Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 278 - 211 A Brand New Engagement

Chapter 278: Chapter 211 A Brand New Engagement

Stepping out of the carriage, Xu Yuan surveyed the center of imperial power.

Compared to the Forbidden City of his past life, the imperial palace of the Dayan Empire might be more than twice as large.

The eaves soared high above, and a wide avenue flanked by vermilion palace walls stretched to the horizon. A few eunuchs and maidservants walked with their heads bowed, amidst a solemn and oppressive atmosphere.

Turning away, Xu Yuan remarked with a hint of admiration,

"Father, this imperial palace is really enormous."

Xu Yinhè glanced at Xu Yuan,

"Indeed, the imperial palace is vast, but don’t say that out loud in public."

As Xu Yuan puzzled over his words, a thin voice suddenly came from half a zhang away,

"Prime Minister Xu really knows how to joke. The Emperor has instructed that you may enter at any time you please."

"..." Xu Yuan.

Again?

His gaze returned to the person speaking in front of the palace gate.

The man wore a gray python robe, a jade belt, and had a crafty look about him. With a bow and a raise of his hand, he gestured for the two to enter,

"The Emperor has already arrived at Qingxin Pavilion and specifically ordered me to wait for you here."

"....."

From the eunuch’s attire, Xu Yuan figured he was at least an Eastern Factory director or possibly a high-ranking steward with much authority.

In movies, the Emperor’s side was always accompanied by capable stewards.

However, if this person’s skill were truly high, would he still be a eunuch?

At the Primordial Realm, one could live even after decapitation. He wondered if regrowth was also possible.

While Xu Yuan pondered, Xu Yinhè stepped through the palace gate without a word.

Xu Yuan followed suit, but not before casting a subconscious and peculiar glance at the python-robed eunuch still standing by the entrance.

In the moment their eyes met, the man seemed to read Xu Yuan’s thoughts, squinting with a smile,

"Third Young Master, stop looking. I won’t grow it back in this lifetime."

Xu Yuan paused for a moment, then asked instinctively, "Why?"

The python-robed man’s expression stiffened momentarily, but he replied with a forced smile,

"Those of us left after the punishment use the Thousand Turns Knife, and after advancing to Great Grandmaster, we also consume Extinction Powder. Besides, we are people who keep to our duties."

Xu Yuan was taken aback, then replied with solemn respect,

"Magnanimous. May I have your honored surname?"

The python-robed eunuch chuckled,

"I dare not claim honor in the presence of Third Young Master. My surname is Nie."

Xu Yinhè walked ahead without turning his head.

Xu Yuan then chatted casually with Eunuch Nie following behind, relaxing and drawing in closer to ask in a low voice,

"Eunuch Nie, from what you said earlier, if one were not to keep their place, there should be a way to resolve it, right?"

"..."

Eunuch Nie looked at Xu Yuan with a strange expression.

About to face the Emperor, anyone else would be trembling or at the very least showing solemn respect. Why did this Third Young Master Xu enter the Imperial Palace as if he were coming home?

After a second of silence, Eunuch Nie exhaled and said,

"Indeed, there are ways, but the Emperor has shown me great favor, and the great governance of the nation cannot be compromised."

Hearing this, Xu Yuan instinctively glanced deeper into the palace and nodded in understanding.

The consorts and concubines in the harem were not all cultivators, and even cultivators might not possess high cultivation levels. A grandmaster wreaking havoc in the harem was quite possible.

Seeing his undisguised look, Eunuch Nie’s face twitched as he said with cadence,

"Under the great reputation, there is no lack of distinguished men. Third Young Master’s presence in the Imperial Palace still breaks from the small formalities."

"It’s all good, all good,"

Xu Yuan waved off nonchalantly. He continued to inquire about various trivial palace matters from Eunuch Nie, while Xu Yinhè up front pretended to see none of it.

Daqing Hall was vast, and the three of them walked along a pathway paved with stone slabs for about a quarter of an hour.

As they walked, Xu Yuan kept asking and Eunuch Nie kept answering, with Nie’s expression growing increasingly unsightly. His eyes flicked towards the figure ahead of them every now and then.

Just as Xu Yuan was about to ask how eunuchs and maidservants "interacted" with each other, another man in a python robe accompanied by a blue-robed eunuch emerged from the depths of the Daqing Hall.

The sunlight revealed a rather tall and handsome man.

His purple python robe and rugged features indicated that he was not a bestowed-clothing eunuch but rather a Prince.

Upon seeing this,

Nie the Eunuch seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and quickly stepped forward a few paces from Xu Yuan to kneel and salute,

"Second Prince, Your Highness."

Approaching,

Li Zhaoyuan did not immediately attend to Nie the Eunuch kneeling on the ground but first bowed to Xu Yinhè ahead,

"Zhaoyuan greets Minister Xu."

Xu Yinhè stood and looked indifferently at the bowing Second Prince Li Zhaoyuan,

"Why such a grand gesture, Second Prince?"

"Minister Xu is a pillar of Great Yan, deserving of such courtesy," The Second Prince replied respectfully.

"Rise."

After speaking, Xu Yinhè walked past him.

The Second Prince stayed bowed, and only after Xu Yinhè had walked more than ten meters did he slowly stand back up.

"...."

Xu Yuan watched the scene play out before him, feeling a bit peculiar inside.

According to any set of rules, a prime minister must show courtesy first when meeting a prince, but this...

Well, who could argue when this father of his commanded troops.

But this Second Prince was someone Xu Yuan was already familiar with.

During the covert visit to the Palace City to head for the Hook Bar, he had encountered the prince at the venue and had even been slighted by him.

A very cliché conflict at the brothel.

But ultimately, it was the Fonchangsi’s customary extortion of prices that irked Third Young Master Xu.

Within the Palace City’s Fonchangsi, everything had to be done by the book.

To be the favored visitor of a courtesan, after giving money, one either needed to be literarily brilliant or outstanding in cultivation, and finally, it also took compatibility and good rapport with the courtesan.

And with Third Young Master Xu’s temperament, how could he indulge in such customs?