Big Brother.
Though Changning City was a top Immortal City on the Immortal Continent, its administration by the Court left it with little of the Jianghu aura, instead saturated with the dense atmosphere of temples and country. It harbored both wealthy dignitaries who could spend extravagantly and ordinary people still struggling for basic needs. Even if their cultivation and strength are comparable, the vast difference in status leads them to lead completely divergent lives.
She was accustomed to seeing such things in Great Li, and never expected to witness them even on the Immortal Continent.
Shangjing Immortal Dynasty had taken the structured ideology of cultivator sects to its extreme.
Cultivators living in Changning City no longer pursued the Great Dao or immortality but rather wealth and prosperity and the power to show off in Changning City. They revered the Court like mortals and willingly saw themselves as inferior to the dignitaries. This almost became a shackle to their pursuit of the Great Dao.
When Ye Wuyue realized this, she couldn’t help but sigh, "It seems cultivation doesn’t straighten their knees. Mortals kneel to secular emperors, and these cultivators kneel to the Immortal Emperor alike."
Will Great Li advance down such a road?
Ye Wuyue found it hard to surmise this question.
She wandered aimlessly through the streets of Changning City. After wandering to a place, she, by what felt like a flash of intuition, unintentionally glanced upwards, and accidentally looking into the crowd, her previously dull eyes suddenly sparkled with a mystical light, her heavy and dormant heart thumping vigorously.
In the crowd, Ye Wuyue spotted a girl seated in a wheelchair.
Though the girl’s appearance was that of a young maiden, her air of incomparable maturity, elegance, and intellect was like a setting sun in a landscape painting. In addition, there was a mysterious allure about her that rendered the bustling street silent. Her complexion, though slightly pale, became a rare treasure of its own.
Ye Wuyue was utterly captivated by the girl in the wheelchair.
Seeking an enlightenment in cultivation, she rushed over recklessly, only to become a helpless child upon reaching her.
Jiang Sha squinted her eyes, smiling as she asked, "Is there something you need?"
Ye Wuyue blushed instantly, awkwardly asking,
"I... may I get to know you, sister?" free𝑤ebnovel.com
The serene and starry eyes of Jiang Sha flickered with a soft glow at the edge of a black hole. She asked,
"What’s your name?"
"My name is... Ye Wuyue. And you, sister?"
Jiang Sha tilted her head slightly, "My surname is Jiang, and my name... I seem to have forgotten it."
"Forgotten..." Ye Wuyue didn’t think much about it and timidly said, "Could I call you Sister Jiang?"
Jiang Sha smiled lightly, "Of course you can."
"Sister Jiang, are you a local resident?"
"I suppose I am."
"I am an outsider from Changsheng Continent. However, this time I’ve come to Changning City for official business." Ye Wuyue realized she was a bit nervous, struggling to focus.
Jiang Sha chuckled, "You seem very nervous. Would you like to come to my place and sit? Maybe it would be easier to talk sitting down."
Ye Wuyue felt so elated she screamed inwardly, but outwardly maintained the demeanor of a delicate and gentle young lady,
"Sure... sure."
